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Cert-holders Need Soft Skills

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:23:20 +0000

Are certifications outdated? That's the conclusion from an analyst who studies the industry. An article on the tech job search site Dice.com quotes David Foote as saying the following:

"We've reached a point in our evolutionary rung that has outdistanced the value of certifications," says David Foote, chief executive and chief research officer for Foote Partners. "It is not that technology is not important, but other skills - especially in customer-facing jobs - are more important."

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Is Certification Important for Developers?

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:49:09 +0000

Certification, it seems to me, garners a lot more interest among the IT administrator audience than developers. Though there are plenty of certifications available for the programmer crowd, I don't sense the same level of passion that I do among admins.

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Windows 7 Cert Prep Course Available

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:19:47 +0000

The first training course for the first certification offering for Microsoft's Windows 7 is now available.

Microsoft announced that Microsoft Official Course 6292, Installing and Configuring Windows 7, is ready for you to take (after paying, of course!)

It's a three-day, instructor-led course. Topics include upgrading to Windows 7; installation and migration issues; configuration parameters and more. The goal is to help you prep for Exam 70-680, TS: Windows 7, Configuring.

With fewer than two weeks until Windows 7 is out, interest in the operating system is spiking. Given how poorly Windows Vista was received, I expect quick and broad adoption of Windows 7. Getting certified ASAP makes a lot of sense, and this training can serve as a springboard.

IT Boom Coming?

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:35:20 +0000

A new report by an analyst with Forrester Research indicates that we may be entering a boom period for IT.

The report, highlighted by Redmond magazine, says that the uptick should kick in next quarter, i.e. next January. Actually, says the analyst, the boom started in 2007, but was stalled because of the recession and related financial problems. Here's the money quote from the story:

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Cert Offerings at Oracle OpenWorld

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:43:49 +0000

Lots of news coming out of Oracle certification these days. This time, it's certification opportunities at Oracle's conference, Oracle OpenWorld 2009.

OpenWorld, which starts Oct. 11 in San Francisco, is making its premier show more certification-friendly than ever. To start with, there's the Oracle Certification Program (OCP) lounge. The lounge is basically an informal networking space that allows attendees to rub elbows with other Oracle credential-holders. One additional perk is free access to� Self Test Software practice exams, to help you prepare for your next cert.

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CertView Helps Manage Oracle Credentials

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:28:37 +0000

Oracle has added a management interface to its certification holders that acts as a one-stop shop.

Called CertView, it requires a username and password. Once logged on, a host of information is available, including certification history, certification logos, and a very cool tool that allows you to verify your certification to a third party.

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Pearson VUE Gets Oracle Cert Business

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 08:10:20 +0000

As I mentioned last month, Oracle has switched vendors for its certification testing. At that time, the new company hadn't been announced.

Now it has. Prometric is out, Pearson VUE is in. Oracle made the change with very little fanfare, no doubt spurred by concerns among cert holders. They should be able to breathe easier, as Pearson is a very well known, well-respected certification testing vendor (as is Prometric).

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Microsoft Certs Get ANSI Accreditation

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 23:02:33 +0000

A couple of Microsoft certifications pertaining to Windows Server 2008 have received a rare boost -- ANSI accreditation.

The company announced on its Born To Learn blog that the certifications attained that ISO 17024 approval. The certifications are:

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Security Cert Goes Japanese

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 07:50:11 +0000

ISC(2) has released its first-ever certification specific to a country, rather than a technology.

The company, an independent security certification vendor,� announced the Japan Government Information Security Professional (JGISP) credential focused on the special requirements of doing security for that nation. ISC(2) worked with the Japan Network Security Association (JNSA) to develop the JGISP.

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Necessary Virtualization Skills

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 07:55:08 +0000

Bryan Sullins, who blogs about Microsoft certification for Network World, recently wrote about virtualization, and some of the skills needed to obtain various certifications in this area.

Sullins lists seven areas of concentration; it's a good starting-point list, covering the key concepts that separate virtualization from the world of physical IT. He also said this, which I really like:

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