Becoming a Microsoft Office Specialist

There are a number of qualifications to choose from when considering becoming accredited as a user of Microsoft Office software. I would like to explain the advantages of choosing to become a MOS ? Microsoft Office Specialist (formerly known as MOUS ? Microsoft Office User Specialist).

The MOS exams are available at different levels depending on ability. If you are new to the software, you would be advised to choose to take the basic level training and exams first before advancing to the expert levels. If you are already at advanced level, you can choose to jump straight into taking the expert level training and examinations.

The training and exams cover all aspects of the software, unlike alternative qualifications such as CLAIT or ECDL. For example, in order to pass the Word 2003 expert exam, you will need to know how to perform the following tasks: structure documents using XML, restrict form documents and create indexes.

For a full list of topics you will be expected to have an indepth knowledge of, check out Microsoft?s website at www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/officespecialist/requirements.mspx#office2003 .

A further advantage is the fact that different versions of Microsoft Office can be certificated. So if your employer is still using Office 2000 (which many businesses still are) you can become certificated as a Microsoft Office Specialist in Office 2000.

So how would you go about becoming a MOS? The first steps usually involve researching appropriate training courses. This might be at introductory, intermediate or advanced level to suit your needs. However these 1 day courses are unlikely to be able to cover the entire syllabus. So be prepared to study in your own time in addition to your training course. You could try working through a self-study textbook, you can search for appropriate titles at Microsoft?s website www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/officespecialist/officespecialist_materials.mspx

You will never regret deciding to become a MOS. It demonstrates to employers that you are serious about using software fully and making the best of their IT investment.

Further steps? You can become accredited to teach MOS by becoming a MOSMI ? Microsoft Office Specialist Master Instructor. See www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/officespecialist/instructor/requirements.mspx for more information.

Notes for editors:

For more information visit our website at www.computertrainingsolutions.co.uk or call 01454 851770. We provide training in all types of software, including Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Access, Outlook, PowerPoint), Visio, FrontPage, Project, Dreamweaver and Adobe Creative Suite (Indesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and Acrobat). Our training courses can be run either as public open courses from our schedule or alternatively we can run tailored courses throughout England and Wales to suit you.

Claire Blinman is the training manager at Computer Training Solutions in Bristol. Visit us at http://www.computertrainingsolutions.co.uk or call on 01454 851770 for more information.

Tips for Obtaining Microsoft BizTalk Certifications with Minimal Effort

Microsoft BizTalk server is a very reliable and high-performing Microsoft server product for building and implementing business rules and workflow for a wide range of business solutions. Thanks to their proven efficiency and reliability, Microsoft BizTalk solutions for business management and integration have quickly become very popular, drawing more and more business owners towards BizTalk integration .

Microsoft BizTalk server 2006 is, by far, the most popular and most requested server application for business process integration. Based on the technology introduced in the previous release (Microsoft BizTalk Server 2004), Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 includes a wide range of new features such as application containers, the latest management consoles for managing various BizTalk environments, productivity improvements for developers and Microsoft BizTalk professionals, and easy-to-use upgrade & migration wizards. The new features introduced by the BizTalk Server 2006 release greatly simplify the process of deploying and managing enterprise business applications and solutions.

Thanks to the benefits mentioned above, Biztalk currently has a nigh rate of deployment in enterprise-level companies. Lots of IT professionals/developers are striving to prove their skills and experience regarding Microsoft technologies by obtaining much-desired BizTalk Server training and certifications. Individuals who posses Microsoft BizTalk certifications can easily expand their horizons as IT professionals by becoming employees of major IT companies, while institutions and businesses also have a lot to gain from recruiting persons who are certified in the field. Although many IT aspirants find the process of becoming certified in this particular area difficult and time-consuming, there are various ways to easily obtain a Microsoft BizTalk certification with a minimal investment of time and money. There are many online services that offer Architects, Developers and IT Professionals the opportunity to enroll in appropriate BizTalk training programs, helping them gain a successful career as a Biztalk developer or architect.

If you want to polish your skills and rapidly expand your knowledge on Microsoft BizTalk solutions, it is best to turn to the Internet for help. In order to achieve the best results, you should seek the help of a professional website that offers participants access to comprehensive and well-structured materials regarding Microsoft BizTalk solutions and technologies. Whether you opt for self-study materials or teacher-led courses and seminars, there are various websites that offer you the chance to participate in official, Microsoft curriculum-based BizTalk training programs that can help you become a certified BizTalk professional in no time!

