Becoming Microsoft Certified (or similar)

[Chuckles]

Originally Posted by Blighter

Do you think they are worth it? Every single job I've looked at (and that's >100) say they want people with 2years+ experience. How are you meant to get into IT?

I kind of hinted at this in my other post, but companies are more likely to recruit from within, so I'd suggest getting a temp job in an office and helping out people with IT problems. We've had more people join helpdesk via that route than we've recruited externally.

[Blighter]

Thanks Jon, your help is appreciated

From what you and others have said I think I'll aim at getting a semi-IT related job like data-entry, PC fitting, or whatnot, and see how it goes.
I don't start work till 5pm tomorrow so will spend the day looking around job sites (again ) and see what comes up. May even visit the local recruitment office


Thanks for everybodys help, it is greatly appreciated

[Mark]

IT qualifications that are worth the paper they're written on (i.e. not things like MCP that everyone and probably their dogs can get) may get your foot in the door if the qualification is relevant, but it can also be counter-productive if the employer prefers to do it their own way.

As for Uni, most everyone who has done an IT degree and had an IT career at the end will tell you that about 80% of what gets taught in a typical IT degree is needed only to get the bit of paper at the end, but Uni can be as much about life experience as study. In any event, it's a big commitment. Ask yourself whether you're prepared to spend 3 more years of your life studying. If you're not sure, then you're not. To nick something our CEO pinched from Yoda today - "do or do not, there is no try".

It's a fact though that nothing beats experience, so find a way onto the ladder that suits you and take it from there.

[MarcLister]

Having obtained permission from the OP (Herr Blighter) I'm hijacking this thread for my own dastardly evil ends!

Some of you might know that I finished Uni last summer. Haven't got a job since then. Had some near calls where I could have been in with a chance but ended up unlucky.

The closest was about 2 weeks ago with a company in London that does IT support for other companies. This company looked pretty cool and I thought I had a chance of at least getting a job interview until the woman I was emailing realised I didn't have an MCP or MCSE to my name.

She hinted that I might be able to earn myself an interview if I can get the MCP and MCSE letters after my name. Having realised that the CCNA is a bit too slutty and common to be taken seriously, on its own perhaps, I'm thinking I should try and get the MCP/MCSE exams taken, done and passed so I can increase the jobs I can apply to ones where the applicant needs MCP and MCSE!

Since I'm unemployed I've obviously got problems getting the experience part of the MCSE done but I was wondering if it is possible to get the official books and just sit down and learn/revise my arse out until I'm confident I can pass the exams.

I can get the books but I'm wondering what equipment/hardware/software I'll need to have a chance of doing this? Got two computers which ought to be connected but then Vista > XP networking seems almost impossible for me.

[GSXRMovistar]

Not a fan MCP/MCSE to be honest; years ago it held a lot of credit but these days far too many people who have them have only learnt what’s required to pass the exam rather than having good general experience both hands on and studying which allow them to pass the exam as a result.

It will help get the foot in the door or have agencies pass on your CV but when hiring I’m more interested in past experience and the candidates own description of his/hers skills/knowledge rather than if they have said qualification.

[MarcLister]

Originally Posted by GSXRMovistar

Not a fan MCP/MCSE to be honest; years ago it held a lot of credit but these days far too many people who have them have only learnt what’s required to pass the exam rather than having good general experience both hands on and studying which allow them to pass the exam as a result.

It will help get the foot in the door or have agencies pass on your CV but when hiring I’m more interested in past experience and the candidates own description of his/hers skills/knowledge rather than if they have said qualification.

I hear what you say but I'm unemployed so I need to get a foot in the door or have agencies pass on my CV. Perhaps when I get a job I can get the skills I need and whatever other qualifications will help me but to actually get a job I need the MCP/MCSE.