Microsoft® Certification Careers: Earn More Money

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Summary: Surprisingly good overview of MS Certifications
Review: A surprisingly informative update of the author's rather dismal "MCSE Career Microsoft!". More specific information has been added regarding the proliferating MS certification tracks (MCSE, MCDBA, MCP+I, etc.) The presentation is a little rosy (at least not blatant MS propaganda), but provides a decent, well organized overview of the certification process, what you can do with a certification, and some good recommendations for further resources. (Of course it does not reflect the September 1999 reorganization of the MCSE track for Windows 2000, and the announced retirement of the NT 4 track on 12/31/2000.) It's a good starting point for someone not familiar with IT certification in general or MS certification in particular, or weighing the option of starting on a certification, but it won't be nearly as useful to most persons futher on in the process.

Rating:
Summary: What is Microsoft Certification, Anyway? Find Out!
Review: As a person seeking a new career, I found this book to answer my most basic questions about IT (and I have to admit that my questions were pretty basic). The author details the distinctions among the types of Microsoft Certification and describes the types of certification exams (without--and this is important!--being a study guide for them). As to format, chapters end with summaries of the key ideas presented. Also, the book includes short interviews with people who work in the field. Much of the information is presented in easily digestable bullets and paragraph-long sections, so it can be absorbed by people who are reading the material after a long day at their present job. Although I ultimately decided that Microsoft Certification is not for me, this was the book that gave me the tools to make that decision.