This is my first attempt at bloggins so here it goes.
I have been an MCSE for a while. I had done some work on NT4 a long time ago but nothing real in depth. Now since then I have migrated my share of nt4 environments too windows 2000 or Windows 2003. However I really came into the Microsoft arena on Windows 2000.
That is what my first MCSE was in. (not sure of the best way to put that) I have since completed my MCSE 2003, and have messaging and security for both 2000 and 2003. Plus Security + and Cisco unity specialist certifications.
So what do all of these certifications really mean. From some people’s perspective not much. But many others it does mean something. I see on the message boards and Blogs all the time someone bad mouthing some certification but I believe that is just life. There are many people in the world that have nothing better to do then complain. for me the Certifications have tought me that I still have a lot to learn. Every day I learn something new that is what makes this field so much fun.
I do agree with many there are plenty of Paper MCSE’s in this world and I have often wondered why.
Recently some things dawned on me that I wanted to share with others and maybe see what they thought.
I have found the the Microsoft curriculum may add to the paper MCSE’s. Reason I say this is that if you look at the MOC’s they are all very task oriented. (Which I agree it is important to have) however I have not found a good MOC that puts it all together let me explain.
When I finished my MCSE 2000 a couple of years back. My boss asked me to set up a web server they wanted to start hosting their website internally. I of course being an New MCSE was all excited about setting it up. After all I knew how to setup a Web server. No problem what so ever.
I set it up and Put the web pages in the correct directories. And low and behold I could view the webpage. (internally) boy was I happy. However one piece had been left out of the training. How do I get the World to view the website? My joy and pride would soon be crushed when my boss pointed out that no one could view the page from the outside via the internet. Needless to say I was crushed and of course I heard all the Paper MCSE comments that day. to some extent I felt I contributed to the World of Paper MCSE’s
However I began to study and find out what and how it all went together. I read books nightly and surfed web page after web page to find out how things worked. After a day or 2 I was able to figure out how to setup DNS for the internet side of things then another day or 2 and I had the Firewall figured out. And it finally worked. But by then I had already suffered a blow to my ego and to my belief in education.
So I pushed on. I became a consultant (wow that doesn’t sound good with what I just wrote better not put my company name in this) and I read more and tested things in a lab on a daily basis. I began to work with clients and realize that there were many people in the same boat as what I had been years ago. So I wonder is there a way or an MOC that teachs how to put it all togther?
I will write more on this tomorrow. But I do want to let people know that I enjoy working with Microsoft Products and designing Netoworks and Systems infrastructure. It is a challange and a lot of fun. But I want the industry to recognize that more education is needed. And for people to remember where they have been I seriously doubt that All the fantastic people in this industry simply were born with the Knowledge of computers. for some reason i bet that some of the best in the industry have made some of the same mistakes those so called Paper MCSE’s have. Just a little food for thought.
Mitch's Blog 