I want to hear from all you MCSE out there

[ephmynus]

Okay, this summer I'm going to, hopefully, start my MCSE course and I really want to know if it is worth it. Especially in our wonderful recession that we are in at this point. How much more do you think you make a year just for having your cert? I'm excited about starting the course but in any event, it's a lot of money. I know my A+ has paid for itself 1000 times over since I've had it. Can I get some opinions here?
:confused:

[HIESLanMan]

I'm guessing that this would go better in the certification forum, but here goes. I wouldn't count on the class. The new MCSE exams are pretty difficult - there aren't very many no-brainers, and almost all the questions are scenario-based in my experience. I recommend getting a bunch of books, and even more experience. Then maybe to finish things off, take a class. One major problem right now is that most of the books (and I'd have to assume most of the classes as well) really don't have a handle on the new exams. The practice questions I've seen bore little resemblance to the actual exams.

[thirdfey]

Hmmmm...I hope this doesn't get turned into a cert verse experience debate but here goes. I am on my way with getting my MCSE2k and hope to take the Pro exam this weekend or the weekend after depending on work. Some of the other guys that were in my class were MCSE NT4 certified and I noticed that the cert just gave them one more thing to help them stand out from the crowd which in turn technically got them more money since that is why they were looking at the job. Thats what I have noticed, now who knows what will happen in a month or so when I get certified if my opinion changes.

[cordon]

If you can get it, good for you.

Being qualified rarely hurts. It will pay for itself a few times over if you can get a job with win2k.

It's cheaper to do self study. Get a demo copy of win2k server from microsoft for about $9 for postage and play with it.

[ChowFun]

I believe that the experience is worth more than any certifications. But it doesn't hurt to get those certs. Newer IT professionals and entry level would benefit the certs more because they show the company how much knowledge they have. I am currently studyin for my W2K Pro & Server. The microsoft MCSE training kits are good that's what i am studyin on.

That's my 2 cents worth.

[silencio]

1) Take the money you would spend on a class and spend it on a few machines, a switch, and the NT Server Resource Kit.

2) Read it.

3) If your short on software, buy the MSDN Pro Kit. It's about $700 for all the software MS makes. GREAT for testing if you can't lay your hands on the software elsewhere. MS also sells fully working demo versions of some software for about $15 which is definitely a better deal.

[tha 4NiK8R]

I hav had my MCSE for a while now and have not upgrade to 2k yet. I have increased my income by 50% every year for the past 3 yrs on average. I increades my income by over 200% the first year I had my MCSE(grom Jan1 of year I didn't have it to Jan 1 of year I did). I have seen many "paper" MCSE's out there that have failed where I have done well so I would say a MCSE with experience almost rules the current ($50-100K) market.(depending on where you live, of course) I am moving into the Cisco arena but am still enjoying my time working with Servers and workstations. If it is all about money to you and not about challenge then you might want to consider programming. If it is about challenge then give the Networking world a shot(I can say these things because I am a reformed script monkey.) Well I will leave it at this: If you do get your MCSE I don't think you will be disappointed with the opportunities out there.

[Imagenatas]

I'm MCSE 4.0 Certified. I'm also a CCNA 2.0. I really haven't used any of these skills involved with the cert. It didn't even help me get my current job. It didn't help my paycheck either. Here's the kicker though. People's attitude change as soon as you answer their question, "Are you certified?" The only thing it's done for me was finally grant me more respect than if I didn't have a cert under my belt. I've been doing this stuff for over four years and I've paid my dues. If I tell them No Cert they'll shun me off like a peon. That's just how the market is in my area. Paper lovers everywhere! We all know paper can't replace experience but at the same time Education never hurt anyone, in the long run. Good Luck!

[kingtbone]

I generally agree with everyone on this. We've all seen MCSE techs that don't know garbage, but at least they're working. If you can get the experience with that piece of paper, you're looking really good. A company wants to have something to look at other than, "I've been working with computers for years."

[CampbellD]

Hi All,

I have two exams to go to finish my MCSE NT4.0 Cert, but in tyhat time my income has increase 100% from the year that i started. This is likely to increase again when i finish MCSE 2k at the end of this year.

