I feel the same way about certifications and experience. I have four and hope to soon have five. My biggest concern with the number of certifications is that they will lead my experience. I can justify all of my current certifications based on experience and have a good ‘story’ lined up for the next two.
I view certifications as a curated learning plan. Just like in school, you get a syllabus, you absorb the material, you take a test and you get a grade. It doesn’t make you an expert in the class but it shows you are familiar with the topic. Over time you will not remember everything but you will know where to find the information and what it means when you see it again.
I can explain each certification in the Solution Architect path based on my experience (as I get them) but I can’t explain the Solution Architect Certification that you get when you pass all 4. At first I was disinclined to take the consulting certifications but I recently saw a presentation on someone’s journey to becoming a CTA. \
The individual failed the first time and when studying for the second time took the ‘other’ certifications to keep current with the material. I am debating if it makes sense to take the consulting certifications and let my experience catch up.
The architect also mentioned there were two paths to pass the exam:
Theoretical knowledge and coaching - Luck
Practical experience being an architect - Wisdom
While it would be nice to be a CTA by either method, long term I think the best approach is gaining practical experience.
No comments:
Post a Comment