Are web certifications, or any certification for that matter, worth it?

You hit the nail on the head…..lack of experience. i have seen propectus job applications come in for a police applicant. i did not pay much attention to their degrees of certifcate of anything. i was was looking for their experience in working and knowledge of the job they were applying for. certificates are a dime a dozen. you must prove youself that you are worthy of a consideration. experience normally accounts for at least 60% on an applicants resume. keep this is mind.

What @john65pennington said is true. Actually hands-on experience has become ever more important to being qualified for a job.

@john65pennington The problem is, how do I get experience if no one will even hire me so I can have experiences? I hate how people want you to have experience, but no one will give you the opportunity to earn it. In terms of being a designer, I guess my “experience” would amount to the body of work I have to present, and my explanation of that work, and the stories behind each piece. In any case, it feels like one big losing game for someone new like me.

As an employer in a software company, I say definitely get the certification. First, do it for yourself. What have you got to lose being as knowledgeable and current about your work? Second, it will look good on your resume—if for no other reason than to show prospective employers how much you care about your work.

It really depends on your particular field of expertise. What @john65pennington is true; however in my field (IT) having a certification is definitely a plus. In some cases certifications are required, for example, I will have to be a CISSP in the near future due to DoD requirements. http://www.giac.org/8570/

I would say to definitely get a certification relevant to your career path.

Some certifications are worth it, but many are not. If there is one out there geared toward your career or hopeful career check around with other people in those positions to see if they think they’re legit and worth it. If you’ve interviewed (note: not just sent a resume or gone through a phone interview, but a sit down face-to-face interview) for a position and did not get the position there is nothing wrong with a follow-up phone call saying that you’re sorry not to be working with them and asking what – other than more experience – could’ve given you a leg up for the position. I’ve done this and have found things “missing” in my resume that I thought would be just assumed.

@SarasWhimsy Very good suggestion; I haven’t been very good about following up… I figured if they never contacted me again they were done with me, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t contact them.

When you take up certification courses, one of the things that will be included in the program is internship. Internship will provide you the experience that employers will be looking for. You can also apply for internship at similar companies but they may pass you up as well without validation of your educational background.

The only certification you need is a great portfolio. Best education in the world with a so-so portfolio always looses to a high school drop out that builds amazing sites and can prove it.

@nashish ALWAYS follow up! If they don’t contact you, it could be the position has changed and they don’t think you would be interested any longer. Always, always, always follow up!

@SarasWhimsy Thanks, Sara; I’ll try to build up the courage to follow up from now on!