[ale] Certs for consultants

[Dow Hurst]

Joseph,
I would recommend you get your certifications as time and money allow. 
Your business can grow by word of mouth thru your success.  It is the
guys who don't know you personally that will notice the certifications. 
I believe they open doors just like a college degree.  My dad started a
business 40 years ago by slowly changing his regular job from 100% to 0%
time in small increments over many years.  Just before he finally quit
he was working 80% for himself and 20% for GaTech.  He worked at the
Experiment Station as a chemist so that worked out for him.  Not
everyone can do that!  He never attained his college degree so he has
had a tough road to prove himself.  He always says that he had to work
twice as hard and twice as smart as the guys with the degrees to be
accepted.
Dow
 
Joseph A Knapka wrote:
> 
> Hi folks,
> 
> We've had a couple of discussions about professional
> certifications recently, but I'd like to ask the
> question from a slightly different angle:
> 
> I am considering going into business for myself as
> an IT consultant (software development, networking,
> database administration). I already have many
> years of professional experience in these areas,
> though my main focus has been SW development. I
> have been with the same employer for 10 years. Under
> those conditions, would it be to my advantage as
> a fledgling independent consultant to acquire some
> certs?
> 
> I think I can pick up the Oracle8/9i DBA and Java
> Programmer certs without much ado, but am wondering
> whether it would be worth the $$$. I might pick up
> a Linux-oriented one too, as I intend (if I even do
> this; it's way up in the air at present) to
> concentrate heavily on the open-source arena.
> 
> Opinions, especially from folks who are involved
> in hiring consultants, are appreciated.
> (And in the unlikely event that anyone from my
> employer is reading this, no, I don't plan
> to quit anytime soon; any such change is at least
> a year away, if not longer.)
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> -- Joe
>   Using open-source software: free.
>   Pissing Bill Gates off: priceless.
> 
> ---
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-- 
__________________________________________________________
Dow Hurst                   Office: 770-499-3428
Systems Support Specialist  Fax:    770-423-6744
1000 Chastain Rd.
Chemistry Department SC428  Email:dhurst at kennesaw.edu
Kennesaw State University         Dow.Hurst at mindspring.com
Kennesaw, GA 30144
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