Newbie questions aabout MCSE's

[snagrat]

Right I've been thinking about it for a while now and have decided I will start some MCSE's.

Where is the best place to find a list of all the exams and requirements etc. I've tried the MS site but I find it confusing but if I have to start there then I will go back and have another look. Is there somewhere I can get some proper documentation sent through to me explaining the whole examination thing and how its done/mark etc.

The other thing is I was wondering what people believe to be the best method of learning. Courses are really out of the question because of work, but I then have the option of either books or learning through the MS labs?

I hope someone can just point me in the right direction

 

[Fakel1ty]

Right I've been thinking about it for a while now and have decided I will start some MCSE's.

Where is the best place to find a list of all the exams and requirements etc. I've tried the MS site but I find it confusing but if I have to start there then I will go back and have another look. Is there somewhere I can get some proper documentation sent through to me explaining the whole examination thing and how its done/mark etc.

The other thing is I was wondering what people believe to be the best method of learning. Courses are really out of the question because of work, but I then have the option of either books or learning through the MS labs?

I hope someone can just point me in the right direction

I've just started mine. My work put me on it as part of my PDP. I'm doing c#.net (can't remember the code, but i can dig it out if you want)

I have to learn it in my own time, and just go along to the exam centre when I'm ready.

I'm finding that the learning is a little slow at home as you are being taught how to do set tasks to the letter, however i benefited more from actually using the language at work, and understanding the principles in business practices. Its probably just me, but if you can study alongside you'll understand it better.

First decide what you want to do and what you want to get out of it. Bare in mind if you take one, a potential employer may see that you are commited to MS products. Whether this is a good or a bad thing depends on job positions you apply for.

Hope that helps

 

[NathanE]

Right I've been thinking about it for a while now and have decided I will start some MCSE's.

Where is the best place to find a list of all the exams and requirements etc. I've tried the MS site but I find it confusing but if I have to start there then I will go back and have another look. Is there somewhere I can get some proper documentation sent through to me explaining the whole examination thing and how its done/mark etc.

The other thing is I was wondering what people believe to be the best method of learning. Courses are really out of the question because of work, but I then have the option of either books or learning through the MS labs?

I hope someone can just point me in the right direction

To be honest I would not bother. They are worth very very little in terms of "getting you a job". Unless your company is paying for it... which they often do as they like to have "qualified" personnel as it looks good for the corporate portfolio.

 

[snagrat]

I've just started mine. My work put me on it as part of my PDP. I'm doing c#.net (can't remember the code, but i can dig it out if you want)

I have to learn it in my own time, and just go along to the exam centre when I'm ready.

I'm finding that the learning is a little slow at home as you are being taught how to do set tasks to the letter, however i benefited more from actually using the language at work, and understanding the principles in business practices. Its probably just me, but if you can study alongside you'll understand it better.

First decide what you want to do and what you want to get out of it. Bare in mind if you take one, a potential employer may see that you are commited to MS products. Whether this is a good or a bad thing depends on job positions you apply for.

Hope that helps

Don't worry about digging out the number.........programming is the one thing I'm definately staying clear of

I haven't mentioned it to my boss yet but he may let me have the days of work to do the studying even if he won't pay for the courses/exams.

Thanks for the info thou

 

[snagrat]

To be honest I would not bother. They are worth very very little in terms of "getting you a job". Unless your company is paying for it... which they often do as they like to have "qualified" personnel as it looks good for the corporate portfolio.

Well thats whats I've always thought. But then I kinda wanna prove to myself that I actually know what I'm talking about.

I may see what my company says about it.

 

[Fakel1ty]

Don't worry about digging out the number.........programming is the one thing I'm definately staying clear of

I haven't mentioned it to my boss yet but he may let me have the days of work to do the studying even if he won't pay for the courses/exams.

Thanks for the info thou

Another thing to think about is that if you go for it, you may have to keep renewing it for every new verison of Windows OS as you will find companies keep upgrading their system to the latest release. It looks bad if you stop at windows 2003.