Category Certification

Yea I know this isn’t new, but if you’re not aware of it, here you go!

Get a second chance to pass your Microsoft Certification exam — free offer!

In the real world, you might need more than one chance at certification. With Second Shot, if you do not pass any IT professional, developer, or project manager certification exam on your first try, you can retake the exam without an additional cost.

Register for Second Shot and take advantage of our Career Assist Package—which means you can get any Microsoft E-Learning collection for just US$35.

•Sign up for the Second Shot offer today

Career Assist Package: Register for Second Shot and get any Microsoft E-Learning collection for just US$35

Until June 30, 2009, as a part of Second Shot, we are offering a Career Assist Package. Along with enjoying the benefits of Second Shot, you can access a collection of Microsoft E-Learning courses, which provide 8 to 20 hours of online instructional content to help you master a product and prepare for a certification. This offer applies to IT professional or developer e-learning collection titles only. Does not include Microsoft Office or Windows end-user (non-IT) focused collections.

Career Assist is available only in select countries.

•See a list of eligible countries/regions

Normally priced up to US$350, these e-learning collections are just US$35 when you register for Second Shot. Limit one per customer.

Note For this promotional offer, once you have activated the discounted e-learning collection it will only be available for 90 days.

In today’s challenging economic times, how do you stand out from the crowd, stay up to date with relevant technologies, and get the top jobs? Becoming a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) is a great start.

•Learn more about the Career Assist Package

•Register for the Second Shot offer

So, take advantage of this if you’re trying to stay relevant, certified and beyond! :)

Welcome to Thrive from Microsoft!

If you recall past posts about Microsoft and Social Responsibility, this is just another measure of ensuring that our technical future is secure, or if you’re looking for a career change that the resources are available to ensure you have a future in technology.

