Certificate Craze

A certificate craze has recently gripped university students. Everywhere there are classes, conferences, workshops and other opportunities, all offering a piece of paper upon completion to certify that the paper-holder is qualified to do something.

Students vary from one another in their purposes for acquiring certificates. Some students aim at certificates because of the employment pressure. With the admission expansion of colleges, a great many graduates have to face the fierce competition in the job market. So they think the certificates can make them more competitive. Besides, some hold that professional certificates are important supplement for their school work.

In my opinion, the certificates will be of little real benefit to students in landing a job upon graduation. It seems to me that most companies know that these certificates are a dime a dozen and that they are no indication of the actual ability or expertise of the person holding the certificate. Interviewers look for experience, which we students will just have to get the hard way by spending our first few years of work in low-level jobs.