Should I skip an MTA as a new developer?
Hey forum friends! I have a question for all of the experts that have already traveled down this path.
I'm a pretty fresh web developer. I've been working on small side projects and such off and on for the past few years. A few websites - and a few website fixes, and a few Wordpress child themes things like that....all HTML and CSS. I can write a few lines of Javascript and Razer, but not nearly enough of either one to say that I know them. I've got a portfolio, that I'm not at all happy with. I guess it looks okay, but I'm not feeling it - I REALLY want to design a new one, but nothing fancy; just clean and professional. I also have a Github that I've got a few (maybe a dozen or more) code bits uploaded too..some demos like a few fancy CSS menus, and such.
I went to ITT Tech for a few years, working towards a BAS in Computer Science. I took the usual classes about building/troubleshooting PCs, Linux, Win Server. I took a few years off and then went to Full Sail, working towards a BAS in web development. I took a lot of classes covering all of the usual stuff - Photoshop layouts, Illustrator layouts, color theories, HTML and CSS classes.
I ran out of money and I'm not eligible for any more loans or grants, so college is currently on a back burner until I take care of some of my loans.
So then, all of that being said, I'm now 31 and I still don't have a proper IT career and I'm going to do what I can to get started finally.
I feel like a Microsoft certification would give me some extra career horsepower, but I know it isn't a "insta-career" button. I know that I need to polish my portfolio and my github. I also need to learn to network and reach out and find some more projects to work on - even pro bono, volunteer work to pad my portfolio. I know I need to learn something more than HTML and CSS - I know I need to learn Javascript, and I'm working on that now with some sites like Codecademy, MVA, and Pluralsight.
I also want to earn my MCSD in Web Apps, but I know it won't happen in a month. It might not happen in a year or even two years, but I'm confident that if I learn Javascript I can pass 70-480 without a lot of trouble, and earn my MCP at the very least. However, I'm somewhat at a loss as to which direction to head in...I've heard a few opinions about the MTA (98-375). Some people say it's a waste, but some people - on these forums actually - have mentioned that they're NOT useless.
Should I just skip the MTA completely and shoot straight for my MCP? or should I try to earn my MTA first and then my MCP? I can take the MTA now for about 50 bucks, so that's not a bad deal. I would like to reiterate that I know these certifications won't be an 'insta-career'. I know that the knowledge I'm getting just from studying for them is the ultimate key, and that's what I want - but having the paper to go with that knowledge will be good as well; something to buff the ol' resume with.
What should I do? I would love some input and thoughts from others who have already been down this road that I'm struggling through.
