Microsoft Certification - How Did You Achieve It? 3

[Skittle]

How are you guys achieveing Microsoft qualifications?

My company offers no training.

Do you pay for courses out of your own pocket or do you do it from books and self teaching? I'm think of pursuing an MCAD.NET or MCSE but is a big commitment for me to undertake as I simply do not have the money to pay for the courses and my company will not even give me the time of to take the courses even if I could afford them!

I'm not afraid of hard work but the mountain I have to climb seems tougth to say the least. Can it be done without course attendence?



Dazed and confused

 

[Nzarth]

Well I did it with no courses and I am sure thousands of others have done it.

What I did was to look at the exams I was going to take and took them in number order like 70-210, 70-215, 70-216, 70-217 and so on (W2K obviously).

I bought the MS Press (not a recommendation, but they did me).

Take one exam at a time and try and get as much hands on experience as you can.

I did this through my day to day work and also setup a lab at home (one server and one workstation).

If you are stuck you can always post your question in the relevant forums here

It is not easy doing it this way but it certainly is not hard. Just some hard work and will power and you will reach your goal.

Good Luck



Nzarth

MCSA/MCSE (W2K), CCA

Working on CCNA

 

[Skittle]

Thats good to hear and a great encouragement.

Am I correct you can therfore study for one exam, take the exam and then start on the next module? In other words you don't have to take all module exams in a set period?

If so, I am beginning to warm to the task.


Dazed and confused

 

[LesleyW]

You certainly don't have the take all the exams at once. You dont' even have to book that far in advance (but check with your chosen testing centre what sort of lead times they require)

I ran a project at my company (big corporation, at the time about 200+ IT people) basicly trying to get people to study for and take the exams. One of the biggest problems from my point of view was that there was no fixed schedule. I'd have 4 developers who each chose the exam they thought they'd find easiest. Gave themselves about 3 months to study for it, but when I chased to see how they were getting on, did they need anything it was always "Oh we were decorating the spare room/I've had problems getting going again after a holiday" etc etc. because they **knew** they could do the exams at any time. In the end out of about 20 for whom we bought study materials, only 2 did an exam. I'm one of them...I too suffered from extreme procastination.

OTOH, we concurrently were trying to get people through the Open University's project management course. I don't know the actual figures, but something like 10 people did the course and passed the exam over the same period.

And I too am now studying with the Open University! The OU is a much-respected distance learning univesity in the UK. I find their materials excellent, as is the support. And I have set deadlines for assignments and end of year assessments, focusses the mind wonderfully.

Sorry, I went a little off course there

 

[Nzarth]

You certain can take them one at a time (much easier). What tends to happen if you take them one at a time and maybe in numerical order you will see that each exam builds on the previous.

I took the Exchange elective, which banged on about AD

Nzarth

MCSA/MCSE (W2K), CCA

Working on CCNA

 

[TechMerlin]

I agree, one at a time is the way to go for W2K the 70-210 and 70-215 will help you in some of the harder exams 70-216. I fortunately had a lot of hands on experience and then read the Microsoft books and studied the web and (knock on wood) passed every one with flying colours

Mark Morton, MCSA, MCP, SNA, CCA

 

[Skittle]

LesleyW,

sounds like heaven. A company you work for encouraging and presumably in some way supporting employyes going after qualifications.

The one course I was allocated a year or so ago was a Sigma Six Statistics and Quality control self paced learning affair. It was done remotely over the net, not really IT based and aimed at 50 odd people in the company. I found it hard and I had to slot it in with my normal job over four monthd but I was 3rd to finish. Although I also feel from time to time I get procastination , I can usually take the pain and get to the finish line.

Sometimes I wounder if its worth it though. All this effort just to stay still in IT.



Dazed and confused

 

[jtb]

Skittle,

get a copy of "What Color Is Your Parachute?" and go through the exercises... any year is okay, should be one at your local public library...

After you've reminded yourself why you got into IT, decide whether you want to be in control or just move with the flow...

I arranged for my boss to pay for my tests, even though they wouldn't pay for classes... took me a year (with travel and home responsibilities) but I did it...

BUT! Before getting any cert, make sure it fits into your current "5-year plan"...

If you don't have a detailed career plan, sit down with your boss and/or your spouse, and/or your parents and make one. Get started today (hint: it's not a 5-minute exercise)!


JTB
Have Certs, Will Travel
"A knight without armour in a [cyber] land."