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MCSA: Microsoft SQL Server 2008

  • February 23, 2016 at 9:21 am

    #399762

    Is the MCSA: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 certification still worth it? About two years ago, I completed the 70-432 exam, but switched jobs shortly after and never got around to taking the 70-448. My current company still uses SQL Server 2008 R2. I just don't want to waste my time persuing it since 2012 and 2014 are out, with 2016 on the way.

  • February 23, 2016 at 10:22 am

    #1860491

    I am absolutely anti-certification. However, that said, if you're going for the certification, I would not recommend getting the 2008 cert. Go for the 2014 cert or wait for the 2016 cert. If you're going to spend the time and effort to get one, better that it's current and will last a while. Most of the knowledge you're going to glean from studying for 2014 is applicable to 2008 (just not the newer technology).

    ----------------------------------------------------The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood... Theodore RooseveltThe Scary DBAAuthor of: SQL Server 2017 Query Performance Tuning, 5th Edition and SQL Server Execution Plans, 3rd EditionProduct Evangelist for Red Gate Software

  • February 23, 2016 at 10:28 am

    #1860494

    Thanks for your response Grant. At what point do you feel experience outweighs the need for a certification? I'm coming up on 7 years as being a DBA.

  • February 23, 2016 at 10:35 am

    #1860497

    jbrown414 (2/23/2016)

    Thanks for your response Grant. At what point do you feel experience outweighs the need for a certification? I'm coming up on 7 years as being a DBA.

    It's not about experience outweighing certifications. Some jobs will require a certification, some won't care and some would just discourage hiring someone with certifications.

    Experience in years, is something valuable only for recruiters. Knowledge is the factor that matters to real db professionals.

    Luis C.
    General Disclaimer:
    Are you seriously taking the advice and code from someone from the internet without testing it? Do you at least understand it? Or can it easily kill your server?

    How to post data/code on a forum to get the best help: Option 1 / Option 2

  • February 23, 2016 at 10:56 am

    #1860506

    Pretty much what Luis said. It's entirely possible to learn about 6 months worth of DBA knowledge and then repeat those 6 months for 10 years. I've interviewed a lot of people over the years. Frankly, unless I see a reason for certifications (they were working for a Microsoft Gold Partner, they were a Microsoft Certified Trainer, they were a Microsoft Certified Master), I usually assume the person I'm interviewing will actually be sub-par when I see the certifications. I won't give them a different interview, but the 3-5 years of experience they have will be clarified quickly based on their answer to the questions (same questions I'd give someone without certs, always fair).

    I suppose if you're within the first three years of your career, certifications make some sense. How else can you prove any knowledge at all. However, after that, you have to convince me that you're getting them for a reason. One good example I know that people use, it's a structured study program that forces them to learn stuff they wouldn't necessarily work with. I hear that, I'm extremely tolerant of the cert. But most of the time, people assume it means the same as demonstrated knowledge and it really, really doesn't.

    After seven years, I would hope you didn't need the cert as proof of your knowledge. I'd think that any job worth having is going to give you an interview, and you'll be able to show off your knowledge then. I'd hate to work for a company that hired me based on my resume and some certifications (although I suppose they're out there). God knows what that environment would be like.

    Don't let me negative views of certs overly influence you.

    ----------------------------------------------------The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood... Theodore RooseveltThe Scary DBAAuthor of: SQL Server 2017 Query Performance Tuning, 5th Edition and SQL Server Execution Plans, 3rd EditionProduct Evangelist for Red Gate Software

  • February 23, 2016 at 12:19 pm

    #1860529

    Grant Fritchey (2/23/2016)

    One good example I know that people use, it's a structured study program that forces them to learn stuff they wouldn't necessarily work with. I hear that, I'm extremely tolerant of the cert.

    This right here is why I look at getting certifications. I want to learn more from the areas that I don't get a chance to on a daily basis.

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