College Certificates Are the Worth Much?

[Iron_Lion]

I've been considering furthering my education. I figured I might start with a certificate program and maybe obtain a few over the next few years. My question is:; hypothetically speaking, if the economy wasnt in the toilet are these worth much to employers? There is a few green building/ alternative energy certificates available that caught my eye. My goal is to use these to develop some business skills, but if certificates are looked at as much by the business world I might reconsider. My ultimate goal is to find a new career path within the next 5 years or expand upon the one I am currently in. the upside to these is they can be obtained fairly quickly compared to a degree.

 

[hippie_lettuce]

Yes. My mom has taken many of these courses, has many certificates, and usually is not without a job. The more "well-rounded" you are, the better right?

 

[Iron_Lion]

Hmm good to know, thanks for the reply. Anyone else have experiences with college certificates?

 

[draztik]

Alot of companies like someone with certs. IMO you'll get a job faster with certs under your belt.

 

[ROJO145]

Over rated and un necassary imo,fuck,we ALL know someone with a degree workin a nothin job,christ,everyones got a degree!!I know lots a folk with degrees workin shit jobs and vice versa

 

[Megas]

I went to University now I have been unemployed even with a huge host of other things I did during my time there. Volunteered, was in a student group ect. what did it get me 6 months and going of unemployment. I say trades trades trades. If your good with electricity GO INTO IT. You can do under the table stuff and charge $100 an hour.

 

[Iron_Lion]

I went to University now I have been unemployed even with a huge host of other things I did during my time there. Volunteered, was in a student group ect. what did it get me 6 months and going of unemployment. I say trades trades trades. If your good with electricity GO INTO IT. You can do under the table stuff and charge $100 an hour.

I am currently a tradesman, it's not all it is cracked up to be. Grass is always greener on the other side I suppose. The trend in the trades atleast in my area is the benefits are not as good as they were in corporate america. Alot of time trade jobs come with very little vacation time, no sick days, poor insurance plans, and in my area the trades rates havent gone up in over a decade. Back in 2000 if you were making $20 something bucks an hour you were in a much better position then you are today. Side work is well and good, but it really hurts the guys working for contractors. A market full of moonlighters all willing to undercut the other guy makes it harder for the trade as a whole to get higher wages and keep the bidding fair.

I figure a few certificates coupled with trade skills might be beneficial when the economy improves, if and when.
The way I look at certificates is one day they might be better than degrees, there might come a day when the market is so flooded with degrees and people asking top dollar that employers might get a better deal with the guy who has a few certs, is just as qualified but not asking the high dollar amount that comes with the degree. maybe im wrong

 

[B. Friendly]

if it's a ticket that is in demand than go for it. As long as it's not like an Art Restoration Degree.

 

[iSmokeTrees]

Moreso than just being educated, a college degree shows employers that you are willing to work hard, focus, stick to something, and can be trained/educated. You won't always use the knowledge you learn in school in the workplace, but you are hired because your employer knows you are capable of being taught to do the job.

 

[draztik]

Certifications are not degrees. I would hire someone with cisco certs over some idiot with a degree and no certs. Degrees mean you were trained to remember and regurgitate the info when it's test time. A certification shows you have an understanding of the concepts and your not just regurgitating information you actually understand it.

 

[Guywithoutajeep]

of course they help, it puts you at a level above high school grad, usually the places that hire certs are only looking for people specifically with certs anyways eg. IT or auto tech

it helps a lot to narrow down your job search as well

in the end it all depends on what career path you want to go down

 

[buckeye-leaf]

I went to University now I have been unemployed even with a huge host of other things I did during my time there. Volunteered, was in a student group ect. what did it get me 6 months and going of unemployment. I say trades trades trades. If your good with electricity GO INTO IT. You can do under the table stuff and charge $100 an hour.

i do agree there bud, i work sometimes 50 hours at my job and if i land a nice hvac or electrical job on the side i make more and work about 35 hours less. its amazing how many folks out there hate electricity act as if its a poisonous snake ready to bite them. i never had to take any courses or anything by the time i was a teen my pops already had me working after school with him on jobs just so i could get money to go have fun on weekends. i have a buddy with a college degree and i can show him 10 times how to wire a box and the 11th time he still needs help.