armadaender Posted June 11, 2006 Share Posted June 11, 2006 I'm currently studying for my A+ certification and once I obtain it I'm planning to continue on with CompTia's network, server and possibly security certs. After those I'll be looking into the MCSA and others as well. The reason why I created this topic was because I wanted to see what certifications you guys and gals had and what ones you're planning on getting the future. Also, if you have a few certs, could you please post your job title (no specifics obviously) as I'm curious to see where these certs have helped you get in the IT world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manuel Posted June 11, 2006 Share Posted June 11, 2006 I have an A+ cert and will be getting my Cisco CCNA cert soon (only becasue I went through the the courses at my local junior college). I also have my AAS. HOWEVER none of that really helps me in my everyday job. The reality is that certs really don't help much except help the learner learn some basic stuff. I earned my certs and degree after having 7 years of hands-on experience in the field of tech and only did it so that I can ensure my job stays secure enough for me in my field. I am an IT Specialist for a small School District. -- I take care of computers, server, phone systems, vpns, Mac/Windows/Linux, web design, and a whole lot more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kainchick Posted June 11, 2006 Share Posted June 11, 2006 Im currently working on my A+ as well... after htat one Im going for my .net+..i go for my a+ test in a few wekks :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armadaender Posted June 11, 2006 Author Share Posted June 11, 2006 Im currently working on my A+ as well... after htat one Im going for my .net+..i go for my a+ test in a few wekks :) Best of luck! I'm planning on taking mine this fall and my network+ in the spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooper Posted June 11, 2006 Share Posted June 11, 2006 The only thing I got a certification for (well, I got school and swimming diploma's and stuff) is my Sun Certified Java Programmer. Admittedly, it's a little light given what I'm expected to do on a daily basis, but I feel experience is *MUCH* more valuable than some silly piece of paper that proves you forgot about a book you once read. What's "A+", for us non-americans? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W4RP3D Posted June 11, 2006 Share Posted June 11, 2006 Qualifications ermmm nope dont have any, but im taking my gcses and predicted 5 A's and 4 A*'s. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingwray Posted June 11, 2006 Share Posted June 11, 2006 Certificate of using computers for 10 years. Hopefully in 4 years a MEng Degree in Computer Intergrated Engineering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metatron Posted June 11, 2006 Share Posted June 11, 2006 I have no Certificate’s but there is a good chance that if you have bought enterprise level equipment in the last 8 years from a hand full of very large company’s, I designed or worked on part of it. I also have over 20 years of computer experience and have two PhD’s, I have not needed to get anything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comcipher Posted June 11, 2006 Share Posted June 11, 2006 I have A+ certification under my belt, and should have Network+ done by july or so. A+ was pretty easy, but defiantly be sure to purchase vouchers online for the test, it makes everything a lot cheeper and you also get practice exams with it, which help a lot for the obscure stuff you need to know. Network+ seems a little more difficult, but it's a great primer into the world of networking. Teachers you quite a bit of stuff from the ground up, a great jumping off point. The reason I like getting certifications is because as a student, I work durring the summers rather then take classes. I can simply work on these on the side ,which in the end will help to set me apart from my competition come graduation time. Plus, like I mentioned before, it's a good way to learn a particular subject from start to finish and you get something that confirms you know the required topics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armadaender Posted June 11, 2006 Author Share Posted June 11, 2006 What's "A+", for us non-americans? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comptia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabath Posted June 11, 2006 Share Posted June 11, 2006 Phd's in what Metatron? :?: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metatron Posted June 11, 2006 Share Posted June 11, 2006 Phd's in what Metatron? :?: Electrical Engineering and Applied Mathematics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armadaender Posted June 12, 2006 Author Share Posted June 12, 2006 Phd's in what Metatron? :?: Applied Mathematics. I just threw up in my mouth a little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BraytonAK Posted June 12, 2006 Share Posted June 12, 2006 I have three, although one is kind of odd. I studied for the A+ for a month and passed, then studied for the Network+ for a month and passed that. I then started a job as a contracted repair person for Dell and HP equipment. My Dell certification (DCSE) is