They have this broken up into several core areas

• Advance your career
• Career Development
• Get Started
• Explore Microsoft’s training overview
• Get your training with Microsoft Learning Plans
• Keep track of your learning plan with My Learning Tool
• Get Certified
• You may be a tech whiz…but ‘Are You Certifiable?!?’
• Find out the facts about certification
• Earn your Microsoft Certification!
• Hear what others have to say about Microsoft Learning and certifications
• Why Get Certified?
• Learn more about the value of certification
• Value of Certification: Team Certification and Organization Performance
• What are the industry’s 10 best IT certifications?
• Get a second chance to pass your Microsoft Certification exam—free offer!
• Career Guidance (Networking & Community)
• Learn more about the Microsoft Certification Membership
• Join Microsoft Technical Communities
• Career Change Management
• Industry Related
• Top 10 Jobs in Information Technology
• How to Job Search in 2009
• Unconventional Places to Expand your Network
• Stalled Career? 10 Tips
• Bulletproof Your Job: 4 Ways to Stay Employed
• Job Search Related
• Are You Using the Wrong Resume?
• 10 Interview Questions Decoded
• Body Language and the Interview
• Tools & Resources
• CareerPath Assessment Center
• CareerBuilder Salary Calculator
• cbResume
• Resume Direct
• Enhance your technical skills
• Virtualization
• Get Started
• Technical Competency Introduction Video With Tony Scott
• Windows Server Virtualization: Overview Video
• TechNet Radio: Managing a Virtualized Environment today and in the future
• Videos (5 – 15 min)
• Microsoft Virtualization
• Intro to Windows Server 2008 Virtualization
• Server Core Hyper-V Prerequisites
• Green IT and Virtualization
• Webcasts (30 – 90 min)
• TechNet Webcast: High Availability with Hyper-V (Level 200)
• TechNet Webcast: Presentation Virtualization with Terminal Services RemoteApp (Level 200)
• TechNet Webcast: Assess Your Server IT Infrastructure for Windows Server 2008 Migration and Virtualization (Level 300)
• Tools & Resources
• Virtualization TCO Calculator
• Hyper-Green Calculator
• Cutting Costs and Building Value with Microsoft Virtualization
• Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit
• Windows Server Virtualization and Licensing Calculator
• White Papers
• How Customers Are Cutting Costs and Building Value with Microsoft Virtualization
• Virtualization for Windows – A Technology Overview
• Microsoft.com Operations Virtualizes MSDN and TechNet on Hyper-V
• Case Studies
• Atlanta Journal Constitution: With Virtualization, Newspaper Reduces Costs, Gains Infrastructure Flexibility
• Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center: Medical Center Reduces Costs, Increases Application Availability with Virtualization
• Jackson Energy Authority: Public Utility Boosts Application Availability and Simplifies IT with Virtualization
• Continental Airlines: Leading Airline Moves to Virtual Environment, Sets Stage for Growth While Cutting Costs
• Desktop Optimization
• Get Started
• Technical Competency Introduction Video With Tony Scott
• TechNet Webcast: Agility Now: What Is Infrastructure Optimization, and Why Should You Care?
• National Aquarium in Baltimore: Aquarium Enhances Data Access, Security, and Productivity with New Operating System
• Video (5 – 15 min)
• Continental Airlines Bets on Operating System Upgrade for Reduced IT and Energy Costs
• Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack
• Webcasts (30 – 90 min)
• TechNet Webcast: Agile Desktops: Microsoft Application Virtualization and Intel vPro Technology (Level 200)
• TechNet Webcast: How Microsoft IT Uses the Automated Service Agent System to Deliver a Low-Cost, High-Value Service
• TechNet Webcast: Optimizing Desktop Management with System Center Configuration Manager and Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualization
• Tools & Resources
• Microsoft Infrastructure Optimization ROI Tool
• Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit
• White Papers
• Reducing TCO with Windows Vista: Quantified Savings for Mobile PCs
• The Road to Desktop Optimization: Five Best practices for Optimizing the Desktop Infrastructure
• The Enterprise PC Lifecycle: Seeing the big picture for PC fleet management
• Case Studies
• CDW: Technology Professionals Enjoy Productivity, Enhanced Security with System Upgrade
• Cerner Corporation: IT Provider Enhances Security and Meets Customer Needs with New Operating System
• Hoover City Schools: School District Upgrades PCs to Keep Students Current on the Latest Technology
• Align IT with Business
• Cost Savings
• Get Started
• Business and IT Alignment Introduction Video With Tony Scott
• IT Manager Webcast: Introduction to Platform Solution Blueprints (Level 200)
• Videos & Webcasts (30 – 90 min)
• Windows Server Virtualization: Overview Video
• IT Manager Webcast: Platform Solution Blueprints: Virtualization and Infrastructure Management (Level 200)
• IT Manager Webcast: Protecting Legacy Assets Through Automated Conversion Reduces Licensing Costs and Increases Agility (Level 200)
• IT Manager Webcast: Infrastructure Optimization: Shifting Development from a Cost Center to a Strategic Business Asset
• Podcasts (30 – 90 min)
• IT Manager Dialog Series- Virtualization
• IT Manager Podcast: Introduction to Platform Solution Blueprints (Level 200)
• IT Manager Podcast: Platform Solution Blueprints: Virtualization and Infrastructure Management (Level 200)
• Analytics Reports / Whitepapers
• Information Week: Analytics Report – Unlocking Virtualization: Facing IT, Business Realities
• How Customers Are Cutting Costs and Building Value with Microsoft Virtualization
• Virtualization Strategy Provides Tools, Processes, and Compliance Capabilities to Enhance Business Support and Drive Adoption
• Tools & Resources
• Simple to Save: ROI Calculator
• Microsoft Infrastructure Optimization – ROI Tool
• You Already Own It!
• IT Manager: Platform Solution Blueprint by Advaiya
• IT Manager: Platform Solution Blueprint – Virtualization
• Connect with your peers on the TechNet IT Management Community Hub!
• Case Studies
• Stewart: Information Services Firm Enhances Compliance and Optimizes Data Center
• Compliance & Governance
• Get Started
• Business and IT Alignment Introduction Video With Tony Scott
• Microsoft Security Assessment Tool
• Webcasts (30 – 90 min)
• Microsoft Webcast: Better IT Management Through IT Governance (part 1)
• Microsoft Webcast: Better IT Management Through IT Governance (part 2)
• Tools & Resources
• Security Compliance Management Toolkit
• Security Intelligence Report
• Learning Path for Security
• FORUM: Configuration Manager – Desired Configuration Management
• Compliance Management Forum
• Connect with your peers on the TechNet IT Management Community Hub!
• White Papers
• White Paper-Branch Infrastructure
• Where Is My PII?
• IT Compliance Management Guide
• The Security Risk Management Guide
• Microsoft Operations Framework (MOF) 4.0

