Do IT certifications really help you get hired?

A hiring manager and system administrator shares an honest perspective on whether IT certifications actually help you get hired. The answer depends heavily on the hiring manager — some treat them as requirements, others dismiss them as exam-passing skills. The real value of certifications lies in skill development during exam preparation, not as guaranteed job tickets. Recommendations include starting with vendor-neutral certifications like LPI or CompTIA Linux+ before pursuing vendor-specific ones like Red Hat, and combining certifications with GitHub projects and contributions to build a stronger overall portfolio.