The value of certification

Tests often dwell in the lower levels of the taxonomy that Bloom and his colleagues developed because it is much easier to develop a question that asks the name of something (recall) than it is to create a question about how a concept fits within the larger framework (evaluation).

When the standards or the exams are not matched correctly with the experience and skills, you often hear that the test is too easy or too hard. When the skills are not effectively translated into a set of questions, you tend to hear about the disparity between answering the questions correctly and real-life applications. Both shortcomings can lead to the "paper cert" effect, where it is perceived that the certification does not match the necessary real-world skills and therefore does not translate to on-the-job performance. This occurred in the early 90s when some Novell Certified NetWare Engineers (CNEs) were unable to effectively administer a network.

As a hiring manager...
If you're a manager seeking a candidate, you should investigate what skills the certification is purporting that the candidate possesses. By looking at the exam preparation guide, you will readily see what the certification agency thinks the person should know. Match this with your expectations and needs. If the certification does not match your expectations of a candidate, the certification may be of little value in your search.

As a job candidate...
If you're a candidate seeking a job, you should be looking for certifications that employers are asking for. One of the easiest ways to do this is to visit online job sites and search for the certification you are considering. Determine how many jobs are asking for that certification, what the associated experience is, and whether it fits your goals. Remember that certifications are not a meal ticket; they are a way to make it easier for potential employers to know that you have met certain requirements. In addition, they enable you to show your current employer that you want to make sure you know all of the things necessary to do your job effectively.

Devaluing certifications
Unfortunately, even if a certification itself is high quality, it can sometimes become devalued and thus less useful. Although certification agencies take great care to prevent the devaluation of the certification, it is a natural effect of the certification's popularity.

One of the most painful ways a certification is devalued is through the appearance of brain dump sites. These sites promise a quick and easy way to pass the certification exam by providing potential candidates with what is supposed to be an exact replica of exam questions, along with the (supposedly) correct answers. (By the way, a substantial number of answers on these brain dump sites are typically wrong.) The problem with this approach is that someone with a good memory can try to memorise the questions and the answers, rather than learning the content that the certification exam is supposed to be testing.

The more individuals who become certified by using brain dump sites, the less value the certification has because of the large number of people who are certified without understanding the concepts. It becomes apparent to managers and peers that the certification does not ensure a certain standard. This reduces the value of the certification for everyone who holds it.

Another unavoidable way in which a certification can become devalued is if too many people within the industry have earned it. Although there is a need to find certifications that employers will recognise, there is a problem when many candidates for a position hold a specific certification. Instead of it being a differentiator, it is simply one in a long list of requirements for the position. On the other hand, holding a less popular certification isn't especially effective if the employer has never heard of it.

My advice
Do your research on where the certification is in the market so that you can get the most value from it. Whether you are an employer or a job candidate, you will need to make sure that the certification you are considering has value