Speaking for Cisco Imagenatas, what are the tests like to becoming a CCNA (how many test etc)

[ShadowKing]

Ya, my income doubled after I got my MCSE. The paper doesn't mean you know everything, but it DOES mean you are committed to learning the industry, and are able to do your homework. A tech who has taken the time to get his certs will also take the time to make sure all the bases are covered at a client site...

[PizzaMan]

Originally posted by CampbellD:
Speaking for Cisco Imagenatas, what are the tests like to becoming a CCNA (how many test etc)

The CCNA is one all or nothing test. I'm scheduled to take it next week (June 5). The test has about an 80% failure rate according to the Cisco Press exam study guide.

As far as experience, I have a strong hardware background but very little network experience and no other certs. In this area, it is very difficult to get a computer related job of anykind w/o one or the other.

[Cygnus]

I have the same dillema involving the certs. Particularly MCSE. Financially I have the biggest problem. I got my AAS degree in computer engineering knocked out and im working on the certs now. The main problem is $$$Money$$$ ofcourse...I can study all i want but getting the money up to take the tests takes forever and work wont pay for em...its linda a raw deal. <IMG SRC="smilies/frown.gif" border="0">

[Cygnus]

KINDA a raw deal that is....

Who the heck is linda anyway?? <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[Xsecrets]

Originally posted by PizzaMan:
<STRONG>

The CCNA is one all or nothing test. I'm scheduled to take it next week (June 5). The test has about an 80% failure rate according to the Cisco Press exam study guide.

As far as experience, I have a strong hardware background but very little network experience and no other certs. In this area, it is very difficult to get a computer related job of anykind w/o one or the other.</STRONG>

I recently took the cisco exam and the only way that test could have an 80% failure rate is if those people went in totaly unprepared. I went in not expecting to pass with the goal of actually knowing what to expect the next time and I passed with over 880/1000. the one bad thing is that the passing score is 84?/1000 so the bar is set kinda high.

Unfortunately in my experiance so far it is not doing me any good in the job market, I got laid off over a month ago and I am still looking with no luck.

[rscos]

i started doing the ccna one evening a week (I already have MCPs in server, wkststion and server enterprise - nt4) and am currently studying for the 70-240.
I stopped the ccna because of 1) moving away and 2) it was a waste of time.
imho the ccna is just a glorified net essentials with some tricky bits. The MCSE and CCNA are 2 completely different fields and you're better off just syicking to one of them - then doing that one as best as you can - ie; do the MCSE in Win2k then maybe add-on the Compaq ASE, or do the CCNA then work towards your CCIE. It's the difference between being a jack of all trades or a master of one.
On the flip side, you may end up working for a company who wants a sys admin/support/designer who can ALSO support their routers/switches, in which case both would be helpfull.
You pays your money........

[JKSteger]

I've had my NT 4.0 MCSE for almost a year and in that time it has never got me a job or anything. The ONLY thing that it has got me was a raise. I will admit I did learn a few things while studying for the MCSE but nothing that I wouldn't have unearthed any other way. As a matter of fact in all the years that I've been in the computer buisness (working for resellers/VAR's) I would say that 90% of my work is in the desktop support area while only 8% in the server area and the rest in firewalls/routers, etc.

Any certification will help and if your know your stuff well enough to "pass" a cert test, then by all means spend the money and get certified - it can ONLY help! I'm working on my MCSE 2K, but I'm realistic and realize that because I am not exposed to an "enterprise" level of networking my certification will be only that...A CERTIFICATION. I will by no means think that I know everything. I will have a "basic" understanding or a "foundation" if you will of the Win2K Enterprise level. It will only be by experience that really "learn" all that is covered in the MCSE 2K exams.

I said all that to say this...GO FOR IT! It cannot hurt but remember that only "real world experience" will get you to where you want to be. This may mean changing jobs, locations, etc.

I hope that this has helped somewhat...

JKSteger

[TechieChick]

I really lucked out this past year when my employer bought me a year-long education pass at a local IT Ed. site. So far I've gotten my A+, Network+, MCP and CNA. By this years end I'll have my MCSE and CNE. Unfortunately, I work for peanuts and had to promise that I would stay on for an additional year after my training is finished.
But what the heck? I'd never be able to afford all that... Especially when they are paying me to sit in class, paying for all the tests, and paying my mileage there and back!!!