Passed Microsoft Operations Framework Foundation V 4

earweed wrote: »

Congrats!

Thanks Earweed

BTW everytime I look at your signature / profile you are getting another certification. WTG bro.

Are you starting to get burnt out at all? I just ask because I am a little. Not of IT or working, but certification and studying on my own time.

Congrats!

How did the interview go?

earweed

N2IT wrote: »

Thanks Earweed

BTW everytime I look at your signature / profile you are getting another certification. WTG bro.

Are you starting to get burnt out at all? I just ask because I am a little. Not of IT or working, but certification and studying on my own time.

My newest cert JavaScript Specialist came about from taking the test back in March and now CIW renamed the test/cert. When I took it I didn't get any type of cert for it.
Burnout? Yeah, I recently took a week "off" mainly because of just staring at the book and not reading so I gave up and took a break. My next cert wont be til September (70-643) and then the 70-647 between then and December sometime. I have a "freebie" MS test due to my "floating" my second chance voucher (long story) and trying to decide what test to take, it's between the 70-622 (for the MCITP resume filler) or the 70-652 which just looks interesting and I've been playing with Hyper-V a lot lately.

knwminus wrote: »

Congrats!

How did the interview go?

No interview yet still waiting for them to call me back for the interview. This is a for GS 11 option 12. Hopefully I get it. I am suppose to get a call next week about setting it up.

You know how the Government is SLOOOOOOOOOOW

Keep in mind I applied fo this job 3-5 months ago.

Congrats on the pass, just of our curiosity, what made you take the test; work requirement ...?

pakgeek wrote: »

Congrats on the pass, just of our curiosity, what made you take the test; work requirement ...?

I have really been interested in different processes/frameworks lately. They give me a better understanding of the "big picture" which I am the most interested in. This will probably be my last "framework" certification for a while. Infact it will probably be my last cert in general, except for security + or something like security +.

One other reason I took the exam is to add to my credentials so if a management job opens up I can grab it.

I am still researching the different security certifications at the moment.

Thanks for the gratz I appreciate it.

Would you say that it was harder than the other test you have taken (framework test)? What makes this test different? To be honest, I had never heard of it until you made this post.

Oh yea and what's next?

knwminus wrote: »

Would you say that it was harder than the other test you have taken (framework test)? What makes this test different? To be honest, I had never heard of it until you made this post.

This test used a lot of the ITIL framework processes and flows. However it had it's own processes just like ISO 20000. This was geared more to using Microsoft within the framework while ISO focused more on quality. They both utilized their own lifecycle diagram and had their own diagrams with in their lifecycle to respresent the different responbilities and roles of the processes. They emphasis different parts of service management, but go into more detail. Learning 3 frameworks pertaining to service management has really given me a strong understanding of the lifecycle and the concepts. I personally feel it has made me a stronger management candidate. The information I have obtained has given me the ability to look at IT in a different light. The idea of IT services supporting business processes has given me more of a management point of view.

I don't know what next to be honest. I've always have had a passion for databases and microsoft applications. Maybe I'll try to enchance my Access skills for 2007 or take the plunge and start training and studying my SQL server 2008 developer book. I've taken several database courses so my conceptual knowledge is there and my ability to utilize SQL was there at one time, however it has degressed quiet a bit. Maybe security + should be the next one. Maybe another framework lol Just kidding, however I was looking at one of the intermediate ITIL certs a month or so back, but the amount of money that it cost is outragous and the ROI just isn't there. That of course is just from my own intuition.

Any ideas?

I am always looking for those.

To be honest anything in SAP, People or Project Management, Database or Report Writing, or InfoSec.

Interesting. I know you are serious about being an IT manager, which is good. How much IT experience do you have? You seemed to have a pretty good amount. I think you have enough frameworks for now lol. You actually have more than I knew existed. Maybe PMP or something. Those ITIL intermediate are just too expensive. Maybe a MCITP 2k8 in SQL server business intelligence or something. That would be a bad ass resume rounder.

knwminus wrote: »

Interesting. I know you are serious about being an IT manager, which is good. How much IT experience do you have? You seemed to have a pretty good amount.

I have 0 IT managment experience, I was a team lead for 6 months on a contract with the USDA. That was the implementation and operation of a help desk. The services were temporary and it was mainly supporting business processes, however their was an element of IT involved. Utilizing a SQL editior to view reports and applicants applications. Password reset and overall knowledge of the government program we were supporting. The helpdesk was formed with two tiers like a normal ITSM helpdesk. When that project disolved I ended up going back to my old job and receiving a promotion. Thats where I am at now. I do internal helpdesk support at a tier 2 level mainly monitoring routers and network connectivity and dealing with server calls through our supplier. I also do quiet a bit Microsoft application support, but I am really one of the only guys in our service desk who does that. It's not part of the SLA, but I am still asked to do it.

knwminus wrote: »

Interesting. I know you are serious about being an IT manager, which is good. How much IT experience do you have? You seemed to have a pretty good amount. I think you have enough frameworks for now lol. You actually have more than I knew existed. Maybe PMP or something. Those ITIL intermediate are just too expensive. Maybe a MCITP 2k8 in SQL server business intelligence or something. That would be a bad ass resume rounder.

Appreciate the positive comments. That MCITP 2x8 SQL server business intelligence would be super sweet. And I agree that would be a bad ass resume rounder!

Isn't it about time I get a technical cert? lol

That's pretty neat. You know what else I thought about? Have you considered a MBA yet? I know it isn't a cert or anything but I bet it would help out tons.

