MCSA, 70-680 and certs on my CV

Discussion in 'General Microsoft Certifications' started by Dexter, Dec 13, 2009.

  1. Dexter

    Dexter Nibble Poster

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    HI guys

    I'm seriously thinking about doing the 70-680 and was just wondering what opinions are flying around about it at the moment. I'm slowly plodding my way towards my MCSA and kinda see the 70-680 as an opportunity. I mean if I do the 270 it'll be easier, having worked with XP professionally and having the MCDST etc, but it just seems like a missed opportunity, and with the 680 you get a MCTS which will look nice on the CV. If I do the 270 I only get another MCP right? I also think that the 680 will take me into the future and is gunna last for quite a few years seeing as windows 7 isn't long out. It just seems a shame to go over territory that I've already done with the MCDST. What do you guys think?

    On a slightly different note I also wanted to ask about listing certs on your CV. I currently only list my MCDST with no mention of a MCP but I've kinda become aware that people are listing both. Is this just filling up space on your CV is it valuable to specify the MCP too?

    cheers :)
     
    Certifications: A+ N+ MCDST
    WIP: LPIC-1 - HTML - MYSQL
  2. Bluerinse
    Honorary Member

    Bluerinse Exabyte Poster

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    The reason people do this is because most recruiters don't have the foggiest idea about the certification progression path and many think the MCP, is the top of the pile :wink:
     
    Certifications: C&G Electronics - MCSA (W2K) MCSE (W2K)
  3. TommyTee

    TommyTee Byte Poster

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    forgive me, but is an MCP - microsoft certified professional anyone that has completed a MS exam? so say you just did one MCTS you would be considered an MCP?
     
  4. SimonD
    Honorary Member

    SimonD Terabyte Poster

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    The MCP is the older title given to the certifications, that's now been superceded by MCTS and MCITP (essentially the MCITP replaces the MCSE as the nearly top tier certification).

    If you have an MCTS then use that rather than the MCP title as that's actually what you have (strangely enough the MS website for all certs is still MCP however).

    As far as placing the certs on the CV, go for it (I certainly do) however be warned that having too many certs and not enough experience can actually go against you.
     
    Certifications: CNA | CNE | CCNA | MCP | MCP+I | MCSE NT4 | MCSA 2003 | Security+ | MCSA:S 2003 | MCSE:S 2003 | MCTS:SCCM 2007 | MCTS:Win 7 | MCITP:EDA7 | MCITP:SA | MCITP:EA | MCTS:Hyper-V | VCP 4 | ITIL v3 Foundation | VCP 5 DCV | VCP 5 Cloud | VCP6 NV | VCP6 DCV | VCAP 5.5 DCA
  5. TommyTee

    TommyTee Byte Poster

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    Is it me or does Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) sound like it's higher than a Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) , I guess just cus "Specialist" sounds more advanced than "Professional"
     
  6. Kitkatninja
    Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    Kitkatninja aka me, myself & I Moderator

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    You do not gain the MCP credential if you pass the MCTS, but you gain entry into the MCP program.

    Agreed :)

    -Ken
     
    Last edited: Apr 6, 2010
    Certifications: MSc, PGDip, PGCert, BSc, HNC, LCGI, MBCS CITP, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MCE, A+, N+, S+, Server+
    WIP: MSc Cyber Security
  7. simonp83

    simonp83 Kilobyte Poster

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    Dexter, what about doing the upgrade exam (70-685) and this will give you both the 680 and the 685. 685 is a much more advanced exam though over the basic client exam so you will need experience to back this up.
     
    Certifications: A+, MCP, MCDST, MCTS, MCITP
    WIP: 70-291
  8. TommyTee

    TommyTee Byte Poster

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    I was looking at some of the mcts/mcitp paths, seems that you pick up so many certs this way, like if you were to go for an enterprise admin, you would pick up a total of 7 certs on this route.
     
