Thoughts on Certifications
With the proliferation of "exam cramming" books for the Microsoft
certifications, the value of the Microsoft exams as an indication of practical
and theoretical knowledge of Microsoft systems has diminished. Combine this with
sample exams and "brain dump" websites, and some people have decided
that the Microsoft exams are completely worthless as an indication of skill.
I believe that the Microsoft certifications should be viewed as a
validation of technical skills. They are no substitute for real-world
experience, but rather they provide an additional indication of a person's
knowledge. Even with all the study aids mentioned above, the tests are not
trivial. They require study, memorization, problem-solving and deduction to
pass.
Besides the value of certification, the tests also provide insight into how
Microsoft thinks about features in its own products. An example is the filegroup
feature in SQL Server. I have seen books refer to this feature as
"unnecessary." However, the Microsoft exams describe scenarios in
which filegroups are used to reduce database backup times. Consequently, the
tests themselves can expand a person's knowledge of a product.
|
