What to do next...

Angelos_n · 29 Jun 2011 at 19:21

So , ive been looking at options regarding education. Im 100% going to do MCITP: EA and Exchange Server 2010, but what i cant decide is whether to do a Masters degree, or something like MCM or MCA. What would hold higher value, ive applied for a few Masters Degrees for September 2012, but dont know whether to do that part-time or MCM/MCA OR BOTH???????

Whatever i do needs to be part-time due to the fact i work full-time, oh and i definatly want to work with microsoft technologies(i already do which is the reason for MCITP).

So yeh what do people think will be valued more in the industry, and what have you guys done in this situation.

oh and the masters i have applied for is Master of Computing in Information Technology Project Management. most likely at National University of Singapore

Many thanks in advance

Angelosn

m4cc45 · 30 Jun 2011 at 21:34

Well the MCM would be very hard to achieve and I can't see many employers actually knowing what it is (unless you get the odd specialist recruitment).

You're a little vague on what you're curently doing but if it's IT related then get the certs and as much experience as possible then move on.

IT is one of the only industry where, with certs, you're more valuable to another company than your current one (i.e. when I had my MCSA my current company wouldn't give me a raise but my new company offered more, same when I got the MCSE and same when I got the MCITP: EA).

M.

Angelos_n · 1 Jul 2011 at 10:13

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

yes currently i work in I.T and have done for the past 4-5 years. My current employer does realise the value of certs, but also likes Masters, so im currently at a loss. I think an MCM is more for me, knowing that i achieved something like that.

Angelosn

m4cc45 · 1 Jul 2011 at 13:55

Do you have any certs?

You may want to try and do the certifications leading to the MCITP:EA stuff before you even think about MCM. If you struggle with that then you may need to rethink.

I'd say that Microsoft qualifications are probably more valued than a masters though that's my personal thoughts. I've never seen a job advert asking for masters but I've seen pleanty asking for a MCSA/MCSE.

M.

sidethink · 1 Jul 2011 at 13:59

I personally wouldnt worry to much about a Masters if you intend to stay in IT, unless its an MBA and you fancy a switch to management (or happen to work for an American firm who love them).

Stick with the certs, work on interesting projects and pickup as many good habits as you can.

Hulkster · 1 Jul 2011 at 15:30

I agree with m4cc45 - MCA is a very high level cert:

"Successful candidates generally have ten or more years of IT experience, and five or more years of specific architectural experience. Microsoft Certified Master certification is a prerequisite for all MCA Technology certifications.

Even the MCM is still very high level stuff... take a look at the pre-reqs here - http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/master.aspx#tab2

Start with MCTS, then once you have all the MCITP certs...then think about moving forward

Angelos_n · 1 Jul 2011 at 15:33

Thanks for your help. Ive started learning for MCITP:EA already and plan to be tkaing my first exam in about 4 weeks. How many MCITP Certs should i be looking at in reality?

Regards

Angelosn

m4cc45 · 1 Jul 2011 at 17:21

Depends what you want. 5 for Enterprise Admin. 6 for EA + S (Server Administration) and then depends if you want to specialise (i.e. Exchange, etc. certification).

Entirely up to you.

Maybe look here:

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/mcitp.aspx#tab2

M.

elrasho · 4 Jul 2011 at 14:39

m4cc45 said:
Depends what you want. 5 for Enterprise Admin. 6 for EA + S (Server Administration) and then depends if you want to specialise (i.e. Exchange, etc. certification).

Entirely up to you.

Maybe look here:

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/mcitp.aspx#tab2

M.

To the OP, I'm going down this route too. Get to EA then see what your options are and take it from there

P.S. The MS Books revised for R2 are out in a couple of weeks

Angelos_n · 4 Jul 2011 at 14:48

i thought they came out in may/june? i have AD and Network Infastructure 2nd edition for R2 that came out, are these not the same as for R2?

elrasho · 4 Jul 2011 at 14:55

Angelos_n said:
i thought they came out in may/june? i have AD and Network Infastructure 2nd edition for R2 that came out, are these not the same as for R2?

Dont think so, the second edition are just updated from 1st edition. The R2 ones that are coming out cover the new stuff that Server 2008 R2 has, but you can do some googling around and pickup the stuff you need on R2 to pass the exams.

Angelos_n · 4 Jul 2011 at 15:26

i wonder if ive been that blind, ive worked with 2008 for a few years, and ofc r2 for that year or so less. But ive not really noticed much if anything in my day to day stuff that differentiates. Must be subconciously doing things, that seem logical i guess