Wise Man or Wise Guy - All Comments

re: Thoughts on SQL Server Certification

malleswarareddy_m — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:29:18 GMT

Hi jack i have 2.6 years in SQL Server database.what certifications fit for.Currently monitoring Production servers.I want MCDBA certification can you give what books can i refer for.

re: Thoughts on SQL Server Certification

Jack Corbett — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:23:14 GMT

Thanks to everyone who gave their congratulations.

I have to say that I'd hate to be in Microsoft's position in this, because if the tests are too hard, no one will take them, but if they are too easy they lose value so no one will take them.

As I said in the post, certs + experience are great while certs without experience don't mean much.

re: Thoughts on SQL Server Certification

reinis — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:00:04 GMT

I was out of work recently and took the SQL 2008 DB Dev test - planning to do the BIDS and DBA eventually as well.

I too found the real test easier than the practise tests - taking the real test was my last option because i had run out of practise questions and didn't seem to be doing any better. I just figured I'd try it and see. It seemed a lot easier so ppl don't get too discouraged if you are struggling with the practise.

I for one definately would think that certs and experience make for the best DB ppl. But I had no way of getting the experience without a job, and a cert definately helped to get that. now I'm working on getting the experience to support my cert.

re: Being Involved in the Community

Patrick LeBlanc — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:58:18 GMT

Nice Jack! I will be helping out also with the abstract selection.

re: Being Involved in the Community

Jason Brimhall — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:24:45 GMT

Congrats and good luck. I will be helping with the SUMMIT this year as well. It looks to be fun.

re: Thoughts on SQL Server Certification

Mike Lile — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:27:21 GMT

Having worked numerous places over the years (since before SQL 6.0) and dealing with varied hiring practices (including doing the hiring myself) I have mixed opinions of the necessity of certification. I've met a lot of really bright and capable people with nothing but OJT and also a number of people with a list of certifications a mile long that had no idea how to effectively perform their duties. The latter group definitely colored my opinion about certification.

That said, it seems to me that a mix of real-world experience and a few pertinent certifications would be the ideal. It demonstrates that you know what to do and that you have actually done it before you even get to the interview stage.

Perhaps the best answer is that certifications aren't absolutely necessary but if you can make the resource investment to get one or more you are going to be better for it.

Oh, and congratulations to you, Jack. With luck I will be taking (and hopefully passing) this very exam in the not too distant future and reading about your experience has been quite helpful.

re: Thoughts on SQL Server Certification

kcarlin — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:48:09 GMT

Thanks for the review, it gave some good insight.

I've been getting ready to get some certifications myself specifically to learn more, but the added bonus of some new employer considering me more is worth it, in my opinion.

Congratulations on passing.

re: Thoughts on SQL Server Certification

rcornell — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:02:38 GMT

Nice review, I have almost all MS Certs and looks impressive on any resume!

re: Thoughts on SQL Server Certification

Rodrigo Aniceto — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:16:06 GMT

Congratulations!!!

re: Thoughts on SQL Server Certification

briansalentine — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:32:19 GMT

I'd have to agree that some sort of certs are often required now, even at a non-profit.

For people who say certs are not worth the time and money, just keep in mind that your resume will go in the pile that won't get looked at again, regardless of your experience, since there will be someone with equal experience.

I've also noticed that since people understand IT is an important part of business, an MBA or MS is also often times required or preferrred. So once again, you can figure out what pile your resume will go into.

Now, if you know someone, that is a different story, as we all probably know people who got jobs they shouldn't have. But for the rest of us, there are certifications. My wife and I wouldn't have gotten our jobs without them.

re: Thoughts on SQL Server Certification

talltop — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:21:47 GMT

I tend to agree with Todd on this one. I have met people in the past that were MS-SQL Server certified and did not know how to setup permissions on a particular login! Tests are too easy to braindump. I will take real world experience over certification any day of the week! :)

re: Thoughts on SQL Server Certification

Jack Corbett — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:05:09 GMT

Tim,

Thanks for the clarification on the MCDBA certs. I knew there was some Windows requirements for MCDBA.

Todd,

You are right in some ways, but in my situation I've never worked where log-shipping or clustering was needed, so I never needed to know that information. I've always worked on the principal that I learn something when I need it. Taking the exams forced me to study up on the new features and features I have not had to use.

re: Thoughts on SQL Server Certification

Todd Hile-Hoffer — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:56:28 GMT

I think certs are nothing more than an additional revenue source for MS. Currently I'm doing a lot more .net development than SQL Server work, basically because I found SQL Server specific jobs got boring once everything is set up. In general people with a lot of certifications are simply good at passing tests, but not nearly as good at real world problem solving. I feel any competent DBA should not have to study for test to learn about log shipping or clustering. If the need arises to use something you are unfamiliar with then you go to the MSDN (or SQLServerCentral.com) download the white papers on how to set it up and practice in a non production environment. Real world experience is much more useful than certifications. I have better things to do with my time and money than to take MS Certification tests. Not worth the time or money to me.

re: Thoughts on SQL Server Certification

Tim Overlund — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:49:41 GMT

Jack,

I got my MCDBA back in 2001 on top of a paper MCSE after taking one of the 6 week boot camps in 1999. There were really only 2 core SQL Server exams back then. The other 4 exams were related to being a network/system admin. There was an optional SQL Server 7.0 Data Warehousing exam, but it wasn't required for the MCDBA.

I actually like the new certification tracks. I do virtually no system admin work and haven't kept up with all of the details of the latest OS's. I am primarily a developer, so I need to keep up somewhat on the .NET side, but my focus is database development, so the MCITP-Database Developer and MCITP-BI Developer are a very good match for what I actually do. I have the MCITP-Database Administrator cert as well, since our actual DBAs seem to have little interest in learning the latest version unless forced to.

I will the MCITP exams were more difficult frankly, since I think it is too easy to pass the exams just by going through some books with no real world experience. A great certification should reward real world experience more than just the ability to cram for an exam.

re: Thoughts on SQL Server Certification

Jack Corbett — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:17:29 GMT

Sam & Dean,

I disagree with you about the change in certification tracks. I agree that most of us do a little of everything, but SQL Server has gotten too big for any one person to really know it all. When I first started out I did SQL Server and .NET, as I've gotten more experienced with SQL Server, I've realized how much I don't know about the product and how many things I could have done better or should have been doing.

Also, if I remember correctly, there were like 6 tests you had to take to get the MCDBA certification and now there are 6 SQL Server tests, just spread over 3 concentrations. If you do it all, take all 6 tests.