Do Tech Certifications Really Help You Land a Job?

Honestly, most employers care more about your portfolio and work history rather than certifications. Being active on GitHub and contributing to open source projects can hold a lot more weight. Focus on building real projects and documenting your learning journey— that's what will really help you stand out.

While AWS and Red Hat serve different areas in tech, I see certifications as a nice supplement instead of the core reason to land a job. They can help, but they shouldn't be your main focus when looking for positions.

I'm pretty new to tech myself, but I've heard good things about Coursera's offerings. They partner with well-known institutions and provide solid content, plus assignments. However, it's widely said that having an active GitHub profile showcasing your work speaks volumes more than any certification can.

Certifications from major cloud providers like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud can add some value, especially for roles in cloud, data, or security fields. However, for development positions, they might not be as crucial and are generally more beneficial for those with some work experience, especially in consulting.

None of these certifications are going to get you a job on their own. They can be a bit helpful, but they're more of a bonus than anything. Focus on practical skills and actual projects; that's what employers really want to see.