Born to Learn

Certification Exam Training Tips with MCT Sasa Kranjac

Veronica Sopher (Microsoft Learning) — Tue, 21 May 2013 23:15:00 GMT

Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCTs) are the premier technical and instructional experts on Microsoft technologies, and are the only individuals authorized to deliver training with Microsoft Official Courses. MCT Sasa Kranjac—a preeminent Croatia-based IT Technical Trainer, Consultant, and Speaker—stopped by the Born to Learn blog to offer a wealth of training and certification tips, including an exhaustive list of free resources you shouldn’t miss. Take it away Sasa!

Study Tips: Blend your Learning Styles

When preparing for a certification exam, different people have different approaches. What works for one person may not work for another.

I would not recommend a single study resource or approach. Blended learning—combining different methods—seems to be the best for me. Both theory and practice are equally important, and to pass an exam you’ll need both.

It’s important to realize that you are not learning to pass an exam. You are learning to secure your future; to be successful at your job, to be knowledgeable, and to be an expert—you’ll need that knowledge throughout your career.

Think of knowledge as a pyramid. Why are pyramids so stable? It’s because of the wide base. As you go higher, the pyramid narrows. Theory is the foundation of your pyramid, and hands-on experience builds on top. You have to have solid theory knowledge on which to build your practical knowledge. You’ll probably pass an exam without reading a book or an article about underlying technology, but that won’t make you an expert and won’t benefit you in the long run.

Self-paced Study: My Preferred Learning Method

Self-paced studies are my preferred method because I can decide A) what I study and B) when I study. I read, listen and watch while going to/from work, not only when I’m studying for an exam. During these times, I focus on my weak spots to learn about the topics I don’t know so well.

Tips:

I reference the Skills Measured section of exam pages on Microsoft Learning (i.e. http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/Exam.aspx?ID=70-xyz where xyz is exam number) to know where to focus my studies.
One place not to miss when preparing to take an exam is Microsoft TechNet and the TechNet Library. Be sure to bookmark these sites, as you will be using these pages for a long time (well, at least you should!). If you are a developer, please see the table below to find links to resources that are useful to you. I am an IT Pro, not a Developer, but I still read articles on MSDN. If you need to dive deeper and know more about a technology, then there is no better place than MSDN.
Needless to say: buy and read some books! Choose carefully what books you buy; this should be a long-time investment. Books are now more available than ever, in print and in digital format. It only takes couple of seconds to access your favorite book on one of your electronic devices.

Instructor-led Training

This option is slightly more expensive but here is the crucial thing you need to be aware of: picking a class and a subject should be your secondary concern. Picking right instructor for a class you want to attend should be your primary concern. The instructor makes a difference and holds a lot of the value in the class you want to attend. Instructors can answer your questions and assist with his or her experience in your studies.

Online Learning

Just as with instructor-led, online classes are as good as the instructor.

My Most Valuable Resource: TechNet/MSDN Subscription

If I could pick only one resource that is MOST valuable to me, then TechNet/MSDN Subscription would be definitely the one I’d choose. With TechNet/MSDN Subscription you are in possession of almost all Microsoft products and operating systems, licensed for evaluation. That means that you get access to full-versions of software for 12 months with no feature limits. You also get other benefits, depending on the subscription level. Visit TechNet Subscriptions or MSDN Subscriptions to learn more about Subscription levels, benefits and prices.

TechNet Library and MSDN Library are competing for first place with TechNet/MSDN Subscriptions ;-)

I have already mentioned some of the important resources. There are numerous blogs, sites and places where you can read a lot about your preferred technologies, but I’ll mention some of the most popular and what’s most important, FREE, resources you shouldn’t miss. (You can also download the list at the end of the post.)

IT Pro Resources

TechNet. IT Pros’ Product and Technology Resources
TechNet Library. The TechNet Library contains technical documentation for IT professionals using Microsoft products, tools, and technologies
Test Lab Guides. Test Lab Guides (TLGs) allow you to get valuable hands-on experience with new products and technologies using a pre-defined and tested methodology that results in a working configuration. When you use a TLG to create a test lab, instructions define what servers to create, how to configure the operating systems and system services, and how to install and configure any additional products or technologies. A challenge in creating useful TLGs is to enable their reusability and extensibility.
TechNet Video. Find videos, screencasts, podcasts, and articles to help IT Professionals stay up to date on the latest Microsoft products and technologies.
TechNet Wiki. Visit a content portal to find information, resources, and help over a wide range of topics, projects, and issues.
TechNet Magazine. Monthly Magazine for IT Pros. Articles, Videos, scripts, digital magazine downloads.
TechNet Evaluation Center. FREE Microsoft products trials.
Microsoft Virtual Academy. Microsoft Virtual Academy (MVA) is a cloud-based learning experience focusing on Microsoft Technologies. You can access a variety of training content online to assist you in becoming one of the renowned experts in the IT Pro and developer communities around the world. MVA provides its users with a virtual university experience: the students can select a course and study the material and then complete the self-assessment
TechNet Virtual Labs. FREE hands-on! TechNet/MSDN Virtual Labs enable you to quickly evaluate and test Microsoft's newest products and technologies through a series of guided, hands-on labs that you can complete in 90 minutes or less. There is no complex setup or installation required, and you can use TechNet/MSDN Virtual Labs online immediately, free!
TechNet Events and Webcasts. Find links to upcoming events organized directly by Microsoft and by third parties, plus webcasts, podcasts, and other on-demand resources. All content is recorded and made available on demand
Ramp Up Learning Series(TechNet). Learn about Microsoft products with these "Ramp Up" learning collections. TechNet assembled these training materials for customers to learn either by reading, watching a video, or playing with the products in virtual labs.
TechNet Events Repository. Find supporting documentation, reference materials, and media from TechNet events and briefings listed by product or technology.
“How do I?” Videos. Learn more about Microsoft products with these "How Do I?" videos. TechNet has assembled these short videos for customers to learn how to accomplish specific tasks with Microsoft products: step-by-step.

