[greencreeper]

Originally Posted by Gareth

thanks... I'm contemplating getting certified

Well I'm partially certifiable, but always have been

Originally Posted by Gareth

I also tend to believe in understanding and having practical experience to fall back on, rather than just revising from guides and brain dumps

I'd agree. During the exam there were times when my experience helped me decide which of the possible answers (it's a multiple choice exam) was the right answer, though there were times when it told me that Microsoft's answer wasn't the right answer

The key to the exams is the ability to read a scenario and sort the important facts from the padding. Basically, simple analysis skills. Not everyone has them. I know many people who, upon reading something, immediately stop reading and leap to an answer, when further down the page is an important bit of information that qualifies what they read ealier. The legal bods on here should relate to this.

Originally Posted by gary_580

i'd steer clear of programming if i were you. The be more specific id steer clear of programming where you dont need to be with the customer. Those sorts of programming jobs are destined for India

I would agree that many jobs are moving abroad, but the reasons for that create opportunities, not threats. I think everyone knows that jobs for life are no more, but I think many haven't realised that the modern worker is a commodity, and is being bought and sold as such. The worker does the selling, and those workers who are good salesmen and women, stand a far greater chance of remaining in employment than those who aren't. It's about image, marketing and seizing and creating opportunities; abandoning the old ethos of "loyal to the company, and the company will be loyal to me"; and about continuous personal and professional development, so your skills are always in demand. So programming jobs are moving abroad. Who's going to talk to the customers to create the initial design briefs? Who's going to manage the outsourcing? Who's going to manage the rollout? Who's going to train the customers?

You could always move to India