A+ Certification?

[Horsep0wer]

most people i have talked to that have it say it's pretty much useless in having. employers look more for experience than they do certifications.

 

[OverVolt]

anyways would A+ be something a lowly 16yr old could use ! i might be able to get a better job than my friends @ minimum wage taking trash to the dumpsters at chik filet.

 

[cbarnes96]

I, myself, whole-heartedly believe in the certs. For one, it really does give you a good insight on PC Repair/Maintenance/Troubleshooting and you get familar with the terms and "background" of the actual component you're working on. Anyone can plug a PCI card into a white slot, but do they really know what's going on in the background? Another, many companies look at resumes and hone in on keywords such as : A+, Net+, MCSE, etc ; In fact I got my job mostly because of being A+.. HR looks for things like that almost as much as they look for hands on experience. There are tons of people who can build a PC, but actually studying and preparing for a test and making something a goal (studying for x amount of time, getting up and sitting in front of a PC at a testing center and showing them what you know) really makes HR comfortable when they hire. On the flipside, I agree that hands on experience means so much more in terms of actually getting a job done. Like mentioned above, get some hands on experience and pick up a Sybex book and study then take your exam. It sure as hell won't hurt your resume, that's for sure!

 

[SP33Demon]

Originally posted by: OverVolt
anyways would A+ be something a lowly 16yr old could use ! i might be able to get a better job than my friends @ minimum wage taking trash to the dumpsters at chik filet.

I'm for it, because it shows that you are competent and motivated enough to go out and get something if you want it bad enough. It says something about your character, in the least... Hey, it helped me get my foot in the door of a hundred million dollar+ company so I guess I'm biased

 

[Scarpozzi]

I don't have a degree yet, though I'm still working on it. I got one of my jobs to pay for my A+ cert. They had a reimbursement and bonus program so I ended up getting around $260 to cover the exams and another $250 for passing the exams. I studied 10 mins for the exam. It's pretty basic. (I just brushed up on those serial port addresses that I always get backwards)

Anyhow, I got a temp job doing Netware Administration so I got my CNA 5 after studying 2 weeks. As soon as a netware administration position opened up, I pounced and got it. Now I have my CNA 6 just to keep up with the times. (plus this one was once again, paid for by the job)

The point is, certs come in handy when you need something in writing to get a job. I don't have a degree so they meant a lot to me in the interview, but I try to stick with certs that don't expire since I don't know when I'll need them. A+, Network+, CNA, CNA, etc all are good for those that don't expire. Microsoft certs are lame because they continuously come out with new versions of tests for buggy software. But they do have the market share to make them worth something. You might find more value in going the microsoft route. If you're doing networking and looking for a job in the next 3 years, shoot for your CCNA and then CCNP.

 

[Ranger X]

Don't even bother with A+ or MCSE. A+ is relatively easy to get from what I'm hearing and it won't help you much in the job market. Too many people have the MCSE and well, this one guy at work studied just the answer sheets to the practice questions and got his in 3 months.

 

[poppyq]

I disagree with what most of you are saying, many times an employer seeing you have a cert can get you in for an interview, but that's it, that's when you actually have to know what you're talking about. Take a look at a lot of job offerings that are out there, you can be perfectly qualified as far as experience and knowledge, but you read the one line that says "A+ required" or "MCSE required" and regardless of the fact that you're probably more experienced than a lot of the people who have those certs, without it you're not even going to be considered. Everyone here is going to have a different opinion, research it a little more, look at job openings and what the employers are looking for in candidates and go from that.

 

[yoda291]

 

[jaynonymous]

IMO, certifications are an important tool to have in your toolbelt in the tech industry. However, it is important to focus on the specific aspect that you want to enter. For example, if you want to be a hardware technician, then I would suggest that you start with the A+. Many people on here have said that it's worthless; however, take a look on the job boards and you will see that many of the available hardware jobs require the A+ certification. I once interviewed for a position where the interviewer asked questions directly from the A+ exam. Microsoft has also released information about their certified desktop support technician.

My opinion on the matter is that if you can take an exam or two to increase your chances of getting a job or getting a raise, do it. I know for a fact that I would not have my current job if it were not for me being certified. Note that a certification is worthless if you don't know what you are doing. Most managers can tell whether you know what you are doing or not. First, decide on your potential career path. Then, base your certification decision on that information. For example, if you want to be a programmer, then it may be more important to get experience than the certification. However, on average, salary surveys indicate that certified professionals make more than their non-certified counterparts. Good luck on your decision!

 

[AdamSnow]

I'm all for the certifications.

I was working at a job making around 650 a month... I went and got A+, and my MCP... and I'm already upgraded to making 650 a WEEK.

Not very much, but not very bad for a 20 year old saving some cash up... and very worth the $600 I spent on testing. heh

That's just one mans opinion.