earning sql server 2014 certification: sql saturday oregon 201411

Earning SQL Server 2014 Certification Mark Tabladillo, PhD, MVP, MCAD, MCP, MCITP

Consultant SolidQ

SQL Saturday Oregon

November 1, 2014

NetworkingSay hello

Mark TabSQL Server MVP; SAS Expert

Consulting

Training

Teaching

Presenting

Linked In

@MarkTabNet

Goal: Discuss the two major SQL Server 2014 Certification Paths

MCSE

Detour: Speed Reading

100-200 wpm 200-400 wpm 500+ wpm

Microsoft Learning

https://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/default.aspx

Microsoft Official

Courseware

Microsoft Press

Why might someone certify?Makes you look like you know it

Forces you to learn things

Employer requirement

Fill in knowledge gaps

Self-rewarding

Add to you bio or resume

Benefits from Microsoft

Justify a pay raise

Get a new job/career change

Microsoft’s ReasonsMakes a great commitment

Shows drive and initiative

Tangible way to demonstrate mastery of a product

Sets you apart from your peers at review time

Recognition inside and outside of Microsoft

When Certification Helps

When you want a new career

When you want to maintain your Gold

Partner Status

What Types of Exams are Possible

https://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/certification-overview.aspx

MTA Exam: Database Fundamentals

MCP Exams

70-461: Querying Microsoft SQL Server

70-462 Administering Microsoft SQL Server Databases

70-463 Implementing a Data Warehouse with Microsoft SQL Server

Exam Tips• Set a date

• Sleep well

• Review the logisticsBefore the Exam

• Monitor the time

• Don’t spend too long on one question

• Keep calmDuring the Exam

• Mark tough questions for review

• Guess if you have to

• Eliminate wrong answersTough Question

Preparation VendorsBoson http://www.boson.com/

MeasureUp http://www.measureup.com/

Transcender http://www.transcender.com/

Self-Test Software http://www.selftestsoftware.com/

uCertify http://www.ucertify.com/

Pluralsight http://www.pluralsight.com/http://blog.pluralsight.com/top-5-it-courses-for-devs

Core Online Community: Born to Learnhttp://borntolearn.mslearn.net/

AbstractMicrosoft offers certification choices for working professionals. This session provides an overview of certification options for SQL Server 2014 including associated business intelligence options. This interactive presentation will include a) when certification helps, b) what types of exams are possible, and c) how certification can be part of your personal professional strategy. Along the way, we will have some sample test questions, and provide tips for best paid and free learning options.

AppendixMotivation (optional): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkO6ln0hmcg

More Motivation (optional): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_ygu4qWlmw

One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPOIZ6DGXWE

Two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEd136qSuD8 (good content, music distracts me: focus means removing distractions)

Book: Breakthrough Rapid Reading by Peter Kump