March 29: Steve gives us a long awaited update, including some good news, but also how he's feeling with his job search

 

February 17: Steve - "Who said unemployment was easy?"

 

January 31: Dana Calleja of the Microsoft Certified Career Conference invites Neil and the rest of the Career Factor participants to attend

 

Steve's Introductory Video

 

Steve's Goal: Update skills and certifications to find a new IT pro job

Certification Exams - provided by a 5-exam Microsoft Certification Pack

• 70-640 - TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring
• 70-642 - TS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring
• 70-647 - Pro: Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator
• 70-662 - TS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, Configuring
• 70-663 - Pro: Designing and Deploying Messaging Solutions with Microsoft Exchange Server 2010

Practice Exams from MeasureUp

• 70-640 - TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring
• 70-642 - TS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring
• 70-647 - Pro: Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator
• 70-662 - TS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, Configuring
• 70-663 - Pro: Designing and Deploying Messaging Solutions with Microsoft Exchange Server 2010

Relevant Learning Plans

• Learning Plan for Configuring Windows Server 2008 Active Directory (Exam 70-640)
• Learning Plan for Configuring a Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure (Exam 70-642)
• Learning Plan for Becoming a Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Administrator (Exam 70-647)
• Learning plan for Configuring Exchange Server 2010 (Exam 70-662)
• Learning Plan for Deploying Messaging Solutions for Exchange Server 2010 (Exam 70-663)

Books and e-books Used - Provided by Microsoft Press

• MCITP Self-Paced Training Kit (Exams 70-640, 70-642, 70-643, 70-647): Windows Server® 2008 Enterprise Administrator Core Requirements
• MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-662): Configuring Microsoft® Exchange Server 2010

E-Learning Used

• TBD

Other Resources Used

• Microsoft Certified Career Conference - an online, 24 hour event that combines training sessions on Microsoft technologies and career skills along with a virtual fair with companies offering IT jobs
• TechNet Plus Professional Subscription - Provided by TechNet, TechNet Plus is the premium technical resource for IT Professionals, offering access to full-version software, Microsoft e-Learning, 
• Microsoft Learning Career Portal - Chart your career and get the help you need to land the top IT jobs.

 

Steve Molkentin

Steve is a passionate IT professional who firmly believes that Information Technology is nothing without a grounding in excellent customer service.

 

As a career Microsoft IT professional, Steve has been involved in designing and delivering deployments of all key server and OS products into the enterprise since NT4 and Windows 98, and is seeking to grow his skill and certify as a Microsoft Certified IT Professional on Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 through the Career Factor program. He’s also looking forward to sharing his experiences through social media and in speaking engagements during and afterwards. A motivated and dynamic leader, Steve is excited about developing a skillset that will benefit a future employer and allow him to offer significant benefit through his knowledge of best practice and the application to the enterprise.

 

Living in Brisbane, Australia, Steve enjoys spending time with his family (gardening & watching movies & TV with his wife; reading books, playing Lego, & chasing his young son and daughter) and encouraging the IT community within Australia and New Zealand as a core team member of www.autechheads.com – the largest online user group of IT Pros in the region.

 

He enjoys playing guitar, Xbox/Kinect, reading & generally being a proud #geek evangelist. He often talks too much and enjoys television far too much.