Developer Resources

MSDN. Microsoft Developer Network – Developers’ Resources
MSDN Library. Essential source of information for developers using Microsoft® tools, products, technologies and services. The MSDN Library includes how-to and reference documentation, sample code, technical articles, and more
MSDN Learning Resources. All for Developers: Samples and code, library, tutorials, Videos, Virtual Labs.
MSDN Magazine. Monthly Magazine for Developers. Articles, Videos, code, digital magazine downloads.
MSDN Virtual Labs. FREE hands-on! TechNet/MSDN Virtual Labs enable you to quickly evaluate and test Microsoft's newest products and technologies through a series of guided, hands-on labs that you can complete in 90 minutes or less. There is no complex setup or installation required, and you can use TechNet/MSDN Virtual Labs online immediately, free!
MSDN Events and Webcasts. Through this event portal, you can virtually meet your local Microsoft Developer and Architect Evangelists and connect with them through their blogs; you will also be able to experience videos brought to you by your local teams covering technical topics and recordings from recent events.
Visual Studio Downloads. Install and try Visual Studio today and seize the future of development. Visual Studio Express 2012 products provide FREE development tools for creating modern applications on the latest platforms.

General Resources

Microsoft Virtual Academy. Microsoft Virtual Academy – MVA is a cloud-based learning experience focusing on Microsoft Technologies. You can access a variety of training content online to assist you in becoming one of the renowned experts in the IT Pro and developer communities around the world. MVA provides its users with a virtual university experience: the students can select a course and study the material and then complete the self-assessment
Microsoft Press FREE e-books. Free e-books
FREE E-Book Gallery for Microsoft Technologies. More FREE e-books
Microsoft Events. Recorded sessions from Microsoft events worldwide, available on demand.

Fundamental Technologies: Technical References on TechNet

The links below points\ to some of the most important fundamental topics. You should get familiar with how TechNet Library topics are organized; something that’ll happen once you start reading and exploring. The resources below are not buried very deep in the library, but often are not easy to find. Although the core topics are placed under the “old” technologies/products section, they are equally important today.

If you need to learn the basics, don’t miss these:

Networking

Group Policy Collection

Core Group Policy, Components, Administrative Tools

Storage Technologies

Windows Security Collection

Logon, Authentication, Access control, Data security, PKI, Trust

Active Directory Collection

Print and Save TechNet Library Articles

I almost forgot to tell you about one really cool feature TechNet Library has. You can print and export multiple topics in PDF and HTML! Files you export retain links to selected topics; you don’t need to scroll much – just click on a topic in the Table of Contents and jump to sections.

Follow these steps to use the Print feature:

1. Navigate to your favorite topic in TechNet Library.

2. On the top right corner, below the Search bar, right-click on a downward-pointing arrow next to the printer icon and choose Print Multiple Topics. A brief introduction page loads.

3. Click START to begin selecting topics. After that, all you have to do is visit each page or topic you want to print/export and select it by clicking on + Add This Topic on the gray bar on top of the page. Once you add the topic you want, you can remove it by clicking – Remove This Topic if you do not want to export it.

4. When you have finished selecting all the topics you want to print, click Collection (x Topic(s)) where x is number of topics you have selected. On the Manage Collection page you can choose to export your collection to PDF or HTML, rename and rearrange collections, add more chapters or choose from Advanced options to refine and tune your selection.

5. Click Generate to export/print the topics. If you aren’t already signed in, you will be asked to sign in to generate the page and print.

Taking Your Exam

I have to admit: I did not study for my first exam, only because I had a lot of hands-on experience and I passed it relatively easily. That does not mean that the exam was easy, but I had a good working knowledge of the product, and that helped me a lot.

After getting a few exams on my transcript, and passing all on the first try, I failed an exam. What a shock! I could not believe that I could’ve failed an exam, and was furious. After passing the exam on my second attempt, I realized that being overconfident and acting as if I was in some kind of race did not help at all. If I had read the questions more carefully and took all the time I had on the exam, I knew I would pass. And I did.

I would say, even if you know a product by heart, take your time to read questions carefully and be sure you understand what the question is about. If you are unsure about the answer don’t be afraid to mark the question so you can return to it later.

