MCDBA certification...
So I've been somewhat persuing my MCDBA the last few months. About a month ago I took 70-228 (Installing, Configuring and Administering MS SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition). I failed, by a very narrow margin.
In retrospect I knew I wasn't prepared for the test. I made the mistake of thinking that just because I do the job day-in, day-out, that somehow that made me ready for the test. I did about a week's worth of half-assed studying from this book which I've read through in retrospect and realized that it does a very poor job of explaining the sections I did the worst on (Importing, Exporting and Transforming data & Monitoring, Auditing and Performance Tuning SQL Server). Also since those are two areas I deal most with in my day-to-day work, I didn't feel it necessary to be as well-versed in them as I should've been.
After failing, I was pretty down... this was the first MS test I'd ever failed. I know I'm pretty knowledgable about what I do, but I don't deal with failure very well. I have consoled myself with the knowledge that the testing process is designed not necessarily for you to find the right answer, but to find Microsoft's answer. I did pick up this book which to me seems both much better at preparing for the actual test as well as having more real-life examples and content that mimics an actual work environment. The editing is absolutely horrible, especially some of the review question sections, however the grouping of subjects seems a lot more conducive to learning the material and his explanation seems much better. As such I think I'm getting to be more prepared for the next time I take the test.
So I'd like to open up a discussion about certification and SQL Server. Both specific and general topics... who out there has their MCDBA, how they feel about it, reflections and recommendations about the testing and certification process... I'm looking to retake the test this month and I'm feeling a lot more confident about it this time around.
In retrospect I knew I wasn't prepared for the test. I made the mistake of thinking that just because I do the job day-in, day-out, that somehow that made me ready for the test. I did about a week's worth of half-assed studying from this book which I've read through in retrospect and realized that it does a very poor job of explaining the sections I did the worst on (Importing, Exporting and Transforming data & Monitoring, Auditing and Performance Tuning SQL Server). Also since those are two areas I deal most with in my day-to-day work, I didn't feel it necessary to be as well-versed in them as I should've been.
After failing, I was pretty down... this was the first MS test I'd ever failed. I know I'm pretty knowledgable about what I do, but I don't deal with failure very well. I have consoled myself with the knowledge that the testing process is designed not necessarily for you to find the right answer, but to find Microsoft's answer. I did pick up this book which to me seems both much better at preparing for the actual test as well as having more real-life examples and content that mimics an actual work environment. The editing is absolutely horrible, especially some of the review question sections, however the grouping of subjects seems a lot more conducive to learning the material and his explanation seems much better. As such I think I'm getting to be more prepared for the next time I take the test.
So I'd like to open up a discussion about certification and SQL Server. Both specific and general topics... who out there has their MCDBA, how they feel about it, reflections and recommendations about the testing and certification process... I'm looking to retake the test this month and I'm feeling a lot more confident about it this time around.
