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Cert advice needed from a newbie

  1. #1
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    Cert advice needed from a newbie

    Hi all,
    I'm in the process of teaching myself VBA indoors after redundancy.

    I've been using excel to a decent level (up to recording basic macros but using fairly complex formatting/formulas) at my last job so i want to concentrate on that for a new job.

    I started withJohn Walkenbacks Excel VBA Dummies book and i'm now working through his Power Programming book and also have on order Rob Boveys Excel Development book.

    I've also applied for a couple of excel developer jobs (in the hope i'll be more up to grade if i'm lucky enough to get through interviews) but one asked for certification.

    The only cert i can find is MCAS which, looking at MS site, seems pretty basic stuff to me - does anyone know if potential employers give this exam much credit as i dont want to waste £100+ plus on a cert that isnt worth a carrot.

    cheers
    Steve
    Last edited by SteveW68; 03-06-2010 at 07:20 PM.

  2. #2
    Valued Forum Contributor rwgrietveld's Avatar
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    Re: Hi from a newbie

    Hi Steve,

    Please change your title (read forum rule #1)

    I'am MCAS myself and it's a "button" exam. SUMIF is about the most complicated function. For the layman MCAS sound very impressive and it wouldn't do bad on a CV. Better than telling you read a few books!

    Better would be to have Mr Excel before or after your name Job references would be a good start. Try to become a Forum Guru, that might help.

    Good luck.
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    Ave,
    Ricardo

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    Re: Hi from a newbie

    cheers for the reply ( titles been edited)

    firstly, i had no intention of putting on my cv that i'd read some books!

    apart from the reference fom my last job, i have 8-10 small companies that i have done private spreadsheet stuff for that will provide references too - i'm quite tempted to blatantently lie on it and put "Freeelance Excel Developer" for the last 3 years and use them as references anyway....

    i can see that MCAS looks impressive to a layman (and probably quite a few IT managers tbh) so it seems that 80 quid for the exam (i wouldnt pay 300 for the course) and maybe 30 for a sample test just to make sure could be worth a small investment

  4. #4
    Valued Forum Contributor rwgrietveld's Avatar
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    Re: Cert advice needed from a newbie

    Don't follow the course, but do a few exams before.
    And ask what boek they use to prepare for the exam.
    My excel 2007 MCAS exam was all about protection, workspaces and other stuff I hardly ever use "in normal life", but for the exam it is all on the same importance level.

    So this is the deal:
    Buy the book they recommend
    Read it from a to z
    read it again and book mark all those topic you cannot do blindly
    read it again and again till all the bookmarks are gone.
    Do a few (practice) exams (online)

    Do the exam, pass be a MCAS.

    Now you know all the buttons in Excel 2007 like a painter has all the colors on his pallet. Does he now know how to paint ??!!

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