Take a Tour of the New Born to Learn Community!

Leann Turpin (Microsoft) — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:09:00 GMT

We’re excited to introduce to you a new look for the Born to Learn community. We’ve made big changes to the design and navigation to make it easier to not just find what you want, but also to discover new articles, discussions, news, and expert advice.

Let’s take a stroll through the some of the new features, starting with the Born to Learn home page:

Get where you’re going faster. We’ve made it easier to access your favorite places on the Born to Learn Community—blogs, forums, study groups and more are a click away from the top navigation menu.

Keep up with new and noteworthy posts. Catch up with the latest posts on Born to Learn blogs and forums.

This is a good time to remind you that you can keep up with the latest activities by subscribing to RSS feeds or daily or weekly email digests—most subscription options are located at the top-right of the blog or forum.

New blog articles. We wanted to give you a simple way to keep up with all the new posts across Born to Learn blogs. The new blog module displays a tabbed view of the latest articles from some of the popular blogs.

Easier-to-browse blogs. Leaving no stone unturned, we’ve rolled out a new design and layout for the Born to Learn blogs. The clean look is easier to get around and improves the reading experience.

What do you think of the new look? Speak your mind!

Step-By-Step: Building Your Own Lab on Windows Server 2012

Anthony Bartolo — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:30:00 GMT

Studying for your Windows Server 2012 MCSA designation via related books should not be your only method of study. While memorizing facts and figures is a great first start, however, nothing beats practical experience. Microsoft provides a slew of resources called IT Pro Camps, or CANITPRO Camps here in Canada, allowing attendees to run through labs provided being led by an instructor. Again, another great start, but still not enough hands on to gain practical experience. There is however another option.

Building a lab at home provides the ability to learn on your own time and pace. Most aspiring IT administrators think creating a home lab would be difficult and/or expensive. This process is actually easy to do and will provide you a tool to test out many labs provided in reading material and online. To setup your Windows Server 2012 lab machine be sure to keep the following PC requirements in mind:

Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8 as installed OS
64-bit capable hardware (x64)
Intel-VT or AMD-V support in firmware
Hardware-assisted memory protection in firmware (XD)
At least 4GB total RAM
At least 60GB free space on HDD
Full Administrator Rights to existing PC OS
No disk encryption or pre-boot authentication

Setting Up Your Lab

NOTE: This process installs Windows Server 2012 in a dual-boot scenario using Boot-to-VHD features in Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8. While this process is not intended to disrupt your existing OS installation, these steps are for use at your own risk. No support or warranties are implied or provided.

Backup your existing PC operating system before beginning this process. While this process is not intended to disrupt the existing OS installation on your PC, performing a backup before any system upgrades or installation is recommended as a precaution.
Download the Windows Server 2012 installation bits in VHD format
Extract the downloaded VHD file by running the compressed .EXE file.
Copy the Extracted VHD file to C:\BootVHD\Server2012.vhd
Mount the copied VHD file as a virtual Drive Letter
Right-click on the "Command Prompt" shortcut and select "Run as Administrator"
Run "DISKPART.EXE" from the Command Prompt
At the "DISKPART>" prompt type the following commands, pressing Enter after each:

           SELECT VDISK FILE="C:\BootVHD\Server2012.vhd"

           ATTACH VDISK

           EXIT
Allow the VHD file to be mounted as new Drive Letter. When completed, this new drive letter will appear in both My Computer and Windows Explorer
Add a new OS Boot Menu Choice for Windows Server 2012
Right-click on the "Command Prompt" shortcut and select "Run as Administrator"
Run "BCDBOOT <mounted_drive_letter>:\WINDOWS" from the Command Prompt
Reboot and select "Windows Server 2012" for the OS Boot Menu displayed

Once completed, you now have a study tool that will allow you to conduct labs on your own time providing true hands on practical experience. Stay tuned as we will provide more Step-By-Step posts to take your learning to the next level and help you achieve your Windows Server 2012 based MCSA sooner.

Have You Met Psychomagician, Super Sigma, and Cert Bunny, Yet?

Liberty Munson (Microsoft) — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:28:00 GMT

Last week, I posted the first installment of The ACE Chronicles, introducing you to Psychomagician and Super Sigma on the ACE Team Blog. Based on the number of views, it seems most of you haven't found your way there yet... I am super excited about this series and our ability to be more engaged with our community. I want to be sure that you know about The ACE Chronicles!!!

Without further ado, meet Psychomagician and Super Sigma, superheroes tasked with investigating cases based on your questions about Microsoft certifications and exams. Not only will they answer your questions, they will also provide information on emerging issues. In other words, they will make sure you have the most up to date information about all things certification and exam, and they might even share some insights into life at Microsoft.

