So far I've spent thousands and thousands of dollars to get my MCSE. I got certified in August last year and I still can't get a job that has anything to do with what I was studying and preparing for because of my lack of industry experience. All that matters is experience, and the [certification] itself doesn't have much value to it. I hope I'm wrong, and I hope that all the money I spent, and all the knowledge I got is not going to just go to waste.

This doesn't appear to be an isolated occurrence given some of the e-mails we have been receiving. Unfortunately, I'm afraid I don't have a simple answer that is going to fix this situation.

I'm not able to pinpoint exactly what is at fault here, but this seems to be due to two main factors. First, many of those selling the education that leads to certification are overselling the benefits of certification, setting unrealistic expectations for the participants. This isn't just the MCSE program: A radio ad on my local radio station that sells CIW certification courses promises a great future in the Internet industry as a Web master or Web designer. Unfortunately, this is at the same time that dotcoms are laying off staff in large numbers, so even those with extensive experience are finding it difficult getting their next job. We keep hearing numbers of a skill shortage of x00,000 in IT (the exact number depends on the source), yet I wonder about the real extent of any shortage. Perhaps if we could clone people with two- to five-years experience they would be quickly snapped up especially if they were in great supply, because given the laws of economics, their salaries would drop as the supply increased. But anecdotal evidence suggests there is no shortage at all for entry-level candidates in IT, and remember, those entry-level jobs aren't paying the $60 to $80,000 we often hear about.

The second problem here is that many potential participants don't have any sources of information to temper the marketing spiel from those selling the courses. In an ideal world, if they could at least talk to some IT managers in their local area, they would have a more realistic view of the value of the certification programs as well as their likely future if they completed such a program.

If you are contemplating laying down a large slab of money to complete a certification program in order to enter the IT profession, make sure you understand what you are signing up for, and your likely future once you complete the program. Get some referrals from others who have taken the classes and also from IT managers who have hired people from these programs. There are no shortcuts in life, and certification alone won't be your ticket to fortune and fame. Fortunately, we seem to be seeing less of those ads that promise in 10-days you can complete a bootcamp program and be making big bucks in IT. (Bootcamps are fine for experienced folk that need some time to refresh for the exams, but these aren't a great way to learn from scratch, especially when you haven't worked in IT before.)

Programs that combine training with interships do appear to correct some of these problems. This way, you can get some valuable experience, and you'd be well-placed to secure a entry-level paid position if you make a good impression on the employer.

So make sure you understand what you are getting before you sign over that check to an education provider. If you have some strategies for how to get your start in IT after starting certification, we'd love to hear from you.

What can entry-level candidates do to increase their chances of landing an IT job? Is certification really a smart first-step? Post your comments below!

If you need certification advice, e-mail Greg at .