Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD)

I had selected a degree in Eng & Psy at university which I followed up with a MBA. A few years later the IT industry really started to take off here in Belfast, N. Ireland and I felt that it would be a good time to move into it. For those of us, who do not already have qualifications or experience in IT (specifically software development), gaining some qualifications to get that all important first start is vital. Of the many options that I considered, the MCSD track seemed to suit me best - unlike a degree course, which would prove expensive and time consuming, studying for MCP exams can be quite reasonable cost-wise in comparison to degree courses ...

I'm a software developer, working at a site that uses several technologies, Oracle, Microsoft and also legacy systems - COBOL, VME, UNIX, etc... I became an MCSD when Windows Architecture I & II were still current, to update I needed to pass Analysis Requirments & Defining Solution Architecture.. and also the core Visual Basic exams... At the same time Microsoft were reducing the benefits, when I passed the MCSD last time I got MCSD and Tech Net Plus FREE.. no such luck this time... So would you put the work in to get less benefits..? Not only that but Microsoft were retiring exams that are still current.. Visual Basic 5, Windows NT 4.0, ...

I achieved this certification over a year ago and there were a number of reasons why I started working towards it. One was to gain the knowledge - which is no bad thing. I certainly learnt a lot about my chosen specialist subjects. You are required to know your subjects in a lot of detail in order to pass these exams. But this in depth knowledge comes with plenty of good experience and not so much from text books. One of the other reasons I went for this certification was to make it easier to find another job. Well in the five years I have been contracting I have never had a day off between contracts. The market is so strong that this requirement has not ...