Re: Re[2]: [Survey] What would you like to ask IBM about RPG cer

["Kathleen Kostuck" <kkostuck@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Brad,

Ask how best to prepare.  Expected time to completion.  Pass/Failure rates.
Number of certifications already issued.  Demographics of successfully
certified programmers, like average years of experience and breakdown by
industry type, geographics, etc.  Consultants vs. captive. How was the test
written? By whom? How often is it updated?

I'd like to know.

Kathleen Kostuck
___________________
pager (414) 402-0820       fax (414) 495-4986
kkostuck@execpc.com
AS400 Solutions
Secretary - Wisconsin Midrange Computer Professionals Association   
___________________
----------
> From: eric.delong@pmsi-services.com
> To: MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
> Subject: Re[2]: [Survey] What would you like to ask IBM about RPG cer
> Date: Wednesday, September 23, 1998 10:33 AM
> 
> 
>      Personally, I don't believe that any certification or degree 
>      program can be used to grade ability. I have neither, nor do I see 
>      the need to attain such to prove myself. Years of experience pay 
>      off in terms of skill and wisdom that cannot be matched in a 
>      classroom. 
>      
>      To me, the only real value in such a certification program would be 
>      for persons new to the platform, just out of school, and so forth. 
>      Do I think such certification should be a requirement for a 
>      position? Absolutely NOT....
>      
>      I have a hard time figuring out just who is reaping benefit from 
>      the certification programs. Is it the employer who can expect at 
>      least minimal competency from a potential candidate, or is it the 
>      newbie who's resume declares lack of experience...... either way, 
>      the benefit is limited.
>      
>      eric.delong@pmsi-services.com 
> 
> 
> ______________________________ Reply Separator
_________________________________
> Subject: Re: [Survey] What would you like to ask IBM about RPG certif
> Author:  <MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com > at INET_WACO
> Date:    9/23/98 9:00 PM
> 
> 
> Brad,
>      
> In a message dated 98-09-21 16:33:08 EDT, you write:
>      
> > I'm putting together an article for MC that is sort of a Q&A with IBM 
> >  about the benifits or pitfalls of RPG Certification.  
>      
> Congratulations!
>      
> >  If you wanted to ask IBM a question, what would it be?  Things like
"Why 
> >  should I be certified if I already have a degree?" or "I don't use
SEU, 
> >  so why should the questions on the test about SEU effect my final
> >  score?".  Anything you want.  
> <<snip>>
>      
> The "why should I be certified if I already have a degree" question is
pretty 
> self-evident.  Saaawwwrrrrreeee, but I've dealt with numerous people with
even 
> advanced degrees that couldn't write a decent piece of code to save their

> lives.  Programming is an art, and "ya' either got it or you don't".  But
that 
> wasn't your question.
>      
> IBM has tried to develop an "ability-neutral" certification test.  I
believe 
> that the latter is a fool's pursuit.  There are just _FAR_ too many
different 
> "flavors" of RPG sites for any one test to serve them all well.  Use
CODE/400 
> or VA/RPG?  SEU questions are worthless.  Vice-versa is worthless as
well.
> ILE sites rarely use RPG/400 and vice-versa.  I would propose that there
be an 
> "editor" test seperate of the "language certification" test, and would
ask IBM 
> why RPG isn't seperated into its' various disciplines...
>      
> JMHO,
>      
> Dean Asmussen
> Enterprise Systems Consulting, Inc.
> Fuquay-Varina, NC  USA
> E-Mail:  DAsmussen@aol.com
>      
> "A man who is not a liberal in his youth has no heart.  A man who is not 
> conservative in his later years has no brain." -- Otto Van Bismarck
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> 
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