MCSA

[localzuk]

Right, my school is looking at paying for me to do the MCSA Win2k3 course. My question is, should I go for:

 

a) The actual training course (expensive, have to travel etc...)

b) E-learning course

c) Just get the books and teach myself (how I have done everything so far...)

 

Has anyone else done an MCSA or similar just from the books?

 

Cheers

Tony

[Halfmad]

Get the certification, I don't care if you have to travel so much you bleed from your bottom from sitting on a seat - it is worth it!

 

e-learning is nowhere near as good and the book/teach yourself isn't worth anywhere near as much as being able to get a certificate to prove you can do something.

 

Your current employer won't be the one you're with for the rest of your life and a certificate is worth more than "I can do that, honest, I read it in a book so I did."

 

I'm looking at doing a CCNA soon with open university (2 year course) and will have to pay myself. However I don't mind this as I know my CV lacks I.T. qualifications despite the fact that I CAN do a vast majority of I.T. work.

[plexer]

I think he was saying to learn the content from the books and then do the exams to get the qualification not just relying on having read the books and following the examples.

 

I'm about to start an MCSA and I'm getting school to buy me the books for the courses I want to do and then pay the £80'ish to sit the exams at our local testing centre.

 

Ben

[animalboy1968]

i agree with halfmad. when i did my mcse i drove from eastbourne, my home, to southend to do it. i worked a normal week and then got up at 6am on a saturday to make it to southend for 9am. i did that every saturday for a year but that sort of commitment says amazing things about you & the practical experience of the tutors is amazing. however, i've recently been doing my a+ via gtslearning(.com) CDs and those have been fantastic. so much so i am thinking of doing an mcse refresher, in windows 2003/vista, and using their disks to do it. the disks are cheap but are also available at half price if you order via an educational establishment. they are not as good as actually being in a classroom but, if you can't travel, they are much better than the books. i always fall asleep reading them things

[FN-GM]

go for it! free course

[Nij.UK]

I would do the course and then go away from the course and test / refresh what u have got from the course and additional books and info that you get your hands on.

 

The key point which animal boy mentioned is the practical experience of the tutors... this in itself counts for a lot.....

 

Im looking to do my Cisco and Cisco Security soon and ive opted to take the course and then come back and play around with equipment and when i am comfortable then go ahead and take the exams

[bars1]

I'm doing my MCSA in a virtual classroom...great for learning when I have the time in the evenings and weekends...

[nodgelyobo]

Hi all,

I am a 50 year old ex Plasterer who had accident 5 years ago preventing me from continuing my trade.

 

About 3 years ago someone gave me an old PC and since then I have been to college and gained my A+, CCNA, and some other Web design courses.......

 

I have never worked in the in the Computer industry before, apart from 6 months placement shadowing an administrator , I have now a chance of being accepted for an MCSA course, should I do it, or are my chances of getting employment slim because of my age, after completing the course, I am very keen and have turned into a bit of a geek (according to my daughter)

 

Cheers

[danIT]

I would say try and concentrate on a single microsoft product, for instance Share Point. Get technical with Share Point and get yourself contracted out, i sometimes do a bit of weekend work for a small company who employes all ages! there is a guy working there on XML something or other who is 56.

[localzuk]

I am going to be doing this at some point after doing the general courses. I will focus on security/ISA and then add do some CCNA stuff, focusing on security/network security.

 

This would tie in nicely to my australia plans.

[Grommit]

Hi all,

I am a 50 year old ex Plasterer who had accident 5 years ago preventing me from continuing my trade.

 

About 3 years ago someone gave me an old PC and since then I have been to college and gained my A+, CCNA, and some other Web design courses.......

 

I have never worked in the in the Computer industry before, apart from 6 months placement shadowing an administrator , I have now a chance of being accepted for an MCSA course, should I do it, or are my chances of getting employment slim because of my age, after completing the course, I am very keen and have turned into a bit of a geek (according to my daughter)

 

Cheers

 

Do the MCSA... don't look a gift horse in the Mouth... after that you can specialise..

[tosca925]

Bruce

 

//netg.monsoon5.com

 

Username: livelearning

 

Password : smart

 

Don't work?????????

[bars1]

lol...try the password 'future'

[srochford]

Hi all,

I am a 50 year old ex Plasterer who had accident 5 years ago preventing me from continuing my trade.

 

About 3 years ago someone gave me an old PC and since then I have been to college and gained my A+, CCNA, and some other Web design courses.......

 

I have never worked in the in the Computer industry before, apart from 6 months placement shadowing an administrator , I have now a chance of being accepted for an MCSA course, should I do it, or are my chances of getting employment slim because of my age, after completing the course, I am very keen and have turned into a bit of a geek (according to my daughter)

 

Cheers

 

You're not too old but I'd guess you need two things to persuade people to give you a job - experience (very hard to get!) and an indication that you have made efforts to learn a new "trade"

 

I've seen CVs from people who've changed careers - some I bin; some I interview. The key things for me when looking at someone changing career is why they're doing it and is their anything about their previous history which is impressive (eg if you've only ever worked in McDonalds was that only as a burger server or did you get promoted to shift leader etc?)

[ChrisP]

If you have an employer that knows about IT then the MCSA and especially the MCSE is very valuble.

 

Be prepared to take a lot in; subnet math in your head can take a little getting used to dont cheat and go the braindump route, learn it for yourself, It's much more rewarding to get your MCSA Tie Pin knowing your an IT Ninja than a answer remembering monkey.

 

I done the Network Design and AD Design as my MCSE electives... Thats a lot of meat on them two bones at four hours per exam.

[ctbjs]

@ Localzuk

Go for it and accept any training you are offered. I've done my MCSA (via book) but am doing the course again now as the school have paid for it. I find the books are very good but the best way is to combine this with some real hands on training with labs etc. Passing the course for me is superfluous as I am more interested in the experience and knowledge.

 

@nodgelyobo

 

Don't worry too much about your age with this mate it is not always a worry although you will clearly expect to have younger bosses which is sometimes difficult to get to grips with initially. I'm 44 and took a career change 7 years ago and while it is a little younger than you it felt daunting to me even at 36. I'm network manager at a school now and have been for around 5 years (different schools). It is important to get your foot in the door maybe even as a techie to start with, get the experience and then move on and hopefully up. If you have the ability then there is no reason why you shouldn't progress like anyone. I particularly like schools for the hours, you get to have a life whereas in the corporate rat race you end up being on call and working long hours. The CCNA qualification you have is often more desirable than the MCSA but in terms of experience and widening your field then you could do a lot worse. Go for it, enjoy it and get applying for positions while training, if you have what it takes you will be snapped up whether in the education sector or corporate. Feel free to PM me with any questions and i'll be happy to communicate with you.

 

Good luck in whatever you do.

[MkII]

Bruce

 

//netg.monsoon5.com

 

Username: livelearning

 

Password : smart

 

Don't work?????????

ditto

[bars1]

Yea...my password changes weekly and thought I would let some of you try this site...this weeks password is 'future'

 

B

[nodgelyobo]

srochford and CTBJS (in reply to the nodgelyobo question)

 

thank you both for your frank answers, being employed in one industry ie. building, for most of my life, I have seen people come and go, thru' lack of experience, or chancing their arm, and this is what I didn't want to do, I therefore did six months placement, shadowing an administrator, and another 3 months working for a charity organisation repairing and assembling computers. The MCSA I feel will bring all these things together in a more constructive way.

 

I don't know many people in the IT business, so your advice is well appreciated.

 

Cheers nodgelyobo