microsoft.public.cert.mct - Considering getting MCT

Author

Considering getting MCT

Sleighbor

2004-03-08, 7:32 pm

Hi all.

I was looking for information on MCT certification when I stumbled upon this site. I am seriously considering getting my MCT. I am an MCSE with about 12 years of experience.

I am thinking about obtaining the certification and then start teaching as a second income at first. If I like it and am successful at it I would love to be a full time instructor, employee preferably. I am so tired of carrying the beeper and working all the hours in my present position.

The only reason I hesitate is because the Microsoft requirements are so tough to keep you certification from year to year and I am afraid that if I do not find enough contract work in the first year that I would lose my certification. I would love to just change careers now but that is a scary proposition without testing the waters first.

So I guess my question is should I do it? Is there work? Contract and/or full time? I would be looking to teach all the W2k and W2k3 classes as well as ISA, Exchange and SMS. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you.
Kevin

Mark Fugatt [MVP]

2004-03-08, 9:24 pm

Kevin

The training market is pretty saturated at the moment, but is starting to
make come back, the hardest thing for you will be marketing yourself, you
will make next to no money with just W2K and W2K3 courses, but if you
specialize then you should be OK.

The rates that you charge are upto you, but if you go freelance the most
important thing to remember is your running a business and as such you must
charge what you need to maintain your way of life, dont let the training
centers/brokers try and beat you down on price, get a contract written with
your terms and have them sign it before you start any classes with them, if
you need to incur a large amount of out of pocket expenses for the course
get them to pay it up front.

I am very lucky that all the centers I work with dont mess me around with my
rate or payment.

There is work out there you just need to look around a bit.

--
Mark Fugatt
Exchange MVP
http://www.exchangetrainer.com
http://www.msexchange.org
"Sleighbor" <Sleighbor.12tx0g@mail.examnotes.net> wrote in message
news:Sleighbor.12tx0g@mail.examnotes.net...
>
> Hi all.
>
> I was looking for information on MCT certification when I stumbled upon
> this site. I am seriously considering getting my MCT. I am an MCSE
> with about 12 years of experience.
>
> I am thinking about obtaining the certification and then start teaching
> as a second income at first. If I like it and am successful at it I
> would love to be a full time instructor, employee preferably. I am so
> tired of carrying the beeper and working all the hours in my present
> position.
>
> The only reason I hesitate is because the Microsoft requirements are so
> tough to keep you certification from year to year and I am afraid that
> if I do not find enough contract work in the first year that I would
> lose my certification. I would love to just change careers now but
> that is a scary proposition without testing the waters first.
>
> So I guess my question is should I do it? Is there work? Contract
> and/or full time? I would be looking to teach all the W2k and W2k3
> classes as well as ISA, Exchange and SMS. Any advice would be greatly
> appreciated!
>
> Thank you.
> Kevin
>
>
> Sleighbor
> Sign up for free daily practice questions at: http://www.QoD.US
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Posted via http://www.examnotes.net
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> View this thread: http://www.examnotes.net/article1036862.html
>

Kevin O'Brien

2004-03-09, 2:25 pm

Thanks for the info Mark. It is too bad that the market is saturated. That
may deter me from getting the certification because ideally I would like to
be a full time instructor with a CTEC or a Microsoft partner but if the pay
is not there then it is not possible. I thought that with Microsoft's new
tougher certification requirements that many instructors would lose not
renew and it would be tough for new prospects like myself to get started.
Then there would be less instructors so more demand. As for beign an
independent with the family and the mortgage and such I would be much too
nervous about not having a regular paycheck.

Kevin

"Mark Fugatt [MVP]" <news@4mcts.com> wrote in message
news:OUTHYPXBEHA.2104@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> Kevin
>
> The training market is pretty saturated at the moment, but is starting to
> make come back, the hardest thing for you will be marketing yourself, you
> will make next to no money with just W2K and W2K3 courses, but if you
> specialize then you should be OK.
>
> The rates that you charge are upto you, but if you go freelance the most
> important thing to remember is your running a business and as such you
must
> charge what you need to maintain your way of life, dont let the training
> centers/brokers try and beat you down on price, get a contract written
with
> your terms and have them sign it before you start any classes with them,
if
> you need to incur a large amount of out of pocket expenses for the course
> get them to pay it up front.
>
> I am very lucky that all the centers I work with dont mess me around with
my
> rate or payment.
>
> There is work out there you just need to look around a bit.
>
> --
> Mark Fugatt
> Exchange MVP
> http://www.exchangetrainer.com
> http://www.msexchange.org
> "Sleighbor" <Sleighbor.12tx0g@mail.examnotes.net> wrote in message
> news:Sleighbor.12tx0g@mail.examnotes.net...
>
>

Mark Fugatt [MVP]

2004-03-09, 6:25 pm

Kevin

Dont give up, the market maybe slow, but its certainly making a turn around
slowly, finding a training center that is look for a staff instructor should
not be hard, go to www.microsoft.com/learning and get a list of the centers
in your area and contact them and see if they have any full time positions,
you might also want to contact them about possibly teaching some night class
for them.

