The certification is one of the proofs with an aspirant which allows to manager to make sure the candidate's ability, through a very competent way.  Certification does not mean merely printed paper or card, signed by some authority, telling about your expertise.  Rather certification is a process in which you prove your tecnical skills through the serious of tests.  The desire to start and go through this process is the most valuable part of certificate.  This shows me determination and ability to complete a task.  It basically shows that one has accomplished the requirements of, and may perform in an area.  There are many organizations offering certificates but reliable one is not so hard to choose. 

Prepare Your Case

A certificate does not mean to introduce you as an educated or experienced with some high prestige institute, company and organization.  It depends upon the nature of your qualification.  Suppose you are certified by Microsoft.  It is great but it is obviously not enough to get even junior position at Redmond based giant.  From my point of view a certificate doesn't show your exceptional ability or ensure the selection authority that you are more competent than any one else.  Certificate is the way to highlight your motivation or cover some basics in no crucial areas. 

A Real Life Example

To illustrate here is the real life example.  Senior developer is interviewed for ASP. NET C# developer position.  The position might require porting old Java code into C#.  On the question about his Java experience interview answered that while he worked only on one Java project he was so interested in learning this technology that he completed training and received SCJP (Sun Certified Java Programmer).  At the end of the week, after the employer narrow down there search to two candidates, SCJP made significant case for hiring this particular candidate and the employer extended there offer to him. 

Would it make any help, if he didn't have strong C# skills? Absolutely not, will the employer would  have been looking for strong C# developer in the first place.  Would it help if he has C# Certification? Probably not, the employer was looking for strong hands-on experience and three of there lead developers tested his C# coding skills.  Certificate or no certificate they knew where he stands in this area. 

There are also times when you might show your certificates then you are not sure at the nature of all the job aspects.  Although it is recommended that you must be sure about the nature of the job and prepare your self for it prior to go out for interview. 

Microsoft launched a very good system for specific certification, particularly in IT, even if you don't know what you are? Are you eligible for certification? You may test your level by just playing a Game

thanks for the education

QuoteCertification does not mean merely printed paper or card, signed by some authority....

Glad to read this in public domain, hopefully others will read and understand this. This will reduce amount of certificates programs being advertise on internet on daily basis without adequate assurance of knowledge to back it up.

Yes you are right, 75% of people who intend acquiring certification course most time  settle for a certificate they hardly have practical knowledge with, is very adviceable for them to get better knowledge about the certification courses that are globally recognized and above all, get them a better job placement even before there higher education or during there higher education or after they graduated

We know the truth, just that economy situation and competition forces us to ignore most important thing which is planing for future which knowledge is the bedrock.

The internet is a tool that gives us the opportunity to do research on anything we want to go into, many people see what they want and what is good for them, but most time greediness make people loose there focus and settle for the less .  Acquiring a certification like OCA or OCP for instance is globally recognized and can give you wide range of opportunity,work anywhere in the world as a DB Administrator or Oracle Developer or work in a multinational country in Nigeria with high paid salary.  someone with first degree also have better chances.  I think is good for our youths to do more research on Certifications courses that are relevant s globally and even in our community  so as not to end up having an ordinary paper but a paper that open there door to endless opportunities even before going into higher institution.

QuoteThe internet is a tool that gives us the opportunity to do research on anything we want to go into

You know how much and level of internet services provied in this part of the world.That is why I pointed out economy situation is one of reasons many people tend to follow short cut provided there are chances of succeeding with  it.

gud one

I am satisfied with your post. Your post is dear. Thanks for sharing your precious comprehension with us.