03.19.01
Today's article is something that I have considered writing for a
while. It seems that the guys at mcmcse.com beat me to
it, and did a great job on top of it all. Be sure to check out their
site, along with brainbuzz.com; they are both excellent
resources. Having an MCSE certificate can be an invaluable resource.
Read on and see about getting yours today. As always, questions,
comments, and suggestions are welcomed as are article submissions.
If there is some aspect of networking that you would like to
know more about, let me know.
Enjoy,
Jay Fougere
NetworkNewz Editor
Sponsored by VeriSign - The Internet Trust Company
The most frequent question that we get from people is this: "Hi, I
am a construction worker (or janitor, banker, donut maker - it
doesn't matter) and I want to know how to go about getting my MCSE.
How benificial will it be and how much money can I make?" We have
answered this question so many times that it made sense to make this
guide for newbies. Before we get started, we need to clarify a few
things. Microsoft recommends the MCSE certification for those that
have been working in the field for at least 1 year. If you are
currently working in another industry, we highly recommend that you
acquire an IT job first. Then start thinking about certification,
after you have been employed for 6 months to a year.
Get your FREE guide!
In July of 1999 the Department of commerce released a report
regarding the future of the IT industry in America. If you are
considering getting into the IT industry, I would highly recommend
that you read this, even if you live outside the U.S. The document is
quite long (132 pages) and is in PDF format. I would suggest that you
print it out and read it in your spare time, unless you enjoy
staring at computer screens for hours at a time like I do. The
document is located
here.
"Don't underestimate the power of the darkside." Before you consider
doing this, consider the fact that these tests are difficult, and
that some people lose their hair and develop ulcers trying to pass
them. Next, consider the fact that it costs money to do this. The
tests are $100 every time you take them, a good book is generally at
least $50, and classes are outrageous. You will need to be able to
budget somewhere between $1000-$10,000 to get through this. You will
need hours and hours of time that you are probably already running
short on. You will need to be prepared to forget about finding the
man or woman of your dreams. If you are already attached, you will
need to prepare for lots of fighting and insults as to what a geek
you are. Still interested?
"Where do I start?" This is the hardest question to answer as nobody
can really answer this for you, so I always respond with more
questions. How technical are you by nature? How much computer
experience do you currently have? How quickly do you learn? Be
honest with yourself in your self-assessment, because you are going
to have to make an important choice. You will need to decide if you
will go the self-study route or get professional help. Most of those
who already work in the industry do the self-study thing. If you
have never taken an exam before, then we would recommend a class for
at least the first exam. When looking for a class to take, make sure
that it is part of the Microsoft Official Curriculum (MOC) and if
possible see if you can get a class with hands-on training. For more
information on classes, read the article titled, "Don't Take a
Training Class Until You Read This!"
written for us by
Michael DeBussy of MCSE Tutor.
Tools that you will need now. It is time to spend some of that
hard-earned money and get the tools that you will need to pass the exams:
- Textbook - For more information on this go to our MCSE bookstore.
This is our bookstore and it should give you a good idea as to
which study guide you ought to get.
- Practice tests - After you have read your book and made notes for
yourself, you will need to practice. The most popular practice
tests are the Transcenders.
They are ungodly expensive but worth it as the questions are very
similar to those on the actual exam and will prepare you for the
types of questions that you will encounter. If you can't afford
these, there is a wealth of free questions and exams available out
there. You can find a good number of these in the links section
and study guides on this site. Avoid braindumps like the plague.
Do this the right way or not at all.
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- Good websites - You will want to bookmark as many MCSE sites like
ours that have free information, study guides and tests. Again,
links to these can be found at this site.
- Access to a network- This is one of the most important things that
you will need, and it doesn't have to be as expensive as it
sounds. Below, we will show you how to set one up at home for
cheap.
Building Your Computer Lab
You will need at least 2 computers
connected via ethernet in order to get started. We know that sounds
like a huge investment, but there are ways to keep the costs down.
You can pick up a couple of old 486 computers for dirt cheap in the
paper, at a pawn shop or even online. While NT 4.0 and Windows 98
aren't blazingly fast on a 486, it will work. If you are preparing
for the Windows 2000 exams then you will need better hardware than a
486. Go here
for installation requirements. It is probably a good idea to get at
least one decent computer as you will probably be using it for other
things. [Note: for under $300 each, systems that are capable of
running Windows 2000 can be found at compgeeks.com -Jay] There are several ways to save money on new or newer
computers. You can build it yourself - its not as hard as it sounds
and it can be done less expensively by getting the components or
even the whole computer at online auctions such as ebay.com or
onsale.com. If that idea is too scary then try this. Most major
corporations have reallocation departments that get rid of all of
there older computer equipment. The term 'older' is relative as you
should be able to get a decent computer on the cheap if you do your
homework.
OK...Once you get your computers, you will need a few other things to
build your network. If the computers that you bought don't have
network cards, then you will have to buy and install them. Next, you
will need a hub, which most computer stores will carry, and you will
need 2 10baseT cables (assuming that the network cards on your
computers have RJ-45 connections). Then you will want to install NT
Server on one machine and then either Windows 98 or NT Workstation
on the other. If you are getting ready for the Windows 2000 track,
then you will probably want to load Windows 2000 Server on one of
the machines. "Where do I get this expensive software?" you ask.
You can obtain free 120 day evaluation copies of almost all of
Microsoft's products. You can either get them from Microsoft, or
they often will be bundled with the textbook that you buy. It is a
good thing for newbies to have a 120 day limit, because you will
have to reinstall it which is good practice.
How Much Money Will I Make?
It really depends. If you don't take our
advice and get certified with no experience, you will be known as a
"Paper MCSE". While your certification may help you get a job, it
may also hurt you as well. Regardless, be prepared to accept a low-paying
job to start. You will have to work your way up just like any
other industry. For those of you that are already in the IT
industry, you may find that the certification will allow you to
access certain positions that require an MCSE or make a jump to the
next level in your current orginization. For more information about
compensation, go to our career center and check out the
salary survey links and search the
job database and see what is
out there.
Wrap-Up
Well, hopefully that is enough to get some of you going on
the right track. If this has helped you or there is information that
you feel is missing, please email us. If you have
questions go ahead and post them at MCSELive!
and either myself or
a kind internet neighbor will post a reply for you.
Good Luck!
MC MCSE is a popular computer certification website devoted to
providing free learning materials to candidates pursuing Microsoft,
CompTIA and Cisco certifications. To access these resources visit
mcmcse.com
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