Avid Certified User
by Eric Nicastro
on
Jul 14, 2008 at 6:07:15 pm
I understand what being an Avid Certified User means. But I want to hear it from industry professionals. What do you think? To me, it's worth it to go through the training and testing process. Now I know it only signifies that you can operate the system and you know it inside and out and doesn't entail you're a great editor, but should one who wants to become a professional in this industry carry that certification? And do employers tend to look more at those with that certification than those without? I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts.
Re: Avid Certified User by grinner hester on Jul 14, 2008 at 7:24:56 pm
If hiring a technician, I would want someone with a certification or a background I could follow.
If hiring an editor, I would look for creativity.
Certifications for editors are actually a turn off for me as a hirer.
It tells me they were not able to hop on a app alone and rock on it and it tells me they convert to templates.
which is not something I have ever looked for in an artist.
Re: Avid Certified User by Don Days on Jul 15, 2008 at 4:59:43 pm
Personally, I think first and foremost your reel speaks for you more than any certification can. But if you've got a great reel AND certs then that would tell an employer that not only are you creative, but you know your way around the software pretty well. Making you an efficient, fast worker. You can be as creative as they come but if you let the software kick your butt then deadlines get very tight.
As far as the Avid Certified User Test goes, it's a bear! Not in the sense that it's a practical exam that makes sense and will make you a better editor....it's all memorization of alot of random and trivial things you may never use. (ex. How many levels of undo are there?) I don't want to sour you on taking the test if you want to but just be prepared. If nothing else you will know more about Media Composer than you will ever need to know, which is not a bad thing.
