What direction should I take? MCSE or ...
 

I'm new to IT. I have a job change that will allow me to study full time for
3-4 weeks. I would like to leave my current line of work. I'm trying to find
out whether gaining A+, Server+ and Network+ or MCSE would be the best course
of action. Should other courses be taken before MCSE? Although I've dabbled
with systems I have no certification nor do I have a degree. Is it reasonable
to think I would be viable in the job market with just the first three or
just MCSE and no degree? I would certainly not stop training, but in the
short time alloted, is this reasonable? I will not have the time or money to
complete all of them before starting the new job in the same line of work.
I'm scheduled to start the new job on June 15. I would appreciated your
suggestions. Thank you.

Re: What direction should I take? MCSE or ...
 

>Is it reasonable
> to think I would be viable in the job market with just the first three or
> just MCSE and no degree? I would certainly not stop training, but in the
> short time alloted, is this reasonable? I will not have the time or money
> to
> complete all of them before starting the new job in the same line of work.


Your marketability won't really be based on certifications. (My opinion)
It's your experience (or who you know of course). The best thing you can
do is find a job that will challenge you constantly. Something that makes
you take on new things. The faster you learn and adapt to technology, the
better off you'll be.

If your job doesn't allow for that, you'll have to take things on on your
own.

Re: What direction should I take? MCSE or ...
 

The more certs you have the more marketable you are. There was a time, when
there were LOTS of IT jobs, that certs weren't as important. But right now
they're more important than ever. Employers want to see some type of proof
that you have the knowledge that you say you have. And whether it's right
or wrong, they rely on certifications for that.

But you also need job experience. And some type of college degree would
help. Remember, right now with the economy the way it is, for even for the
most basic computer jobs, you're competing against other people with
bachelor degrees, IT experience AND certs. So the more you have the better.
A MCSE is a lot of work. But, it will make you much more marketable than
the A+ or Server+.
You're not going to be able to get a MCSE in 3 weeks.

Get all the IT experience you can, even if you have to volunteer your time.
And get some certs. If you have the time and money, go for the MCSE.


"kfm6" <kfm6@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B573EC11-F4A2-440F-9CE4-426766865DE0@microsoft.com...
> I'm new to IT. I have a job change that will allow me to study full time
> for
> 3-4 weeks. I would like to leave my current line of work. I'm trying to
> find
> out whether gaining A+, Server+ and Network+ or MCSE would be the best
> course
> of action. Should other courses be taken before MCSE? Although I've
> dabbled
> with systems I have no certification nor do I have a degree. Is it
> reasonable
> to think I would be viable in the job market with just the first three or
> just MCSE and no degree? I would certainly not stop training, but in the
> short time alloted, is this reasonable? I will not have the time or money
> to
> complete all of them before starting the new job in the same line of work.
> I'm scheduled to start the new job on June 15. I would appreciated your
> suggestions. Thank you.

Re: What direction should I take? MCSE or ...
 

> The more certs you have the more marketable you are. There was a time,
> when there were LOTS of IT jobs, that certs weren't as important. But
> right now they're more important than ever. Employers want to see some
> type of proof that you have the knowledge that you say you have. And
> whether it's right or wrong, they rely on certifications for that.

That hasn't been my experience at all. Your certifications can't answer
interview questions, you have to. And any experienced interviewer can tell
when someone is quoting a book vs. speaking from real world experience.

But, this is all my opinion so take it for what it's worth.

Re: What direction should I take? MCSE or ...
 

"Jtyc" <yo@respondtothegroup.com> wrote in message
news:eS60%23%23W1JHA.6056@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> The more certs you have the more marketable you are. There was a time,
>> when there were LOTS of IT jobs, that certs weren't as important. But
>> right now they're more important than ever. Employers want to see some
>> type of proof that you have the knowledge that you say you have. And
>> whether it's right or wrong, they rely on certifications for that.
>
> That hasn't been my experience at all. Your certifications can't answer
> interview questions, you have to.

But first you have to GET the interview. And if I'm looking at a stack of
resumes for a job, and I've not already eliminated the candidates for
obvious reasons like lack of Job Experience, or undocumented lapses in
employment, or egregarious errors in grammar or spelling on the resume, or
just a general lack of written communication skills -- then I have to decide
who gets on the short list to sit in a conference room with me for an hour.

All other things being equal... the candidate with advanced (and Current!)
certifications is going to rise to the top of the stack.

> And any experienced interviewer can tell when someone is quoting a book
> vs. speaking from real world experience.

Absolutely! And, every once in a while, I've (unfortunately) discovered that
the candidate I'm interviewing doesn't really know what the piece of paper
they hold suggests they should know.

But to John's point.. it's about *marketability*, and *marketability* is
what gets you the invitation for an interview so that you can answer those
questions and demonstrate your exceptional product knowledge and technical
expertise.

