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[Captain America]

Originally Posted by Chris

Basically a web developer for a university. Very focused on a single platform and technology but with bits of support and server stuff thrown in.

If I decide to move jobs in the future though I may go back to the private sector and more systems engineer type stuff that I used to do. It's all just stuff I'm thinking about just now. Wouldn't mind staying in my current role but finances may take that decision out of my hands.

What is your degree? Sorry, im not being nosey (well I am) but i'm almost finished 3rd year of my Comp Science degree and so far have very little idea what kind of job I could get after I eventually graduate.

[Lonz]

I'm looking at doing mine as well. I'm in an IT job but have no degree or any 'official' qualifications and even though i've got a few years experience under my belt my CV would probably be binned straight away because I don't have an MCSE listed (check the jobs pages!) on it.

One guy i talked to on a course last year took a fairly novel route when his company wouldn't help him out. He went out and bought (although i'm sure they'll be on Bit Torrent somewhere) Exam Cram books (check amazon - £20 a book), read them solid for two weeks before each exam and did each test one after the other.
He said it was hard going but then again each test is only £90 a go compared to sitting the course at up to or over a grand.

It's always an option.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Captain America

What is your degree? Sorry, im not being nosey (well I am) but i'm almost finished 3rd year of my Comp Science degree and so far have very little idea what kind of job I could get after I eventually graduate.

I did a BSc (no hons) Computing For Internet and Multimedia, graduated in 2003.

The only stuff I did on it that I've used in 3 years as a Systems Engineer and 2 years as a web developer was the programming theory and the Oracle/database stuff.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Lonz

sitting the course at up to or over a grand.

A grand?

The MCSE course at Aberdeen College is £200.

[Lonz]

Originally Posted by Chris

A grand?

The MCSE course at Aberdeen College is £200.

Where are you seeing that? Couldn't see it on the College website.

Unless they're not including the cost of the 7 exams?

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Lonz

Where are you seeing that? Couldn't see it on the College website.

Unless they're not including the cost of the 7 exams?

Yeah you're right, they don't include the cost of the exams.

The current assessment charge will be listed by the testing centre and is not included in the price of this course.

Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) on Windows Server 2003

[Lonz]

Yeah that makes more sense, i'd have signed up long ago if that was the case!

If you can get your employer to pay for the MCSE you're sorted as each training course on each module is a 5 day course at around a grand each!

MCSE, CCNA, CCNP, CIW training and other courses at Blue Screen IT

The Exam Cram's are about £20 a book each on amazon, it looks like a lot of hard work but i'd rather be paying for 7 books at £20 each and 7 tests at £90 each rather than for the courses. Having been on a few microsoft ones, I can tell you that they're a snoozefest.

If you're lucky maybe if you tell your employer you're paying it on your own they'll give you some study time back?

[Lonz]

QA-IQ break down what exams are needed.

http://www.qa-iq.com/ContentManageme...%20Summary.pdf

[Lester Burnham]

£200? Bargain! Is it an evening course? I was thinking of chucking myself through some courses when finance allows later in the year. I'm not really developing much on the techie side in my role - though I am getting training on other fronts which is more than satisfied with. I just don't want what little knowledge I have to die off, plus I want to develop more on the technical side of things.

I also don't have a degree and want some certificates for when I eventually shift again (if any workmates are reading this… I'm not planning on moving for a very long time).

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Lester Burnham

£200? Bargain! Is it an evening course?

See later replies. It was just the course, didn't include the exams. It's delivered online.