powerfool wrote: » I passed! Woot! I have been studying for this one on and off since early last year. I am convinced now that the Mastering Microsoft Lync Server 2013 book from Sybex is the book to use as a replacement for having no "Inside Out" book. I had some issues with the answers with drag and drop and selection drop-downs having the text all jumbled... I could read it, but it was difficult. I also had a multiple choice question where the same identical answer was listed twice... and I think it was the best option, so I commented on that. I re-read it about six or seven times to make sure that there was a small nuanced difference... but nope... they were identical. So which one was right in the system? Who knows. 70-337 will be a biggie, I imagine and will probably nearly be the death of me. I am going to sign up for a class so that I can verify my student status again, since Second Shot is running out soon (about the same price, if taken twice with student discount). I will likely take it at the beginning of March, to give me enough time to study and retake before the deadline. I am probably going to cram for 417 to get it done before Second Shot is over. That way I will have my MCSA upgraded to 2012 and be MCSE Messaging for the third time .
powerfool wrote: » I passed 337 yesterday by the skin on my teeth after reading and working Lync 2013 (Exchange On-Premise/Online UM, Lync Hybrid, Voice, etc) non-stop for the past few months. Honestly, the exam didn't seem horrible "deep". You have to know the material, that's for sure... I could have had a better understanding of it, but it doesn't require you to go leagues deep in the material.
joeswfc wrote: » Congrats! Which MCSE was hardest in your opinion? Exchange or Lync/Skype?
powerfool wrote: » I am not sure I can give you a solid answer. They are both tough, that is sure. However, I have been working with Exchange since version 5.5 in the 90s and I have been previously certified on Exchange 2003 and 2010 and have been Exchange focused in large enterprise environments for the past 5 years. Lync is a new skillset for me, so I have had a steeper learning curve.
joeswfc wrote: » Currently Prepping for the 70-342, hoping to take the exam in the next couple of months. Trying to work out my next steps after, possibly looking at lync or sharepoint MCSE's
powerfool wrote: » I would say Lync/SfB is much more complementary to Exchange that would be Sharepoint. Sharepoint is such a different beast, but if you were looking to handle the full contingent of services that are part of the O365 suite, it would make sense. The Lync exams do have Exchange related questions in them... those that related to address book, conversation history, Exchange UM, presence, etc.
powerfool wrote: » I used to always follow the mantra of "jack of all trades, master of none; though oft time better than a master of one" but then I began specializing in Exchange and my career has definitely benefited from the specialization. That being said, for my personal growth to continue, I do need to branch out a bit more. I see Lync/SfB as the most appropriate place for that focus because it is "ancillary" but also has a good market for its skills when they stand alone. It improves my Exchange skills and provides me with more opportunities, at the same time.
joeswfc wrote: » Yes I do agree that it is probably better to be a specialist in a particular area over knowing a bit of everything. If you look at job adverts, you can get a much higher wage for something like a messaging administrator over a system administrator/3rd line support
meestaplunk wrote: » What was your strategy for labbing Enterprise Voice and the hybrid Lync models? I'm an Exchange guy but getting pulled more and more into Lync/Skype for Business especially since the release of Cloud PBX in Office 365. Thanks!
powerfool wrote: » Yep, at this point, I have about 50% higher pay than when I didn't specialize, and that was still a time when I had considerable (12+ years) experience in the industry.