--
Mark Fugatt
Exchange MVP
http://www.exchangetrainer.com
http://www.msexchange.org
"Kevin O'Brien" <kevin.obrien@henryschein.com> wrote in message
news:OHdk8TgBEHA.496@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Thanks for the info Mark. It is too bad that the market is saturated.
That
> may deter me from getting the certification because ideally I would like
to
> be a full time instructor with a CTEC or a Microsoft partner but if the
pay
> is not there then it is not possible. I thought that with Microsoft's new
> tougher certification requirements that many instructors would lose not
> renew and it would be tough for new prospects like myself to get started.
> Then there would be less instructors so more demand. As for beign an
> independent with the family and the mortgage and such I would be much too
> nervous about not having a regular paycheck.
>
> Kevin
>
>
>
>
>
> "Mark Fugatt [MVP]" <news@4mcts.com> wrote in message
> news:OUTHYPXBEHA.2104@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
to[color=blue]
you[color=blue]
> must
> with
> if
course[color=blue]
with[color=blue]
> my
upon[color=blue]
teaching[color=blue]
so[color=blue]
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>

Andy Goldin

2004-03-09, 7:25 pm

Interesting comments. I have similar qualifications as
Kevin but am more interested in becoming an MCT so I could
work for myself rather than a specific CTEC or the mega-
corporation I'm currently with.

In this scenario I'd want to do a mix of teaching (I'm OK
with traveling to do it) and consulting (to keep sharp
with practical application of the technology). My
questions are about the business aspects of being a self-
employed MCT. How do you drum-up business? What percentage
of your time is spent teaching vs consulting? What do you
do for health care?

Don't need all your "trade secrets" but I'd appreciate
whatever you'd be willing to pass along. Thanks!

>-----Original Message-----
>Thanks for the info Mark. It is too bad that the market
is saturated. That
>may deter me from getting the certification because
ideally I would like to
>be a full time instructor with a CTEC or a Microsoft
partner but if the pay
>is not there then it is not possible. I thought that
with Microsoft's new
>tougher certification requirements that many instructors
would lose not
>renew and it would be tough for new prospects like myself
to get started.
>Then there would be less instructors so more demand. As
for beign an
>independent with the family and the mortgage and such I
would be much too
>nervous about not having a regular paycheck.
>
>Kevin
>
>
>
>
>
>"Mark Fugatt [MVP]" <news@4mcts.com> wrote in message
>news:OUTHYPXBEHA.2104@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
but is starting to[color=blue]
marketing yourself, you[color=blue]
courses, but if you[color=blue]
freelance the most[color=blue]
and as such you[color=blue]
>must
let the training[color=blue]
contract written[color=blue]
>with
classes with them,[color=blue]
>if
expenses for the course[color=blue]
mess me around with[color=blue]
>my
bit.[color=blue]
in message[color=blue]
when I stumbled upon[color=blue]
MCT. I am an MCSE[color=blue]
then start teaching[color=blue]
successful at it I[color=blue]
preferably. I am so[color=blue]
hours in my present[color=blue]
requirements are so[color=blue]
I am afraid that[color=blue]
year that I would[color=blue]
careers now but[color=blue]
waters first.[color=blue]
work? Contract[color=blue]
the W2k and W2k3[color=blue]
would be greatly[color=blue]
http://www.QoD.US[color=blue]
------------------[color=blue]
------------------[color=blue]
http://www.examnotes.net/article1036862.html[color=blue]
>
>
>.
>

Mark Fugatt [MVP]

2004-03-09, 8:25 pm

Andy,

I would say that 80% of the training I do is "word of mouth" and private
client courses, when I started as a freelance trainer (6 years ago) I had to
contact all the local training centers within a certain radius, I am lucky
to have a wife who was prepared to help out with all the marketing (and she
still does).

Network with as many other trainers as you can, by attending TechEd etc,
when you become an MCT you will have access to the MCT private newsgroup and
there is a section for job postings.

You could also use a broker to help you get started, email me and I will
give you a list of the one's that I have worked with (and they are the best
one's).

