My 2 cents about MS Cert - SQL Server Forums

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The Yak Corral

My 2 cents about MS Cert

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simondeutsch
Aged Yak Warrior

547 Posts

Posted - 2003-03-15 : 22:28:37

Seeing all the posts here (usually deriding) MS Certs, I want to put in several good words:
When I started learning VB (at 17), I attended some VB-SQL Server classes, nothing major, just a couple of hours. Most of the people in the class would never have passed the exams anyway, because even though there are all these brain dumps and cram stuff, it still takes lots of dedication and patience for newbies to read through so much tech information, so only being interested doesn't help. While the exams aren't that difficult, they are difficult enough not to be able to be passed without studying hard for a newbie. And as for the advantages of the exams: They force newbies to read a lot of information which would take about 2 years to gather by experience only. Of course while you study you just shake your head and say "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah", but then when you hit on practical uses for things you studied you are not as clueless as when you wouldn't have studied. The real problem was that employers were giving responsible jobs to people with certs only, with no experience.
And actually, that's what got me started on SQL Server, the 4'th elective VB exam, which I took the Designing and Implementing Solutions with SQL Server exam. I flunked the exam one, proof that a little cramming doesn't always work, read another 800 page SQL book, and passed. I still knew very little practical SQL knowledge, but at least I had a head start, and knew how much knowldedge I was missing.
As for the missing knowledge: There's always SQLTeam, the great guys (and gals!) here, and The Gurus Guide For Transact SQL.

Sarah Berger MCSD

Crespo24
Village Idiot

144 Posts

Posted - 2003-03-17 : 06:39:59

Thanks for that..... much appreciated.

I shoudl be starting my MCDBA studies soon... I am still waiting for the delivery of my new system (yum yum)