Re: Certifications don't count!
- From: "Rick Ricky" <ricks12345@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: robertgfreeman@xxxxxxxxx, oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 8 Jun 2008 18:49:26 -0400
OCM is a tough test. However, it is so expensive it is a complete waste of
money for someone to pay for it themselves. There are rare cases where some
business owners may want to be OCMs(yet none of the well known oracle
consultants seem to be OCM...). If you are paying for it yourself ,its 2
classes ($600/day) plus $2000 for the test. Plus its only given in Chicago
so if you don't live there you have to travel. So its at a minimum blowing 8
days vacation time for this.
if you are a contract like myself and many others, its also not being paid
for 8-12 days for the training and the test. It's just not worth the
expense. I do not see a return on investment for me for doing this. I
interviewed an OCM once. A previous employer paid for it. This guy was VERY
good. The OCM just validated it. However, he did not pay for it himself.
It's just a test. If you set your mind to it, any good DBA can pass it.
However, its alot of time. You will learn alot and improve your skills from
studying for it. It would probably take most people many months of
preparation (assuming you work during the day). However, there is
no-monetary return for doing this. It's just not worth it.
On Sun, Jun 8, 2008 at 4:26 PM, Robert Freeman <robertgfreeman@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
> Again, let me be clear. I'm *not* saying that OCM is a perfect indication,
> it's not. I am saying that it holds some validity for me over that of the
> OCP or the OCA. I'm saying that it's one of a number of things that will get
> you at least a phone interview, not the only one and not alone, by itself.
> One could have 20 years of experience with a glowing resume and fail
> miserably at a technical interview (I've seen it more than once). There is
> no perfect measuring stick. I'm sure many of us have hired someone that in
> retrospect was not such a grand idea. It's just silly to throw out one of
> many yardsticks that you can use to measure someone by.
>
> Also, just because one OCM fails an interview is, by itself, not a very
> good statistical sample by which to judge the OCM and what it has to say
> about candidates overall. Also, did you verify his OCM with Oracle? I wonder
> if there are those out there who will fake such credentials hoping that they
> won't be checked on. Has anyone ever seen a case where someone faked
> credentials?
>
> RF
>
>
> Robert G. Freeman
> Author:
> Oracle Database 11g New Features (Oracle Press)
> Portable DBA: Oracle (Oracle Press)
> Oracle Database 10g New Features (Oracle Press)
> Oracle9i RMAN Backup and Recovery (Oracle Press)
> Oracle9i New Feature
> Blog: http://robertgfreeman.blogspot.com (Oracle Press)
> The LDS Church is looking for DBA's. You must be LDS to apply (please don't
> write to me and tell me I'm breaking the law. A church can choose to hire
> members of it's own faith. Look it up if you don't believe me).
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Vishal Gupta <vishal@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: robertgfreeman@xxxxxxxxx; oracledba.williams@xxxxxxxxx
> Cc: Oracle-L Freelists <oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Sunday, June 8, 2008 5:33:19 AM
> Subject: RE: Certifications don't count!
>
> I had interviewed an candidate, who looked very very impressive on CV and
> was OCM. But it lacked technical depth. He had difficulty in answering some
> of basic backup question and RMAN questions.
>
>
>
> So, OCM only means that they some extra money to give to Oracle
> Corporation. It no indication of that they have the practical knowledge or
> would be suitable for the job.
>
>
>
> Ultimately we rejected this candidate….
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Vishal Gupta
>
>
>
> *From:* oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:
> oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] *On Behalf Of *Robert Freeman
> *Sent:* 06 June 2008 21:47
> *To:* oracledba.williams@xxxxxxxxx
> *Cc:* Oracle-L Freelists
> *Subject:* Re: Certifications don't count!
>
>
>
> I assure you that if I had a candidate with an OCM cert on his resume, I'd
> notice. I could care less about OCA and an OCP is just another thing I'd
> consider, but much less so than an OCM.
>
> Personally, my opinion is that a resume is not much anyway. It gives me
> some idea if the candidate can write, but in my experience the bad
> candidates over inflate work history and experience (and crash and burt in
> technical interviews) and very often, strangely, the good candidates under
> inflate their experience (maybe they have so much that they feel it's
> bragging? I don't know). Then there are those who are still steeped in the
> "One Page" resume... whoah people, please give me all of your experience!! I
> can generally smoke out a candidate technically in a phone interview in
> about 5 minutes or less. IMHO, that is where the winners beat out the
> losers for the most part.
>
> Now, if I could just find a good DBA to come work for me (must be LDS -
> please, no emails about discrimination, it is perfectly legal because we are
> a Church!). We need people, NOW!
>
> Cheers!
>
> RF
>
>
>
> Robert G. Freeman
> Author:
> Oracle Database 11g New Features (Oracle Press)
> Portable DBA: Oracle (Oracle Press)
> Oracle Database 10g New Features (Oracle Press)
> Oracle9i RMAN Backup and Recovery (Oracle Press)
> Oracle9i New Feature
> Blog: http://robertgfreeman.blogspot.com (Oracle Press)
>
> The LDS Church needs DBA's NOW!
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Dennis Williams <oracledba.williams@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: Oracle-L Freelists <oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Friday, June 6, 2008 1:45:16 PM
> Subject: Certifications don't count!
>
> List,
>
>
>
> It's official - hiring managers consider the value of a certification to be
> lower than a few years ago.
>
>
>
>
> http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Careers/IT-Certifications-Declining-in-Value/?kc=EWKNLEND060608STR1
>
>
>
> Doesn't specifically mention Oracle. It does mention what a great deal
> certification is for the people who sell training.
>
>
>
> Dennis Williams
>
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