microsoft.public.cert.exam.mcsd - Question for MCSD-certified developers

Author

Question for MCSD-certified developers

Gerard

2003-02-18, 4:23 pm

I used to write a lot of code back in the mid-Nineties, on
a platform that was moribund even then. Then I moved over
to the same company's network administration group and
didn't look back... my career went that direction. I got
an MCSE (and I got bored after 5 MCSE 2000 exams, but I
may finish the other two soon) and worked my way up in
that bailiwick to a respectably high position. Then we
all got laid off and I went into business for myself,
which is working out pretty well, as these things go.

I'm bored, though. Small companies have extremely simple
problems and needs. I really wanted to get back into
coding, figuring I could bolster my income with some
custom applications-- I was a good programmer back in the
day and figured I could be again, although I'd have to
finally figure out OOP (not nearly as big a deal as I
thought it would be) and event-driven programming (not a
big deal either, in fact, it's easier as you all may know).

So five weeks ago I bought an MS book that had a 60-day
free trial of visual studio .NET and for the last week
I've been working hard (almost feverishly) on a project
that uses web services for database access. The curve
felt awful steep at first but now everything seems to be
falling into place.

I think getting the MCSD (or maybe the MCAD only for the
simple reason that my customers know what an application
is but perhaps would find the word "solution" a little
confusing!) might help me in my marketing. I have noticed
from what I'm reading, though, that not that many people
are getting the cert, at least not by MCSE standards.
There must be at least a 20:1 ratio. What I want to know
is, are there so few MCSD's because it's really hard
(that's kind of exciting from a challenge standpoint) or
because there's not that much advantage to it? I'd like
to hear opinions on that so I can decide if it's worth it
to get one. I don't know a single MCSD, so this is the
only place I can think to ask.

Tom Allen

2003-02-18, 6:23 pm

That's a good question. My guess is that there are more MCSEs than MCSDs
because certification is viewed as more relevant in an IT setting than in a
software development setting. I've been in software development for many
years and never heard of certification as something desirable in myself or
in those we interview.

But having completed an MCAD certification, and nearly completed .Net MCSD,
I really value the skills I learned. In the future I will definitely give
preference to certified applicants and business partners.

Tom

"Gerard" <gmknorr@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:02d101c2d799$76c90990$a20
1280a@phx.gbl...
> I used to write a lot of code back in the mid-Nineties, on
> a platform that was moribund even then. Then I moved over
> to the same company's network administration group and
> didn't look back... my career went that direction. I got
> an MCSE (and I got bored after 5 MCSE 2000 exams, but I
> may finish the other two soon) and worked my way up in
> that bailiwick to a respectably high position. Then we
> all got laid off and I went into business for myself,
> which is working out pretty well, as these things go.
>
> I'm bored, though. Small companies have extremely simple
> problems and needs. I really wanted to get back into
> coding, figuring I could bolster my income with some
> custom applications-- I was a good programmer back in the
> day and figured I could be again, although I'd have to
> finally figure out OOP (not nearly as big a deal as I
> thought it would be) and event-driven programming (not a
> big deal either, in fact, it's easier as you all may know).
>
> So five weeks ago I bought an MS book that had a 60-day
> free trial of visual studio .NET and for the last week
> I've been working hard (almost feverishly) on a project
> that uses web services for database access. The curve
> felt awful steep at first but now everything seems to be
> falling into place.
>
> I think getting the MCSD (or maybe the MCAD only for the
> simple reason that my customers know what an application
> is but perhaps would find the word "solution" a little
> confusing!) might help me in my marketing. I have noticed
> from what I'm reading, though, that not that many people
> are getting the cert, at least not by MCSE standards.
> There must be at least a 20:1 ratio. What I want to know
> is, are there so few MCSD's because it's really hard
> (that's kind of exciting from a challenge standpoint) or
> because there's not that much advantage to it? I'd like
> to hear opinions on that so I can decide if it's worth it
> to get one. I don't know a single MCSD, so this is the
> only place I can think to ask.

Somchai U.

2003-02-18, 10:23 pm

I agree on the value of Microsoft certificates (in term of content which we
have to learn). The test objective is well designed. Many of them are useful
in real works.

BTW, do you know the reason why there are very low number of MCSD when
compare to MCSE? For Lotus Notes, the situation is reversed. There are more
CLPs in developer track than the SA track. Of course, Lotus Notes may be
irregular case, but it is obviously.

Somchai

"Tom Allen" <tca9@pacbell.net> wrote in message
news:OT8Yov61CHA.1612@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> That's a good question. My guess is that there are more MCSEs than MCSDs
> because certification is viewed as more relevant in an IT setting than in
a
> software development setting. I've been in software development for many
> years and never heard of certification as something desirable in myself or
> in those we interview.
>
> But having completed an MCAD certification, and nearly completed .Net
MCSD,
> I really value the skills I learned. In the future I will definitely give
> preference to certified applicants and business partners.
>
> Tom

Alan Davis

2003-02-19, 2:23 am

>although I'd have to
>finally figure out OOP (not nearly as big a deal as I
>thought it would be) and event-driven programming (not a
>big deal either, in fact, it's easier as you all may know).

Nor should it be. The object oriented approach represents a very
natural way of solving real world problems with software.

One thing to remember, 'programming', as you put it, represents only a
small part of the software development process. If you want to
understand the oriented approach used for software development, you
will need to understand how analysis, design, testing & maintenance
are conducted.

When attending an invterview/meeting with prospective
employers/clients, you will need to be able show that employer/client,
that you have a good understanding of how software is constructed (or
rather engineered), and thus be able to solve their problems.

>What I want to know
>is, are there so few MCSD's because it's really hard
>(that's kind of exciting from a challenge standpoint)

Those people who use the products on a day to day basis, will find the
exams and the studying much easier. Those who are learning the product
in the process, may well find it harder.

>or
>because there's not that much advantage to it? I'd like
>to hear opinions on that so I can decide if it's worth it
>to get one.

There has been a lot of debate regarding the advantages of ms certs.
My view is it is always 'worth it', although this can depend on what
your interpretation of 'worth' can be measured by.

In the UK there is little call for the mcsd certification, so
naturally financial rewards are minimal. Whether it helps one get or
keep a job, is debatable.

It would appear, given comments made in this ng, that in the US the
whole ms certification process is taken more seriously, and the
rewards more encouraging.

> I don't know a single MCSD.

I think I have met two or three. But then again, I don't think people
go around shouting it from the roof tops in the UK.

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