N2IT wrote: »

Appreciate the positive comments. That MCITP 2x8 SQL server business intelligence would be super sweet. And I agree that would be a bad ass resume rounder!
Isn't it about time I get a technical cert? lol

Not if you don't want to. TBH most of the managers I have delt with have had resumes similar to yours with of course some management experience. Not everyone wants to be a techie (not saying that about you) and IMO you should align yourself with what you want to be. If you want to be a manager making the big bucks then do it. I personally think that a MCITP might end up getting you towards a business analyst role which could lead to management. Most managers I know have had to have that kind of business analyst skillset anyway so all it can do is help you. How is you accounting/finance knowledge? Every manager I know has had some background in accounting and finance. I can only form conjectures but from what I can tell you are on the right path. You just need to that first management role. That's going to be the key..

knwminus wrote: »

That's pretty neat. You know what else I thought about? Have you considered a MBA yet? I know it isn't a cert or anything but I bet it would help out tons.

Not if you don't want to. TBH most of the managers I have delt with have had resumes similar to yours with of course some management experience. Not everyone wants to be a techie (not saying that about you) and IMO you should align yourself with what you want to be. If you want to be a manager making the big bucks then do it. I personally think that a MCITP might end up getting you towards a business analyst role which could lead to management. Most managers I know have had to have that kind of business analyst skillset anyway so all it can do is help you. How is you accounting/finance knowledge? Every manager I know has had some background in accounting and finance. I can only form conjectures but from what I can tell you are on the right path. You just need to that first management role. That's going to be the key..

Business Analyst would be a great career move. My finance and accounting are of a normal man. I have had some economic and accounting classes in college, but no finance. I honestly do like technical work, I seem to have a knack doing troubleshooting and figuring out how things work and why things have gone wrong. I attempted the MBA a while back but with two young children and a fiancee who is in her last year of nursing school and working 36 hours 3x12's a week there really isn't any time. That's why I stick with the certs. I do have SQL 2008 DBMS installed on my machine. I might actually start prepping for that. I have the book, I guess I just needed a gentle push. We all need guidance from time to time don't we?

Do you know of the top of your head how many course is required for the MCITP DBA?

2 exams. TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance

knwminus wrote: »

2 exams. TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance

That's not to bad at all. I have the 70-433 book already. I haven't started getting into it yet though.

Ashenwelt

N2IT wrote: »

Whew it was a close one. Just like the ITIL you need a 65% 26/40 questions correct. I snuck by with 27/40 kind of embarrassing, but I guess the ole cliche a pass is a pass applies. Just wanted to let you know this is not a super hard cert, but it's not easy either. If you really know ITIL and ISO well you should have no problem with this certification.

The only material I used was free from the Microsoft Tech Site and some information from the EXIN site. The test was 174 USD from Prometric.

What makes this sweet is I have today off paid and all of next week, 10 days in a row! I'll be enjoying this next week

Cheers IT brethern!

I have never heard of the cert... could you share some information on what it is and why you took it?

Thanks!

Ashenwelt wrote: »

I have never heard of the cert... could you share some information on what it is and why you took it?

Thanks!

In the middle of the thread I gave a brief description of what this certification was about.

It's another framework / process certification, like ITIL or ISO 20000. It's geared towards microsoft technologies.

Microsoft Operations Framework 4.0

knwminus wrote: »

Interesting. I know you are serious about being an IT manager, which is good. How much IT experience do you have? You seemed to have a pretty good amount. I think you have enough frameworks for now lol. You actually have more than I knew existed. Maybe PMP or something. Those ITIL intermediate are just too expensive. Maybe a MCITP 2k8 in SQL server business intelligence or something. That would be a bad ass resume rounder.

I wanted to take the ITIL service operation training but it was around 2k - way too expensive and I wish i could self-study just like the ITIL foundation.

BTW, I'm planning on taking the HDI Support Center Manger certification and it has a lot of overlapping between ITIL.

pakgeek wrote: »

I wanted to take the ITIL service operation training but it was around 2k - way too expensive and I wish i could self-study just like the ITIL foundation.

BTW, I'm planning on taking the HDI Support Center Manger certification and it has a lot of overlapping between ITIL.

Pak any good sites that provides information on that certification?

NinjaBoy

Congrats on the pass, that's one for me in the future

-ken

N2IT wrote: »

Pak any good sites that provides information on that certification?

I got the HDI student membership couple of months ago and it has vast amount of information - free study guides. I was told that should suffice for the exam.

Membership Levels | HDI - Leading IT Service & Support

Here is the link to the certification page.

http://www.thinkhdi.com/hdi.aspx?c=80

pakgeek wrote: »

I got the HDI student membership couple of months ago and it has vast amount of information - free study guides. I was told that should suffice for the exam.

Membership Levels | HDI - Leading IT Service & Support

Here is the link to the certification page.

Certification Testing | HDI - Leading IT Service & Support

Thanks Pak

If you are interested in pursuing the MOFF let me know. I'll link you to the correct information. Believe me there is version 3 material merged with version 4 material. Completely different models, lifecycle, and overall terminology. Becareful.

NinjaBoy wrote: »

Congrats on the pass, that's one for me in the future

-ken

Ninja thanks for the gratz. I referred to Technet on the Microsoft site for about 75-90% of my studies. You can also go to Exin's website and purchase the MOFF v4 book if you want a second refenence guide. Be careful though they sent me an ebook instead of the paper

I ended up just printing out the information from Technet MS and studying that information. I squeaked out a 27/40 so I BARELY passed.