TravisDBA (2/14/2012)
tilew-948340 (2/13/2012)
MCM, MCITP, MCTS... All three levels of certification needs time, money and surely "show that you have some knowledge about a product, even if it's something you memorized for the exam. They show you're motivated to learn about this particular technology, and interested enough in your career to do so" like Steve said.I work in a small place that do not have the budget to have a DBadmin and push me the job to learn database and SQL language over my normal job. Belive me: it is not easy for every one. I am trying to pass my MCTS, and I can't get more than 60% on the "prepare kit simulation".
I agree with Mike "Not having them: You cannot even be bothered to take a silly exam and pass? Especially when the next three candidates have them". I might be hard for some people but if you are that good, it should not be that hard to pass the exam. If you have the power, use it, lucky you!
These certifications are "hollow" IMHO as long as actual braindumps are available on them on the Internet, and they are, even the MCM. To use an analogy, it's kind of like dealing with someone who has counterfeit currency. What you think someone has in their pocket is not actually what they have, and you, (or your company) gets ripped off as a result..:-D
Well...maybe. I want to agree but there are reasons not to. Brent Ozar shared his opinion & experience with the MCM. Because of his reputation in the SQL community I can't just dismiss it based on my personal bias (against certification). I am casting certs in a different light. I'm going to give in to the MS marketing machine and see it as a path to achievement: each certification level builds on the last until you reach the top tier (i.e. MCA). Kind of like a PhD for SQL 🙂 And each level is more difficult that the previous one. Not just in knowledge but also in attainment. You don't just waltz into a Prometric test facility, pay $200 and walk out an MCM or MCA. You sweat bullets and spend gobs of time and a fair amount of cash to get there.
But saying that, you definitely need experience to back up those certs. I certainly wouldn't put a 25 year-old MBA "nugget" (thanks BSG) in a high-level executive role. That experiment (generally) failed with the likes of pets.com and the legendary sock puppet. Likewise, if you have 1/2 a dozen certs and no experience to back it up, you are essentially a paper soldier.
So, perhaps a more positive way of seeing certs is as a complement to a level of knowledge and experience you already have. A validation, if you will. That's my newly-formed humble opinion.
James Stover, McDBA