YOUR MISSION…if you choose to accept it:

Meet Psychomagician and Super Sigma by watching the video. Tell your friends how cool they are!
Share your answers to their questions by responding to Briana’s and my blog posts or shoot us an email.
Ask questions… Psychomagician and Super Sigma want, no… need cases to solve… without cases to investigate, their evil nemesis, Cert Bunny, wins. And, that’s just bad for everyone.
Meet Cert Bunny... Psychomagician and Super Sigma's nemesis. What's his origin story? Why does he behave badly? What will he do next?
Sign up for the ACE Team Blog RSS feed!!!! Don't miss out on future episodes of The ACE Chronicles!!!

Now, go watch that video…we’d love to hear what you think about ACE Chronicles!

My Road to Certification: Meet Fredrik Nilsson

Veronica Sopher (Microsoft Learning) — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

MCP: 7882935
Location: Sweden
Twitter: @FredrikNilsson_
Blog: moln1

I actually started my Microsoft certification journey in October 2010 while I was employed at HP in Sweden. I was working within the Enterprise Services division with the Server Virtualization Solutions. The HP/Microsoft alliance manager asked a colleague and me if we had any interest in attending a Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Virtualization class. This class was my first real contact with Hyper-V and Microsoft Server virtualization.

A few weeks after attending the class, I decided to give the Hyper-V exam 70-659 a shot, and I passed. In the second quarter of 2011, after doing some self-study, I passed the Desktop exam 70-669; followed by the PRO exam 70-693. At that point, I added the title MCITP Virtualization Administrator to my resume.

My experience from Windows Server and Presentation Virtualization Solutions helped me out quite a bit, but my biggest help came from a site in Portuguese by Daniel Donda: MCSE Solution. I don’t speak Portuguese but, luckily, the web translation service does! After translating the site to English, I discovered some really valuable information on the exam topics and key resources for my studies.

Later that year, I attended Microsoft TechEd in Atlanta, where I met some awesome people, The Krewe, and really learned the value of the technical community. In 2012, I got involved in The Krewe community and joined the 60 Days to MCSE challenge. I was a bit too certain that I would pass the exams as easily as I did with my previous ones and, unfortunately, I failed to get my MCSE. I can tell you: it was painful to fail the exams. I had already passed exams from other vendors, and I had never failed exams before. I actually licked my wounds for six months before I got myself back on the horse.

I currently work at Lumagate in Sweden, a company focusing on System Center and I’m studying for the System Center Private Cloud exams 70-246 and 70-247. It’s been really great to build a training schedule and a lab that covers both exams.

The next step in my education plan is to study for the MCITP/MCSA upgrade exam 70-417. Since I don’t have a lot of experience with Windows Server topics, like Active Directory, I’ll be studying hard to make sure I’m prepared for the questions. The 90 Days to MCSA challenge will be a great help in preparing for that certification exam.

Fredrik’s Tips:

1) Set the date for the exam now. It’s a great strategy for getting yourself mentally prepared for the exam.

2) Create a training schedule. If you’re attending a trainer-led class, be sure to pencil in time for additional study. If you’re following a self-study plan, create a schedule that allows for a study-free day before your exam.

3) Build a lab environment and try different scenarios. You can usually employ scenarios from your day-to-day work or find some at TechNet Test Lab Guides, which is a great resource I use.

If you have any questions, please connect with me. See you around in the binary space!

My Road to Certification: Meet Marius Sandbu

Veronica Sopher (Microsoft Learning) — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

MC ID: 6859838
Location: Norway
Twitter: @msandbu
Blog: Sandbu-Blog

I was working part-time at a helpdesk when I began my path to certification. It was 2008 and I attended a Microsoft Vista client training course in Norway. After the course, the instructor asked if I wanted to give the certification a try, and I figured “why not?”. I trained for a couple of weeks and aced the exam. As someone who doesn’t have a college degree, it felt good knowing that I had achieved these skills.

After my first exam, I investigated other Microsoft certifications. After passing two more Windows Server exams, I got a new job as a system engineer working with infrastructure management.

Currently, I have taken more than 30 certification exams with Microsoft, Citrix, Cisco, EXIN and Comptia and I know there are more to come.

I feel fortunate because certification has provided me with new opportunities. I’ve had the pleasure of working part-time at Microsoft as an infrastructure ranger. Currently, I work as a technical advisor and a Microsoft Trainer. My current work allows me to incorporate everything I’ve learned through certification, as well as my on-the-job experience. Nothing feels wasted.

Why am I am going to continue with certification? Certification allows me to keep my knowledge up-to-date and I like playing around with technology. Why not take the exam and demonstrate my expertise with the technology?

Marius’s Tips:

1) Find someone who has similar goals as you and become study partners. It’s always easier to study for an exam if you have someone to discuss ideas with.

2) If you are studying for a particular exam, use the Microsoft study guides. Don’t rely solely on hands-on experience to prepare you for your exam. Most of the Microsoft exams already have a study guide available. TrainSignal or CBT Nuggets also have good training books and videos.

3) Find a topic that interests you! If you don’t, your training will take a lot more time because you won’t be truly engaged. Microsoft has a wide range of resources to help you find the IT certification that suits your interests.

