Certifications are very important, along with your experience (most) and degrees. Those who are opposed to certifications are giving terrible advice. It’s like telling people you don’t need a license to be a mechanic or you don’t need a CPA (or equivalent) to be an accountant. Who wants to fly with an uncertified and unlicensed pilot?

A lot of people that slide by without certifications, are those that get their job through cronyism and connections, so don’t have to or avoid having to prove themselves. To include, they are afraid of failing certification tests or legitimately competing against others for a job. They rather hide and conceal any weak points or ignorance.

Yes, you can get jobs through reputation (and that’s totally legit) and “hook-ups” through people that you know, but that’s not every job. For various jobs, you will have to compete, and that means people want to see outstanding resumes of well rounded and knowledgeable candidates. Certifications are part of the total package. I typed “part”, not “all”.

It also can take time to build your reputation, and clearly that’s so for experience. Especially those that are fresh out of college or for those that never went to college. Consequently, certifications can show you are someone that takes studying and mastering their craft seriously.

HR, recruiters, and most companies can look at them to see if you meet minimum requirements to be considered for a job. Lack of certifications, can mean the difference between your resume getting tossed into the garbage or getting a 2nd look and interview.