And, as a personal testimonial -- I've had a lot more doors open up to me
with MCITP and MCDBA after my name in the past two years than I did when my
only cert was an MCP on Windows 95 in 1999 when any idiot should have been
able to get a Y2K job -- even with fifteen years of Unix experience on six
different platforms prior to that! :-)

So, to that point, you bet I'll keep my certs current -- even if only to
keep the doors open.


--
Lawrence Garvin, M.S., MCITP:EA, MCDBA
Principal/CTO, Onsite Technology Solutions, Houston, Texas
Microsoft MVP - Software Distribution (2005-2009)

MS WSUS Website: http://www.microsoft.com/wsus
My Websites: http://www.onsitechsolutions.com;
http://wsusinfo.onsitechsolutions.com
My MVP Profile: http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/pro...awrence.Garvin

Re: What direction should I take? MCSE or ...
 

ms certs are a waste of space. anyone who says otherwise is either
stupid, a brain dump provider or a worthless ms partner.

experience, and the ability to prove that experience, are all that
count, ms cert do neither.

On Thu, 14 May 2009 15:46:01 -0700, kfm6
<kfm6@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>I'm new to IT. I have a job change that will allow me to study full time for
>3-4 weeks. I would like to leave my current line of work. I'm trying to find
>out whether gaining A+, Server+ and Network+ or MCSE would be the best course
>of action. Should other courses be taken before MCSE? Although I've dabbled
>with systems I have no certification nor do I have a degree. Is it reasonable
>to think I would be viable in the job market with just the first three or
>just MCSE and no degree? I would certainly not stop training, but in the
>short time alloted, is this reasonable? I will not have the time or money to
>complete all of them before starting the new job in the same line of work.
>I'm scheduled to start the new job on June 15. I would appreciated your
>suggestions. Thank you.

Kline Sphere (Chalk) MCNGP #3

Re: What direction should I take? MCSE or ...
 

>The more certs you have the more marketable you are.

you tools crack me up, lol

Kline Sphere (Chalk) MCNGP #3

Re: What direction should I take? MCSE or ...
 

> ms certs are a waste of space. anyone who says otherwise is either
> stupid, a brain dump provider or a worthless ms partner.
>
> experience, and the ability to prove that experience, are all that
> count, ms cert do neither.

They have their place. I got my SharePoint Configuration cert because it
was a requirement on a contract. I didn't have to study for it though, just
using the product gives you enough knowledge to pass the test.

Re: What direction should I take? MCSE or ...
 

There was a time when you could get your foot in the door based on your Uncle
Joe referring you as a "computer-guy"... but these days are about over imo.

First you need the certificate to get the interview... then you need the
experience to pass the interview.

Also, getting certified is a great way to measure yourself when you are
inexperienced, so that you can go to your early interviews with confidence.
Even after being in the industry for years, I still like to see that I can
pass these tests, particularly when they are on topics I don't regularly see.

Anyway, if its worthless to you, perhaps its because you just haven't
figured out how to use it.

--
MCSE since 2000
Systems Integration
Navy Reserves


"Kline Sphere" wrote:

> ms certs are a waste of space. anyone who says otherwise is either
> stupid, a brain dump provider or a worthless ms partner.
>
> experience, and the ability to prove that experience, are all that
> count, ms cert do neither.
>
> On Thu, 14 May 2009 15:46:01 -0700, kfm6
> <kfm6@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >I'm new to IT. I have a job change that will allow me to study full time for
> >3-4 weeks. I would like to leave my current line of work. I'm trying to find
> >out whether gaining A+, Server+ and Network+ or MCSE would be the best course
> >of action. Should other courses be taken before MCSE? Although I've dabbled
> >with systems I have no certification nor do I have a degree. Is it reasonable
> >to think I would be viable in the job market with just the first three or
> >just MCSE and no degree? I would certainly not stop training, but in the
> >short time alloted, is this reasonable? I will not have the time or money to
> >complete all of them before starting the new job in the same line of work.
> >I'm scheduled to start the new job on June 15. I would appreciated your
> >suggestions. Thank you.
>
> Kline Sphere (Chalk) MCNGP #3
>

RE: What direction should I take? MCSE or ...
 

Get your A+.

It's a good start and you can get it quickly.

--
MCSE since 2000
Systems Integration
Navy Reserves


"kfm6" wrote:

> I'm new to IT. I have a job change that will allow me to study full time for
> 3-4 weeks. I would like to leave my current line of work. I'm trying to find
> out whether gaining A+, Server+ and Network+ or MCSE would be the best course
> of action. Should other courses be taken before MCSE? Although I've dabbled
> with systems I have no certification nor do I have a degree. Is it reasonable
> to think I would be viable in the job market with just the first three or
> just MCSE and no degree? I would certainly not stop training, but in the
> short time alloted, is this reasonable? I will not have the time or money to
> complete all of them before starting the new job in the same line of work.
> I'm scheduled to start the new job on June 15. I would appreciated your
> suggestions. Thank you.