Following the path...

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Morning guys, I've been waiting for the opportunity to do some courses with my employer for some time now, and after alot of promise in previous months, I've finally been asked to look around and create a schedule to follow, company funded.

Im basicly looking for advice regarding the best route to take, and if its too challenging / not challenging enough.

Im currently doing A+ 2006 objectives which I hope to pass by June.

The path I've set out is this,

• Network+
• 70-290 (Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment)
• 70-291 (Implementing, Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure)
• 70-270 (Installing, Configuring and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional)
• 70-284 (Implementing and Managing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003)

Each course consists of 5 days classroom training. I will then be provided with the other study materials, such as books and practice exams, with the aim of passing the exam within the following 2 months.

Until I pass one exam/course, I will not schedule in the next.

At the end I'll have A+, N+ and MCSA specialising in Messaging.

My current experience is just a year working in and around Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 etc.

Do you think that is a reasonable plan?

&

How does that sound for a proposal to my superior?


I appreciate any opinions or suggestions, cheers!

 

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I'll guess its a decent proposal then......

:|

 

How much is your employer willing to pay? The Official MS courses ain't cheap!

Might get on your bosses better side by costing the courses, but then saying that if they'll fund the PC's, and books you'll do it through self study.

 

I agree in that the course costs are overly expensive. Im unsure at the moment how much the company is willing to pay but they shelled out around 4K for an employee to do SQL courses so im guessing it'll be around the same amount.

The funny thing is, I mentioned im doing the A+ through self study, and I got the impression my bosses main concern is time. I believe he thinks courses will be quicker then self study and is therefore happy to fund them.. I've not been on a course before so im unsure, but I do imagine they'd speed the learning process up..?

 

Unfortunately they sometimes speed it up too much.

The few courses that I've been on were always rushed due to time issues. Unless you already had a really good grasp of what was being taught then you had to do a lot of work on your own, in your own time to fully understand it.

My advice: If you do go on the courses, make sure that you have read the book first!

 

There's something to be said for that line of thinking but it does depend also on how quickly you learn and retain information. Remember, it's not just a matter of passing the exams. Your employer expects you to retain everything taught and to bring those skill sets into the production environment.

 

Good tip there SGUK, thanks

I guess alot of it comes down to budget as you mentioned, I do think my boss has a good idea of the prices, but its still alot of money to lay out so thats the first thing to bring up.

I'll have to repost when I have this meeting this week and see how generous he feels!

 

Very true Trip, I do feel a little pressured when thinking about the process due to the amount of money that'd be layed down. I will have to discuss whats expected of me and my current job role I think, to establish where they're ideas are for me.