As more companies begin to roll out Windows 2000, opportunity and
demand for specialists obviously will be on the rise. Martin Bean,
president of Prometric Inc., in Baltimore, Md., a provider of IT
certification exams, discusses what skills he thinks are needed for
Win2K jobs--and the importance of certification.
SearchWin2000: What is emerging as the hot job areas for Windows 2000
professionals?
Bean: Jobs for individuals obtaining certification as an MCSE include,
but are not limited to, systems engineer, technical support engineer,
systems analyst, network analyst, consultant. In addition, IT
professionals with development backgrounds will also support the
product in positions including...software engineer, consultant, software
applications engineer and software developer.
SearchWin2000: What sort of certification, if any, is needed for these
positions? (And are there any specific certifications that have
recently been introduced by Microsoft for Windows 2000?)
Bean: The Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) credential is
the premier certification for professionals who analyze the business
requirements for a system architecture, design solutions, deploy,
install, and configure architecture components, and troubleshoot system
problems. The Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA)
credential is the premier certification for professionals who implement
and administer Microsoft SQL Server databases.
With the release of Windows 2000, Microsoft has announced the Windows
2000 MCSE and Windows 2000 MDCBA certifications. Currently certified
MCSEs will be required to upgrade their certification to the new
Windows 2000 MCSE track by December 31, 2001, in order to maintain a
valid certification.
In addition, the MCP certification is also a viable Windows 2000
credential. Not all jobs require the breadth of an MCSE or an MCDBA.
Microsoft offers the Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) credential
for professionals who have demonstrated in-depth knowledge of at least
one Microsoft product. By passing (any) single Windows 2000 exam,
individuals can become MCP Windows 2000 certified.
SearchWin2000: How can certification help someone interested in
pursuing a Win2K job?
Bean: Certification provides candidates with industry recognition and
validation of their knowledge and skills. As a result of the skills
shortage and new technology, organizations are more and more in need of
hiring skilled workers, and certification may become the gateway to
gaining a rewarding career or advancing in a current career. According
to a recent Gartner Group training and certification study, 85% of the
250 IT managers surveyed agree that there are benefits to having
certified employees on staff. These benefits include, but are not
limited to: higher service levels, increased productivity and greater
access to preferred IT vendor support. Furthermore, an up-to-date MCSE
certification assures employers that they are obtaining the most
technically proficient professionals available to help their
organization make the transition to Windows 2000.
By Esther Shein, a contributing editor based in Framingham, Mass.
