# Has anyone encountered the National Career Readiness Certificate in the real world? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 13, 2010, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-encountered-the-national-career-readiness-certificate-in-the-real-world/543012 "2010-06-13T14:07:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2017, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-encountered-the-national-career-readiness-certificate-in-the-real-world/543012/41 "2017-06-05T19:38:29Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > This thread has risen from the dead TEN time now by my count! Is that some kind of re-zombification record here? The “How to protect and clean your computer from malware” thread is a spam magnet. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2017, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-encountered-the-national-career-readiness-certificate-in-the-real-world/543012/42 "2017-06-05T19:41:30Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > The “How to protect and clean your computer from malware” thread is a spam magnet. [Homer Simpson]Mmmmmm-Spam magnet![/HS] ---
**Author:** ![Jacobus\_Maximus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e68b1a/32.png) [@Jacobus\_Maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jacobus_Maximus)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-encountered-the-national-career-readiness-certificate-in-the-real-world/543012/43 "2017-09-16T06:05:22Z")
Maaany years ago when I was unemployed (probably around the time this thread was started,) someone at the employment department (Oregon) suggested I take the NCRC test because it would improve my hirability. So I did, got Gold, and I’ve been listing it on my resume ever since. Not once has an employer or even a temp agency said anything about it. I did have an interview go from a Job Interview to a formality/BS session when I mentioned I’d written an SOP and trained a few people on it. Even recently when I became unemployed, the people at the employment department saw that it was on my resume and were super-impressed that I got Gold. As has been mentioned earlier, I think the NCRC is bascially a product sold by ACT to employment departments who can then say “See, we’ve had X number of people take the test, and Y number of people have gotten jobs,” when there’s really no real correlation between the two. My take: If you’re unemployed and your employment department is offering the test for free, you might as well take it. Off chance that the thing catches on, it might prove to be useful. Finally, I swear I was doing a job search one time and one of the employers listed “NCRC Preferred” or something to that effect, but I can’t remember now. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-encountered-the-national-career-readiness-certificate-in-the-real-world/543012/44 "2017-09-16T23:27:28Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > This thread has risen from the dead TEN time now by my count! Is that some kind of re-zombification record here? somehow, we keep forgetting that the only way to kill the undead (works for vampires too I hear) is central nervous system disconnect. Sever the cervical spinal column (total decapitation not required but more satisfying). would this count as 11 resurrections? exits stage left ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-encountered-the-national-career-readiness-certificate-in-the-real-world/543012/45 "2017-09-26T06:28:27Z")
The lack of information from multiple sources and perspectives online is a great sign it’s a scam: Real things, that people actually care about, have information from multiple perspectives on the Internet, no matter how obscure the thing is to most people. The Internet is great at allowing people to find the most obscure information imaginable, and then argue about it. The arguments mean it’s real and people actually care. Therefore, if the only information available is sanitized corporate happytalk from the approved perspective, it’s a complete loser of an idea and not worth much consideration. ---
**Author:** ![PointlessCertificatesGuide](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@PointlessCertificatesGuide](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PointlessCertificatesGuide)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-encountered-the-national-career-readiness-certificate-in-the-real-world/543012/46 "2017-12-08T03:08:49Z")
_creates account and proceeds to hex StraightDope with thread necromancy_ I just took it earlier tonight. It was required to be considered for the hiring process of a factory that’s opening. The teacher of the associated class mentioned that several other companies in the area require you to take the test as a precondition of employment. So it seems to have its place (however small) in the world. I think the various unemployment offices are trying to promote it to companies that need blue collar workers. The test itself is super-easy. All that getting a Platinum or a Gold will let you say is that you can read and do basic math. But still, it’s _something_ to put on your resume. It actually looks kind of nice next to my Associate’s Degree in diddly. And if no one knows what it is, then… > [@](#): > > Oh yeah, I’m ACT Workkeys Platinum certified. It’s a rare and coveted honor. In fact, it’s so rare that you probably haven’t heard of it. I’ll never forget the ceremony. My mom was so proud. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-encountered-the-national-career-readiness-certificate-in-the-real-world/543012.md?page=2)