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The "Look" of the CIW certification papers

dmor13

2002-04-24, 10:28 am

I know we have discussed this in the past but I've got a response from CIW on this issue. I think that maybe nobody has complained to the CIW people or this guy is Bs'sing me.

I said:
The CIW certification papers look like poor third grade power point presentation screen prints. I complained not just about the looks but how easily they could be forged.

Here's the response I recieved:
We always appreciate constructive criticism and will keep your comments in mind. This is the first complaint we have received about these certificates. We realize that everyone has a different design opinion and we cannot please everyone all the time. This particular certificate has a watermark embedded in the paper so that it cannot be homemade or copied (as opposed to having a hologram sticker that can be peeled off). In designing our certificates we try to keep them clean and elegant, not using any stylized graphics in the background that muddy the design. This way you can frame it nicely in any type of frame and it will look professional. Hologram are a Microsoft trademark and are not used by too many other companies. We previously used silver foil, stamped stickers but people did not like them. The certificate paper we use is a very nice, expensive, mid-weight paper.

Again, we apologize for your dislike and will keep your comments in mind when designing the next version (typically done annually).

examiner

2002-04-24, 10:53 am

Hi Dmor13,

quote:
Hologram are a Microsoft trademark and are not used by too many other companies.

If it were a trademark, then Microsoft would not let other companies use holograms. The statement sure sounds ridiculous.

In fact, holograms aren't rare things. Appears on currency notes of various countries. Need they ask Microsoft for permission? Ha!

"Holograms are a Microsoft trademark". --- That's a good one!! Ha!

Hacker

2002-04-25, 8:40 am

I don't really care how the certs look. Really, I think I'm the only one who looks at them. Nobody really cares about this cert or that.

examiner

2002-04-25, 10:27 am

Well, I think after spending lots of $$$ on a course and getting a certificate, people do want a nice looking certificate to frame and admire...

After all, the exam itself is over a hundred bucks and asking for a well-designed certificate isn't "too much".

Apart from the look of certificates, I am rather concern about the value perceived of such certificates. Do they have any "prestigious" value? Will CIW certifications become a "joke"?---Something to think about...

Hacker

2002-04-25, 6:21 pm

Hmmm, whether it is a joke is up to the market to decide. I doubt the physical piece of paper which most people do not even bother to look at counts for much. Same with M$, Linux, etc, etc.

BTW, the CIW Master certs are very well designed, but the best one is the CIW Certified Instructor with the seal. Same with M$'s MCT cert and the Linux LPI. CompTIA certs are not that nice, looks cheap, but people value the A+ and the Server+ ones.

If you do use the cert to augment your dip/degree, you will most probably give a photocopy of it. Same with your degree or even your PhD.

cross36

2002-04-25, 7:44 pm

The paper in all respect shows care for very little. It's the knowledge that the individuals has acquired and learned to use is what counts.

gstapleton1

2002-05-03, 9:21 am

Granted you should pay more attention to the fact you passed the exam, but let's be real. For those of us who have an office or a cubicle, a nice looking certification would look good framed. And to be honest, because we all worked so hard to obtain a certification, one should respect the opinion of those who feel like they deserve something nicer than just a plain green and blue border around some text. Yeah they offer this "watermark" but who cares. The only way you can truly make the watermark out anyway is if you put some sort of light behind the paper, and we all know the main purpose for certs are to be what class?...framed. I do feel that since this cert is related in some way to designing, the cert should have some sort of nice design look to it. You can't tell me that my $125 went totally towards a piece of paper with a CIW watermark on it.

Hacker

2002-05-03, 5:41 pm

Take heart though, the good certs are the CIW Master ones with the seal and don't look cheapskate or anything, while the Associate and the Professional ones are not really proper certs IMHO, since they are more or less to give out something for those who have not finished the requisite Master exams.

Cisco certs are all not that nicely designed, weird size and all, but they are still recignized and respected.

On the other hand, the Brainbench certs really look nice, but I doubt any respectable employer would consider it a cert at all.

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