my third, although it is pretty limited. After leaving the Dell repair job after a month (because the pay was shite), it's clear that Certifications aren't nearly as valuable as the amount of work experience you have in the field you want. It's frustrating when you don't have any to show prospective employers. They want to see it as work history. If Experience is the British Pound, Certifications are the Mexican Peso. It seems that certifications are good for employers who have generalized HR people doing the hiring. They're told to look for certain qualifications and they go by it. Or employers who don't quite know what they mean, but they sure sound good. My Dell job was granted as a chance to get a start. I need another one of those, just one that pays enough to actually pay rent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armadaender Posted June 12, 2006 Author Share Posted June 12, 2006 My Dell job was granted as a chance to get a start. I need another one of those, just one that pays enough to actually pay rent. That's a problem I'm currently experiencing. There are quite a few employeers in my area looking for entry level IT people but they won't even look at me without certifications under my belt because I don't ahve any real-work experience. Although, I know more about computers than anyone I have ever met at Best buy's 'geek squad' (sorry to anyone of you who may work there, I just can't stand them) but no employer will take a chance with me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrison Posted June 12, 2006 Share Posted June 12, 2006 no certs here it's possible my job may want me to get a few SAP ones for resume though. Other than that I have no plans to get certs on my own Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armadaender Posted June 12, 2006 Author Share Posted June 12, 2006 no certs hereit's possible my job may want me to get a few SAP ones for resume though. Other than that I have no plans to get certs on my own Oh yeah, the sap cert. I'll probably get that done through my school as well as they tend to have those classes available for half the price as it have normally been. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy© Posted June 12, 2006 Share Posted June 12, 2006 Noooooo not SAP well in the UK anyway I LMAO at that firm... (I knew some people working in it) easy way to make money though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BraytonAK Posted June 12, 2006 Share Posted June 12, 2006 no certs hereit's possible my job may want me to get a few SAP ones for resume though. Other than that I have no plans to get certs on my own SAP? As in SAP, the company, which competes against PeopleSoft and other business managment software? Or is this another acronym I don't know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy© Posted June 12, 2006 Share Posted June 12, 2006 SAP? As in SAP, the company, which competes against PeopleSoft and other business managment software? Or is this another acronym I don't know? Well I assumed they mean't that one too ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BraytonAK Posted June 12, 2006 Share Posted June 12, 2006 Yeah, it's hard to get anyone to take a chance on you. I almost had a cake job at a local Pharmacy company making a good wage, but I was beat out by someone with the precious Experience. If I had as much Experience as I do certifications, I wouldn't need the certifications. You have to network to get into some of these places. A friend of a friend, or someone in the "know". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrison Posted June 12, 2006 Share Posted June 12, 2006 SAP? As in SAP, the company, which competes against PeopleSoft and other business managment software? Or is this another acronym I don't know? Yep that is the one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metatron Posted June 12, 2006 Share Posted June 12, 2006 Yeah, it's hard to get anyone to take a chance on you. I almost had a cake job at a local Pharmacy company making a good wage, but I was beat out by someone with the precious Experience. If I had as much Experience as I do certifications, I wouldn't need the certifications.You have to network to get into some of these places. A friend of a friend, or someone in the "know". With a bit of creative rewriting of your CV you can increase your chance of getting the job. A few of my friends list me as a reference and say they have worked for me, if anyone calls I just back them up with a good reference. The trick is to get a friend to help you out, most companies don’t look that far into peoples backgrounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooper Posted June 12, 2006 Share Posted June 12, 2006 It's actually been my experience that they don't start checking references until you fuck up, like, BAAAD bad. Might be a .nl thing. You start with trust and get to ruin it rather than start with nothing and try to build it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 I have my Bachelors Degree (Major: Comp. Networking, Minor: Comp. Sci.), Network+, and RHCT (for work) I may work on my Security+ because that is what I'd like to get into for a career. Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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