Why yes.. I did go through the entire site, reviewed a lot of the material and even INCLUDED ALMOST ALL OF IT HERE! Yea, I know sometimes people will look at the post, but never visit the site – So here are the goods, visit the site if you’d like, but this is exactly what you’ll see (at this point in time :))  Good luck on there – whether you’re job hunting or retaining your job!

You’ve heard it here first! I’m not entirely sure just how founded that fact I’m proposing is, but take this into account:

Number of active MCTs: 15,251
Number of exams taken (ever) by those MCTs: 513,749
Average number of exams per MCT: 34
MCTs with 50+ exams: 2,682 (18%)
MCTs with 100+ exams: 82
Most exams taken by an MCT: 185 (OMFG!)

If you think about almost any other profession, you may find that you have a few people who are ‘interested’, but a majority of them fulfill the bare minimum in order to be successful in their field.   However in the world of Microsoft? We’re not only “interested” we’re downright passionate perhaps to the point of being almost overly obsessive ;)

Seriously! the bare requirements to be an MCT require you to have at least one MCP (So for any other profession, we’ll call that one certification or degree).  However, these masters of industry on average have 34 certifications under their belt, or in the case of one master –185!-

That’s just a major wow.  I’m not so sure we see this same kind of care taken in the Cisco space or any other industry (Imagine if Educators were this passionate, it would really convey to their students!)

I’d like to thank the Born to Learn blog for sharing this information!

So, you have to ask yourself: If I am not certified, why not?  There is no better time than the present, and no more viable reason if not to join the community of amazing MCT’s!

More information on how to become an MCT is located here.  The MCT is a accomplishment like no other!

Wait, what’s this? I thought these tests were only available at the Prometric Testing Center!

Apparently I am wrong! and just by visiting this site, I’m able to take online tests at Prometric!

Infact, there’s even a whole list of other companies for online testing here as well :)

These exams (as far as I can tell) are Free so long as you pass it the first time! If you fail, it sits at $50.00 for the retake, so I suggest not failing :)

This is the contest which is a pre-requisite to compete in the “Get On The Bus” contest!

Here is a basic walk-through of the game!

After using your Live login credentials, login and you’re ready to play!

You’ll be set to play and in my case, welcomed back showing your current achievements!

I’ll breakdown what each of these achievements are, what they mean and how to get them!

	Triple Threat: Correctly answer 3 questions in a row
	Speed Demon: Answer a question right in less than 5 seconds without using a voucher
	Voucher Saver: Finish a whole episode with at least 5 vouchers left
	Socialite: Have at least 10 people in your friends list
	Academic Achievement: Answer a total of 25 questions correctly
	Intellectual Achievement: Answer a total of 50 questions correctly
	Brainy Achievement: Answer a total of 100 questions correctly
	Gifted Achievement: Answer a total of 200 questions correctly
	Rookie Achievement: Complete a full episode
	Newton Achievement: Complete a full season
	Einstein Achievement: Complete the entire IT Professional set of questions
	Turing Achievement: Complete the entire IT Developer set of questions
	Certifiable Achievement: Complete all of “ARE YOU CERTIFIABLE”
	Quick Draw: You are answering questions at lightning speed
	Congratulations: You have earned vouchers in all 3 mini games
	Congratulations: You got 10 questions in a row correct

And you may notice that some of these are Greyed out – Seriously, how on earth you get “5 vouchers” in an episode, let alone having vouchers left is beyond me! The max I’ve gotten is 4 vouchers and that is with getting all answers correctly in 1 or less seconds! So I have NO idea what you do there!

Then you play the game, and you get a score like this! and you’re set for the contest!

Good luck out there, I encourage you to ACT NOW! Before Monday when the contest closes! If you have any questions let me know!