A+ (Hardware) Certification

[The Pentium Guy]

Woot.

I'm 16 (in a few weeks) and I'm hardware savvy. Just wondering I should get an "A+ Certification", possibly requesting a summer job at a local computer store, or a place like CompUSA.

I really enjoy working with hardware, and enjoy helping people at AnandTech.... I just want to take it a step further and maybe get a job pertianing to hardware.

The verdict? Should I get an A+ Certification (I'd be willing to learn) and get a job? And if so, where (I'm near Central Massachusetts) or what store.

-The Pentium Guy

 

[KillyKillall]

If you've got nothing better to do..sure...it's the easist cert. you'll ever get.

 

[Hossenfeffer]

Originally posted by: KillyKillall
If you've got nothing better to do..sure...it's the easist cert. you'll ever get.

Yep, it's "something" and easy enough to get. The only thing you're out is $100 or so.

 

[BrokenVisage]

And you call yourself the pentium "guy"? You can't even get a permit yet. AMD rules btw!

 

[BRObedoza]

just do it. better than nothing

 

[KillyKillall]

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
And you call yourself the pentium "guy"? You can't even get a permit yet. AMD rules btw!

ROFL! HAHAHAHAH!!! Agreed on the AMD comment.

 

[The Pentium Guy]

Heh. Don't turn this into a flamewar . I've discussed this like 30 times. I thought of this name when I was 10 or so...... and stuck with it. Has nothin to do with Intel/.

 

[Ulfwald]

Take the test it will show that as a young man you are motivated to prove you know your stuff.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Ulfwald
Take the test it will show that as a young man you are motivated to prove you know your stuff.

What he said. Use it as the first step towards more certifications.

 

[The Pentium Guy]

Out of curiosity: What other certifications are there?

 

[Ulfwald]

Network +, Server +, Security +, Microsoft Certifications, Cisco Certifications, By far the easiset ones to get are the CompTIA certs.

 

[chrisms]

B+ cert

 

[The Pentium Guy]

Regarding Microsoft certifications, later this year I was planning on taking MCAD - Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCSD - Microsoft Certified Solution Developer - might come later).

Thanks for the motivation guys,
<Geek>
I'm gonna go out and buy some books regarding these topics
</Geek (We're all geeks if we're on Anandtech>

-The Pentium Guy

 

[Jadow]

why the hell not, go for it. It'll cost you $182 bucks for the tests but there are a lot worse ways for a teenager to blow 182 bucks!

It's very satisfying to get certifications, even the A+. And it's for lifetime, you'll be able to say your certified the rest of your life.

 

[StageLeft]

Yes, although people without certs deride them, the rest of us know that employers do like them.

 

[codeyf]

Side note, I passed today.

Bad news for you, normal price is $145 per test. I'm at MS TechEd in Orlando, and they had a 50% special for the convention, so I saved some dough.

Honestly, I spent more time in the hot tub at the hotel this week than I did studying...but I'm still happy to have it.

 

[Slacker]

:thumbsup:

 

[codeyf]

Heh, best part is, I built it up with the wife to be a bigger deal that it really is.

My reward = 3 BJ's :thumbsup:

 

[imported_Kensai]

:thumbsup: It's usually a requirement for a tech, for who knows what reason. It's made for kids.

 

[monzi]

Talk to your school tech dude--you can take test for 10 dollars, with an educational coupon.

-Monzi

 

[bmacd]

i say pass on it. I'm 22...got mine when i was 16 or 17. It's worthless...carries zero weight. The test is almost retard proof.

-=bmacd=-

 

[Jadow]

i say pass on it. I'm 22...got mine when i was 16 or 17. It's worthless...carries zero weight. The test is almost retard proof.

I'm suprised you passed it then, based on your attitude, you sound like a retard.

 

[gar3555]

You could put the money away in an account, and save it till you go to college, and use the money to start a decent education in Computer/Electrical Eng or Comp Sci, then you could be worth something

 

[newParadigm]

don't waste the money, and def dont take the course, just geta book

 

[ghostman]

Originally posted by: Jadow
i say pass on it. I'm 22...got mine when i was 16 or 17. It's worthless...carries zero weight. The test is almost retard proof.

I'm suprised you passed it then, based on your attitude, you sound like a retard.

Ouch. Why the vicious response? Sounded like a valid opinion.

On topic, the A+ cert might be useful if you apply to a small store job fixing personal computers, but I don't see much value in it for jobs a bigger firms. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't bother.

I got CCNA cert when I was 17 or 18. I think my campus employer was impressed, mainly because he never heard of it and I had to explain it was a Cisco networking certification. It's a fairly minor cert, so a more computer-oriented employer would probably know it doesn't mean much.