ARM Community: Do we really need another IT certification? - ARM Community

Much has been said about the value of work experience over certifications in the IT industry. Sure, certifications can be used by hiring managers to distinguish between similar job applicants, and they can certainly help job seekers stand out from the crowd in a competitive job market. But all other things being equal, wouldn't most hiring managers pick an experienced applicant without certifications, over an inexperienced one with certifications? Couldn't hiring managers develop their own list of technical questions to quiz prospective employees with?

So why are ARM launching a new IT certification called the ARM Accredited Engineer Program?

1. The computing industry is changing…fast

There is a shift taking place in our incredibly dynamic industry: computing is going mobile. There has been a significant migration away from power-hungry desktop and laptop platforms towards much lighter, smaller and power-efficient mobile computing platforms. With a strong heritage in the mobile phone industry, ARM has been well placed to gain significant traction in the mobile computing market in this “post-PC” era. The result of this has been an explosion of devices targeting Linux/Android and Windows on ARM-based hardware.

A global and consistent framework for use in evaluating knowledge of this rapidly developing ecosystem hasn't existed…until now.

2. Students and engineers need to demonstrate competence in ARM architecture

Students and experienced engineers alike are racing to come to terms with this change in the industry. The number of job adverts for ARM engineers has increased dramatically in recent years. OEMs are training up whole teams of ARM engineers who have traditionally been focused on other microprocessor architectures.

3. Certifications DO make a difference

Individuals are also keen to demonstrate that they have the necessary skills to work effectively, in a very competitive job market. According to a recent study, 86% of hiring managers said IT certifications are a high or medium priority during the candidate evaluation process. In another survey of 700 IT professionals, of those with certification the majority said it had led to a new job, or an increase in salary or bonus.

As the great English philosopher and scientist Herbert Spencer once said, “The great aim of education is not knowledge but action”. Certifications are no substitute for experience, but in a fast-changing industry, students and engineers need to provide credible evidence that they really are fit for the job, so that they can go on to gain the experience that really adds value to their resume, and the industry.

4. Hiring managers need a better way to benchmark job seekers, and existing engineers

How exactly do you measure experience? For example, two candidates may each claim they have three years of relevant experience on their resume, but how do you distinguish the candidate who has been actively contributing and developing during that time, from the one who has been enthusiastically staring out of the window? Therefore, claimed experience is insufficient as evidence of competence.

So as a hiring manager you may need to develop and maintain a list of technical questions with which to test prospective employees. Do you really have time to do this? Hiring managers with little or no previous experience of ARM technology may find it challenging to design appropriate ARM-related technical questions.

Employers need a reliable and consistent benchmark that will help them successfully recruit and train the best engineers. An ARM Accredited Engineer will already have been comprehensively tested in a consistent manner, across a broad range of relevant subject areas. So hiring managers can bypass detailed technical questioning, and focus on other aspects of selection.

Learn more about the AAE Program at TechCon 2012

At ARM TechCon this year, we’ll be offering an introduction to the AAE program. On Day 1 we’ll be providing a set of exam preparation lectures, normally worth $500, for free.On Day 2 you can learn more about the AAE Program from industry practitioners and test drive a representative system with sample questions. Finally, on Day 3 the expo floor we will have an exhibition pod where delegates can talk to the AAE program team and find out about partnership opportunities, and take a pilot test. All attendees on any of the days will get a 20% discount code towards registering for the full test.

For more information:
The AAE Program
Media Alert
10 hot topics at ARM TechCon (EE Times)

David Abreu, Online Service Manager, ARM Services Division. David joined ARM in September 2012. His role is to help ARM make greater use of the web in delivery of training, support, documentation, and the exam-based ARM Accredited Engineer Program. David has experience in website design, web content management, social media, and digital marketing.