General Discussions

**Guerrilla** · 02-21-2008, 06:54 AM

Hi There,

I am writing an article on training for the web design industry. The focus for my article is "Portfolio Vs Certification" when applying for entry level junior web designer positions.

With lots of training companies charging £6k+ for Certified Internet Webmaster is it really necessary to get?

Initial talks I have been having with other web designers indicate that they would rather the applicant had a good portfolio with examples of their work and code. In the past, I myself have been in charge of recruiting designers and my opinion was that most new people in industry may have had a CIW but their portfolio was of a very low standard.

Would it be possible for you to answer these questions below and possibly use it as a quote in my article?

1. Are you responsible for employing web designers?
2. How long have you worked in the industry?
3. Do you look out for the Certified Internet Webmaster on applicants CV's and prioritise them because of this?
4. Do you ask to see the designers portfolio?
5. What other factors do you take into consideration when someone is applying for a junior role?

I hope you can find the time to answer this, please feel free to send response as a PM if you would like to remain anonymous.

Many thanks,

G

**blue-dreamer** · 02-21-2008, 07:01 AM

I don't emply people so can't answer the questions, however I'd say the ability to work to a certain standard outweighs any "qualifications", and therefore a good portfolio is probably the best measure. You can have all the qualifications in the world but if you can't deliver the goods they're pointless IMHO.

**ewomack** · 02-21-2008, 01:12 PM

I also don't employ people, but if I were to hire a web developer I would emphasize their portfolio over any certification. Certification measures a person's ability to take a test far more than it measures realworld ability. Also, if you're certified you should already have enough experience to have a stunning mandible dropping portfolio anyway. A certification with a crappy portfolio is meaningless. A great portfolio with certification on top of it would get my money.

**ADAM Web Design** · 02-21-2008, 01:23 PM

1) I was at one point (2003-2004).

2) 8.5 years.

3) No, because most certifications are useless and don't establish real applied knowledge. They merely demonstrate that, in a rigid environment with very restrictive boundaries, a webmaster can accomplish limited tasks.

4) Absolutely, and then I asked them questions about it.

5) Compensation (that's always a factor no matter what), demonstration of skill set and knowledge, attitude (don't call me an a**hole if you're looking for work...yes, that actually happened twice), how they handle a small task. That's all I can think of.

**Learning Newbie** · 02-21-2008, 03:25 PM

I'm a programmer who works with designers, but doesn't hire them or sign their checks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guerrilla

With lots of training companies charging £6k+ for Certified Internet Webmaster is it really necessary to get?

No. Certifications are for people who don't know anything and can't learn on their own by doing. If I wanted to hire someone, an IT person with a tech certification is more likely to

Want a higher salary to pay for their certification
Have more attitude because they jumped through a hoop
Pick up bad habits (say tables for layout) in design school
Use Dreamweaver

Honestly if it was a toss up between two people with equal skills and one had your CIW but the other one didn't, I'd be more likely to hire the one without it. For these reasons - I'd expect a better worker at a better price. And I'd expect the person without the CIW spent that time learning to hone their skills instead o flearning to take a test.

There are people who know all the tags, but can't use them to make something anybody would ever look on. There are people who don't know half the tags and never got out of high school who are talented designers. I don't know if you're looking for a html coder or a web designer, but you especially can't teach art talent, so I'd look at the portfolio any day.

**ForrestCroce** · 02-21-2008, 10:01 PM

Real world experience is more valued in most industries than any type of degree or certificate. Companies don't especially need smart people, they need productive ones who can give them the benefits of intelligence and knowledge. That's true in software development, web design, photography ... even mutual fund managers are graded on performance, not their degree.