I can't count the number of times I've been asked to comment on and
provide guidance to individuals seeking certification and IT skills
in hopes of landing a job. They ask me which is the best Microsoft certification for them. Unfortunately, there is no simple or
universal answer to that question, but here is a summary of my
responses to this question and similar ones.
Microsoft certification is extremely popular for many reasons. Most
organizations use Microsoft products, and therefore they are more
likely to consider new employees who are certified on Microsoft
products. Microsoft and many other organizations (such as
publications and Web sites that perform salary surveys) convey the idea that the more certifications you obtain, the higher your salary
will be. And while they're not exactly easy to get, Microsoft
certifications are viewed as being obtainable without extensive
experience or intensive study.
In my opinion, Microsoft certification should be pursued for one
reason: to provide a form of assurance that you have the knowledge
and experience of working with Microsoft products. I don't agree that
all people who have obtained Microsoft certifications are equal.
Those who have learned through hands-on, real-world experience are
much better selections as employees than those who only learned
enough from study materials to pass the exams. Certification should
never be considered a substitution for experience. For entry-level or
apprenticeship-type positions, certification is better than nothing.
But for mid- to high-level positions, certifications are not as
important as experience, especially not Microsoft certifications.
I hate to knock Microsoft certifications, but I do need to offer a
bit of reality and perspective. It is possible to obtain a Microsoft
Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certification without ever touching
a networked computer. This fact, in light of the prestige associated
with MCSE, seems ridiculous. In comparison, becoming a Cisco
Certified Network Associate (CCNA), which is Cisco's entry-level
certification, is nearly impossible to achieve without time on a
router. In fact, Cisco's top-end certification, Cisco Certified
Internetwork Expert (CCIE), has a greater than 90% first-attempt fail
rate and is absolutely impossible to pass without a reasonable amount
of real-world router experience. The Windows 2000 MCSE is a solid
step in the right direction when compared with the Windows NT MCSE.
Hopefully, the Windows .NET MCSE will offer further improvements.
If you want to be a networking professional, and you want to focus
your work on Microsoft products, that's great -- go for an MCSE. But
don't expect to get a $65,000 per year job just by waving around a
certificate with Bill Gates' signature stamped on it. It won't
happen. You need to focus on getting a job that offers you hands-on
experience working with and managing a wide range of hardware and
software products. As you gain the experience, obtain the
corresponding certifications from Microsoft and other certification
vendors. Backing certification with experience is the only way to
move up the job ladder.
Another fault with certification programs in general is that they
rarely address real-world situations. I don't know of any
organization that uses a single vendor for its hardware or software.
Thus, no one certification addresses the skill set actually required
in a real-world networking situation. Just because you have an MCSE
doesn't mean you can handle a networking problem with a failed router
or corrupted NetWare server. It doesn't even mean you can properly
handle an issue with a virus infection or a security breach on a Microsoft server.
Don't stick with just one vendor's certifications, not even
Microsoft's. Even if you don't get past the first or second level,
seek out certifications in every area where you have experience.
These areas could include Cisco, NetWare, Java, databases, programming and security, among others.
Certifications come with assumptions. Employers who see a
certification listed on your resume will assume you can perform work
tasks related to that certification. If you can't back up your
certifications with capabilities, then don't reveal them. For
example, if you list a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP)
certification on Windows 2000 Professional, you should be able to
perform basic common tasks, such as remote installations, and know
how to troubleshoot various device failures. Likewise, if you list an
MCSE, you should be able to configure Active Directory, configure DDNS and delegate administration authority to subadministrators,
among other complex activities.
So, how much Microsoft certification do you need? You only need as
much as your experience, skills and capabilities can bear out. If you
can't handle the work associated with the higher-level
certifications, don't obtain them until you can.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
James Michael Stewart is a writer, trainer and researcher for
LANWrights, Inc.
