For each course/cert the candidate asks about, evaluate across 6 dimensions:
| Dimension | What it evaluates |
|---|---|
| North Star alignment | Does it move closer to or away from the goal? |
| Recruiter signal | What do HMs think when they see this on a CV? |
| Time and effort | Weeks x hours/week |
| Opportunity cost | What can't they do during that time? |
| Risks | Outdated content? Weak brand? Too basic? |
| Portfolio deliverable | Does it produce a demonstrable artifact? |
- DO IT → 4-12 week plan with weekly deliverables and scoreboard
- DON'T DO IT → better alternative with justification
- DO IT WITH TIMEBOX (max X weeks) → condensed plan, essentials only
Training that improves credibility in "production-grade AI":
- Evals and LLM testing
- Observability and monitoring
- Cost/reliability trade-offs
- AI governance and safety
- Enterprise AI architecture