My Road to Certification: Meet Neal McFee

Veronica Sopher (Microsoft Learning) — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:00:00 GMT

MC ID: 3724854
Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Twitter: @sharepointmcts
Blog: http://www.sharepointfeed.com/

I remember my first certification exam. It was 2006 and I was just a few years into my IT career. I started with an IT Pro exam for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0. I took the exam because I wanted to use Microsoft certification to validate my skills to myself as well as to my current employer.

I found the exam experience to be very rewarding and passing this exam allowed me to be promoted to a more senior position.

Since my first exam, I’ve passed 14 additional exams and achieved 5 certifications. These certifications have provided me with the opportunity to rapidly advance in my career and gain exposure to new opportunities. It’s also confirmed my belief that Microsoft certification is an ongoing measure of my experience and technical ability. In fact, certification has been so rewarding that I decided to become a Microsoft Certified Trainer to help others with their journey toward Microsoft certification.

I’m currently studying for my next certification, the Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert – Private Cloud.To train, I’m using Microsoft Virtual Academy, which is a great resource and provides the most current information, directly from Microsoft, on a variety of technical subjects. This current certification relates directly to my job as I have started implementing a private cloud environment for my employer and it also allows me to continue my Microsoft certification journey.

Neal’s Tips:

1) Relax. If you haven’t taken a Microsoft certification exam yet, it may feel like a daunting experience. Remember that you have prepared yourself and this is your chance to show what you know.

2) Reference the “Exam Details” page that Microsoft Learning publishes for each exam. This page is very valuable and will help you understand what you need to study for the exam.

3) Find a buddy in the IT community to study with. I will expand your focus: you not only learn the topics you’re focusing on but gain additional knowledge from the topics your peer is focusing on, while helping each other achieve certification.

Don't Do This: Part 2

Kerri Davis - MSL Anti-Piracy PM — Mon, 06 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Let’s continue our discussion of ways to unintentionally violate our Exam Agreement (found here). A couple of months ago I talked about discussing the exam answers. To clarify, I want to make the distinction between studying with colleagues and friends before the exam, and divulging information you learned after having taken the exam. The first is perfectly fine—assuming you’re not revealing confidential information, which is what violates our agreement. Discussing what is on the test itself once you’ve taken the test is the behavior that could get one into trouble. I think everyone understands that.

Now, for example number two of ways to unintentionally violate our NDA.

Example 2: Using unauthorized materials in an attempt to satisfy Exam requirements (this includes using brain-dump material and/or unauthorized publication of Exam questions with or without answers)

Everyone knows not to bring cheat sheets into a testing environment. (Well, they should.) This is why at the testing center, you may be asked to empty your pockets, submit to a security wanding, and asked to put all your items in a locker. It’s pretty difficult to argue having answers or notes on you during the test is okay.

But what not be as clear as a violation is what one uses to study. I’ve talked about brain dumps before and how confusing they may be as legitimate study materials. Unfortunately people do use them to study for the test, not realizing to do so is a violation of our exam policy. I know this because sometimes I get inquiries from those who failed, wondering why they didn’t pass, because they studied using “[X] brain dump site.” Again, it’s just a matter of making sure everyone understands that using such sites is an actual violation, not just a poor study practice.

The same is true for materials obtained from anyone who attempts to sell or give away answers or questions to the test, no matter how they procured them. Using those materials violates our policy.

Interestingly, I sometimes get mails from folks who recognized answers on a test and they want to let me know. They didn’t realize they were studying from a disreputable source until they sat for the test and realized the answers were the same. Recognizing that this is an issue, they’ll let me know, and sometimes have even asked to re-test so that they can legitimately pass. This speaks to the integrity of our examinees, and I appreciate such tips so I can take action against those sites.

Got a tip for me? Let me know at mlsecure@microsoft.com.

Second Shot Ends Soon – Don’t miss your chance for a free retake

Veronica Sopher (Microsoft Learning) — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:24:00 GMT

There are many reasons to gain a Microsoft Certification - prepare for a new job, get ahead in your career, or to gain recognition by peers and managers. Whatever your reason, Microsoft’s reinvented certifications, announced in early 2012, have evolved to focus on technology solutions, and validates the breadth and depth of skills required to manage cloud, on-premise, and hybrid technology solutions.

While obtaining Microsoft certification is a measurable sign of achievement, earning your certification requires a great deal of time, energy, and commitment. You may already be taking the necessary steps to upgrade your certification to a MCSE: Server Infrastructure, MCSA: Windows Server 2012, or a MCSD: Web Applications certification or another distinguished certification. Prepare for your future by registering for your certification packs before May 31, 2013. By doing so, you will receive 15% off your certification, free exam retakes, plus you will have until December 31, 2013 to complete your initial exams and your free retakes.

Second Shot exam retakes are also available for single vouchers, if you have registered for a single exam voucher online or through a Microsoft Learning Partner, these vouchers, including free retakes, must be used by May 31, 2013. Sorry, no exceptions or extensions can be made.

