Am I wasting my time pursuing MCSA???!!! 1

[unc92sax]

I am 36yo and in a career change with no IT experience. I easily accomplished my Net+ (only missed 2 on the entire test) and am well on my way to passing A+ Core. I am a VERY analytical thinker and have a knack for technical tasks. My other goals are CCNA (I love subnetting) and MCSA.

I have been studying my arse off for the 70-290 exam. I took an online course, read the official MS book twice, did the entire LabSim, and am on my second reading of Mike Meyer's Passport book. I plan on setting up a Server 2003 network in my home this weekend to use as I read through his book again. I understand everything I'm reading. However, I am consistently making ~50% on the TestOut and Transcender exams!!! I have never been so frustrated in all my life.

I pride myself on hard work and accomplishment. But this is beating me into submission, not to mention all the horror stories about the actual exam. Mind you, I have no experience, and I understand that it is crucial. But I plan on going entry level anyway just to get my foot in the door. The problem is I have until next May to get as many certs as I can (family issues).

Should I just forget the MS self-training and learn it (or something else) on the job? AM I WASTING MY TIME HERE!!!

 

[Wishdiak]

unc92sax,

As a 37 year-old, with little real IT experience, I feel your pain. The 70-290 exam is difficult, no doubt, but mostly because of the way that Microsoft words the questions and answer choices. What you need to do is learn to recognise the ways in which the answer choices are different. They are usually very similar to each other.

As far as whether you are wasting your time or not, you seem interested in IT, but your time frame may be unrealistic. There is no reason why you can't acquire more IT certifications while working at an entry-level IT job. Setting up a test network will also help, expecially with the practice exercises.

Take your time, don't get discouraged, and remember that certifications are a process. It's not something that can be done in a day, or a week, or even a month (unless you have significant experience already).

Wishdiak
A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA: Security 2003

http://www.wishdiak.com

 

[SimonDavies]

I am a 35 year old guy but I have been working in IT for the last 8 years, I took the 290 exam 4 times yet each time I sat it I was passing the practice exams with 80% or more. I failed the exam 3 times, each by only 1 or 2 questions

My advice would be as follows.

Ensure you know the subject matter really well, it's all well and good reading a book but also get some hands on experience at the same time. If you haven't already run a virtual pc program such as VMWare that will allow you to run an OS on top of another then do so. Get to know the OS properly.

If you plan on starting on an entry level job to get some experience then I hate to say it but you are probably going over the top with the certifications at this point.

For a desktop\helpdesk postition I would suggest that the A+ and N+ are probably all you need right now, you don't want to have too many certs with no real world experience.
Over time perhaps look towards getting the MCDST certifications (supporting XP) and maybe have a look at both the 70-210 and 70-270 exams, the reason I say both is it's more likely that you will be allowed access to the workstations rather than servers so early in your career.

Gain the experience and knowledge you need over time and don't over extend yourself. Realise that to get decent money out of IT is all about experience first and certifications second. It's not good being certified upto the hilt if you can't back that certification up with decent knowledge.

 

[aftertaf]

from my point of view, i got my mcsa 2000 then 2003, then mcse 2003.

I had hands on experience with w2k pro & server, and passed the 2000 exams which seem easier than the 2003 core exams 290-291.
There isnt a huge difference between the two OS versions, but you need to know which are the differences.

I went from 0 to mcse 2003 in 1 year (8 exams), passing via mcsa 2000 & 2003 in the process.
But like I said i had hands on experience which accounterd for most of my learning... try to set up these systems and get to know them, like my fellow posters recommend...

and good luck ;-)

Aftertaf
We shall prevail, and they shall not