Are MS Certifications really not worth getting?

As much as everyone bashes, complains, moans and groans about the MCSE, I think its important. So important that I am swallowing my pride and working on it even now.

Here are my two cents on the topic. I am currently an full time graduate student, part-time sysadmin, and part-time instructor. I have been a Software Engineer with a telecom company, got laid off, ect. I have also done lots of consulting and sysadmin in the past.

Not having the cert never hurt me directly in terms of getting a job, but I do believe it was a limit on many of the jobs I could apply for, especially for contract work. I went ahead and completed the CCNA, and while I think it is a great cert and much more difficult than MSCE, I can't say that IT - JUST THE CCNA - helped me land any one job. Many companies wanted CCNA and MCSE or just MCSE. That being said I also don't expect the MCSE to be different. Don't expect the cert to land you the job. The cert gives you the ability to apply for more jobs and something to differentiate your on your resume.

I'm a believer that any cert is a good thing. I'd suggest that you ignore the negatives and go for it. Lots of companies, especially now, want both the degree AND the MCSE, so I can't see that it would hurt you, and if you're really interested in IT, the learning process - even Microsoft - should excite. Also, always remember, we live in a Microsoft centric world for the most part. I don't always like it, but you have to be practical and customer oriented in this business.

Sorry for the long winded response, but I've thought this one over a lot.

All a certification does is shows that someone can take a test - not that they can do the job as experence does.

It would be better to take the courses for education - do the job for experence - and save the money on that certification. You resume will show them you got the education - and you got the experence...

I am a licensed/certified Paramedic and need 24 hours a year of con-ed - but MS doesn't require continue ed to maintain certs - after the first year the value of a cert goes down hill in my eyes.

Keep going with the courses - and experence - avoid the certs unless you think the next position will require it ... but if you look most want the BS - BA or MBS / MBA ... as required and maybe an A+ ...

Depending on the filed of IT that you want to land in, it can help you get a job. Often, it is listed as a requirement because an HR department sees it as a standard.

In my experience, many MCSE holders got there with brain-dumps (acutal answers to the test questions which are memorized instead of figuring out the answer). This kind of "learning" gets the cert, and may help get the job, but the knowledge isn't real and will vaporize when needed on the job.

For those who earn it, it imparts valuable knowledge of MS operating systems and how to do certain things in those operating systems. But you must continue to use the information or it will begin to evaporate quickly. I have the CCNA, but haven't touched a router for a year. I would be hard pressed to do a basic config at this point.

Anyhoo, the certs can be useful for landing a job, real knowledge helps you keep the job.

forget the MCSE for now there is a glote on the market to set yourself out from the herd go to linxs and open sourse apps C++ linxs may not be as wide spread but it is growing and is geting better and better, more companys look at microsoft priceing and start shoping, linix is small but it is growing and can only get biger

You need the MCSE to get an interview many places, but there are many rookie and experienced out-of-work MCSEs that will already be applying for those positions, and they'll be willing to work cheap so they can get the rent or mortgage paid and also eat.

I'd recommend the Master's or MBA route if you want to get into management.

Why would you even start thinking about a low paying MCSE position?

If you are Linux savvy, you must also be aware of Novell Running SUSE and Ximian Linux. These two offering both kick the living hell out of RedHat and are working with one of the most reliable, secure and stable NOS's to bring Linux to the desktop in a vey PC/Mac fashion. Ximian XD2 is amazing! LEss than $100.00 for the desktop, email software AND Open Office (almost FULLY compliant with MS Office wth the exception of a few Macros).

So it's your choice, as a linux A+ grad you KNOW MS is a farce. Why not stay on the beaten path for Linux and get into Novell Linux (growing very fast and replacing many MS shops around the globe (especially the BIG ones). You will make double wht you would as a MCSE and work less hours, now that's a deal!

check out Novell linux at http://www.novell.com

Have fun and make money, don't just jump on the same unemployment bandwagon the MS junkies did.