Mcse

[Dieselman]

Well done Nick. I hope it opens new doors for you.

 

[A-AvantGarde]

Was more like a couple of weeks but today I took the Sec+ and passed it!

Now all I have to do is wait for Prometric to update my result to "pass" from "pending", publish my result to MS, wait for them to manually update my transcript to include the result and I'll be an MCSA and an MCSE as well as being CompTIA Security+ qualified.

Congratulations and well done!

 

[Shude]

Well MS have updated the transcript to show I have passed the exam, but I'm not listed as an MCSE or indeed MCSA yet! I think I'll be calling MS on Monday (if they're open) to find out what's going on!

EDIT: It turns out that editing a profile to include new exams is a manual process but the certifications are computed from passed exams in an automatic process that runs overnight. Mine now has MCSE written all over it

 

[WLeg]

Well done.

 

[Shude]

Yay! Half of my welcome kits/certificates have turned up this morning!

I heard the post lady forcing the DO NOT BEND carboard boxes through my letterbox so decided to help her with the last, uncreased one by opening the door.

Thanks for the certs Bill, but whatever happened to the gold lapel pins eh? Considering I've spent about a grand on exams this year I hoped (but didn't really expect) to receive something more than a shoddy piece of paper with a certificate design that frankly I could have designed and produced better myself!

At least my old Lotus certs have a pretty design and a gold pin with them!

Now all I have to do is wait for the rest of them to show up...

 

[columb]

I've got whole collection of lapel pins (with magnets).
Really waiting for RHCE - still hasn't decided to do exam though...


Cheers
Chris

 

[WLeg]

They dropped the badges ages ago......

but have a look here

 

[Shude]

They dropped the badges ages ago......

but have a look here

'tis a shame. I trawled the MCP e-store when I certified and I wasn't that excited about any of the stuff. I've never worn the gold CLP pin and I'd never wear an MCSE pin if I was sent one but it's the thought that counts! It's like a little medal!

The Lotus shop is worse though, only two items available for the UK: a yellow polo shirt and a travel mug. I caved and bought a travel mug, came to about £15 including shipping and I've never used it because I'm frightened a wash will remove the certified logos off it!

 

[E's Are Good]

Ahhh, the excitement of IT exams, I remember doing my Novell CNE and ECNE Netware 4.xx mind, so god knows what it's at now? For my last module Networking Technologies, I was put in for the exam at the last moment, I found out about it a day before the exam I was in Newcastle (the northern one) and it was being held at Frontline in Basingstoke . . . I left the house at 4am got there for 9, the instructor passed me his book, said "I've made some notes" and wandered off. God knows how, but I passed it

Since then, being one of only 3 CNE's in the company at the time, we got the nickname Certified 'nob 'eds . . .

Well that wasted two minutes of your lives

*Pulls on his braces, reclines with a beer and a fat cigar*

 

[Shude]

My CompTIA welcome pack arrived today. It comprised of a couple of letters, a certificate (which is actually quite pretty and modern-looking) and a membership "card" made out of paper! Not like the MS ones which are plastic and have a hologram on them...

This was an exam which cost £191! Where's the love?

 

[WLeg]

Can you let us know what you though of Firebrand - I am probably going to take my MCITP, and will either use AI or Firebrand.

AI would cost about £3500.00 - including hotel, car flights, etc for their upgrade course in December, whilst Firebrand come in at £7300.00ish

AI passed everything first time so far with AI, but the travel and jetlag does take it out of you a bit........

 

[Shude]

Can you let us know what you though of Firebrand - I am probably going to take my MCITP, and will either use AI or Firebrand.

AI would cost about £3500.00 - including hotel, car flights, etc for their upgrade course in December, whilst Firebrand come in at £7300.00ish

AI passed everything first time so far with AI, but the travel and jetlag does take it out of you a bit........

I've not really had much experience with training companies but Firebrand was pretty good. Is £7300 for a 14-day course? My MCSE course should have been that much but it is possible to negotiate a discount, send me a PM if you want to know how much. In fact if you're going to book let me know so you can tell them I refered you and I might get a bit more discount next time I go there myself!

Here are some pics of the place: http://www.zinc.org.uk/gallery/v/nick/firebrand/

Everything is included in the price, your only limit food/drink wise is the size of their fridges and the meals are delicious.

 

[columb]

why no to try http://www.koenig-solutions.com/ ?
Goa is REALLY nice!! And half-price or less.

If you need more info, pm me!
Cheers
Chris

 

[Shude]

why no to try http://www.koenig-solutions.com/ ?
Goa is REALLY nice!! And half-price or less.

I have read some scare-stories about those training camps in the East!

Also bear in mind that MS announced that you will not be able to take exams in India unless you are an Indian national, so you'll have to come back to take them here.

 

[WLeg]

What's the food like - Do you come back a little lighter (as opposed to the USA)....?

 

[Shude]

What's the food like - Do you come back a little lighter (as opposed to the USA)....?

Breakfast is cereals / fruit / croissants / bacon/egg sandwiches etc (all of the above! )
Lunch is deli-style sandwich counter or cooked option (like pasta, chilli etc)
Dinner is a restaurant-quality main course with vegetarian option and always a dessert.

Chillers throughout packed with bottled water and canned drinks, huge filter-coffee machine vends all day, there is even a little tuck-shop with fruit and chocolate/sweets etc with no shopkeeper, it's all free! I nearly got hooked on those Freddos!

Losing weight is possible I suppose but unlikely! All that learning does make one hungry though.

 

[whizzkid11]

I have read some scare-stories about those training camps in the East!

Also bear in mind that MS announced that you will not be able to take exams in India unless you are an Indian national, so you'll have to come back to take them here.

If you read the Prometric site correctly it actually says:

"India
As of April 1, 2007, Only Citizens of India will be permitted to register for exams in our India test centres using the online test scheduling facility. All foreign candidate seeking approval in India are required to register at the Test site directly and hand over the requisite documents (i.e. digital copy of Passport and valid Visa). For any queries, you may e-mail to [email protected]."

So once you are over there at the training camps its fine.

I took my 2003 MCSE with koenig in Delhi - and these camps are good ifyou want to take and pass your exams only.

If you want to learn about a product inside out then go with somebody like Firebrand.

Koenig is good for helping you prep for exams and "assist/guide" you in the testing questions. Exams are cheaper there as well.

Food wise, no real issues so long as you are in the main 4* upwards hotels...

 

[Shude]

I took my 2003 MCSE with koenig in Delhi - and these camps are good ifyou want to take and pass your exams only.

If you want to learn about a product inside out then go with somebody like Firebrand.

Koenig is good for helping you prep for exams and "assist/guide" you in the testing questions. Exams are cheaper there as well.

How many candidates per computer? What was their English like?

I read that they mostly use braindumps, which you have pretty much confirmed in your reply. Use of braindumps is considered bad practice and you can be stripped of your certification if it can be proved that you used them!

At firebrand we got to do all the practical stuff as well as some exam prep, it means I can go into a situation with some confidence as I've already done some hands-on, albeit in a test environment rather than production.

 

[Shude]

Went to an interview earlier and one of the guys claimed my MCSE wasn't good enough because it had Security+ as an elective!

What more do they effing want? It's good enough for Microsoft isn't it?!

Can't have been all bad because I'm invited back next week for a second interview.

 

[WLeg]

MCSE Snobbery I'm afraid......