   Should I take the MCPD (Microsoft Certified Professional Developer) exam?
  I've been thinking about doing some exams to help with getting a job. I am in the unfortunate position of not having a degree and due to financial constraints the chances of getting one are slim at the moment. So I was thinking about taking some exams offered that I can study for in my free time and came across the MCPD certification.What do people in the industry think of such things if you also show some examples of games that you have programmed and / or other technology demos? I mean if the intention was just to show a general competency without actually using it directly for getting a games programming job.   
  At least in my experience, certifications tend to indicate a lack of skill. A lot of book knowledge and corporate ideals that fall apart once they encounter anything requiring adaptation. I would perhaps spend the time instead polishing the games/demos, or looking for non-gamedev work to get some experience under your belt.   ;  That cert wouldn't mean anything to me if I were looking at your resume for a game developer position.  I look for 3 things for entry level programming positions:1) BS in Computer Science or at least a college degree (financial constraints -> college loan, community college, state college.  there are lots of options)2) Experience working on games in C++ (hobbyist or professional but you need finished games; & C++ only because everything we do in in that language)3) Passion for gamesFrankly, unless you have something AMAZING to fill #2, not having #1 will mean no one will consider you.-me   ;  Thanks for the advice. Yes, I was worried that the first thought people would have is lack of skill.I have done lots of reading including doing some of the MIT Open Course Ware in Computer Science on my own (at least as much as I could with the free resources available) and have done significant reading into the mathematical side of computer science but I just do not see a way around the financial problems.I am based in the UK so things might be different here compared to the US but I would be looking at some £15,000 of debt at least if I did a degree now (roughly $20,000).Edit: I am just trying to think of ways to prove my capabilities to people with out having a degree. Any suggestions on how I could wow potential employers would be greatly appreciated.   ;  Depends how old you are, and what kind of experience you have. There is that whole recession thing going on, meaning that PhDs and MSCPs are dime-a-dozen and come in six-packs right now.   ;Quote:Original post by AntheusDepends how old you are, and what kind of experience you have. There is that whole recession thing going on, meaning that PhDs and MSCPs are dime-a-dozen and come in six-packs right now.I'm 24, very keen but I am certainly lacking in real world programming experience. I mean I can program fine on my own but I have never done it in a team before.   ;  If you know someone in the industry that can speak for you, it is possible to skip #1 as long as you can prove #2. Do you have a portfolio at the moment?   ;  I think most MCP exams are a joke. However, many (non gamedev) employers still see it as uhm, 'added value' and might favor an applicant who has a few certificates under his belt. So in that sense, it never hurts to get one.For smaller companies it often useful, because having a certain amount of MCPs allows them to become a  Microsoft [insert some shiny metal here] partner, which in turn will get them deals on Microsoft development tools and other software (and some cool looking stuff to hang on the wall).   ;Quote:Original post by yaustarIf you know someone in the industry that can speak for you, it is possible to skip #1 as long as you can prove #2. Do you have a portfolio at the moment?No but I am seriously considering the best way to do it. Since I want to specialise in physics engines I have been trying to think about decent physical simulations to show off.Once I have decided on one which will have the correct "wow" factor I am looking for I will implement it and take it to interviews to show off.Edit:Quote:Original post by WanMasterI think most MCP exams are a joke. However, many (non gamedev) employers still see it as uhm, 'added value' and might favor an applicant who has a few certificates under his belt. So in that sense, it never hurts to get one.For smaller companies it often useful, because having a certain amount of MCPs allows them to become a  Microsoft [insert some shiny metal here] partner, which in turn will get them deals on Microsoft development tools and other software (and some cool looking stuff to hang on the wall).Even if they are a joke I think I might do them, especially as they are so cheap to take. I mean it can't hurt to have extra qualifications can it?   ;Quote:Original post by CromulentI am based in the UK so things might be different here compared to the US but I would be looking at some £15,000 of debt at least if I did a degree now (roughly $20,000).No offense, but that's a pittance. How much is it going to cost you to be unemployed because nobody wants to hire a programmer without a degree? How much less will you make once you get hired? Your education will be the second most important investment you'll ever make. Don't skimp on it.Quote:Edit: I am just trying to think of ways to prove my capabilities to people with out having a degree. You befriend them. As long as you're capable (and sometimes when you're not), friendship or at least familiarity get you a long way. Hiring managers tend not to care about degrees (since they can usually tell if you're competent in the interview), but HR people do. Getting an interview via a friend or recommendation bypasses HR people, and the biggest hurdle no-degree people have.   