Microsoft Certified?

Schizophonic · 9 Feb 2011 at 18:35

I'm sure there are a few chaps here who have taken the test and currently working in IT.

I'm 26 with 3 year IT background and looking to expand further with my self development. I'm considering to take an M.C.S.A. or an M.C.D.S.T. to join the First / Second Line support. While I've done that (depending on the hours I take to do that exam) would you advise that I should explore the route of M.C.I.T.P or M.C.P.D?

Which are you qualified in? What can employers / business will want in terms of IT?

At the moment I can see myself doing first line or second line but I have not experience enough work for database or programming?

Third Opinion · 9 Feb 2011 at 18:39

I have an MCP in Windows XP. Nobody seems that interested in it though. I do realise it is a rubbish qualification and fairly basic. I always find experience is better than qualifications.

Sp00n · 9 Feb 2011 at 18:46

I have an MCP in Server 2003, I only got it as my old workplace needed the points to stay gold certified.

I would like to get some qualifications in something else but I haven't decided what yet.

DiscoDave · 9 Feb 2011 at 18:46

Try not to bother with MCSE or MCSA, they're retired/soon to be retired and replaced with MCITP.

MCPD? That's a developer qualification. Are you wanting to remain in support or change paths slightly and lean towards development? If you decide to change you'll most likely have to enter at a junior level, which isn't a bad thing completely, if a change is what you desire.

Are you in a job at the moment? Take exams that correlate to what you use day in/day out. You'll probably get a few raised eyebrows if, for example, you did a MCITP but have no real world Windows Server 2008 experience.

With three years background in IT I'd personally choose to do a MCITP, provided you actually get to work on servers in your day job.

I'm doing a MCITP at the moment and passed my first exam (AD 2008, configuration). While it helped having it on my CV, employers matched it with real world experience as well as being tested during interviews.

Schizophonic · 9 Feb 2011 at 19:05

DiscoDave said:
Try not to bother with MCSE or MCSA, they're retired/soon to be retired and replaced with MCITP.

MCPD? That's a developer qualification. Are you wanting to remain in support or change paths slightly and lean towards development? If you decide to change you'll most likely have to enter at a junior level, which isn't a bad thing completely, if a change is what you desire.

Are you in a job at the moment? Take exams that correlate to what you use day in/day out. You'll probably get a few raised eyebrows if, for example, you did a MCITP but have no real world Windows Server 2008 experience.

With three years background in IT I'd personally choose to do a MCITP, provided you actually get to work on servers in your day job.

I'm doing a MCITP at the moment and passed my first exam (AD 2008, configuration). While it helped having it on my CV, employers matched it with real world experience as well as being tested during interviews.

Thanks, I will look further down the MCITP route. I know that the MCSE and MCSA are quite old (2003) but I thought that it would be the fundamentals of getting a position within 1st /2nd line. I'm currently out of work but when I was in IT for a large bank, it was not necessary first line involved. I was part of IMAC (Installation Move Add Change) on the ITIL framework and it was not a 100% technical role but had elements of it. My company couldn't fund me to do these exams because it was not specific but I'm goign to be doing these qualification for myself and in which will lead me on to better and greater things.

I do know I like to work on support but maybe consider doing a CCNA and see how things go or what my salary would be at the time. Like I said I dont know much about Database or .net framework but do know big employers pay good money for the skill at hand.

danielanthony · 9 Feb 2011 at 19:06

I'm 31 and have both the MCSE and MCITP certifications. I have found that these certifications certainly open doors but obviously you need to be able to back this up with practical experience as Microsoft say themselves that this is needed before taking the exams.

On top of this nowadays you'll need exposure to VMWare at least plus Exchange to get a decently paid Sys Admin job. Get extra Citrix certs and you'll be earning serious money. I am also ITIL certified and find that HR and Management tend to love this.

MossyUK · 10 Feb 2011 at 09:29

Certs are great if you are looking for a new job, they show you have taken the time to do something 'extra curricular' and have the aptitude to demonstrate your knowledge in a tangible form.

However, the MS ones are probably the most under valued cert out there. I wouldn't bother doing any of them any more.

CCNA is worth it and will open most doors for entry level jobs, but don't expect the earth. CCNA is almost the basic qual required to get an interview for anything other than desk monkey in this market.

VMWare is great to have, especially as you have to have sat a £2500 course to be eligible to sit it. I dunno if I can be bothered doing the VCP personally, VMWare does not float my boat.

I am a SAN admin by day, and had an average response to my CV when I put it up - ITIL, Citrix, MCPs that sort of thing.

I passed some Netapp certs and the interest in my CV has sky rocketed. Still looking for a new position, but this has definitely improved things.