I posted an MBA thread but another idea I have is to go after the MCDBA because I enjoy working with databases. I have the books and currently have years of experience with SQL Server 2000. Is it worth getting the 2000 certification with the newly revamped system that Microsoft has for SQL 2005?
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MCDBA 2000 - is it worth it?
- Thread starter smk7579
- Start date
Years of experience and then getting a certification is a waste of money in my opinion. After a certain amount of time in IT, a company wants experience in a candidate, not if they possess any certs. I have NEVER been asked if I have any certification, and was never asked to get any. Employers didn't and don't care.
mrdenny
Programmer
- May 27, 2002
- 11,595
To date I've never actually been asked if I have certs. These says it is on my resume though. They can be kind of pricy, and if you are going into a junior to mid level position they can give you a slight edge.
The MCDBA is 4 exams (I think) at $125 US per exam. So it's up to you if it's worth the cost.
Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000) / MCTS (SQL 2005) / MCITP Database Administrator (SQL 2005)
--Anything is possible. All it takes is a little research. (Me)
![[noevil]](/data/assets/smilies/noevil.gif "[noevil] [noevil]")
The MCDBA is 4 exams (I think) at $125 US per exam. So it's up to you if it's worth the cost.
Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000) / MCTS (SQL 2005) / MCITP Database Administrator (SQL 2005)
--Anything is possible. All it takes is a little research. (Me)
I totally disagree that ALL employers don't care. Some do and some don't. I've been to a few interviews where the certification was discussed. I've NEVER had someone say in an interview, oh, you have an MCSD, what a waste of time! Don't you have anything better to do than get a useless certification!
It's something that never will hurt you in the hiring process. That said, I wouldn't spend thousands of dollars on tech classes, I'd just take the tests and spend your 500 bucks (125 per).
I think it's definitely something that can help you.
It's something that never will hurt you in the hiring process. That said, I wouldn't spend thousands of dollars on tech classes, I'd just take the tests and spend your 500 bucks (125 per).
I think it's definitely something that can help you.
With years of experience the only place certs might give you an edge is in consulting.
With 2005s release I would go for the 2005 certs over 2000 as this will show employers looking to migrate that you have some experience with it.
Shoot Me! Shoot Me NOW!!!
- Daffy Duck
With 2005s release I would go for the 2005 certs over 2000 as this will show employers looking to migrate that you have some experience with it.
Shoot Me! Shoot Me NOW!!!
- Daffy Duck
And with a product that is dated in months, why even bother with certification. They are just revenue generators for vendors and training companies.
Why not spend the money getting a valuable degree? Nobody has ever aked me what my M.S. stands for; however, there are many acronyms (MCTS,MCITP) that very few people even know what they mean - or care!
Why not spend the money getting a valuable degree? Nobody has ever aked me what my M.S. stands for; however, there are many acronyms (MCTS,MCITP) that very few people even know what they mean - or care!
- Thread starter
- #8
And with a product that is dated in months, why even bother with certification. They are just revenue generators for vendors and training companies.
Why not spend the money getting a valuable degree? Nobody has ever aked me what my M.S. stands for; however, there are many acronyms (MCTS,MCITP) that very few people even know what they mean - or care!"
That's kinda what I was thinking. I'd have to spend 6-8 months studying for a certifiction that will expire within a couple of years, unless I spend a few more months upgrading that cert. Even if I do upgrade that cert, which will eventually expire (unlike degrees)
Why not spend the money getting a valuable degree? Nobody has ever aked me what my M.S. stands for; however, there are many acronyms (MCTS,MCITP) that very few people even know what they mean - or care!"
That's kinda what I was thinking. I'd have to spend 6-8 months studying for a certifiction that will expire within a couple of years, unless I spend a few more months upgrading that cert. Even if I do upgrade that cert, which will eventually expire (unlike degrees)
mrdenny
Programmer
- May 27, 2002
- 11,595
Microsoft certs don't expire. They are tied to a product. You'll notice that my MCDBA in my sig says SQL 2000 as I didn't get the SQL 7 MCDBA. My MCSA is in Windows 2003, not Windows 2000, and not Vista (since Vista will be MCTS and MCITP.
