Dear Blog,
Lately I've noticed a lot of people (no names, you know who you are) who are Microsoft Technologists writing articles, blogging, emailing, and suffixing their names like "Joe Blow - MCAD, MCSD, MCDBA, MCT, MCSE." Is this really necessary? Is it really informative? Isn't it like "Joe Blow - I know my shit so step lively!" Is it better to see all these certifications or would you rather see "Joe Blow - BS CS, MS CS, MBA, 1400 SATs, 158 IQ." I have a great friend in Boston who's team is arguably the most certified on the planet. It became a game for them. For a while in 2000, one of his guys had passed every test MS offered. Sure, I'm MS Certified up the wazoo, who isn't? Is/are certification(s) going to ship my product on time? Will my product, written by an MCSD, scale to 20,000 concurrent users? Is my SQL Server database, written by a MCDBA, indexed appropriately? Certifications aside people...ship software. Shrinkwrap it and sell it. Run successful projects and deliver on time and under budget. Enjoy your work and teach others.
Signed,Scott Hanselman, MC*.*
Scott Hanselman is a former professor, former Chief Architect in finance, now speaker, consultant, father, diabetic, and Microsoft employee. I am a failed stand-up comic, a cornrower, and a book author.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed herein are my own personal opinions and do not represent my employer's view in any way.