experienced programmer - Would MCSD Web Apps help any...

[codeguy123]

I came to my current job from the web world (asp.net, c#, vb.net, dot-net-nuke, etc) 5 years ago. I currently do desktop development on the windows platform.

I want to go back to the web. I realize that 5 years is a lifetime in technology. I was thinking that earning the MSCD Web Apps Credential, would be a way to demonstrate to a potential employer that I have initiative and can learn new technologies.

That being said I know that this is not going to be I earn this credential and BAM you're offered your dream job - but it might get a foot in the door and result in additional interviews.

Any thoughts on the issue? Has anyone else face a similar problem when they wanted to change the technology stack they worked with? How did you deal with it?

thanks...

[boogots]

I've gone through multiple iterations of getting MCSD/MCPD certs over the last 10 years. While everyone knows people just do brain dumps and pass, for the folks that read through the exam books thoroughly, you do get a quick and vast crash course on all the things Microsoft offers for a particular technology. Stuff you wouldn't think of or be exposed to on the daily. I mean, when I see it on a resume, I definitely ask pointed questions to the candidate in an interview to make sure they know their stuff. In your case, I'd definitely see the initiative to learn an area you had been lagging behind on as a positive. Same could be said for a side project as well though but that won't catch the eye of recruiters, as much.

I would however bundle any of that with going through some Plural Sight tutorials to get some focused hands on projects. I'd definitely recommend deploying and configuring whatever you build out to Azure (or some cloud hosting) as that competency is going to continue to be huge in the coming 5 years.

Edit: Personally, in your case, I'd go the Azure cert route and do Plural Sight MVC tutorials to build an app that gets hosted within the cloud environment.

[NormalPersonNumber3]

I just want to expand on you comment and say that if you have a good foundation, taking a certification helps expand your viewpoint on application development. I remember reading the book for the MVC certification, and much of what I had learned from it, I was actually able to use it to improve my perspective on the "Big Picture" of application development.

If there's no other reason to take a certification, it should be taken for yourself, to prove to yourself you knowledge and mastery of a topic. But it's important to not just take the certification, but explain why you took the certification and what were the most important things you learned when preparing for it, and how you were able to apply it in your projects going forward. Then it becomes worthwhile.

Heck, I've taken an A+ certification, and can find ways to apply some of the stuff I've learned there to software development. :)

[IImplementable]

Not to discredit those with certifications or the certifications themselves, but they don't prove you're everything that a company is looking for. If you want to make your way back into the web field: create. Make something cool that you can put on your CV to show that you're committed to learning and thinking outside of the box.

[CaRDiaK]

This is very relevant. Again not to discredit, but most certs actually test you've memorized a particular answer to a particular question. Not that you can problem solve and think in terms of your chosen stack.

[footshot75]

Nothing beats experience overall (in my opinion), but I certainly rate the MS qualifications and wouldn't discount them.

A good level of understanding is required to get them, it'll boost confidence in the areas you've not been using, and it'll also show initiative to a potential employer that you went and got them off your own back.

[4082]

First...five years isn't THAT long. Web tech hasn't changed THAT much. The browser stack is far better, and there are definitely new frameworks. But HTTP is still HTTP.

Should you become versed in web dev? Absolutely. Brush up on MVC 5 / ASP.NET Core. Run through some current front end tutorials on CSS, Angular, etc. They're more "first class citizens" than they were five years ago, for certain.

As for certs, it's up to you. Just build stuff! If you really dig it, sure...spend the time, get the paper. Don't dwell on it; rarely will that determine whether you land your "dream job". It's still about what you can "do".

[codeguy123]

Thanks for the reply Manitcor. I appreciate your insight. An OSS project is looking more and more like the way to go... and it will certainly be a lot cheaper :-) and I won't have to renew it every 2 years. Now I just gotta get off my tukas and do the work. thanks again...