I would like to know what are the steps in order to become a successful SharePoint Administrator? How do I know if I have reached that point? Is it a requirement to get MS certified? What am I expected to know as a SharePoint Administrator. I am kind of lost as to what is expected of me as a SharePoint Technician coming from a Service Desk role and hopefully one day become a SharePoint Administrator. When that happens, I would like to be able to advise the management that I am now a qualified SP Administrator and to be able to ask for a better salary.
If someone can kindly advise, it would make my life a lot easier and hopefully progress to become a fully qualified SharePoint Administrator. I am pretty sure there's a lot of people out there wondering what steps to take in order to become one.
Many Thanks and keep up the good work with this site!
First of all! Welcome to the SharePoint world!
You will not be disappointed of what the SharePoint admin job has to offer.
I think it very much depends on the situation, the company and maybe even in what country you work in. Certificates such as the ones available for SharePoint are always good ways to have your knowledge documented, but again, some of the best admin I know don't have any certificates and that depends on how their role has changed over time and suddenly they are just skillful admins and there is no need take and exam to prove anything. For consultants and people that want to change their job I think it could be good to take an exam for two reasons. First, you get it documented and secondly you set up a first goal for yourself and to reach that you have to study and work with the product. So it's a good way to get started. The new certificates for SharePoint 2010 is just released (http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?ID=70-667 and http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?ID=70-668) I'm not aware of any books that are written as exam preparation but it starts to get quite a lot of books out there and check out this post for more info about books available: http://secretsofsharepoint.com/cs/forums/t/170.aspx
Hope this gave some answers to your question. If not, let me know and I try to help you out.
/Mattias
Hi Mattias,
Thank you so much for your response. I am currently working in Australia and the only SharePoint certification I have achieved is the 5060A - Implementing MS Window SharePoint Service 3.0.
I suppose I prefer to work as a SharePoint Administrator and I know I have a lot to learn though. Are you able to advise what I should learn to become a successful SP admin and what to start off with? eg. html, wss 3.0, etc...
Thanks, Rox
Hi,
I you have got a good start there. I would probably recommend that you also continue with the Server version. As mention earlier it might be that you should go directly towards 2010 and if you want to do some self training I can recommend another post here at the SecretsOfSharePoint http://secretsofsharepoint.com/cs/forums/t/170.aspx that goes through some of the available resources.
Besides from that it is good to have IIS, AD and some windows knowledge. If you can combine this with SQL server knowledge you will have a winning combination.
Then I should also say that the SharePoint community is a very vivid community so to follow blogs and sites such as this site is good to keep yourself updated.
Rox,
A great path you have chosen! SharePoint is a monster and always remember you will never know everything about SharePoint and how it functions. There are so many different parts involved in the inner workings of SP. Mindsharp has some great training out there. I have taken their administrator sessions for MOSS and it taught me many great things. Other things you can look at that will help are by reading up on IIS, AD, and SQL like Mattias mentioned. They play a great role in how SP functions. Get some books and keep reading forums and blogs. Its amazing how much you will learn from other peoples problems and their resolutions. Let me know if you have any other questions.
-Jason
Hi!
This Blog is very old - but, I wanted to ask a question as well.
My manager is 'pushing' for me on becoming our in-office SharePoint site administrator (due to the difficulty working with the current Site Admin, located at another office). I do not know what background I should have to accomplish this goal.
I have been working in SharePoint for about 3 years now - previous company used MOSS as it's internal working areas. And now - the company I am at currently uses SharePoint for project collaboration area with the client and 3rd parties.
I do not have any background in IT - which seems to be to be a very big part of the package.
I would appreciate any assistance with direction on this - what do I need, where do / should I start...the questions are endless - LOL
Thank you in advance for your help :-)
Hi..
Sorry but the location which I have selected is incorrect as India was not listed. Anyways...need some urgent and valuable advice from you...I am currently working as an IT service Desk Analyst, however i am looking forward to make a career as a Sharepoint Administrator. Can you kindly let me know the steps that and the kind of training that I have to go through to do that? And will this also require any sort of coding or web designing knowledge. Appreciate your prompt response and time.
Regards,
Rajesh...