Get the Second Shot Details at: http://aka.ms/SecondShot

If you are preparing to schedule your exams, keep in mind that ALL exam registrations are subject to seat availability at testing centers. Reserve your seat early if you plan to take your exam(s) (including retakes) by the deadlines:

Single exams or exam packs received from a Learning Partner – DEADLINE: May 31,2013
Exam packs for 3 or more registered online – DEADLINE: December 31, 2013
Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) second shot vouchers – DEADLINE: June 30, 2013

Don’t let your vouchers go unused. Register and take advantage of great SQL Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 resources to give you the extra boost you need to pass your exams.

Microsoft Prepares Veterans for Transition to IT Job Market

Veronica Sopher (Microsoft Learning) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:00:00 GMT

This week, President Obama’s Administration announced the IT Training and Certification Program, a partnership which will enable thousands of service members to earn industry-recognized information technology certifications before they transition from military service.

As part of this initiative, Microsoft Corporation has partnered with Global Knowledge and Prometric to define learning paths for several IT Professional roles that map to military occupation specialties, and donate instructor-led classes and exam vouchers to the first wave of transitioning service members who are participating in the pilot phase of the program.

These training resources will help service members meet the criteria and pass the exams to achieve industry-recognized Microsoft Certificated Solutions Associate (MCSA) credentials in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows Server 2012. By earning a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) credential, service members will attain the technical skills and credentials needed to get hired in today’s competitive IT job market, while also gaining access to the MCP member site and associated benefits.

In addition to helping land their first IT industry positions, the MCSA credential will put service members well on their way to future career advancement by earning the Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) credential in cloud-related areas of Desktop/Server Infrastructure, Private Cloud, Communication, Messaging, and SharePoint.

If you are a transitioning service member and want to learn more about the IT Training and Certification Program and associated Microsoft official skills training, please contact your branch of service training officer. A downloadable fact sheet is also available below.

To review related news on this training program, please visit:

- White House announcement

- Global Knowledge announcement

- Mashable article

- Washington Post article

- Huffington Post article

A thing or two on taking your MCSA certification exams...

Michael Bender — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Greetings True Believers!

So it's been a while since I've checked in via a blog post. It's great to see many of you joining the conversation on twitter as well as on the Server Certification Group forums on Born to learn.

So what have I been up to? Well, I passed the 70-410 exam and had begun my path towards 70-411 when I got a curve ball. Between work and family, I had to reschedule my exam. Unfortunately, my options for test taking are limited, and the only available date for the exam was after my scheduled 70-412 exam. So I am in the process of re-working my plan so that I can study for both exams in tandem. I hope to have this available to share with you in the near future.

One helpful thing for my studies will be the recent release of the 70-411 and 70-412 by TrainSignal. If you haven’t signed up for the free video training from TrainSignal, check it out here. Along with the TrainSignal videos, I am using the 70-417 Exam Prep book by J.C. Mackin to prepare. While the book is designed for MCSA's upgrading from 2008 to 2012, all of the chapters map to the exam objectives for 410, 411, and 412. So I would recommend checking it out along with the wiki resources for each exam.

So the focus of today’s post will be exam taking strategies. I reached out to folks at MS Learning and TrainSignal, and they provide me with some resources to help you prepare for your exams.

Ask The Certification Experts: This is a great series of videos by the Microsoft’s certification team. While they don’t give you exam specific information, you will get some great insight into the exam framework.
Next is a great blog post by Ashraf Al-Dabbas on the different exam question types. This will provide you good insight into the type of questions you will see throughout your exams.

A little something on My Test Taking Strategy….

As a veteran of multiple certification exams and an MCT responsible for helping students with their exams skills, I want to share my test day strategy. Hopefully, you can take some tips from it to improve your test day results!

I always schedule my exams for a 12:30-1:30 start time. That is normally the time of day when I’m “on my game” mentally. Also, this leaves me the morning to do some last minute preparation and I’m not rushed.
I make sure to get a good night’s sleep. If you prepared properly, should not have to do a late night cram session for your exam.
Make sure I have two forms of ID and any other requirements per exam. As a college instructor, I can take the academic versions of the exams. These require a college ID so I make sure I have that as well.
I find a quiet coffee shop (or noise cancelling head phones), and review my materials. I like to run through the areas that are my sticking points. Also, I will run through 10-20 practice questions at the end of my review session to get me in the test-taking mode.
Have a light lunch and try to relax. Depending on your caffeine tolerance, you may or may not wish the forgo caffeine prior to the exam.
I arrive to the test location 15 minutes early so I can check in and use the bathroom (or water closet for those across the pondJ). You won’t be able to use the restroom during your exam so keep that in mind with lunch as well. The exam reminder recommends 30 minutes, but my test site is never busy so I’ve never had a problem with 15 before. When I have arrived 30 prior, I’ve always started early.
Unless I bring a coat or a bag, I leave my cell phone in the car. You won’t be able to bring it into the exam room. At my last exam, they included watches and any items in your pockets. I did sneak in a piece of gum though:)
You'll recieve a laminated writing page with a dry-erase pen. Use this to write down any important information prior to the exam and as you go through it. For example, 70-410 covers subnetting so I wrote down all the common CIDR blocks as a reference for any subnetting-related questions that might have been on the exam.
Once into the exam, I have a specific strategy for each question that I will explain below.
The length of the exam should be posted with the exam information. If so, you know how much time you have for each question. Use this time as part of your preparation. Most practice exams allow you to input the time limit and # of questions. Simulate the exam day experience during your study and it will help you be more comfortable on exam day.
1. If I have 2 minutes per question, I set a limit of 2 minutes I will take on a question before moving to the next question
Once I have completed all questions and run through my review, the moment of truth is here. You are a few clicks away from success or failure. This can be nerve-wracking the first couple of times you take an exam as you wait for the system to tell you whether you passed or failed.
Once you complete your exam, you’ll be provided a copy of your exam report with your score.

