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Home > Archive > 70-210 > March 2001 > How do I get started with MCSE certification?
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How do I get started with MCSE certification?
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| CS1992 2001-03-18, 2:23 pm |
| I am very "green" when it comes to MCSE. My question is: What is the best way to get started with pursuing it? I am currently taking WIN2000 networking classes in college but would like to also become MCSE certified. Any suggestions would be appreciated. | |
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| The first thing I would ask myself is "Why do I want to get certified?" Does your job, (or a job you want to get), require it? Ego satisfaction?
To make you more '"marketable"? This is important because there are things that certification can do for you and some things it can't.
Certification _can_ get your foot in the door; because if nothing else it demonstrates to a prospective employer that you can absorb a common body of knowledge and retain that knowledge in order to pass a test. It also shows you have the initiative to add to your skills.
However, certification alone, without hands on experience, will not land you a senior IT position that pays big money. (In most cases).
You'll see recomendations all over this site to install a product on a home lab, play with it, break it, and fix it. Nothing replaces experience. When I went for my job I was given both an HR and a technical interview. At the time I had NO certs. I did have enough practical knowledge to answer the technical questions correctly. It's what you know more than the peice of paper.
As for a "game plan" to start on the certification track.... I started learning W2K from the basic OS and went to its' server variant to networking to AD and on from there. Most folks I know start studying to pass 70-210, Windows Professional and go on from there.
Sorry this is such a long post - I'll try to stay off my soap box from now on.... | |
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| Everything StormWalker indicated is good advice. Also remember to read, read, and read. Not just stuff associated with the MCSE exams, but Windows 2000 related stuff. Depending on what you are able to spend, set up a two or three computer network/lab at home (you can pick up some used computers cheap these days) Get a copy of Windows 2000 Professional and Windows 2000 Server(if you can afford it) and start causing chaos.
Look at purchasing a copy of the Windows 2000 Professional Resource Kit and Windows 2000 Server Resource Kit even if you cannot afford setting up a home network. They will help with your studies. |
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