Mcsd & Vb.net

[VBwriter]

Anyone know if there are any plans to upgrade the MCSD for VB.NET?
Would it be worth doing the VB6 version?
Cheers.

[gijsj]

Plans are about mid 2002.

If it is worth doing VB6 ?
Depends on your company and clients I think.
If it doesn't benefit you right away maybe it's smarter to invest that time in .NET.

[cgl88]

Originally posted by gijsj
Plans are about mid 2002.

If it is worth doing VB6 ?
Depends on your company and clients I think.
If it doesn't benefit you right away maybe it's smarter to invest that time in .NET.

I read the book by wrox called "Intro to .net" and from what I see there are substantial FUNDAMENTAL changes to vb6 and the architecture, but let's get real. The VB6 world will be around for a bit longer. I don't see .net taking off very quickly, and I think there will be an upgrade path to .NET from the MCSD. I believe the microsoft site has some insight in this matter...

[cgl88]

** MCPs by The Numbers

745,687 - MCP
436,599 - MCSE
28,813 - MCSD
13,056 - MCT
51,045 - MCDBA
229,105 - MCP+Internet
1,932 - MCP+Site Building
12,323 - MCSE+Internet
---------
1,518,560 - Total Certifications

Numbers indicate total certifications per title as of Jan. 2,
2002. The total number of individuals who have obtained MCP
status is 1,218,303. (This originally appeared in the March 2002
issue, page 14.)


This is from MCP Magazine. MCSD is pretty low which is either good or bad. I think it is probably good because few have it and there is more relevance in having one...but of course it's all about experience.

[Serge]

If you currently have MCP or MCSD, you will retain the title at least for some time. Microsoft has introduced a sperate line for .NET developers called MCAD (Microsoft Certified Application Developer).
Here is the comparison between MCSD and MCAD

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

[Shawn N]

How necessary is it for you to be certified to get a job? Like, will employers not hire you unless you got a pretty sheet of paper from MS?

I've been trying to get a job in IT for a while now but I can't manage to even get a call back. Can't blame anyone really now that I think about it, never had a job involving computers.

Anyone got any pointers on how to get your first comp. job?

[Nicomachus]

Shawn, what type of job are you aiming for? A programmer, tech, network tech, etc? Well, for any of the "tech" jobs, in most places especially two things are looked at, experience and certification. People can say what they want, but the fact is certification can help you obtain a job, actaully it has helped many people with no experience gain positions .. In programming jobs, I suppose the mcsd is looked at, but not as much as experience and knowledge, its just a different role. Well if you're changing careers, you will probably have to find an entry level, which is fine, and probably take a pay cut at first. But then you will gain experience etc.. You might want to look at MCSD or other certification .. as a lot of people with no experience are getting them, and well to one of those (god i hate using these terms) IT HR people, a cert looks better than no cert..
.. oh ya, you may want to try to obtain an entry level as a pc or network tech and gain "computer experience" that way, while you go towards what you really want to do .. well hope this was somewhat informative .. good luck ..
Nico

[Serge]

Certification will not get you the job, BUT.....

You have more chances to be brought in for the interview, which puts you ahead of other people on the market.
Passing the interview is the most important thing, but as you can see you have to get the interview first and certification will help you there.

[Shawn N]

Kinda sucks that that's what has to happen for me to even get my foot in the door. I'm looking for a programming job and I know that I'm good enough to do anything that's thrown in my direction.

It's probably my age that's throwing everyone off. Maybe I oughta stomp in the office with some coding on a disk and tell them to hire me if they like it. I'm getting desperate...

[Serge]

Unfortunately, it doesn't work like this, especially in big companies.

[cgl88]

Originally posted by Serge
Unfortunately, it doesn't work like this, especially in big companies.

It might help to have a portfolio of software that he had done..maybe screen shots and documentation to show what it is and what it does...can't hurt...

Another way to get prg experience is doing a bit of it on the job you're at now..just a bit..but enough to show you can program and put some return and savings for the company..that's usually a big plus.

[Serge]

One funny thing happened to me a couple of weeks ago. I was interviewed by one individual and the interview itself was very advanced, but one of the questions was, "What is the difference between ComboBox and ListBox" ?

My jaw was on the floor, because this is the most offensive question I could have ever gotten.

[Shawn N]

I never thought about a portfolio type thingy. Guess it's time to come up with some eye-catching UI's or something and head to Kinko's. Thanks for the tip.

[Nicomachus]

Shawn, in your case, go to local (small business) companies, and tell them about yourself, and offer your services free of charge. And believe me, all small businesses need some IT solutions and many of them should be in your grasp. One common one is a billing system, or some kind of web solution. Many of these companies need either a Web Site, or there web site integrated into a database or something. And a number of other common things.
Again, offer your services, be presentable and all that. If you can think of something to write, maybe a billing system, or something you believe is useful, and that your target audience would find useful. This can be a template application, and offer while you are making your "pitch". This well allow your perspective employers to "percieve value" from hiring you. Well hope this at least gives you some ideas to go on.
good luck ..
Nico

[cgl88]

Originally posted by Nicomachus
Shawn, in your case, go to local (small business) companies, and tell them about yourself, and offer your services free of charge. And believe me, all small businesses need some IT solutions and many of them should be in your grasp. One common one is a billing system, or some kind of web solution. Many of these companies need either a Web Site, or there web site integrated into a database or something. And a number of other common things.
Again, offer your services, be presentable and all that. If you can think of something to write, maybe a billing system, or something you believe is useful, and that your target audience would find useful. This can be a template application, and offer while you are making your "pitch". This well allow your perspective employers to "percieve value" from hiring you. Well hope this at least gives you some ideas to go on.
good luck ..
Nico

After getting an interview (MCSD really helps during and just getting it), you need to identify a business problem for the company - it would be unique to them - and then propose a scale-down high-level solution that uses existing tools or few expenditures..that will really get their attention! I don't know what the US is like in terms of IT demand but in Canada, there's a big push with reporting, data management, data access..so the key words/ideas would be:
- specific UI taylored for different levels of the department for access to your SQL 2000 database
- access to data through ADO with middle (business) tier that authenticates and validates all data entered by users
- etc etc!
Maybe i'm being too technical, but if you are interviewed by a technical person, give technical solution!