Mike’s Exam Question Strategy

Here’s my strategy for each Question

Read the entire question end to end without going down to the answers. You need to familiarize yourself with what the question is looking for.
Review the answers provided but try not to answer the question unless you are 110% positive you know the answer. At this point, many test takers get into trouble. We have been taught that we should go with our “first Impression”. While this is often a correct method, it can lead you into an incorrect answer. The reason is that exam questions are designed to be a bit tricky. You will have answers provided that may be correct for some situations, but not the one you are dealing with in the question. We want to get rid of these answers.
1. I will mark my “first impression” answer at this time just in case I hit my time limit and need to move onto the next question. An answered question has a possibility of being right but an unanswered question is always wrong.
Now run through the question again. This time you know the provided answers and can match those answers to the information provided in the question.
1. Often times, there is information in a scenario that is not necessary, so use your knowledge of the subject matter to weed out this information.
Based on the information gleaned through the second pass through of the question and using the information that is relevant, I try to weed out some of the answers.
1. For example, if the question is asking for you to export DNS zones from AD and they provide you different command line tools to do it, you should be able to get rid of utilities you know cannot perform the task.
2. The goal is to get down to 2 answers to choose from. But even if you only get rid of one answer out of four, that’s changing your odds to 1:3. I’d take those in Vegas in a heartbeat!
3. If you are unable to come up with a definitive, go with your first impression answer or your “best” answer based on the question, and move on to the next question
4. If you are not definitive on the question, mark it for review and comeback to it after going through all of the questions. In regards to marking questions for review, I mark all questions that I am not 100% on, and I want to go back to them
After running through the questions the first time, I go to the review section which allows you to go through just the questions marked for review. This is helpful since it will only give you the questions you want to go over again
1. During this pass, I repeat the same process as above. One thing I make sure to do is count up the number of reviewed questions and determines how much time I have left based on the exam countdown clock.
That’s it! By the end of step 6, I am ready click the submit button!

The key to successfully completing a certification exam is providing answers to ALL questions to the best of your ability. That’s why we use the review option to comeback to questions you are unsure of. I can guarantee there are questions you could spend 10-15 minutes on, and you would still not have an answer. In that same time period, you may be able to cover 5-7 questions you do know the answers to. You need to get to the “low hanging fruit” questions and come back to the ones requiring more time. But always…ALWAYS…enter an answer for the question before moving to the next question. This ensures you have an answer for every question should your time run out.

Until next time…Excelsior!

Mike

How to Get Certified @ TechEd at 50% Off!

Veronica Sopher (Microsoft Learning) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 21:07:00 GMT

Hey! Veronica here. I've just scheduled my pre-TechEd hair appointment, which already makes me more prepared this year than last. But let's talk about YOU.

Do you need another reason to register for and attend TechEd in New Orleans or Madrid this year? For thousands of current and prospective Microsoft Certified Professionals, TechEd is *the* opportunity to access a variety of exam prep resources and to connect with other MCPs and MCTs (trainers).

As just announced by the TechEd event team (North America | Europe), Certification Central will be back at TechEd 2013! In both New Orleans and Madrid, you will find:

Free practice tests
Free on-demand training, courtesy of MVA
Free e-learning courses
Free exam prep sessions, led by Microsoft Certified Trainers
50% MCP and MTA exams onsite!

So how do you take advantage of all this? What can you do now?

Pre-register for an exam time - Go to the page for your TechEd: North America or Europe (Note the unique test location codes and discount codes for each event!)
- Yes, you can register onsite, too, but seats are limited, so why not book it now?
Add exam prep sessions in your Schedule Builder.
- Get tips from Rick Claus and Joey Snow on using the Schedule Builder to get the most out of TechEd. Watch episode 2 of the Countdown Show.
Want to get a head start? Check out the free resources for "90 Days to MCSA" (for Windows Server 2012 and SQL Server 2012), or in our online study groups before you go.

Consider this: a shiny new certification could help you get that next job, promotion or raise, and will certainly outlast any trinket from a vendor booth. Coworker: "How was TechEd? What did you do?" You: "Oh, it was awesome! Tons of learning, great networking, and I even got certified!"

Are you already an MCP? Talk to your colleagues and fellow attendees about the benefits of certification. Share this blog post with them now. If you use Twitter, don't forget to mention @MSLearning, plus #msTechEd (for New Orleans) or #TEE13 (for Madrid)!

