December 22, 2011 at 6:54 pm
My boss got her boss to pay for my one SQL server cert, but is ignoring my request for financially supporting my further cert endeavor (study materials purchase, and test fee).
In this kind of situation, I think I should still continue studying, but would you still take the test at your expense?
Do companies set limit on supporting employees' cert endeavor to your knowledge?
December 22, 2011 at 7:32 pm
lkokeunda (12/22/2011)
My boss got her boss to pay for my one SQL server cert, but is ignoring my request for financially supporting my further cert endeavor (study materials purchase, and test fee).In this kind of situation, I think I should still continue studying, but would you still take the test at your expense?
I'm not sure why anyone would even ask such a question. Sounds like the company helped quite a bit. Time for you to help yourself a bit.
Do companies set limit on supporting employees' cert endeavor to your knowledge?
I'd say you're damned lucky. A lot of companies support squat for their employees. Count your lucky stars that you even have a job never mind one that helped you with your certs.
--Jeff Moden
December 22, 2011 at 7:44 pm
Jeff Moden (12/22/2011)
lkokeunda (12/22/2011)
My boss got her boss to pay for my one SQL server cert, but is ignoring my request for financially supporting my further cert endeavor (study materials purchase, and test fee).In this kind of situation, I think I should still continue studying, but would you still take the test at your expense?
I'm not sure why anyone would even ask such a question. Sounds like the company helped quite a bit. Time for you to help yourself a bit.
I am asking because most (not all) employed people have their employers backing their cert efforts.
Do companies set limit on supporting employees' cert endeavor to your knowledge?
I'd say you're damned lucky. A lot of companies support squat for their employees. Count your lucky stars that you even have a job never mind one that helped you with your certs.
[/quote]
At least in my company, the managements have had their certs paid for by the company, and so did the employees who buddy with the management.
Lastly, with due respect, it sounds like your opinion sounds to be an unemployed person's perspective. I would find an employed person's opinion equally helpful.
December 22, 2011 at 8:21 pm
lkokeunda (12/22/2011)
Jeff Moden (12/22/2011)
lkokeunda (12/22/2011)
My boss got her boss to pay for my one SQL server cert, but is ignoring my request for financially supporting my further cert endeavor (study materials purchase, and test fee).In this kind of situation, I think I should still continue studying, but would you still take the test at your expense?
I'd say you're damned lucky. A lot of companies support squat for their employees. Count your lucky stars that you even have a job never mind one that helped you with your certs.
Lastly, with due respect, it sounds like your opinion sounds to be an unemployed person's perspective. I would find an employed person's opinion equally helpful.
With all due respect, Jeff is gainfully employed and is a MVP ... and gives of his own time and at his own expense at various SQL Saturday training events so that others may learn at little or no expensive of their own. In addition Jeff was Elected as the Exceptional DBA of 2011.
Read this:
http://qa.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Exceptional+DBA+Awards/75988/
In any case, I would recommend that you spend your own funds, for training materials, and for taking the test. It shows initiative and a willingness to learn on your part. Which by the way would be a plus on your resume, when searching for a new job. For if the question came up in my interviewing you for a position with my employer, and you stated that you did not pursue further training and certification because your employer would not pay for it.... well let me say I would not hire you.
December 22, 2011 at 8:41 pm
Sure, I will pay for training materials and test fees from my own personal funds if I decide it's worth it.
If you are in a hiring authority, it is your right to hire/not hire whoever you choose for whatever reason you deem reasonable.
However, not to start an interview forum discussion, why, in the world, would anyone with average intelligence say to an interviewer that I did not pursue further education and cert because my employer did not pay for them? That makes no sense.
December 23, 2011 at 2:02 am
I've paid for every certification bar one out of my own pocket, I'm paying for M.Sc out of my own pocket and I'll be perusing future (very expensive) certifications the same way.
Companies that pay for any education are unfortunately very rare.
However, not to start an interview forum discussion, why, in the world, would anyone with average intelligence say to an interviewer that I did not pursue further education and cert because my employer did not pay for them? That makes no sense.
How would you answer if you were in an interview and the interviewer asked why you hadn't pursued further certifications and you hadn't because your company hadn't paid for them?
Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability
December 23, 2011 at 6:00 am
lkokeunda (12/22/2011)
Lastly, with due respect, it sounds like your opinion sounds to be an unemployed person's perspective. I would find an employed person's opinion equally helpful.
Actually, I'm gainly fully and happily employed. Part of the reason why is because I've studied on my own and at my own expense because most companies won't pay for anything especially nowadays. Because of that, I think it odd that anyone would ask the questions you did.
At least in my company, the managements have had their certs paid for by the company, and so did the employees who buddy with the management.
It sounds like you're unhappy where you work. Perhaps you should change jobs.
--Jeff Moden
December 23, 2011 at 8:46 am
lkokeunda (12/22/2011)
My boss got her boss to pay for my one SQL server cert, but is ignoring my request for financially supporting my further cert endeavor (study materials purchase, and test fee).In this kind of situation, I think I should still continue studying, but would you still take the test at your expense?
Do companies set limit on supporting employees' cert endeavor to your knowledge?
I currently pay for my own study materials as well as for the exams. Consider it an investment in your future.
Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
_______________________________________________
I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
SQL RNNR
Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
Learn Extended Events
December 23, 2011 at 1:31 pm
I recently was recruited to a new employer. They wanted certifcations but I had none and they are will to pay for expenses related to getting certified. It appears that I am VERY fortunate.
December 24, 2011 at 7:47 am
Mr. Moden and/or anyone else who cares to contradict me,
With due respect, I said when I began this thread that even if the employer doesn't pay for certification fee that I will still continue studying. (If not, why would I begin asking a question this nature???) Due to the current (global) recession, I understand the companies are becoming more and more unwilling, if they are not already, to fork out any funds for employee certification.
Companies that pay for any education are unfortunately very rare.
Most companies do have policy of educational reimbursement up to a limit that applies if you take any class from an accredited institution, and if you pass the class. If you take some class from a college or university and you pass, then you're more than likely to receive the reimbursement. This does not apply if you take the class from some privately owned tech school from my observation. Educational reimbursement policy doesn't necessarily apply to vendor certifications.
Again, I will fork out money from my own personal funds for the test fees (as you don't really need to buy studay materials due to the abundance of the materials online) if I decide that's worth the investment, but is it???? I guess that really depends on your individual situation and there is no definitive answer.
If I ever run into an interviewer in a job interview situation who cares to ask why I have not pursued further certifications (I doubt this will happen as interviewer are much more likely to ask questions about the amount of experience rather than the the amount of certifications), I will just say that I am simply not able to afford the cost of the certification at this time OR I values gain experience higher that getting certification so I opted not to pursue further certifications as I'm already certified in some areas.
Thanks for your interest though including how happy or unhappy I may be at my current place of work as if that matters to you.
I will add my 2 cents though that your relationship with the management and your reputation at your company still matter more than the current (global) recession in your chance of getting your employer's financial assistance. If the management likes you and they think you're worth the investment, then they will still provide assistance (even though it may not be all the way) so that would mean that my employer having helped me a bit means that I may be valued more than I thought I was at my company based on what everyone else on this thread is saying. I hope that makes sense???:-)
I just wanted to find out if other companies are or are not paying for employee certifications. That was the intent for my starting this thread. Not to start an online quarrel.
I hope we can just share mutually helpful info in mutually respectful ways without struggling to change someone else's opinion.
You have the last word. 🙂
December 25, 2011 at 5:20 pm
{Edit} Never mind... Post withdrawn. It wasn't going to help. 😉
--Jeff Moden
December 26, 2011 at 3:01 pm
Speaking as an employer I've had good and bad experiences with employee training and certification
The one we spent a LOT of money on left immediately after gaining their qualifications and complained bitterly when we pointed out the clause in their contract that required him to reimburse us for part of the costs we'd invested to give him a leg up his career ladder for the benefit of other firms.
Since this 'mercenary' left the ICT team have been happier and have produced better work as a consequence, and they appear to understand why this one bad apple caused a problem for the rest
We're gradually building up trust again but once bitten twice shy, so we're now much more careful, and dare I say it - tight fisted - how we spend our training budget and to what purpose and for which individuals
Like they say in a lot of these posts - it depends
December 26, 2011 at 9:59 pm
I end up going to as many e programming or SQL Server related events as I can, like the SQL Rally not long ago, or some of the one day events that come around like SQL Saturdays or Microsoft sponsored events.
I try to always give the job advance notice, and because of my willingness to use my vacation days to go to those events, and my desire to improve myself, I've had some good luck.
While my job doesn't contribute any funds, for some of the events I've attended, they opted to pay me as if I was in the office, instead of whacking my vacation time.
Lowell
December 27, 2011 at 9:41 am
As to a soultion to your query. What I would do, since you seem to be worried about the expense and attention given to other employees at differing times, is approach your employer about the policy of continuing education. You can ask what the policy of the company is toward this endeavour; such as partial reimbursement, performance rated reimbursements, no company reimbursement, etc.
Though it is not very common for an employer to volunteer to pay for certification, approaching your employer with the willingness to pay for certifications that will inevidently benefit the employer, in at least the short run, may gain you some reimbursement or compensation. Good luck and don't be put off if the answer is no. Most employers will see your desire to further your career and could bring positive improvements later down the road.
I would NOT, however, bring up any past actions or benefits given to other collegues. Each benefit, not matter how cookie cutter it may seem, is a seperate occassion and WILL turn your employer off.
Good luck in your future certifications and kudo's for wanting to seek them out.
December 27, 2011 at 11:23 am
I've worked at quite a few places over the last 24 years, and only one of them has offered to help pay for any sort of continuing education. That was the one where I was a dishwasher at a restaurant, in 1987. They did offer matching funds for education in certain areas, up to a few thousand dollars a year (I don't remember the precise amount, but it wasn't all that much; maybe $2000 per year or something like that).
It probably depends on the job market you're in.
In some countries/regions, degrees and certs matter a lot, and supporting the quest for these is considered a standard/common part of a compensation package.
In others, you're expected to pay for it yourself, and that's part of the justification for higher salary for tech workers than for many other positions.
- Gus "GSquared", RSVP, OODA, MAP, NMVP, FAQ, SAT, SQL, DNA, RNA, UOI, IOU, AM, PM, AD, BC, BCE, USA, UN, CF, ROFL, LOL, ETC
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