Are you wondering which certificate is ideal for you? Do you know how much you will earn after getting your certificate? Do you have the prerequisites for the certification program you are preparing for? Do you just want to know the passing score of your certification exams?

If you have any question about any certification, simply ask CertAdvisor. CertAdvisor will get an expert to answer it for you. CertAdvisor will work on your behalf to get you a reliable, practical advice to your most pressing concerns.

CertAdvisor is also available as a weekly newsletter. View sample e-newsletter.

Click here to submit a question.

Current CertAdvisor (July 02, 2001)

Question of the week
Follow up to last week's CertAdvisor
Select questions & answers
Share your cert-experience
How CertAdvisor answers questions

Question of the week

Q1) I have done SQL7.0 both Administration and Database Implementation
courses almost 6 months back. Now I'm planning to write the exam
(70-028,70-029) Since SQL 2000 is alr[e]ady there, can I go for SQL 2000
directly? [Are] there any big differences between these two? Need I do the
course for SQL 2000 again?
(From jinojacob)

ANS) Since you have attended courses for SQL 7.0, we would advice you to
take the corresponding SQL 7.0 exams (70-028 and 70-029) at this time. SQL
Server 7.0 implementation is still widespread in the market. The skills
you achieve by studying for and passing these two exams will help you a
great deal in a real-life SQL Server environment. Also, both SQL 7.0 exams
are not scheduled for retirement.

Once you have started working in a real-life SQL Server environment, you
can upgrade your skills to SQL 2000. At that time you can decide whether
or not you will need training for SQL 2000 based on experience gained
working on SQL 7.0, and your knowledge of the new topics covered under SQL
2000.

*************************************************************

Follow up to last week's CertAdvisor

Q2) Now that Microsoft has announced .Net/ XP options for MCSE
certification, which track is better, the W2K track or .Net/XP track and
why?
(From ViperIsland)

ANS) Both the W2k track and the XP/.NET track are good in their own
respect. Microsoft has made no distinction between the two tracks and has
allowed individuals to mix and match exams between these two tracks as
necessary. So the choice of track would entire depend on your current
situation.

If you are currently pursuing the MCSE 2000 track, you should continue and
pass the core exams for that track. You will automatically be certified to
implement and support Windows XP/.NET architectures as an MCSE 2000
certified professional.

If you are thinking of pursuing the MCSE certification, you should
consider the new XP/.NET track. One exam for this track "Exam 70-270:
Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft(r) Windows(r) XP
Professional" is scheduled to go into beta in September 2001. Rest of the
core exams in this track are scheduled for beta/release in early 2002. If
you start your training or self-study now, you will be ready to take these
exams as they come out. Remember, you can always take and pass a beta exam
to be one of the first people to be certified in an exam. A beta exam
gives you the same credit toward certification as a regular (release
version) exam.

==================Sponsor==============================
Earn an internationally recognized, accredited Master's in Information
Systems in less time than you thought possible. Studying online when and
where it's convenient for you, without ever visiting a classroom. And
without giving up your life. Click here for more information
http://www.examsonline.com/main/bannerpath.asp?id=usopnmsis0813

SAVE $50 WHEN YOU APPLY WITH PROMOTION CODE 210500
=======================================================

Select question(s) & answer(s)

Q3) I have been looking for job in Cisco and where do think I can search
for entry level in Cisco with CCNA?
(From Mary J)

ANS) We have responded to queries related to entry-level jobs in earlier
CertAdvisors. Listed below are two options (from previous CertAdvisors)
available to you over and above regular options.
"Regular Options"
Look for entry-level positions advertised in newspapers, web sites of
large IT networking corporations, and those advertised in job-related web
sites such as Monster.com and Jobs.com.

The influx of experienced CCNA candidates into the job market due to the
current economic downturn has made it difficult for entry-level candidates
to get hired. It has been reported that jobs applications online or even
in response to newspaper ads seldom generate favorable responses in today'
s economy (especially when you have no experience.)

The options listed below might work faster for you and might help you out
until you can get to the point where you can be hired on experience
gained. Once you have 6-12 months worth of experience under your belt,
your value in the marketplace will change considerably.

"Internships"

a) Many certification-training institutes offer internship programs to
their students, as part of training package. If you are seeking to
continue your certification training you could choose one of them.

b) If not, try contacting companies in your area, which maintain computers
internally, seeking internship opportunities. Local yellow pages should
generate a useful list of companies for you to contact.

c) You may also be able to find a suitable opportunity online through a
few web sites, which are dedicated to the subject.

Example:

http://www.internships.com/
http://internships.wetfeet.com/home.asp
http://www.internsnet.com/cgi/default.asp
http://www.collegerecruiter.com/
http://www.collegegrad.com/
http://www.collegejobs.com/

"Unadvertised jobs"

"There is a "hidden job market" especially for the entry-level jobs such
as those related to help desk or quality assurance. This market is 'hidden
' because many companies do not take the trouble of advertising for them
and choose to hire when they come across good candidates.  The way to tap
this market is through networking -- not of the computer kind, but of the
people kind. Make a list of all your friends (and their friends) holding
tech jobs. Call them up to inquire if there is any entry-level job
matching your qualification. This worked for me. A sister of a friend's
friend not only alerted me on a possible vacancy, but also put in a word
for me. Though the job was very low-paying it gave me a good start." (Sent
to us by 'FredM')

==================Sponsor==============================

Get MCSE Certified GUARANTEED!
SmartCertify's MCSE course gives you the best certification training
available with online mentoring, hands-on exercises, hundreds of practice
questions and more!  Try these courses FREE today and get certified
GUARANTEED: MCSE, Cisco, A+, Linux, CIW and more.   And, don't forget to
enter our Dell Sweepstakes!
http://www.examsonline.com/main/bannerpath.asp?id=eolsmtcert0813
=======================================================
Share your cert-experience

Lin responds to last week's CertAdvisor follow-up question "I found that
CIW offers training for its certification exams. Are these courses
mandatory? (From Raj)":

"I am a CIW. Relative to your last email publication:

Though it's true that you don't have to take the courses, you should have
the ProSoft manuals. The exams are tied very tightly to the manual
content.

Lin  :o)"

*************************************************************
How CertAdvisor answers questions.

a) CertAdvisor tries to provide expert counsel to all questions sent to
it. But as a huge number of queries are submitted, CertAdvisor prefers to
group similar questions and provide a combined answer for them. The most
commonly asked question usually becomes CertAdvisor's Question of the
Week.
b) There is a possibility that your question has already been answered.
So, before you send your question, may CertAdvisor request you to check
questions that have been previously answered?
c) The expert counsel from CertAdvisor is intended to help you make the
right decision. You are still urged to base your decisions on your own
research and assessment.
d) By submitting a question to CertAdvisor, you hereby grant
ExamsOnline.com the permission to post your question and our answers
online.
e) CertAdvisor also reserves the right to edit submissions made to
'Cert-experience' for readability and consistency.
f) To ask a question to CertAdvisor, you need to be an ExamsOnline.com
member. Please visit http://www.examsonline.com to register for free.

Archives