MCP's genuinely favourable

[iainpb]

Do employers find the MCP certifications favouravble? I am currently in a sys analyst job but want to move into application development in vb.net. I have a computer science degree and 1 years commercial experience developing vb (vb 6 in an industrial placement). Apart from that i have no commercial development experience, would an mcp be a genuine advantage or would employers always favour experience over certification?

[Hack]

There is no substitute for experience, but having certifications never hurt.

You are probably looking at an entry level position, and the fact that you have a certification may make you more attractive that another entry level candidate who does not.

[RobDog888]

Yes, it is a positive advantage. I got my first entry level job because I had got my MCP (under NT 4) on my own and beat out the competition. Definately worth getting.

[Hack]

Yes, it is a positive advantage. I got my first entry level job because I had got my MCP (under NT 4) on my own and beat out the competition. Definately worth getting.

And, when you get something like this on your own as opposed to having the company you work for send you to training and pay for the testing, it is even more impressive to potential employers.

[iainpb]

I had better start studying

[RobDog888]

You are using .NET? All the VB 6 certs are retired already. Should look at starting on 2005 certs.

[iainpb]

I am using .Net, the exam i am particularly interested in is 70-306 "Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET ", which would also count toward my MCAD

[RobDog888]

Yes, though its for 2003 you need to pass all your test before they retire them. Still not for some time but some people take a couple of years to get them all and get cut off before they finish due to MS retiring them. Nothing is scheduled yet so you have at a minimum 6 more months before anything would happen if it does.

Here are a couple of good links at MS

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mc...quirements.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcad/compare.asp

[RhinoBull]

Yes, it is a positive advantage...

There is no substitute for experience, but having certifications never hurt...

I don't see any advantages (even MS degree doesn't mean much these days unfortunately) but as Hack said ...

[RobDog888]

Its a positive when you are looking for a job and if your employeer gives you a raise or bonus for getting certified.

[RhinoBull]

Sorry Rob but where I am it's not that important - there lots guys with MS and even PhD that nobody cares about ... that's the reality. Employeers are going for expertise vs education.

[RobDog888]

True, but I am not saying that. I am only saying that there is some value to them and it depends on where its being applied. If its looking for a new job, not having any experience, or where you work that they give some kind of benefit for getting one.

[Andy_P]

I would have to agree that a certification might just make the difference in getting a new job over someone who does not have one, if both have comparable experience etc.

Above and beyond that, having experience wins every time, but getting the experience to start with is the hard bit. A qualification might be the edge you need to get your foot in the door somewhere.

[iainpb]

>>Employeers are going for expertise vs education.

Is'nt the MCP a good way of demonstrating expertise?

I suppose im trying to use the mcp as a substitute for experience as after uni i went into a non development job. I think its worth collecting the mcp's and converting them to an mcad

[RobDog888]

Yes it is worth it if you have no experience. It shows that your a self starter, motivated, and dedicated to advancing your knowledge and career.

[iainpb]

To an employer, which certification do you believe is held in higher regard VB.NET or C#.NET, all of my friends that went into developer jobs insist C# over VB and that i should go for the c# cert. As im at an early stage learning vb.net and have a little c experience, its not too late to change my plan.

[Hack]

To an employer, which certification do you believe is held in higher regard VB.NET or C#.NET, all of my friends that went into developer jobs insist C# over VB and that i should go for the c# cert. As im at an early stage learning vb.net and have a little c experience, its not too late to change my plan.

That depends on what the employeer is looking for.

If they want C# programmers, then that is the cert that will mean more. If they want VB.NET programmers, then that is the cert that will mean more.

[RhinoBull]

...Is'nt the MCP a good way of demonstrating expertise? ...

NOOOOO - "expertise" = "real time experience" for most employeers. Sorry pal.

[iainpb]

expertise obviously increases with experience, but as you have to demonstrate knowledge of teh subject to achieve accreditation. So, if there two people with equivalent experience or one with very little and one accredited, surely the ms accreditation would count

[techgnome]

expertise obviously increases with experience, but as you have to demonstrate knowledge of teh subject to achieve accreditation. So, if there two people with equivalent experience or one with very little and one accredited, surely the ms accreditation would count

And that's the only time I've ever seen a cert count.... when having to decide between two candidates where the only diff is the cert. However... if we have two candidates, one with more experience and no cert, and one with less experience but with a cert.... we'll take the experienced one w/ no cert.

-tg

[RhinoBull]

Over the years I've interviewed many guys and I can tell you: I could care less what syntax you remember and what you don't. I like those with creativity, those that can solve simple problem but in some unexpected way that will put a little smile on your face - this ability does not come with any cert and/or degree.
Certification is another way to memorize syntax ... who cares ... I don't.

Best regards to all.

[iainpb]

>>I like those with creativity

sadly, not many employers seem to think that way

[darth vador]

Well, I'm going to get certified.

I have experience, but no college degree. A cert from MS might not change the world, but it wouldn't hurt anything either. That's for certain.

I may test this week. Seriously thinking about it. It not this week, next week at the latest. I think I could pass right now but I'd hate to drive 1 1/2 hours, spend $125 only to have to do it again in a week anyway.

[iainpb]

Good luck, hope you pass. Im still going for certification - though im now planning to do one of microsofts new technology specialist certifications in c#