Security/Technology Certifications: Are They Worth It? – Part III
In 2018, I began to see the horrific reality of certifications. The “successes” I had achieved and the transformation of my professional “profile” began to attract the attention of my employer, recruiters, and other companies…
Unfortunately, the intentions weren’t entirely positive. My certifications began to be used for commercial purposes, with the typical phrase “we have qualified and certified personnel,” which ultimately proved to be nothing more than another resource to win business. What came next was what made me realize how rotten the industry was.
Certifications in several countries, and specifically in Latin America, are often used to win business with private entities and close bids in government contracting processes. It’s incredible how a hiring process can be influenced in favor of engineers’ profiles tied to specific certifications.
My profile, and those of other colleagues whom I appreciate and respect, began to be published without authorization on government contracting websites. Some “businessmen” contacted us offering us money just to share our profiles in order to win business. Pure corruption!
Even on platforms like LinkedIn, I’ve seen something similar happen: some recruiters contact you, offer you job opportunities, with the goal of getting you to submit your resume and certifications. This is easy to detect, and I’ve already confronted some “recruiters.”
So, a recommendation for those who hire services: verify that the resumes or profiles you receive are legitimate and that there is a real professional connection between the company that will provide the services and the resumes they are offering.
Recommendation for security enthusiasts: If someone offers you money to share your profiles, simply say no and, if possible, report them. I know we’re in a financial crisis, and any extra money helps, but we definitely need to end corruption and put an end to this vicious cycle. You could also report corrupt practices to the appropriate authorities.
If a recruiter contacts you, verify that it’s a reputable company. If possible, request a video call to understand the scope of what they’re looking for before sharing any support. After all, your LinkedIn profile contains all the initial information they might need.
Conclusion: In this post, I wanted to expose the dark side of “certifications” and how they can be used for unethical purposes.