Goal: Getting a Certification for me and ~4 of my colleagues. (It is pretty cheap. 150$ per developer) Problem: Convincing the employer himself Problem #2: Giving a reason how the project itself benefits from this step. There is some formal stuff to consider when spending money from projects. Public service procedures require this. I want to approach my boss and am beginning to record ideas of argumentation at the moment. To be honest. I personally doubt that the project really benefits from getting some developers certified (without visiting a course - learning something new). Would you mind to give some advice and share your experience?

You should feel comfortable discussing this with the employer. If you don't have an open relationship where you can discuss your professional development, you already have a big problem.




The cost of $750 is not too bad, but what human time does it require?

If it requires a single day of work for all 5 people, that costs more than the course. If it takes place on a weekend then you run the risk of them not attending.

Most employers understand that their technical workers need professional development. They don't want their employees to become stagnant as it is cheaper to keep employees current than to hire new employees who know the current technology.


If you don't think everybody would benefit, just have one or two people attend and share their notes when they get back. It is an easier business case to sell since it costs less to the company.

And send the guy who takes the best notes. -- send your best note taker

Prolly obvious, but how can the company benefit from the certification of technical employees?...not just the current project, but consider the long view.

Are there certain tasks and or challenges that certification could make easier? Does certification open up possibilities for future growth? Does it give the company extra leverage in contract negotiations? Would the comany be more competitive if certified?

Really, if you can make the case that getting certification is win/win for the employees and for the buisness itself. Your employeer will have a difficult time saying no.

Quote: Original post by hydroo
Giving a reason how the project itself benefits from this step.

How are you going to benefit? That should be the starting point...

Quote: Original post by frobThe cost of $750 is not too bad, but what human time does it require?

If it requires a single day of work for all 5 people, that costs more than the course.

Exactly. 1 work-day could be worth $400 per employee.

I don't get smarter by getting this certification. It is a sheet of paper saying "yes, he can".

Personally I benefit from it, because I no longer have to convince someone of my skills in this area, because the sheet of paper does.

Good point. The company can benefit by having guys with this certification. I am afraid the money dividers (the EU) are not that interested, because this particular certification has nothing to do with research (writing programs is engineering --- I'd have to find a correlation of 'code-quality' to 'research results' - maybe I can think of something).

That one lost day is ok, I guess. We spend a good part of our work time visiting courses at the university we work for - or on other activities where the employer does not directly benefit from.

A good reason for the project would be helpful anyways, mh.

And @frob I have very good relationships with all my coworkers. Unfortunately our boss boss and the rules by which we play (public service bla) make it very hard to make independent moves without providing convincing arguments. Personal development has never been one, I am afraid.

I'll talk some more and then try to convince my boss himself. We'll see what happens. Worst case is I have to spend the money myself, which would be ok, too. But setting a mark in this case could turn out to be a good start at getting other useful certifications/whatevers - I mean we then would already have a lighthouse to guide us. Mh. This could be a contra argument for the boss, fearing his coworkers annoy him with more of this kind. I am confused