ADL Mark Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 One for the IT bods obviously. I was made redundant last week and it's obvious that I'm going to have to really get off my arse and work hard to get a new job at the moment. One thing I've wanted to do for a while, and that a couple of potential employers have mentioned to me is that an MCSE would make me much more appealing to potential employers. So my question is, where do I start, where do I do it, can I get all the resources online (I've seen links on here to helpful stuff), and the big one being how much will it cost all in? Cheers for any help guys and gals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorin Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 I qualified in the Windows 2000 track, but never bothered updating to 2003 so it's lapsed. You're continually redoing exams every other year just to stay current. Courses are expensive, but not needed, just pick up the official books from ebay from someone who has already passed and build yourself a couple of virtual servers to experiment with. Now I'm out of touch with whatever is actually needed but when I did it, it was 6 exams @ £70 each, I now believe it's something like 7-8 exams and more like £120 per exam. The first exam you pass gets you MCP status though. Certifications home - http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/default.mspx MCSE 2003 requirements - http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcse/windows2003/default.mspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADL Mark Posted March 9, 2009 Author Share Posted March 9, 2009 Thanks Michael, I knew it was going to be expensive The other thing I was wondering was whether it was worth going 2003 or straight in to 2008. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorin Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Thanks Michael, I knew it was going to be expensive The other thing I was wondering was whether it was worth going 2003 or straight in to 2008. I don't believe the 2008 track exams are available yet. I'd consider getting http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exams/70-290.aspx under your belt, at least then you're MCP qualified and you can put that you're "working towards MCSE qualification", even if you have no intention of doing any further exams. Ideally a company will take you on and then they can fund the rest of your exams. Mine did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamanC Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Michael has pritty much covered it. I done mine the cheapy way, brought some books and then just sat the exams. Whilst I think they help in getting a job, employers are far more interested in experiance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADL Mark Posted March 9, 2009 Author Share Posted March 9, 2009 Ok, thanks for that. I'll have a look at the MCP to start with, though a full MCSE would be something I'd be heading towards. I spoke to a company last week who were possibly interested in taking me on in a Sales role with a view to doing an MCSE and moving to a Senior Systems Engineer role further down the line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADL Mark Posted March 9, 2009 Author Share Posted March 9, 2009 I think I'll be looking at the cheap way too. You don't have the books still that you'd like to pass on for a good price do you? I agree employers are looking for experience but it has been said to me a couple of times now that to get the extra experience/knowledge that I need, an MCSE would be ideal. My career seems to be at a sticky point, I have a reasonable all-round knowledge so I am above basic technician roles but I don't have enough in-depth knowledge for a senior role. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamanC Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Mark - whats your experiance/qualifications in IT? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraTRD83 Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 I would contact your local Job Centre as if your on Job Seekers (same as me in a few weeks) you can get courses paid for at your local college. Thats what I have booked in to do and if you find a job mid course you still don't have to pay as its already been paid for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADL Mark Posted March 9, 2009 Author Share Posted March 9, 2009 I very much doubt they'd pay for an MCSE. Daman, I've been working in IT since I left college 8 years ago. I've done 1st line helpdesk support, then a Uni technician on an XP network and more recently everything-support at a local firm. My knowledge is mainly Microsoft stuff, XP and Windows 2003 SBS/Standard with Exchange, IIS, ISA, WSUS and a little SQL. I've done a fair bit of network cabling and a very small bit of Linux/Unix. A few other little unusual things that were fairly company specific too. All round network admin I suppose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraTRD83 Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 I very much doubt they'd pay for an MCSE. QUOTE] Dont even no what one is was just an idea EDIT: Conclusion: Not all of these methods will work for everyone. But if you're disciplined and willing to read, study, and work hard on your own, you don't have to spend top dollar to get your MCSE certification. If you can get your employer or the government to pay for your MCSE training and exams, go for it. Each of these methods has already been used by many others and will be used by many more. Now get busy and get your MCSE certification! Found on http://www.rlrouse.com/mcse-certification.html worth a shot, love how people want cheap options but then wont try the obvious. suprising how much they'l give you when your out of work, thats why we have all these lazy sods in the country Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADL Mark Posted March 9, 2009 Author Share Posted March 9, 2009 Lol.. that's ok mate, I appreciate you trying to help Good advice on that link by the sounds of it, cheers! Guys, is it worth splashing the money out on this - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Self-Paced-Training-70-290-70-291-70-293/dp/0735622906/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236616743&sr=1-2 or just getting the 70-290 to start with (which is £27 on it's own)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraTRD83 Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Good luck anyways!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorin Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Lol.. that's ok mate, I appreciate you trying to help Good advice on that link by the sounds of it, cheers! Guys, is it worth splashing the money out on this - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Self-Paced-Training-70-290-70-291-70-293/dp/0735622906/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236616743&sr=1-2 or just getting the 70-290 to start with (which is £27 on it's own)? I'd maybe just get the 290 book for now, and see how you get on. By the time you come to do the other exams they may have brought out some 2008 exams and you may want to do those instead. Might be worth getting the full set second hand from egay though if you can find it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADL Mark Posted March 9, 2009 Author Share Posted March 9, 2009 I've found the full set on Amazon, new but a couple of the covers slightly creased for £60. I thought that was quite good really. Until I find another job, I've basically got the time in between to job hunt and make myself useful so I figure I can knuckle down and get studying for this little lot. I've got a few old computers laying around that I can cobble together to make a network and then practice the stuff in the books, seems like a good way to learn - by doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamanC Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 I very much doubt they'd pay for an MCSE. Daman, I've been working in IT since I left college 8 years ago. I've done 1st line helpdesk support, then a Uni technician on an XP network and more recently everything-support at a local firm. My knowledge is mainly Microsoft stuff, XP and Windows 2003 SBS/Standard with Exchange, IIS, ISA, WSUS and a little SQL. I've done a fair bit of network cabling and a very small bit of Linux/Unix. A few other little unusual things that were fairly company specific too. All round network admin I suppose. What I would probably do is 1 core module. Something like Implementing and supporting windows XP Pro - you will breeze that. You are then a MCP. which imo is 40% of a MCSE. If you find yourself out of work for a while, then do another few. You will find you know most of it all, I learn't very little but it shows you how to do things the "microsoft way" rather than your own personal way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADL Mark Posted March 9, 2009 Author Share Posted March 9, 2009 I know XP inside out, well I think I do. I thought I knew 2003 and Exchange pretty well until I spoke to an MCSE the other day who caught me out in seconds, so it shows I have plenty to learn (not that I was arrogant enough to think otherwise). I know what you mean about the 'Microsoft Way' though! Cheers Daman, I'll do some reading up on the core exams and see what suits best and then head towards that first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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