PSA: I used to chase certifications like crazy, now I focus on actual projects instead

A few years back I was all about stacking certs. ITIL, PMP, Security+, you name it, I had it. Spent about $3,000 over 2 years on exams and study materials. But after 6 months of applying for jobs, I realized hiring managers didn't care about my cert list. They wanted to know what I actually built or fixed. So I changed my whole approach. Now I spend that money on building real things, like a home lab server and a small app for my local library. Got a job offer last Tuesday because the guy saw my Github repo, not my resume. Has anyone else found that hands-on work gets you further than paper credentials?

2 comments

2 Comments

oscarcooper1mo ago

Been there too. Took me three tries to pass the Network+ and I still can't remember what a subnet mask does without looking it up. These days my home server crashes more than it runs, but at least it's something I can actually show people.

ninaross1mo ago

My old Linksys router from like 2012 finally gave up last month, the power light just started flickering like a dying candle and then nothing. I spent a whole Saturday trying to flash it with some third-party firmware I found on a forum, but I think I bricked it completely because now it just blinks all four ethernet ports in a weird pattern. Reminds me of when I tried to set up a network drive for my photos, spent three hours getting it working and then realized I had the permissions all backwards. These home projects always feel like you're one step away from victory and three steps from a total mess.