Well worthwhile (Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD))

Member Name: JonRose

Product:	Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD)
Date:	09/10/00 (110 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Knowledge, money, power

Disadvantages: hard work

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 been needed yet, but it is a nice safety net to have in case I need it.

One other reason was the hope of increased money. In reality the money you earn comes from the experience you have and the certifications that you have make very little difference.

I was hoping that having these exams under my belt would mean no more technical tests at inteview. No such luck, people still need to check that you can use the knowledge that you have and in this respect we are back to experience again.

So when I set out all of the reasons I had initially when I started the certification work have been invalidated by experience. So what am I left with - nothing to show for the work but a bit of paper and a nice lapel pin, a card with my qualification on it, a free subscription to the MSDN and a free magazine, oh and don't forget the nice engraved glass block because I was one of the first 1000 in the world to get this certification. I have much more than all that - I have a qualification that will give me the edge against my colleagues and I have pride in achieving it when so many are still trying. I have the detailed knowledge that I may still not have got in some areas. So I am a happy man with this worthwhile certification.

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