Microsoft Certified

2007 has been an interesting year for me. I started out January needing to find a new job for the first time since I graduated college. Getting out there and looking at what was available the demand locally was all about Microsoft based experience in development. My previous four years was probably 75% Linux/Unix based development for web based software and advertising. Though my experience was impressive to most people it wasn't what people were hunting for. I'd done Microsoft development but it was exclusively with the VB6 platform and in a limited capacity.

Microsoft Web Based Develpment

All the rage(around Baton Rouge at least) is around using Microsoft's new line of products based on the .NET framework. .NET is the biggest thing you can expect to hear about as far as new development is concerned and that's all I want to do.(new development) So I found a place finally(undisclosed) and have began gaining a great deal of experience in web services, SSIS and databasing on the Microsoft platform. It's been great but in order to bulk up my resume to compete with people who've been on the Microsoft route I've decided to do more.

Microsoft Certified Professional Develper

I've taken steps toward gaining reputation through certification. My first step was by taking and passing the .NET 2.0 Framework Application Framework Foundation exam. The exam that covers a 1000 page training couse book that I purchased online from Microsoft press. It wasn't easy and required me to display a functional knowledge of what's used in .NET. This was significantly harder than any single test I ever took in college where you were usually only expected to display a barely theoretical mastery of a concept.

What I've Learned About The Software Business

It's not what you can do but what you can put on your resume. Regardless of your experience in software development they'll take someone with half your abilities if you haven't used the tool they've got in mind. Get experience because you can't prove yourself until you get through the door.