Health Insurance is not really a problem, I joined the local Chamber of
Commerce and get my family insurance through their group membership system.

Hope this helps
--
Mark Fugatt
Exchange MVP
http://www.exchangetrainer.com
http://www.msexchange.org
"Andy Goldin" <andrewgoldin@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:9c4101c4062e$d627a080$a00
1280a@phx.gbl...[color=blue]
> Interesting comments. I have similar qualifications as
> Kevin but am more interested in becoming an MCT so I could
> work for myself rather than a specific CTEC or the mega-
> corporation I'm currently with.
>
> In this scenario I'd want to do a mix of teaching (I'm OK
> with traveling to do it) and consulting (to keep sharp
> with practical application of the technology). My
> questions are about the business aspects of being a self-
> employed MCT. How do you drum-up business? What percentage
> of your time is spent teaching vs consulting? What do you
> do for health care?
>
> Don't need all your "trade secrets" but I'd appreciate
> whatever you'd be willing to pass along. Thanks!
>
>
> is saturated. That
> ideally I would like to
> partner but if the pay
> with Microsoft's new
> would lose not
> to get started.
> for beign an
> would be much too
> but is starting to
> marketing yourself, you
> courses, but if you
> freelance the most
> and as such you
> let the training
> contract written
> classes with them,
> expenses for the course
> mess me around with
> bit.
> in message
> when I stumbled upon
> MCT. I am an MCSE
> then start teaching
> successful at it I
> preferably. I am so
> hours in my present
> requirements are so
> I am afraid that
> year that I would
> careers now but
> waters first.
> work? Contract
> the W2k and W2k3
> would be greatly
> http://www.QoD.US
> ------------------
> ------------------
> http://www.examnotes.net/article1036862.html

Kevin O'Brien

2004-03-10, 10:24 am

Thanks for the advice Mark. I will let you know how I make out and what I
decide. I appreciate the support.

Kevin

"Mark Fugatt [MVP]" <news@4mcts.com> wrote in message
news:##heHfiBEHA.3184@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> Kevin
>
> Dont give up, the market maybe slow, but its certainly making a turn
around
> slowly, finding a training center that is look for a staff instructor
should
> not be hard, go to www.microsoft.com/learning and get a list of the
centers
> in your area and contact them and see if they have any full time
positions,
> you might also want to contact them about possibly teaching some night
class
> for them.
>
> --
> Mark Fugatt
> Exchange MVP
> http://www.exchangetrainer.com
> http://www.msexchange.org
> "Kevin O'Brien" <kevin.obrien@henryschein.com> wrote in message
> news:OHdk8TgBEHA.496@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> That
> to
> pay
new[color=blue]
started.[color=blue]
too[color=blue]
> to
> you
most[color=blue]
training[color=blue]
them,[color=blue]
> course
> with
> upon
> teaching
so[color=blue]
> so
that[color=blue]
greatly[color=blue]
>
>

Andy Goldin

2004-03-10, 5:25 pm

Hi Mark,
Very informative. Hitting up brokers is a bit premature
for me at the moment (still got an exam to do) but I'll
definately keep your comments in mind!

>-----Original Message-----
>Andy,
>
>I would say that 80% of the training I do is "word of
mouth" and private
>client courses, when I started as a freelance trainer (6
years ago) I had to
>contact all the local training centers within a certain
radius, I am lucky
>to have a wife who was prepared to help out with all the
marketing (and she
>still does).
>
>Network with as many other trainers as you can, by
attending TechEd etc,
>when you become an MCT you will have access to the MCT
private newsgroup and
>there is a section for job postings.
>
>You could also use a broker to help you get started,
email me and I will
>give you a list of the one's that I have worked with (and
they are the best
>one's).
>
>Health Insurance is not really a problem, I joined the
local Chamber of
>Commerce and get my family insurance through their group
membership system.
>
>Hope this helps
>--
>Mark Fugatt
>Exchange MVP
>http://www.exchangetrainer.com
>http://www.msexchange.org
>"Andy Goldin" <andrewgoldin@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:9c4101c4062e$d627a080$a00
1280a@phx.gbl...
could[color=blue]
OK[color=blue]
self-[color=blue]
percentage[color=blue]
you[color=blue]
market[color=blue]
instructors[color=blue]
myself[color=blue]
As[color=blue]
moment,[color=blue]
business[color=blue]
dont[color=blue]
a[color=blue]
wrote[color=blue]
and[color=blue]
advice[color=blue]
---[color=blue]
---[color=blue]
>
>
>.
>

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