Choose the Microsoft BizTalk training program that best satisfies your needs and you will experience no difficulties during your certification exams. The keys to obtaining the BizTalk certification of your choice are to be highly motivated, to find and attend to an appropriate BizTalk training program and to do a little research regarding the structure and the requirements of your certification exams. Pre-examinations are also very useful for testing your overall performance in the field after completing the BizTalk training program. Follow these simple steps and you will be able to quickly enter in possession of a highly recognized BizTalk certification that can greatly boost your success and help you build a solid, lucrative career in the IT arena .

So, if you want to find out more information about Microsoft BizTalk or about BizTalk solutions please click these links. You will find valuable information about BizTalk training, too.

Microsoft Certifications - An Introduction

Introduction to Microsoft Certifications Certifications are a necessity these days, to tell the good from the bad at the start itself. However, the test does not stop there; it only means you have a chance at the job and not the job itself.

Microsoft has gone to great lengths to ensure a certified engineer is tested academically on all aspects of an enterprise network, if he claims to be a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer.

Microsoft offers a number of certification levels depending on specific areas of proficiency and nature of job. Some of the certifications pertaining to Networking are:

Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) Microsoft Certified System Administrator ( MCSA ) Microsoft Certified System Engineer ( MCSE )

Each certification level has certain exams associated with it. You can decide the appropriate level of the certification exam based on your experience, skills, and interests.

Why Microsoft Certification? Consider a bunch of prospective employees who knew the technology well, and you possessed the certification too along with the required experience, it is your guess as well as mine as to who will land up with the job.

Yes, Microsoft certification is a basis for streamlining recruitment process. A pass that could help you gain an entry to the organization, well at least the interview if not the job itself!

For whom are these certifications meant? If your line of job falls within the provided list, then the exam/certification is for you.

System Administrator Enterprise administrator Web administrator System engineer Network engineer MIS Training - Network

What comprises MCSE 2003 Certification track? Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) candidates on the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 track are required to pass following 6 core exams and 1 elective exam :

Core Exams: Networking (4 Exams Required) 70-290 : Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment 70-291 : Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure 70-293 : Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure 70-294 : Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure.

Core Exam: Client Operating System (1 Exam Required) 70-270: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows; XP Professional 70-210 : Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Core Exam: Design (1 Exam Required)
70-297 : Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure (Note: May be used as Design requirement or elective, but not both) 70-298 : Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network (Note: May be used as Design requirement or elective, but not both)

Passing Score Beginning with the release of the Microsoft Windows Server 2003-related exams, Microsoft provides numerical scores on exams. The new scale requires a minimum passing score of 700 on all exams. The maximum score on the exams will vary depending on the complexity of the skills being measured. You can check out these details on Microsoft web site to update yourself for any changes.

About the exams itself There are seven exams in all to pass and can be tedious with the varying question patterns, scenarios etc. Unless you have poured in hours of preparation and turned in every page of every book possible you would not get a passing score in all the seven exams at one go. Knowing something about the Exam Model will help you. Most of the questions in the exam are multiple choice. The questions require the "best" answer from several close responses. Some questions may present an implementation scenario, requirements, and a proposed solution and then ask if the solution meets all of the requirements or combinations of the primary and secondary requirements. Microsoft has introduced some testing innovations for the certification exams like Hot Area, Active Screen, Drag-and-Drop, Case Study-based Test Demo, Exams with Simulations. Resources The best way to success is hands-on, hands-on and more hands-on. But then again, you would not lose if you tried a Sybex series preparation book, or MSDN site itself for the knowledge base, case study and so on. Read as many white papers as you can on all Microsoft technologies; it is the best way to understand a technology from the basics. Lastly do not appear for the exam before trying your hands on a good exam simulator , especially if your money and time are precious to you. Be Warned! S tudying or cramming will no longer do. These exams now carry simulation-based questions. If you were till now being questioned on the concept of Disk administrator utility, you may now be asked to actually use it in the exam. Therefore, your only choice is not only be aware of all the administrative and maintenance toll in Windows 2003 but also be good at it! Good Luck!

Whizlabs (www.whizlabs.com), an ISO Certified company, is a leading provider of IT skill assessment and certification exam preparation tools. Whizlabs' suite of offerings include "IT Certification Exam simulators and Instructor-led, Online Trainings" for various exams by Sun, IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, BEA, Cisco, and other leading IT vendors and "IT skill Assessment Management Solution" for Corporations, Training Institutes