Stop Collecting Certificates. Start Collecting Evidence.

There is a familiar pattern on LinkedIn.

A student completes a course. Then another. Then another.

Soon the profile has certificates for Python, Java, React, AWS, machine learning, cloud computing, cybersecurity, prompt engineering and whatever the technology of the month happens to be.

Every certificate gets its own post: "Thrilled to announce..."

A few congratulations appear underneath. Then the student goes back to learning the next thing. Six months later, the profile has twenty certificates. And perhaps one project.

That is where the problem begins.

Not because certificates are worthless. They aren't. A relevant certification can demonstrate training, knowledge or a recognized level of proficiency. LinkedIn provides dedicated profile sections for certifications, and Indeed's current career guidance notes that relevant certifications can help highlight specialized skills and professional development.

The problem is what happens when the certificate becomes the goal instead of the skill. You can accumulate evidence that you studied. Without ever accumulating evidence that you can build.

Imagine two students applying for a software engineering internship.

Who is better?

You can't know from those two descriptions alone. Student A may genuinely be excellent. Student B may have built a terrible application.

But there is an important difference: Student B has given you something to inspect. That's what evidence means.

Let's be fair to certificates. Some are genuinely valuable.

A professional certification from a recognized provider can require: substantial study, practical preparation, a proctored examination, demonstrated knowledge, renewal or continuing education.

Some certifications are also directly relevant to particular roles. For example, a cloud, networking, security or professional certification can help communicate specialized knowledge when it is relevant to the position.

Indeed's current guidance distinguishes certifications as credentials that can validate particular skills, and says they can be especially useful for highlighting specialized capabilities or strengthening a profile when practical experience is limited.

So the useful question isn't: "Are certificates useless?"

It's: "What does this particular certificate actually prove?"

That's a much better question.