Tonight I was sitting with my Mac Book Pro, wife and kids all in bed, perfect blogging time. Except no idea what I wanted to write. After a burst of twitter encouragement from @rickvanover here we go:
Five things you should know about VMware Certs:
1. If you work for a VMware partner, start with the VSP/VTSP Certifications. They require a lot less initial investment and give you the start into VMware products. Partners only.
2. You can take the “Install and Configure” or “Design Secure and Analyze” or the “Fast Track” (which is some kind of combo of the previous 2) then study and take the VCP. The VMware Certified Professional is the standard in Virtualization industry and has personally opened many doors for me professionally. VMware Partners NEED them, but it is quite an investment. The class is far from free and the test isn’t cheap. Something to know though, if you go to VMworld the tests are discounted. So everyone at VMworld take advantage! Save a few bucks.
3. As good as the VCP is, there is still a demand for VMware knowledge more advanced than the base cert. I lost my job last year, while job hunting I saw listings asking for VCDX certified people. At the time no VCDX’s were publically known. It just shows the demand for proof of advanced knowledge in VMware and a possible dilution of the VCP due to brain dumping.
4. Testing experience is fairly standard technical testing. Although I wish it was all lab practical rather than memorization. Multiple choice type questions are the majority of the questions. My best test taking tip is to actually know how to Install and Manage Virtual Infrastructure. You can run it all in VMware Workstation 7, so there is no excuse to just memorize answers. I say that but you will have to memorize max and minimums and other facts in order to pass the VCP.
5. Check what is on the blue print on the VMware Certification website, this website is the final word on what is on the test.
Bonus: Use the communities/blogs/twitter to find information and answers. Don’t just post “Hey what is on the exam?”. Ask questions about technical topics, then make sure you could articulate the concept to someone else. I find if I understand enough to be able to teach it to someone else then I really am starting to learn things.
Bonus #2: Be willing to be always learning. If you already know everything you probably don’t need the certification.
*No clue who the original artist is of that picture. It is awesome, so if you know who to credit let me know.