I definitely agree on the mixed bag nature of certs. It can be frustrating being ignored by HR because you're lacking the special four letters they want to see

I definitely agree on the mixed bag nature of certs. It can be frustrating being ignored by HR because you're lacking the special four letters they want to see, and that situation is more common than I think we'd like to admit. You'll probably need at least one or two unless you're a real Rockstar who can show value on your resume in some significant other way (CVEs, extensive GitHub, etc.). All that being said, I do think a well written cert course can be an excellent framework for learning a new technology. Having guidance on what is actually important when getting started can be a huge accelerator for your personal development, just make sure you avoid the trash ones (CEH!!!). The HR stamp of approval will hopefully just be the icing on the cake at that point.