The short answer? Yes
especially if you’re early in your career.
But here’s the real problem with certifications: they don’t actually show you how to do your job.
Let me explain.
The Bathroom Renovation
I recently renovated my bathroom. I have no plumbing or carpentry certifications, yet I’m pretty pleased with the result. Don’t get me wrong—I’ve spent the last 30+ years honing my DIY skills, tackling small projects, and getting advice from people who are competent (but not necessarily plumbers). My brothers a fireman and a welder helped out, and between us, we figured things out.
And that’s the key point: certifications alone don’t qualify you to do the job.
Aristotle, Ethos, and Practical Intelligence
Aristotle had a brilliant way of looking at Ethos, which boils down to credibility. He argued that credibility comes from two things:
1. Knowledge (which you gain through certifications, research, and study)
2. Practicality (which you gain by solving real-world problems)
When you combine these, you develop practical intelligence—the ability to apply knowledge effectively in real scenarios.
Let’s go back to my bathroom. Before starting, I watched countless YouTube videos, leaned on my brother’s practical experience, and reflected on smaller plumbing jobs I’d done before. Was it easy? Nope. I spent a ridiculous amount of time troubleshooting—just like I do in my DevOps job. But now, with that experience, I could probably do the same job in 60% of the time.
Why Certifications Still Matter
Certifications are a fantastic way to gain foundational knowledge. They open doors. They give you a structured way to learn. But the real magic happens when you combine them with hands-on experience.
Ever had a conversation with an expert? You can tell who has real-world experience by the way they describe solutions.
• Experienced professionals talk in the past tense: “I’ve done this before, and here’s what worked.”
• Less experienced folks tend to speak in hypotheticals: “I think this might work.”
That’s not to say the less experienced person is wrong. In fact, as a leader, it’s crucial to listen—sometimes they have the right solution. Just because you’ve always done something a certain way doesn’t mean it’s the best way.
My Certification Journey
I’ve done my fair share of certifications—MCSE, CCIE, CISSP, TOGAF, and (begrudgingly) PRINCE2. Some were invaluable, others… well, let’s just say I don’t talk about PRINCE2 much.
But here’s the bottom line:
• Certifications get you through the front door.
• Practical intelligence is what makes you valuable once you’re inside.
So, get the certifications. But more importantly, get your hands dirty. Whether it’s fixing a pipeline (DevOps or plumbing), solving infrastructure problems, or tiling a bathroom—experience is what truly counts.
