Re: RE: Certifications?

Rob, et All:

One of the reasons IBM no longer offers the tests free at COMMON, aside
from the obvious costs of doing it, since IBM pays for their own T1 and
space for the testing site, is the statistics were getting messed up. 
With the free tests, folks would just give a test they were not really
ready for a try, and not surprisingly fail it.  No big deal, they did
not pay for it, but boy did it mess up the statistics used to determine
if the test was indeed fair and performing well.  Performing well means
the test is discriminating between qualified and unqualified folks.

Those of us that have participated in creating the IBM certification
tests take quite a bit of pride in designing a real world, experienced
based exams that everyone can believe is a true measure of skill and
knowledge.  Based on the statistical results that IBM cares to share
with us,(which is not much at all) we feel good we have achieved our
goals.    

If any of you feel you would be qualified to assist in writing the
exams, (many of you are more that qualified in several areas) contact me
privately and I will get you in touch with the appropriate IBM folks. 
IBM is always interested in getting as much "new blood" in to the
program as possible.  That's how the tests stay real and relevant.

Jim Oberholtzer

----- Original Message -----
From: rob@xxxxxxxxx
Date: Tuesday, October 10, 2006 9:34 am
Subject: RE: Certifications?
To: Midrange-jobs <midrange-jobs@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

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I wonder if the high rate of failure is more indicative of:
- burnout at COMMON
- Instead of 20 years of experience they only have 1 year of 
experience, 
repeated 20 times.
- New hire sent to COMMON, took the spate of RPG classes and then 
tried 
the exam.

I hope they looked at that as something they need to learn and not 
- "There's too much emphasis on stuff that's not used in the 'real 
world'. 
Who needs subroutines when you can put it all in the main body?"
- "Some people are just better at testing.  I have the experience."
- "Testing is discriminatory against the 
(white/asian/black/male/female/crossgender/your species here) person."

Rob Berendt
-- 
Group Dekko Services, LLC
Dept 01.073
PO Box 2000
Dock 108
6928N 400E
Kendallville, IN 46755
http://www.dekko.com





"Burns, Bryan" <Bryan_Burns@xxxxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent by: midrange-jobs-bounces+rob=dekko.com@xxxxxxxxxxxx
10/10/2006 10:00 AM

To
"David Gibbs" <david@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Midrange-jobs" 
<midrange-jobs@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
cc

Subject
RE: Certifications?






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I've been told that there's a difference between iSeries 
certifications 
and Microsoft certifications.  That being that the MS certs 
indicate you 
are knowledgeable enough to START a job, and the iSeries certs 
indicate 
you are COMPETENT to DO the job.  Big difference, eh?

My boss likes to see us get certs.  He wants me to get the iSeries 
Administrator cert.  I just took it at the September Common and 
failed it. 
It was the last thing I did at COMMON - Thursday at 2:00 p.m. and 
failing 
it was a real blow.  I had been preparing for it for months 
starting with 
the assessment exam I took last December.  The test is difficult!  
After 
failing the admin test, I took the command operations test which I 
passed 
with flying colors.  The IBM proctor was happy that I passed as she 
said 
very few people had passed any of the tests she gave during the 
week.  She 
said that the RPG and Admin tests were very difficult with few 
passing 
scores.

During my school years, I always excelled at multiple choice tests 
where 
you could often determine a answer from the way a question was 
worded; but 
the Iseries cert tests don't work that way.  As Jim Oberholtzer 
said, you 
need the experience to go along with the knowledge.


Bryan Burns
ECHO, Inc.
iSeries Certified - Command Operations 


-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-jobs-bounces+bryan_burns=echo-usa.com@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-jobs-bounces+bryan_burns=echo-usa.com@xxxxxxxxxxxx]On
Behalf Of David Gibbs
Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 10:58 PM
To: Midrange-jobs
Subject: Certifications?


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list!*** If you want the reply to go to the list, use REPLY-TO-ALL
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An interesting thread was started on Slashdot about IT Certifications
(http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/10/06/0337209).

I'm curious as to how valuable certifications are in the System i 
market.
david
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