I agree with you about knowledge, but do not forget the importance of
teachability. Sure someone can have expert knowledge in an area and live on
that knowledge, but what happens when it becomes stale or proven wrong. When
looking at a piece of paper (i.e. resume) how do YOU distinguish knowledge
versus teachability?
Personally, when I reviewed resumes, I looked at education first then looked
toward certifications. While technical degrees were important, especially at
the graduate level, I looked for liberal arts degrees more. I found most
success with those who studied the classical languages and mythology. They had
developed a methodology that translated well to troubleshooting. All I had to
do was give them the technical aptitude which most picked up in weeks not
months. I also looked for AA degrees when I had immediate needs because I found
they could hit the ground running faster than BSCS graduates. They just tended
to burnout faster.
Just a note on PhD holders. My success with these candidates has been mixed. If
you get one that understands how little anyone knows, its great. However, one
that thinks they have arrived and know all can be a cancerous pain to be
avoided. When considering a PhD applicant, interview carefully. There are
potentially great rewards with these candidates.
On to the certification only applicants... Again, I see these for immediate
needs. But, even then my success has been limited. Many times, I find cert-only
folks turn out to be paper pushers without any real knowledge. A key question I
ask these folks is when they passed the first exam and when they passed the
last exam.
- CB
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