SORRY, THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT AND REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED!!!
From Ed Musters, Toronto .NET User Group President:
Our next summertime event will focus on Certifications and Training. Even if you do NOT intend to ultimately write exams, you will find this session invaluable for discovering just what the roadmap is to guide your skill development in the world of .NET Framework, Web, Windows, or Enterprise applications. Plus the whole suite of server technologies including SQL Server, BizTalk, and SharePoint. We will discuss the relevant Microsoft Official Cirriculum from the point of view of the "Syllabus" (i.e. course outline) of the topics you need to know in a given area (e.g. C# language, Windows application dev). Note this seminar is NOT about any type of "sell" for training! While a formal training course is a great option, we will also look at the vast array of self study material available - from kits to books. Also a look at the online exam training providers, such as MeasureUp or Transcender.
We'll look at "older" certification credentials: Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD) toward Micrsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD), and then we'll look at the .NET 2.0 track credentials of Microsoft Certified Technical Specialist (MCTS) towards the Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD). And the three MCPD specializations - Web, Windows, and Enterprise Developer.
Ed's soap box on certification: Yes, you've heard this speech before. Should you pursue Micrsoft Certifications? The answer is YES. Why?? Remember I used to be a CTO and the chief recruiter for an MS Gold Partner with 75 consultants. For a job ad, you get say 100 resumes in a pile. Believe me they all start to look alike after a while. So I will sort out about 20 to consider in detail, then shortlist probably to 6 to interview. If there is someone with CERTTIFICATION and relevant EXPERIENCE, they go in the pile of 20 first, then relevant experience, then the "certified only". So if you want an INTERVIEW and subsequently a new career, certification will definitely increase your odds! You need the competitive advantage that certification offers. From the Microsoft Partner perspective, having certified professionals on staff counts for important "partner points" and aids (admittedly) in marketing to Microsoft itself. So there is incentive to hire certified developers. Ok, you are convinced, right? Off the soap box, then.
Besides your own UG president is pursing certification to the .NET 2.0 MCPD credential, as well as your Vice President Luis Duran.
So!!!! We would like to announce the formation of an ongoing STUDY GROUP that will be led by experts to guide you through writing your certification exams. We will try to enlist the help of Microsoft to contribute study kits and possibly exam vouchers. And we'll see what other incentives we can provide to the active participants!
Please join us next Thursday!! LIMITED SEATING (we have only one room booked for this event)
When? THURSDAY, August 16, 2007, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Is this meeting CATERED? NO - no catering planned for this event.
Prizes? YES! We'll have some great prize give aways for this event, including a certification self study kit.
6:00 p.m. - Registration! Meet and greet! Arrive early!
6:30 p.m. - Opening Remarks
6:45 p.m. - Certifications Overview. We'll untangle the mysteries of Microsoft Certification credentials. MCAD and MCSD are still relevent, but replaced by the ".Net 2.0" certification track of MCTS towards MCPD. We'll cover the roadmap toward the ultiimate developer credential - the Microsoft Certified Professional Developer- Enterprise Application Developer!! We'll cover training required and self study possibilities. Nexient too will present and can give us an update on the growing popularity of .NET developer training and how the diverse customer challenges are being met. Ed can also speak to his experience as an Microsoft Certified Trainer and working with Nexient in the capaciity of a learning consultant - very interesting!!!
7:45 p.m. - Break
8:00 p.m. - STUDY GROUP FORMATION
Those wishing to pursue Microsoft certification can stay on and we'll discuss study group objectives and see if there is an initial exam the group wishes to target to write. We'll likely set up a Yahoo group for ongoing communications, questions, tips. We'll track our progress and reward the participants!
8:30 p.m. - Wrap up and Prizes!