MCSE qualification

[Captain Jack]

This question is more for Matt (mjb)/Matt (teamy) here, but if anyone has experience with this, then feel free to throw advice my way

Basically, I have decided to embark upon an MCSE qualification, with 4 core exams (70-290/1/3/4) and 3 others (70-298 definitely as it sounds interesting!). I will do this via self study and have already bought MS Press publication books for the 4 initial exams.

My background is 4 years desktop support with various flavours of MS OS support + some basic Win2k3/Exchange administration, 1 and a bit years with Oracle programming and more of the same Unix-y support (Tomcat, Oracle) now for over a year. I'd like to move away from that professionally and get on the MS wagon server administration as it always kinda interested me. And messing around in Java/shell script code is starting to get boring. Has anyone done the above qualification the self-study way and how difficult is it for someone with my level of experience.

I intend to "borrow" a copy on Win 2003 server and use to for "lab work" on a spare PC/VMWare at home, so that should hopefully get me some hands on experience.

[mjb]

Sorry, my background's in UNIX and networking... I know enough about Windows to be an advanced user/developer, but that's about it - I've never really bothered looking into Windows administration. The lack of control and insight you have in the Windows world is too frustrating for me

[Captain Jack]

Yeah, Windows is pretty lacking control wise with its standard tools. *nix can be taken apart completely and make it do whatever you want it to do (if you know how!). Like someone said, Unix *is* user friendly, it just chooses who its friends are.

Back on topic, it seems a lot of roles these days are looking for MCSE qualification, so it seems like a useful thing to have on your CV.

[teamster1975]

I've never bothered getting any MCSE qualifications but if you understand the fundamentals you should have no problems Alex.
I ploughed through the TCP/IP and NT Server books but that was a long time ago now!
It would be worth looking into becoming Cisco qualified; they earn the mega bucks. I cut my teeth on Juniper and Watchguard, but they're all fairly similar.

[highlander]

It would be worth looking into becoming Cisco qualified; they earn the mega bucks

Can you tell my boss that please?

I was never actually all that interested in networking; I wanted to be a server person, having come from 7.5 years of working corporate IT helpdesk support (after the first 2 years it is a complete waste of time and energy, don't do it as long as I did), I figured that Windows is Windows, and it would be a natural transition.

And it would have been. I got hold of an old HP server and built up Windows 2003 Server at home, to get some practise in before I started applying for server support jobs. I found it disappointingly easy (I like a challenge), but I figured it would get me a job that took me away from users (would be well worth it).

As it happens, the helpdesk I was working on was due to get canned, and my boss (before she fled) put my CV in for a networking position, without having asked me first. They were looking for someone who had no actual experience, because they didn't want their newbie to have to unlearn any bad habits. I knew *nothing* about configuring switches, routers, etc other than the ADSL router I used at home. So I got the job - and I *love* it! Just the right difficulty level for me, I'm always learning something new, and there's always a good bit of variety in it.

I still have no vendor certification, but I'm in a great job. It never hurts to learn your stuff, but these qualifications can be very expensive, time-consuming, and stressful to achieve - and then once you've got them, you need to stay current. This involves recertifying - taking parts of the test again - every so often, buying new books, booking exams, etc. All I'm trying to say is that they're not essential for you to find your perfect job - your mileage may vary!

Whether you go for the exams or not, I wish you all the very best of luck in your new career. Don't ever go back to desktop support...

[mjb]

In my opinion the only qualification worth its salt is the CCIE and its equivalents from the other vendors, the rest are pretty much worthless bits of paper to those in the know. Unfortunately it's those not in the know that usually end up screening CVs

[Captain Jack]

Networking doesn't really float my boat. Routing some packets around the world just doesn't seem awfully exciting for me. Besides, I've never had that much experience in it (except building a basic Linux firewall/router for my company a few years back).

Desktop support is also not my idea of fun - done it for four years and too many people shouting down the phone didn't do it for me. Currently doing support for web servers, Oracle, MS SQL and a fair bit of coding (or rather removing undocumented features our lovely developers decide to introduce with every new product release ). It's far more relaxed but also rather boring for me. So would like to start with something new-ish.

After MCSE, I'll be looking into CCNA as a lot of employers now want both qualifications. It'll be the best of both worlds. And then, who knows.....

[teamster1975]

Well the very best of luck to you Alex!

[Welly]

I was thinking about doing the cake decorating course again this year....I failed it last year

Who said a pair of Icing-piped Boobies was inapproriate for a cake? the glacier cherries came in dead handy that day

[Pob]

I did the CCNA via Open University a year ago and found it very... well boring! Getting the acutal motivation to do it was really hard, but I didn't have much choice as you had to work against a timescale. They recommended 13hrs a week, I was doing around 25 plus a day every month in Birmingham to do the practical side. Really it was too much for the time you had, it lasted 6 months. (Normally it's a 12 month course) I don't work in I.T, I studied it about 6 years ago at college and handed been in education since. You should be fine with your background.

Dan