MCSE - Which one?

Andr3w

Andr3w

Andr3w

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Hey all i hope this is the right place!

Basically i'm thinking of doing becoming a MCSE, im currently in the RAF but if i choose to leave in the next few years (or even if i don't) i want to have something to back up my experience.

I currently have a BTEC National Diploma in software development and a BTEC National Award in something else, systems engineering or something (omg i have forgotten)

Anyway whats the best way to go about doing MCSE, learning at home? Whats the average cost and which one should i go for that would benefit me the most if i was to go for a job in civi street.

Thanks guys!

P.s please move this if its in the wrong place.
 
Depends entirely what your interested in I suppose, what would you like to do if you were to leave the RAF.

Either way the best way to learn would probably be from home. It will be a lot cheaper than paying to go on the courses and from my experience there's not a lot the course books tell you that you couldn't work out yourself if you had copies of the books.

Try get a copy of the course material maybe from somebody who has done the course you interested in and see how you do going through the material yourself before you think about spending money doing the full course.

The only benefit I found on doing the course was that there are 2 ways of doing things, the way everybody does things and the Microsoft way of doing things, unfortunately the exams want the latter whether its the better way or not.
 
Yes ive heard the microsoft way is abit.... stupid :p!

What was your's in? Im unsure really, i was thinking maby becoming a systems or network engineer?

It's very hard for me because im in the RAF i don;t know what the industry standard is for thinks like OS etc

Worth doing it through these?
http://www.microsoftuk.co.uk/mcse-training.html
 
R34P3R said:
Either way the best way to learn would probably be from home. It will be a lot cheaper than paying to go on the courses and from my experience there's not a lot the course books tell you that you couldn't work out yourself if you had copies of the books.
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Apologies to Andr3w for ambushing his thread but I have an interest in doing an MCSE as well. :)

When you say at home, what kind of stuff would I need? Books of course but would I need any software? I have an old PC I could put to use if I needed it.
 
It's ok marc we both seem to want to find out the same info, and you saved me coming on here to bump up my thread :p
 
Now sure what you mean by which mcse. With windows 2003 there's the basic MCSE, then you can have the +Security and/or +Messaging.

When i did it i already had a lot of experience in the field. I just used the MS books, and set up a virtual lab consisting of a reasonable spec PC with VMWare server and 3-4 VMs running what i needed to learn (couple of DCs, Exchange, etc)
 
Andr3w said:
I didn't :(
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:eek:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Can_Call_Me_Al

http://leoslyrics.com/listlyrics.php?hid=jWgAGRH0K8I=

If you'll be my bodyguard
I can be your long lost pal
I can call you Betty
And Betty when you call me
You can call me Al
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I adapted the lyrics to "I can be your wingman/You can call me Al." :)

Andr3w said:
edit: Come on people help us :p
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Yeah!

oddjob62 said:
Now sure what you mean by which mcse. With windows 2003 there's the basic MCSE, then you can have the +Security and/or +Messaging.

When i did it i already had a lot of experience in the field. I just used the MS books, and set up a virtual lab consisting of a reasonable spec PC with VMWare server and 3-4 VMs running what i needed to learn (couple of DCs, Exchange, etc)
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Perhaps we mean we want the MCSE after our names but we aren't sure about the ins and outs of MCSE, which area of MCSE to specialise in and how to go about it. :)
 
MarcLister said:
Perhaps we mean we want the MCSE after our names but we aren't sure about the ins and outs of MCSE, which area of MCSE to specialise in and how to go about it. :)
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Well that's pretty simple.

1 Client exam: 2000 XP or Vista
4 Core Network exams
1 Core design exam
1 Elective Exam

If you look here http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcse/windows2003/default.mspx

You can see your options. TBH Apart from the Elective (or if you go for the +sec or +msg i mentioned before) you don't get much choice.
 
Thanks for that. Clears it up for me. :) Regarding the client exam, I'm guessing XP is probably the best client to take the exam in? I would have thought Vista would be too new for most organisations to be using and that 2000 is old enough for XP to be more preferred?

Are the +sec or +msg like bonus add-ons to the MCSE? And I could get one or both of them onto my MCSE? So MCSE, MCSE+sec, MCSE+msg or MCSE+sec+msg?
 
MarcLister said:
Thanks for that. Clears it up for me. :) Regarding the client exam, I'm guessing XP is probably the best client to take the exam in? I would have thought Vista would be too new for most organisations to be using and that 2000 is old enough for XP to be more preferred?

Are the +sec or +msg like bonus add-ons to the MCSE? And I could get one or both of them onto my MCSE? So MCSE, MCSE+sec, MCSE+msg or MCSE+sec+msg?
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Yes i think most people go for XP.

Correct. If you look under Specialization on http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcse/default.mspx for more details.

Bascically
MCSE = 7 exams
MCSE+1 = 8 exams
MCSE+2 = 10 exams
Although there's obviously nothing stopping you from doing more if you want to do other electives.
 
IMO, too many people get these qualifications without really knowing how they apply in the real world. I would really suggest getting some decent experience before going for the MCSE. Employers don't rate them much now either, so it's not a great selling point.
 
Once upon a time an MCSE could get you very far.
These days it will get your foot in the door - but that is about it.

Any employer woirth their salt will not see "MCSE" and assume you actually know everything that an MCSE should.
All they will assume is that you're good at cramming and also have a good memory - cram and memorise enough to get you through the exam.

If you want to gain an MCSE then go for it.
However make sure you can actually back that up with real world knowledge.
I'm an IT Manager and over the years I've recuited people into my department.
An MCSE certainly means your CV isn't instantly disgarded (unless it is really badly written etc).
However it certainly doesn't instantly move you up the list of "possibles".
 
^ what he said.

We have lots of MCSE qualified people come here, they tend to work on the helpdesk. But they really dont know anything worthwhile and they fail miserably in tests when they wish to progress up the ladder.

Bottom line is, you can do all the qualifications under the sun and spend loads of money, but if you're not sorting out these problems on a day to day bais, then knowledge fades and that certifcate means nothing when you actually get tested at interviews.
 
Problem is they're all to accessible.... When I did my MCSE we were few and far between, now everyone's got a qualification. You can fly to India and do a weeks MCSE/CCNP course for a very reasonable price. I've met an MCSE who'd never built a Windows server!?!?!

My advice, try and get a trainee position and decide where you want to go. There's more money in networking / IPT (VOIP) nowadays...
 
I can see your arguments here. But I'm in the position of not being employed right now and I'd like to increase my chances of getting a decent IT job as pretty much all the helpdesk jobs I find require at least 2 years experience of prior helpdesk work. :rolleyes:
platypus said:
Chevvy Chase :cool:.
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Raay! :D
 
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