Certification vs. a degree vs. on-the-job training came up in a conversation recently. When money was an issue (i.e. the high cost of getting a degree), certification seemed the way to go for someone who didn't already have plenty of on-the-job training under their belt. In the area of desktop publishing and graphic design, how important is certification? And what type? Should you get a general certification in design or will certification as an expert in InDesign (for example) serve you better? It really depends on the job/employer. Certification certainly shouldn't hurt. It's a concrete indication of your skill (especially certification in specific software programs).
Results from this poll that's been running for awhile indicate that most of you aren't bothering with certification of any kind. Has having or not having design or computer certification helped or hurt you in your job quest?
Here's a new poll. What kind of degree / certification do you have?
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I checked “No Degree/Certification.” Not because I don’t think it’s necessary – because that’s where I am. I recently mentioned in your blog about education that I have decided to leave college. I do regret this decision, but at the same time, I just now – literally, about an hour ago, sent an advertisement project to my brother in-law (a financial adviser) that he requested. This is the second job I did for him, and he’s not my only paying customer. This is what I was talking about in the other blog post – I am good at what I do, and never before in my life could I honestly say that I love my job. I don’t have the necessary resources to qualify for the Adobe products certification. And finishing school is something that I realize is not going to happen. So I have no choice but to do my work as best that I can and build my portfolio one project at a time.
No, I won’t be the next Ogilvy advertising agency, but I do love my job!