If you google my name (in quotes), you will realize that I'm quite an advocate of OSS and Linux. Heck, just look through my site. Since my background is business oriented, my final choice on software/systems will not be whether it is OSS or not, but what provides the best fit (ROI/TCO, in a way). However, that said, I thought I would share the following ironic situation I was in.
I've never really believed certifications increased a person's qualifications for a position (or skills), yet I believe they do provide insurance. Insurance for the employeer; they know that a candidate with a CCNA at least knows a little about routing, even some IOS commands. For that reason, I guess, I've decided to join a friend of mine and acquire my MCSE (off of Server 2003). Rewind the the above paragraph, and we can both question why. But, luckily I don't mind working with AD or 2003, so I can't really complain. So, with that background, here is some irony:
After a little studying (and Ian can testify how little studying I did), I scheduled my test. Actually, I scheduled my test the morning of my international flight back to the U.S. (and on Sep.11). At 9:00, after a restless night, I arrived at the testing center. Yan-Shih luckily helped me check in, and I started to take the exam.
Things went well. Most questions were pretty easy, some sort of strange. About 70% of the way through the exam I just finished a simulation -- clicked next -- and Norton AntiVirus appeared, stating in Chinese, that there must be a virus. Some file was checked. I ran out to the helper people and asked them to come in. The lady came in, clicked a few buttons, the warning went away, and left.
I answered another question, pressed Next, and the virus came up again. I ran out, they came in, closed the box and restarted the computer. Meanwhile, I was having images of needing to retake the test; coincidently, my final test for University was lost in the mail, so I was having quite negative thoughts.
The test came back, and I started again. Answer question, press Next, AntiVirus box came up again. I ran out, another person came in, and turned off notifications or maybe the anti-virus entirely. I continued the rest of the test.
So, that is the sad story of how my Windows testing computer got a virus while I was taking a test for my MCSE. Irony defined.
By the way, I finished my test in an hour and a half, including the time it took them to figure out how to disable the AntiVirus warnings. Got a 860/1000 (needed 700/1000 to pass).
This entry is from my journal and was written on Sept. 11, 2006. It's been tagged with Moving Onward. There have been 0 comments so far.