MCDST Certification and Jobs

Hi,

I am about to prepare to take MCDST certs. My ultimate is to get MCITP
(Administrator) and all this through self study. Just learned that the
Microsoft press is one of the best and it also contains the Virtual lab to
practice.

My question however is that, i've been told that getting a job with MCITP
with certs alone and without already working it IT sector is difficult. Thus
the need to use online agents to help prepare for the exam, help with
interview tips and also the job (though high fees applies).

Just wondering if I can get an expert advice/suggestion on the best thing to
do. i.e. do i self study and be able to get job without much difficulties or
register with agents with the high fees.

Many thanks.

 

True. So is getting a job *with* experience.

Not really. There are two things you need to get a job in IT.

[1] Solid technical skills.

[2] Great interviewing skills.

I'd do the self study to develop the knowledge, and *volunteer*
(internships, church, non-profits) to get the experience.

As for the interviewing skills, you get those through [a] experience
interviewing and studying interviewing skills. There are plenty of
available resources on the web to teach good interviewing skills that it's
not necessary to rely on "high cost online agents".


--
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/profile/Lawrence.Garvin

 

Many thanks and God bless.
--
dpmj

 

I agree wholeheartedly with Lawrence Garvin here. You have to also do a
reality check on the type of job you expect to get in the beginning. The
MCDST cert is meant for Help Desk and Level 1 support positions. So, don't
be surprised if your first job in the undustry is on a Help Desk working the
worst shift and long hours. Practically everyone in the industry has had to
go through this "rite of passage".

As for the self study idea that you have, way to go. But do realize that
while self study will help you answer the questions hands on experience
either through a job and/or a classroom (in person or virtual) adds an
additional dimension to your learning. I can tell you that after all of the
years I have had in this business I have hardly ever seen anything go by the
book. I have been able to take the test through studying the Microsoft Press
books, and pass. But it was my past experience that i used mainly in the
tests. The self study I did was to simply round out some of the theory items
and learn the "Microsoft Way" of completing the tasks.

Good luck in your endeavours.