Shoutout to the guy in Phoenix who said to skip the degree and just get the AWS cert

I spent 3 years and over $40,000 on a computer science degree, but the job I actually landed came from getting my AWS Solutions Architect certification in 6 months. Everyone pushes the four-year path, but for cloud work, that specific hands-on cert opened more doors faster. Has anyone else found a single certification to be more valuable than their formal education?

2 comments

2 Comments

leo2381mo ago

Wasted a year after college sending out resumes. Got my CCNA on a whim, studied hard for three months. That single line on my resume got me a phone screen for a network tech job I never would have been called for otherwise. Been in networking for five years now, and they still ask about that cert more than my degree.

theawest1mo ago

Exactly! That cert shows you can actually do the work. A degree is great for theory, but a CCNA proves you know the real stuff right now. It's a clear signal to hiring managers that you're ready to hit the ground running. That's why it opens doors faster than a general degree can sometimes.