Certification Newbie

[compuveg]

I'm pretty new to certifications, and wonder if there's anywhere I could learn what might be the best for me. Microsoft's site is heavy on the marketing and talk, but not very helpful with any actual information that can be digested by someone unfamiliar with the programs.

I would go to a local training company, but they also want to sell the classes and aren't really interested in just telling someone some books that would be handy to study and what tests to take.

I do a lot of work on our SQL Server, and Reporting Services, and soon will be working with Microsoft Office Sharepoint Server. Most everything I do is self-taught, learned in help files, or found through google. I am interested in continuing to self-study.

 

[SimonDavies]

I guess the first thing you need to know is what area you want to specialise in, what you don't like and what you're prepared to learn to help your other subjects make more sense?

It would be no good going for the MCSE if all your interested in is SQL DB work (MCDBA instead) and likewise it wouldn't be ideal to get an exchange course if you're not going to be working with Exchange or have any chance of doing so in the future.

Certifications are great for proving you know how to do things the MS (or Cisco\Sun\Oracle) way but in truth they can also come back to bite you in the future if you don't actually know the real world implementations of said products.

If all you want to do is learn about SQL and Sharepoint then I would suggest simply getting either an MS Press or Sams\QUE book, if you're interested in CBT training material then you could also have a look at something like Trainsignal or CBTNuggets.



SimonD.

The real world is not about exam scores, it's about ability.

 

[sasjat]

I definitely concur with Simon above, who stressed the fact that the first step you need to take is determine which area of specialization you want to follow. Once you have determined this, go to to choose the certification that corresponds with this area. A site that can help guide you in the right direction is:

http://certification.about.com/