Looking at professional designations in cybersecurity - why we have them, what they are expected to do, what the problem with having so many certifications is, and where we can go from here
As someone who has done hiring in the past, I prefer seeing 1-3 certifications for entry-level employees, 0-2 certifications for seniors.
For juniors, I'm assuming they have little-to-no experience, so the certification carries more weight. It's by no means determinative, but it works well as an initial screening criteria. I'm less looking for the knowledge (test dumps are a thing) and more looking for the initiative shown by going out and getting something. I forgive the "10+ certs" people here because I know how desperate it can be to find that first job.
For a senior, I care very little about certs as I expect to only discuss work experience, though I may take note of a particularly unusual one. 0 is a perfectly fine answer here. A "10+ certs" person here is a caution flag, as they frequently tend to be paper-chasers. Sadly, government hiring rewards this type of resume; it's a very checklist-based system.
Thanks Chase, I am really glad this resonates with you! Definitely aligned on your thinking here: an entry-level person needs to demonstrate passion and hunger to learn; although certifications are just one of many ways to do it, they are a way that is familiar and well-understood. As you've said - the more experience you get, the less valuable the certification becomes. It's like getting a driver's license: you need to learn the theory & pass the exam, after which you can show some basic skills and pass another exam. If, however, a decade later you're still driving at the level you did to pass the exam, that's a problem.
Ross, excellent as always.
As someone who has done hiring in the past, I prefer seeing 1-3 certifications for entry-level employees, 0-2 certifications for seniors.
For juniors, I'm assuming they have little-to-no experience, so the certification carries more weight. It's by no means determinative, but it works well as an initial screening criteria. I'm less looking for the knowledge (test dumps are a thing) and more looking for the initiative shown by going out and getting something. I forgive the "10+ certs" people here because I know how desperate it can be to find that first job.
For a senior, I care very little about certs as I expect to only discuss work experience, though I may take note of a particularly unusual one. 0 is a perfectly fine answer here. A "10+ certs" person here is a caution flag, as they frequently tend to be paper-chasers. Sadly, government hiring rewards this type of resume; it's a very checklist-based system.
Thanks Chase, I am really glad this resonates with you! Definitely aligned on your thinking here: an entry-level person needs to demonstrate passion and hunger to learn; although certifications are just one of many ways to do it, they are a way that is familiar and well-understood. As you've said - the more experience you get, the less valuable the certification becomes. It's like getting a driver's license: you need to learn the theory & pass the exam, after which you can show some basic skills and pass another exam. If, however, a decade later you're still driving at the level you did to pass the exam, that's a problem.
Excellent article! I have friends in this field, so I shared it to LinkedIn.
Thank you!