With the new cert track it will take time, but the MCTS and MCITP and MCA acronyms will shortly be as well known an MCSE.
Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000) / MCTS (SQL 2005) / MCITP Database Administrator (SQL 2005)
--Anything is possible. All it takes is a little research. (Me)
With the new cert track it will take time, but the MCTS and MCITP and MCA acronyms will shortly be as well known an MCSE.
Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000) / MCTS (SQL 2005) / MCITP Database Administrator (SQL 2005)
--Anything is possible. All it takes is a little research. (Me)
I keep hearing people brag about years of experience and that they don't need certs.
For one, years of experience is overrated. Linus Torvalds didn't need "years of experience" in creating an operating system before he created Linux at age 21. I think it has more to do with intelligence, resourcefulness and persistence rather than how long you have been doing it.
It doesn't matter if you have done something for 10 years or 1. What matters is whether you can produce something of high quality.
And if someone is a DBA, there really aren't that many database courses you can take in most computer science departments, unless you are going to take an Oracle track at Strayer.
For one, years of experience is overrated. Linus Torvalds didn't need "years of experience" in creating an operating system before he created Linux at age 21. I think it has more to do with intelligence, resourcefulness and persistence rather than how long you have been doing it.
It doesn't matter if you have done something for 10 years or 1. What matters is whether you can produce something of high quality.
And if someone is a DBA, there really aren't that many database courses you can take in most computer science departments, unless you are going to take an Oracle track at Strayer.
Stella740pl
Programmer
Linus Torvalds didn't need "years of experience" in creating an operating system before he created Linux at age 21.
So, are you saying that he obtained certificates to break into the field? :-D
Torvalds didn't create Linux from scratch. He borrowed heavily from all Unix variants. And relied on a book, I can't remember the name, but it is a classic on the Unix operating system.
So it wasn't an empirical development about which the world had never seen; anymore than DOS - or Windows for that matter - was created by Gates.
Generally we don't look at system-specific qualifications here. Degrees are nice, in fact, they're great. Microsoft qualifications have never raised one applicant over another. Not here anyway.
Don't get me wrong, if a company was paying for them to study and take the test, there is no reason they shouldn't. Our point of view is that system-specific qualifications are a waste of time (especially when MS products are so easy to use anyway), experience of computer systems in general is much more favourable.
Carlsberg don't run I.T departments, but if they did they'd probably be more fun.
Don't get me wrong, if a company was paying for them to study and take the test, there is no reason they shouldn't. Our point of view is that system-specific qualifications are a waste of time (especially when MS products are so easy to use anyway), experience of computer systems in general is much more favourable.
Carlsberg don't run I.T departments, but if they did they'd probably be more fun.
I'll take someone who is sharp and can learn things quickly (may not have a degree or certification) over someone who's been doing it for 10 years and still hasn't figured it out. Some of the best programmers you'll ever find don't have a degree or certification. Degrees or certifications don't make a good programmer or DBA.
My original point was that people shouldn't be knocking certifications.
I disagree that system-specific qualifications are a waste of time if you are working in an exclusively-Microsoft shop or they are heavily using Java.
It's good to be a generalist, but you really should become an expert in something.
Unfortunately, I think some people in the IT world espouse a myopic view that what's good for their little cubby hole in the world is best for everyone else too.
My original point was that people shouldn't be knocking certifications.
I disagree that system-specific qualifications are a waste of time if you are working in an exclusively-Microsoft shop or they are heavily using Java.
It's good to be a generalist, but you really should become an expert in something.
Unfortunately, I think some people in the IT world espouse a myopic view that what's good for their little cubby hole in the world is best for everyone else too.
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