Is the Windows 7 certification still worthwhile

kbremner

Is the MCSA: Windows 7 certification still a worthwhile goal given the push toward Windows 8? I am just beginning my schooling so I am probably a few years away from my first IT job. If I were to earn certification in Windows 7, how difficult is the "upgrade" exam to get the Windows 8 certification. Would I be better off waiting and taking the 687 and 688 exams?

ptilsen

This is really a tough one. On the one hand, getting the latest certification iteration is generally preferred in the long run. They will be more likely to have quick upgrade paths and be relevant in the future.

On the other hand, Windows 8 and 8.1 are seeing almost no corporate adoption. It's pretty much the Vista-XP to transition. I'm not saying Windows 8 is Vista, but like XP, most companies are going to be largely on Windows 7 for the next few years. We just finished our Windows 7 upgrade recently, and I still see ads and get contacted by recruiters for Windows 7 upgrade projects. There's still a lot of XP out there. Without having looked at any hard data recently, I'd still feel comfortable betting it's got a much larger corporate presence than Windows 8, even being 12 years old with end of support around the corner.

In the short term, I'll say it won't matter much. Getting one or the other can help you get a job or minor promotion/job upgrade, but long-term your future will more likely be in servers (or something else entirely). My point is, don't fret too much. Move onto MCSA Server 2012 or something else current and server based once you're done and don't like back.

Asif Dasl

I would agree with all of what ptilsen said, there is a huge Windows 7 & XP base out there. If you go with Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 largely won't matter that much in the long run. What will matter though is if you go with the Windows 8.1 exams, the books aren't out until February & March so don't go out and buy the books yet if you are going that route. That would be the only thing I would add to the discussion...

ptilsen

That's a great point. Do not study for 8.0 versions. Wait for 8.1 and do that, or just do Windows 7 or something else entirely now.

Mike-Mike

I got Windows 7 because of WGU. I found it very difficult, and I'm not sure it added anything to my resume. Granted I already had MCP and MCDST. I think having any Microsoft cert is good for the resume. Since getting it I had multiple interviews, and granted most were for Networking, but no one even so much as mentioned the Win 7 cert.

Theegg911

For personal choice, yes Windows 7 is a great cert. For businesses, no. Because after this month, Windows 7 exams will no longer be a requirement for Microsoft Gold partner companies. Windows 8 will be a Silver requirement. But the company I work for will not even allow us to take Windows 7 exams because they no longer benefit companies on their MS Partner status.

coralreefguy

There's so much more under the hood to Windows 7 then you realize. If you are in helpdesk or do a mix of helpdesk/sysadmin work then I think you'd be surprised how much knowledge you can sponge out of the three Windows 7 exams (70-680, 685, 686).

I took the 70-680 and am taking the 70-685 next Thursday. I think my studies are what made me stand out from the other candidates that were going for my position as a Helpdesk engineer / Jr System Administrator. If I could do it again, I'd get the certs.

Good luck.

techwizard

I was studying for the windows 7 70-680 until about a week ago. I have the testout/labsim course for both windows 7 and windows 8. Because of the changes coming (I believe Jan 28th) Microsoft will be adding the Windows 8.1 content to the 70-687 exam. This is what made me stop and pause for a moment.

Windows 7 is an almost 5 year old operating system.

Windows 8 is almost a little over a year old.

If you really want to get noticed on a resume, you want the latest, most relevant certification available. The reason is because even if your potential employer is still running windows xp, they will be upgrading/migrating to win 7 OR 8 pretty much no matter what. If you have Windows 8.1 certification, that will (psychologically speaking) tell HR at the potential employer you already know the most recent, most relevant information regarding windows OS.

Because of this, I now have to wait. I actually have a couple of choices. I could cram like crazy and try to take the windows 8 exam before the 8.1 content by Jan 28, or just simply wait until the training/books/etc are updated for that content for the exam. I don't have that much time if I want to try and pass windows 8 right now. It would be really, really tight.

I don't know anything about the "upgrade" exam. I would suggest skipping windows 7 altogether, if you are confident, do windows 8 now before the changes, or wait until the upgraded content is available for study before attempting windows 8.1.

--chris--

I didn't realize this was debatable, I thought Win 7 was still the defacto enterprise OS? And will be for some time because of Win 8's metro..

coralreefguy

--chris-- wrote: »

I didn't realize this was debatable, I thought Win 7 was still the defacto enterprise OS? And will be for some time because of Win 8's metro..

This. Windows 7 holds all the credibility in the enterprise world. Just like PC's used windows XP for nearly 10+ years, Windows 7 will likely see widespread usage for just as long. If you are supporting desktops the MCSA Windows 7 is the way to be.

Theegg911

coralreefguy wrote: »

This. Windows 7 holds all the credibility in the enterprise world. Just like PC's used windows XP for nearly 10+ years, Windows 7 will likely see widespread usage for just as long. If you are supporting desktops the MCSA Windows 7 is the way to be.

This is correct. However, MSP and consulting companies do not care for Windows 7 certs anymore. They care only for what helps them stay a Microsoft Partner. It all depends on who you work for. Kudos if you do get it though. To me Win7 will be one of my all time favorite Operating Systems.

robaato

We won't be rolling out Win 7 until April. There are a lot of companies in the same boat. 680 by itself isn't much for the resume, but if you also passed 685 or 686 you could have added MCITP which managers would recognize..