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original_url: "https://jace.pro/blog/projects-are-better-than-certificates/"
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Projects are better than Certificates# Projects are better than Certificates

September 29, 2019 [servicenow](/tags/servicenow/)

  Enable AI AnimationI posted a survey on Twitter a few weeks ago;

Prosective #servicenow employers, what do you find more telling of a quality applicant? #servicenowdev. If it’s something else, reply to this. - Jace Benson 👨‍💻⚙️ (@jacebenson) [July 1, 2019](https://twitter.com/jacebenson/status/1145689658791272448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
SN Certifications 17.2%
A bunch of side projects 82.8%

## [Why does this matter?](#why-does-this-matter)

Average developers using ServiceNow think they *need* a certificate to validate
that they really do in fact know something about ServiceNow. I think having
a certificate is great for ServiceNow, and for your employer if you’re a consultant
because it adds to their partner level stuff. You know what is better? Something.
That. You. Make.

Make something, make anything. If it’s something you find useful, share that.

Jobs that post that they require a certificate, don’t know the ins-and-outs of
what is entailed in getting, and maintaining the certificate. They are not cheap.

Let’s follow one of my… Twitter threads;

So I’m not sure how familiar y’all are with #darkpatterns but I’m pretty sure this qualifies [https://t.co/wP3M4IiLyq](https://t.co/wP3M4IiLyq) - Jace Benson 👨‍💻⚙️ (@jacebenson) [September 14, 2019](https://twitter.com/jacebenson/status/1172949268489035782?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Let me just say this one more time. If I were hiring, and as the top survey had shown, showing results is better than a certificate any day. I’d suggest creating something instead of getting certified. If, you have to get certified, just realize it’s likely not what you think it is.

None of these things guarantee employment and at least if you have something you made, you can have that in a portfolio which is better than a piece of paper saying you know ITSM.

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[View this page on GitHub](https://github.com/jacebenson/jace.pro/tree/main/./src/posts/2019/2019-09-28-projects-are-better-than-certificates.md).

[Projects are better than Certificates](https://jace.pro/blog/projects-are-better-than-certificates/) [Jace Benson](https://jace.pro) ![Jace Benson](https://jace.pro/icon-512x512.png)

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*This content is from Jace Benson's ServiceNow and tech blog at jace.pro*
*Original post: https://jace.pro/blog/projects-are-better-than-certificates/*