tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9944221.post115327872187850152..comments2023-11-03T06:15:55.087-05:00Comments on Meme Agora: Boy Scout CapabilitiesNeal Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12839796402858974817noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9944221.post-1154538569932462552006-08-02T12:09:00.000-05:002006-08-02T12:09:00.000-05:00Most of the certification programs I've seen are n...Most of the certification programs I've seen are not very good. I had a smart friend who studied for 2 weeks and passed the J2EE certification test after having never used Java before. Conferences won't do it either.<BR/><BR/>Like the Boy Scouts, you need real testing, not just a multiple-choice test. <I>Tie</I> a knot, don't choose the correct answer on how to tie a knot. Actually, PowerBuilder used to have a really good certification program, where you had to pass a test and defend an application you wrote. Alas, no one wants to put that much effort into it these days.<BR/><BR/>This is a future-state thing I'd like to see here at ThoughtWorks. We have a really rigorous hiring process; I'd like to see more formality around earning merit.Neal Fordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12839796402858974817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9944221.post-1154529573037324122006-08-02T09:39:00.000-05:002006-08-02T09:39:00.000-05:00Aside from individual topic recognition, how is th...Aside from individual topic recognition, how is this any more beneficial than certification programs?<BR/><BR/>Is this part of your current culture? Are your cubes decorated with conference name badges?Dean Goodmansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10314983135063028209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9944221.post-1154459687860133452006-08-01T14:14:00.000-05:002006-08-01T14:14:00.000-05:00Merit Badges sound like a great idea. But how wou...Merit Badges sound like a great idea. But how would you determine a person's competence in a particular area in the corporate world? This may be what certification exams are "supposed" to determine. But we all know that some people are better at memorization than others, and that doesn't necessarily show competence. :) <BR/><BR/>I still struggle with how to go about interviewing potential candidates for a company, especially in IT. Some people are smoother talkers than others. With that comes people who can talk the talk but can't walk the walk. With that also comes a few people who can walk the walk but not talk the talk. So how can you really tell how competent someone is until after you hire them and work with them for a few months?<BR/><BR/>If we all could wear our sashes to interviews that would be sweet!Gaylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00237570387887496946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9944221.post-1153314847279604902006-07-19T08:14:00.000-05:002006-07-19T08:14:00.000-05:00+1~ anonymous z+1<BR/><BR/>~ anonymous zanonymous zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17603974559405152735noreply@blogger.com