A move into the IT sector

[Saundie]

MCITP Desktop Support and Desktop Administrator are perfectly suitable for entry level qualifications into IT in my opinion.

I would tend to agree with that, though I would go further to say that the server administrator and enterprise administrator ones are in a different league. I've been working with AD DS for nearly ten years, but I've had no exposure to the more "exotic" areas such as RMS and FS. This has put me at a severe disadvantage when it comes to taking the server exams; rather embarrassingly, I've failed 70-640 four times now. It took me three attempts to pass 70-659. Conversely, I passed 70-681 on my first attempt, and from what I've been told 70-680 is easier.

My advice to the OP would be to avoid getting a service desk/first line support role if at all possible. As others have alluded to, you are treated as little more than having a janitorial role - cleaning up the computing equivalent of vomit and urine for ungrateful end users. If you do decide to get into support, do whatever you can to improve your skills and move on and up, before it demoralises you.

 

[neil_g]

I would tend to agree with that, though I would go further to say that the server administrator and enterprise administrator ones are in a different league. I've been working with AD DS for nearly ten years, but I've had no exposure to the more "exotic" areas such as RMS and FS. This has put me at a severe disadvantage when it comes to taking the server exams; rather embarrassingly, I've failed 70-640 four times now. It took me three attempts to pass 70-659. Conversely, I passed 70-681 on my first attempt, and from what I've been told 70-680 is easier.

That's the only problem, there's the ms training lab way and the real life way..

 

[Ev0]

MCITP Desktop Support and Desktop Administrator are perfectly suitable for entry level qualifications into IT in my opinion.

Granted the desktop MCITPs are likely pretty easily doable from self study and no experience, but even MS advise a years experience for 70-680 and 3 years for 70-686! Not sure how realistic their experience requirements/expectations are as not an area I'm involved in.

 

[Saundie]

That's the only problem, there's the ms training lab way and the real life way..

Yes, I would agree. Some of the questions seem almost punitive in nature. For example, you get questions that ask for the specific syntax of a PowerShell command. I guess it might have been important to memorise such things 20 years ago, before internet access was so prevalent. Nowadays we all have what amounts to constant internet access in our pockets in the form of smartphones, it seems pointless to memorise the syntax of these commands. You can just head to TechNet on your phone and look it up, or in the case of PowerShell, use the fairly comprehensive help function (it even gives examples!).

Anyway, do a CCNA or something else non-Microsoft related if you want employers to take notice of you. MS certs lost a lot of respect thanks to the brain-dumping era which generated a lot of paper MCSEs, and they're only just starting to regain some of that respect.