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Ask HN: Is it possible to get cerified in PHP, Perl, Python, C/C++, etc.?

2 points by arjungmenon ↗ HN
In my resume I've listed the names of all the programming languages I know, but I don't have any hard proofs (like certifications) to back it up. (This applies esp. to languages like C/C++, Python, Ruby, LISP, ... and even though I know them inside out; I've not been able to find a certification program in them).

Some employers test their candidates, but others just believe in what you write. I know of a PHP programmer who listed in a resume a bunch of languages (LISP, Ruby, etc.) that he didn't know for a job that involved PHP programming. The employer didn't check whether he actually knew those languages, and it certainly increased his odds of success compared to his peers who had been more truthful. In the end he got the job.

I think it would be good to have certifications that prove to your employers that you know the languages well. There are well-established certification programs for Java, Oracle, etc. I'm wondering if there are any reputable companies/institutes offering certification in languages like PHP, Perl, Python, C/C++, etc.

7 comments

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vaksel
Not really a fan of certificates...seems like a waste. The only time you should get one, is if your company promotes them...i.e. take so and so class and get a bonus or a raise.

Personally I think you'd be much better of making a few sample programs in each language, and showing those to the potential employers. Just throw them up on a site, and throw the url into the resume.

mnemonik
Create a pet project or two, contribute to open source. These will show what you actually know, where as a certification will largely just become a way for people to game the system.
gaius
You can be a Microsoft Certified Developer if you want, I think that includes Visual C++ or maybe it's all C# now. Oracle does certifications for PL/SQL too. No-one takes either of them terribly seriously.
gaius
Oh, and Sun does Certified Java Developer too.
physcab
I would agree that certifications are not really important. Develop a solid portfolio of projects, show that users benefited, and then walk your employer through the lessons you learned.
lacker
From the resumes I've seen, most people list far more languages on their resume than you could expect them to be very proficient with. I wouldn't worry about it - there are a lot more important qualities for a software engineer than "knowing the languages well".

One friend of mine did like to ask interviewees questions like "So, you say you are skilled in Prolog. Could you write some Prolog code to reverse a linked list?"

ideamonk
I just hope I don't get to see a day when certificates for C/C++, Python, PHP! start to exist and people start cashing on it! Some things are meant to be free from certifications, projects and work speaks of better quality than a certificate. Where ever money and tag starts coming into picture, there corruption too starts sneaking in... thats evident when I see my colleagues clearing CCNA papers and Sun certifications with help of google.