I was talking to the older kids about homework yesterday, and I mentioned that starting this week, I have extra homework, too…I’m studying for my next certification. Now, I’ve been a bit lax on certifications since SQL 2000 (hey, I’ve been busy, okay?) But it’s definitely time to get back on the wagon.
I already have my MCTS on the Dev track, but I never bothered to get my MCITP. (If this is greek to you, you can check out the SQL Server Certification Paths in this handy-dandy PDF, or on the Microsoft SQL Server Certification site). Instead of doing that, I’m in the mood to get my Admin MCTS. For the record, I’m working through the MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit for exam 70-432 – Implementation and Maintenance, by Mike Hotek (Twitter).
My daughter asked why I wanted to get my certification, and our exchange student immediately answered: “To make more money!” I suppose in the long run, that’s part of the goalset, sure. But it doesn’t exactly work out directly…1 certification is != an extra $5k a year, as far as I’ve seen. But it’s part of growing, of measuring and increasing my knowledge. It’s part of a career path – I never suspected in my youth that I’d be working on something so uncool as a career path! – that leads to better and brighter things…and yes, in the long run, better pay. But for right now, I just want to fill in the gaps in what I’m doing, and get another shiny badge to tack to the wall.
Happy days,
Jen McCown
http://www.MidnightDBA.com/Jen
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Interesting take on certifications, and I think this is the right attitude. A certification should prove you know something, as well as inspire you to move forward.
Good luck
It makes you sit down and learn things that you may not necessarily work with every hour of the day. That’s what I do it for. Which usually those features that I don’t work with is what shows up as a little on the weak side in the test results report thingy they give you at the end of the exam.
You will want to check the errata page on that book, they have a few corrections. They really need to print a second edition for that book 🙂 I actually got the copy that was missing all of Chapter 3.
Steve, thanks!
Shawn, thanks for the tip. And, oh MY…missing a chapter…
I think the reason I’m pushing myself to get my certifications: Not everyone has them. It’s a way I can set myself apart from others in the field. It shows a level of dedication to being the best I can be.
These are milestones along the journey. Maybe these can show I’ve traveled a bit further down that path.
Then again, maybe I’m just jealous of Brent O. 🙂
I have always said that getting certified is a good thing to do. It is not a substitute for experience and judgement, but you will probably learn a few things as you prepare for the exam. It also show that you have the initiative to prepare and actually take and pass the exam(s).