Looking for Career Advice. Is MCSE way to go..?? 1

[ukjane]

After reading everyone's comments about the MCSE track, i'm not sure it's worth me progressing. I am 25 from the UK and work for a CRM provider as a Support Specialist. I have been in support for 4 years. However, although I have gained in salary over the years (by moving company) I havn't really got the job satisfaction I need. (I want to be pushed and stretched, busy everyday and handle more complex projects)

I've thought about doing the MCSE, I did an MCP in NT4.0 last year and found it quite easy. Although, i don't know if a Certificate in Management might be money better spent. Or, an Open University degree in Computing. I'm going to have to pay for this all myself, so need to choose wisely.

I want to get into the management side, but still retain my techie knowledge, which would be the best qualification to go for.

Alot of employers in the UK look for MCSE's, well the agencies anyway. It's always the first question that they ask when you try to register with them, any MCP's etc. I only did mine in NT4.0 in order to be put forward for the job I have now. My boss also tells me that the MCP is not the reason I got the job, but for my personality and previous experience.

Is this every IT boss' view???

 

[butchrecon]

MCSE will get your resume looked at and considered more than someone without it. What will get the job though is EXPERIENCE, leadership, problem solving ability, and yes your personality will play a big part. Most companies want to make sure you are going to be a good fit to them. Most people bo to these MCSE boot camps and expect big bucks as soon as they are done. It just doent happen like that.

Any way. I think a degree in MANAGMENT can go ALONG way if you have good IT experience. MIS (Managment in Information Systems)is a good degree to start with.

Hope this gives some insight James Collins
Computer Hardware Engineer
A+, MCP

email: butchrecon@skyenet.net

 

[ukjane]

James,

Thanks for your advice. I couldn't afford a boot camp anyway. If I choose an MCSE I will do this home-study using books and CBT (which my company provides) over a few months. To do a Management certificate (highly recognised qualification in the UK) takes 12-24 months, but a BS would take me 7 years.

Thanks.

 

[butchrecon]

That is bad. Here in INDIANA (USA) we have schools for ADULT study that can get an BS in MIS in about 2 years. They are night classes that are accelerated. Nothing like that in the UK? As for the boot camps. I find them to be a very bad idea. I took the boot camp way 3 years ago for NT4 MCSE. 2 Weeks into it I dropped out. It was very disappointing. I did not learn anything useful. There was no in-depth study of how NT4 operated, just how to answer ?s. Just how to pass the exams. What good is that going to do someone.

James Collins
Computer Hardware Engineer
A+, MCP

email: butchrecon@skyenet.net

 

[ukjane]

That's exactly the trap I don't want to fall into. I was able to pass the NT4.0 MCP with no revision or test questions. But I had been working solidly with NT for 3 years. That's how it should be.

There are some local universities that run adult night classes, but first you have to do a HNC (Higher national certificate) 3 years. Then a HND (Diploma top up) 1 year. Then BS is an extra 2 years night class or 1 year full time. That makes it down to 6 years. But with a busy job and on call rota's it's difficult to get to classes two nights a week.

The open university run a BS track which is 5-10 years depending on the amount of work you want to do. But they do the Certificate in Management which is 2 years, the equivalent of 1/2 degree, but it's intensive. I might give it a go.

Or, I could get a move to my companies office in Atlanta and study in the US, seems easier.

Jane

 

[Zelandakh]

Jane,

If you really know your stuff and are just going for the exam passes, use the Network Press books (MCSE / MCP approved). They do cost about £40 each though.

If you want to stay in IT, I would say stick in the job and do the exams for MCSE and keep real world. Don't do Uni stuff - real world is much better.

Boot camps are great for people who know their stuff as it is a fast way to prove it. It is very easy for a technical person to ferret out a non technical person with an MCSE.

Drop me a note to zel@zelandakh.co.uk if you want more UK based thoughts Jane.