You don't have to just take my word for it. Get the real story from two of your favorite Technical Evangelists, Rick and Joey, in the video below. See you at TechEd soon!

Help a Superhero Out! We Need Your Tips & Tricks for Exam Preparation

Liberty Munson (Microsoft) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:18:02 GMT

So, did the title of this post grab your attention? I hope so! Briana Roberts and I are launching ACE Chronicles soon, and we need your help! In ACE Chronicles, we reveal our superhero alter egos, but the only way we can to do this is with your help. Throughout this series, we will be investigating candidate questions about exams (from design to development to skills measured to preparation) and Microsoft's certification program and asking for your help along the way. We're hoping you'll come along for the ride and occasionally play our plucky side kick.

Our first mission--yes, we chose to accept it--is to find the best tips and tricks that candidates use to prepare for exams. Briana blogged about this on the ACE blog, but we've only gotten a few responses. Although we have some tips and suggestions that are based on the design and vision of the program (e.g., get hands on experience with the technology), we'd love to include some tried and true, practical, and specific tips beyond the 'practice, practice, practice' mantra. What else do you do to prepare for an exam? Do you watch people performing the tasks? Do you take training? Is it instructor led, online, or self-study? Do you read a book, white paper, TechNet articles? What has worked? What hasn't? I'm really curious about that one!

Imagine that you're new to the program... do you remember what it was like? Wasn't it overwhelming and a little scary? What would you tell yourself about preparing for an exam?

Please post your suggestions here or you can email to mslcd@microsoft.com. Help a superhero, and a future MCP, out! Share some of your lessons learned about exam preparation, and make the launch of ACE Chronicles amazing--because that's what I know you're waiting for... 'something amazing, I guess' [for those of you who know me...name that movie ].

Change and a New 'Born to Learn' Blogger

Thomas Dawkins - Microsoft Learning — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:07:00 GMT

For many, change is disruptive. While others look at change as an opportunity, change is either viewed as positive or negative and very seldom neutral. Over the past two years, Microsoft Learning has reached out to industry groups, trainers, partners, IT professionals and developers to get their thoughts, direction and feedback on the future of technology learning. These discussions were highly valuable helping us understand the changes that we needed to make as a company to better support the technology learning needs of our customers.

From our discussions and research completed last year, we introduced a new vision of how current or new technology professionals can gain one of the most credible certification in the industry. This vision pushed us to create a simpler certification path so those who want a credible industry certification would start with basic technology knowledge and for those who are seasoned technology professionals, they can upgrade their current Microsoft certification to our newest certifications. Microsoft Learning also put back into place several of our most valued certifications into the market, MCSE and MCSD that set the expertise bar for those technology professionals who possess the experience and knowledge to be called an expert.

Hello my name is Thomas Dawkins, I am a part of this new technical learning vision at Microsoft. I am a Sr. Certification Product Manager and have been with Microsoft for almost 15 years. I have over 30 years in the IT industry with a diverse background holding roles as a programmer, auditor and IT manager. Before coming to Microsoft, I was a MCSE and became a MCT to help others become experts in their field. Over the next several months, I will talk about the changes we've made to the Microsoft Learning certification program and how technology professionals, Microsoft Partners, recruiters and business owners are already seeing value in our certification program today. I will also be announcing new certifications, updates and retirements as a part of Microsoft's ongoing effort to keep you informed.

I look forward to sharing more with you in the future.

Global Knowledge 2013 Skills & Salary Report - the results are in!

Veronica Sopher (Microsoft Learning) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:00:00 GMT

The 6^th annual Global Knowledge and Windows IT Pro IT Skills & Salary Report is now available—and this year’s report is well worth your attention. More than 12,000 North American IT Pros responded—the largest survey of its kind in the industry—revealing the impact that training and certification has on one’s career path.

Here are just a few of the insightful findings in the report:

Training and certification make a difference in compensation. The survey reflects that, through skills training and certification, IT pros took on new job responsibilities, and as a result of their expanded role and duties, they also earned more.

More than 80% of the respondents claimed that training was a positive factor for their career path and, more times than not, new skills also meant more money.
Respondents who engaged in training were twice more likely than the average to see a raise of 11% or higher.
Those who had achieved a certification within the last 12 months were likely to receive even more significant raises.

Want a raise? Salary increases are more likely in such roles as front-line IT managers, analysts, systems architects, and engineers, and those in applications and development, security, servers, and storages—roles that also map to certification paths.

Project managers who gain additional training make an average of $6,300 more than those who don’t. Support technicians who achieve certification make 16% more than their counterparts who aren’t certified.

IT Pros are pursuing certification. Respondents have a tendency to make certification a practice because of its financial and career benefits.

Half of the IT respondents have earned a new certification within the past two years.
Two-thirds reporting say that they are currently pursuing certification or have plans to do so in the next 12 months.
This trend is even more pronounced for those who have already gained certification within the last two years.

Get the complete IT salary survey report now.

For those of you considering certification for the first time, the findings can provide the incentive to take the first step-- visit 90 Days to MCSA for an action plan to get trained and certified, and give your career the boost you deserve.