MCSE schedule without bootcamp, is there such a site?

[MBony]

I am looking for a site where someone has documented his/her experience obtaining their MCSE in a timely manner with using a bootcamp. Kind of like how some people trying to read the whole Bible in a year? That type of thing. Anyone know of one?

Please don't go OT because of my Bible analogy, it was the only thing I could think of

 

[MBony]

bump

 

[Platypus]

Not to discredit what you're trying to do but an MCSE is kind of worthless.. what are the reasons you're trying to obtain one?

 

[Journer]

Originally posted by: Platypus
Not to discredit what you're trying to do but an MCSE is kind of worthless.. what are the reasons you're trying to obtain one?

why is this?

 

[JDMnAR1]

Not sure about a site such as you describe, but personally I took (and passed) my first test in June and passed my last test in October of the same year with no bootcamp. Granted, this was NT4 so only six tests were required, so YMMV based on the number of tests and your experience level.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: Platypus
Not to discredit what you're trying to do but an MCSE is kind of worthless.. what are the reasons you're trying to obtain one?

Here we go...

 

[Aves]

Originally posted by: Platypus
Not to discredit what you're trying to do but an MCSE is kind of worthless.. what are the reasons you're trying to obtain one?

Regardless of whether or not it really means anything, many jobs simply require that you have one. That may be a bogus policy but you can't always do anything about it.

 

[TreyRandom]

Originally posted by: Aves

Originally posted by: Platypus
Not to discredit what you're trying to do but an MCSE is kind of worthless.. what are the reasons you're trying to obtain one?

Regardless of whether or not it really means anything, many jobs simply require that you have one. That may be a bogus policy but you can't always do anything about it.

QFT

 

[Platypus]

This was why I was trying to figure out why he wanted one.. if it's just to have for a resume booster most IT places I've interviewed with (I also do IT recruiting) don't even consider it.

 

[TreyRandom]

Originally posted by: Platypus
This was why I was trying to figure out why he wanted one.. if it's just to have for a resume booster most IT places I've interviewed with (I also do IT recruiting) don't even consider it.

For a resume booster, or for getting the prerequisities to a job for which you already have the relevant experience, certifications are great. For a quickie boost to your career or salary, certifications are relatively useless.

 

[JDMnAR1]

Nice thread hijack guys - OP wasn't asking if he should get his MCSE, or what people's opinions were on the cert. It would be nice if just once MCSE could be mentioned without the obligatory "worthless cert" comment. :roll:

 

[SuperNaruto]

I got mine in '98 while it was starting up..

it was easier back then, 2 week per exam...

my experience was, the guy taking the exam next to me was a chef trying to be IT.. some how he got the idea that taking this series enables him to instantly make 80-90k a year...

it looks good on resume only if you have other skills.. but if prior experience was cooking and you have a mcse.. i be like hell no

 

[TreyRandom]

Originally posted by: JDMnAR1
Nice thread hijack guys - OP wasn't asking if he should get his MCSE, or what people's opinions were on the cert. It would be nice if just once MCSE could be mentioned without the obligatory "worthless cert" comment. :roll:

Well, to get back on track...

...I'd recommend that you pursue your MCSE, provided you already have experience as a network admin. But not through a bootcamp.

A large number of bootcamps will simply spoonfeed you questions stolen from the live exam - a practice that is not tolerated by the certification vendors (in this case, Microsoft). And what will you have actually learned and, more importantly, retained in the process of getting your certification quickly? Just getting certified will not make you a good tech. Sure, you might be able to pass the exams... but unless you really *know* how to perform the tasks that an MCSE should know (which you won't get from a bootcamp), you won't be able to get or hold an IT job as a network administrator. You'll be "paper certified"... able to pass the exams, but not able to do the job.

So, my question to you is, "What experience level do you have as a real-world tech?" Are you just starting out in IT? Have you been doing it a while already? The MCSE isn't something you'd want to do in order to "break in" to the IT career field. I'd recommend that you get a bit of experience as a network admin before you attempt it. With the exception of the A+ exams, certifications aren't something you get to get a job and get experience... certifications are designed to show that you already have experience in that area.

Once you get real-world IT experience, I'd recommend getting your MCSE (and any other certification, for that matter) via self study. It's quite easy to do, once you truly know what you're doing.

Best of luck to you!