  9. Kitkatninja
    Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    Kitkatninja aka me, myself & I Moderator

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    The 70-685 is not an upgrade exam. If you already have the MCDST, the upgrade exam is the 70-682.

    -Ken
     
    Certifications: MSc, PGDip, PGCert, BSc, HNC, LCGI, MBCS CITP, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MCE, A+, N+, S+, Server+
    WIP: MSc Cyber Security
  10. simonp83

    simonp83 Kilobyte Poster

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    Oops, sorry, wrong exam number, knew it was the 682 so not sure why i put the 685 in brackets :oops::blink
     
    Certifications: A+, MCP, MCDST, MCTS, MCITP
    WIP: 70-291
  11. Kitkatninja
    Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    Kitkatninja aka me, myself & I Moderator

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    'Cause today is the equivalent to a Monday, due to the Bank Holiday :biggrin

    -Ken
     
    Certifications: MSc, PGDip, PGCert, BSc, HNC, LCGI, MBCS CITP, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MCE, A+, N+, S+, Server+
    WIP: MSc Cyber Security
  12. Col

    Col Byte Poster

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    On a sort of related note, what's the thinking on downloading certification logos and placing them on your CV? Is this a good idea, or the act of an arch ****?
     
    Certifications: A+ Network+ MCP MCDST MCITP
    WIP: CCENT Security+
  13. Kitkatninja
    Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    Kitkatninja aka me, myself & I Moderator

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    That is both a personal preference of both you and the company that you apply to. On ocassions (so not all the time) I do put a logo on my cover letter, but not on my CV - again due to personal preference.

    However I do keep a selection of logo's on my PC, just in case :)

    -Ken
     
    Certifications: MSc, PGDip, PGCert, BSc, HNC, LCGI, MBCS CITP, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MCE, A+, N+, S+, Server+
    WIP: MSc Cyber Security
  14. BosonMichael
    Honorary Member Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    I put a few logos on the upper right corner of my resume, opposite my name/address/phone/e-mail info.
     
    Certifications: CISSP, MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCSE: Messaging, MCDST, MCDBA, MCTS, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
    WIP: Just about everything!
  15. TommyTee

    TommyTee Byte Poster

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    you could have a whole page dedicated to just certs.

    Kinda related but on a CV is there any opinion on how to express qualifications.

    e.g:

    MCTS Win7 or Microsoft Certified Technological Specialist: Windows 7, configuration
    CCNA or Ciscon Certified...
    etc
     
  16. GSteer

    GSteer Megabyte Poster

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    Ditto here, although it's only MCP / MBCS at the moment but it's a nice attention grabber.

    Also RE: the query above about listing MCP as well as MCSA etc, it is a good idea as if you're applying online a fair few agencies etc use search techniques on the CVs without actually reading them fully (at least this is what I've gathered from various sources) so if the MCP isn't there it doesn't flag up.
     
    Certifications: BSc. (Comp. Sci.), MBCS, MCP [70-290], Specialist [74-324], Security+, Network+, A+, Tea Lord: Beverage Brewmaster | Courses: LFS101x Introduction to Linux (edX)
    WIP: CCNA Routing & Switching
  17. supernova

    supernova Gigabyte Poster

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    Like some sort of onomatopoeia?
     
    Certifications: Loads
    WIP: Lots
  18. Asterix

    Asterix Megabyte Poster

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    I woul dlove to see Boston Michaels CV :p
     
  19. BosonMichael
    Honorary Member Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    Shoot me your e-mail address and I'll strip out the confidential details and send it to you.
     
    Certifications: CISSP, MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCSE: Messaging, MCDST, MCDBA, MCTS, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
    WIP: Just about everything!
  20. simonp83

    simonp83 Kilobyte Poster

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    Be ready for a 15mb word document and a good 2 hours of reading time? :blink
     
    Certifications: A+, MCP, MCDST, MCTS, MCITP
    WIP: 70-291

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