CCNA or MCSE

[kh3443]

I'm not a big fan of Microsoft, but do need my MCSE for personal reasons. But should I aim for my CCNA first through one of those training schools and then get my MCSE. Is it worth my time and money?

 

[yoda291]

If you need an mcse, I hardly see the point of putting it off. The CCNA is generally unrelated to the MCSE IIRC.

 

[BunLengthHotDog]

CCNA would be good to get a basis for networking. MCSE will cover much more than that (Windows, SQL, Exchange etc etc), but doesnt typically dig very deep.

I would suggest doing CCNA in preperation for either CCNP (network professional) or CCSP (security professional...which btw will be a HUGE market very soon). Keep in mind though that both markets are pretty saturated with people who have certs AND experience due to the economic situation. Right now the best of the best are out there looking for jobs. Dont expect to get hired just because you carry one or the other...heck, even both.

Good Luck

 

[mrCide]

IT market sucks for everyone.. gotta know people

 

[JeffSpicoli]

Don't waste your time. This is no longer a career.

 

[melly]

you can just buy a book and teach yourself mcse, but i'd go for the ccna if you really really really want to do this.

 

[edro]

Originally posted by: JeffSpicoli
Don't waste your time. This is no longer a career.

You people are retarded..... I am sick of all this "There are no computer related jobs anymore.... get a degree in Economics...". There are plenty of networking jobs out there. For those of you who can't get the jobs, you obviously aren't trying.

 

[MustangSVT]

Originally posted by: edro13

Originally posted by: JeffSpicoli
Don't waste your time. This is no longer a career.

You people are retarded..... I am sick of all this "There are no computer related jobs anymore.... get a degree in Economics...". There are plenty of networking jobs out there. For those of you who can't get the jobs, you obviously aren't trying.

huh? enlighten us please!

 

[Muck]

There are jobs out there. But they aren't just handing them out. And many of them don't pay jack. Just because you can't find a job doesn't mean you aren't looking. Many times those jobs are a step down.

 

[Storm]

Originally posted by: Muck
There are jobs out there. But they aren't just handing them out. And many of them don't pay jack. Just because you can't find a job doesn't mean you aren't looking. Many times those jobs are a step down.

Its most definitely an employers market so they can get the best people at a lower rate.

 

[calpha]

Originally posted by: Storm

Originally posted by: Muck
There are jobs out there. But they aren't just handing them out. And many of them don't pay jack. Just because you can't find a job doesn't mean you aren't looking. Many times those jobs are a step down.

Its most definitely an employers market so they can get the best people at a lower rate.

The IT market will always be a market. What we're getting rid of now are the joe plumbers and painters who thought it'd be a simple job to get their cert, and make that magical 50K a year.

The job market sucks for me right now, but if I was in school now, I'd do the same thing. Yah, jobs are hard to find, but hopefully this drastic downturn will help to get rid of a lot of the incompetents that were just coding ASP pages because they could, or Jacky Brown, former CPA, now network admin type of people.

FWIW, unless you have experience, the certs don't mean jack. THere was a programming position in the town where I got my first job, and they were looking for people w/ 2 yrs experience to work for $35k max, which is a good 10% LESS then I made fresh out of school. My senior internship was @ $15/hr.

The market for IT will always be there, but like I've recently learned, if you tie yourself to common skills, and easy to find skills, you're easy to replace and easy to overlook. The key is to find something that's NOT ubiquotous, and combine that with the more common skill sets. For crying out loud, I wish I knew COBOL, I've seen 4 or 5 COBOL port positions in the past 3 months.

But anyway. A cert won't hurt you, just don't expect it to be your strongest ally through the front door.

BTW...I'm not saying that unemployed, or struggling people are idiots. I'm one of them. I'm saying when the market stabilizes, and is back in normal mode.....I believe a lot of the idiots will be gone, and the tech employment market overall skill level will be much higher.

 

[kh3443]

Thanks for the Info. I decided to try obtaining my CCNA before MCSE which takes lot more commitment to get. I already have my BA in the field and do have experience, just thought a cert would give me a little more edge in the market.

 

Just treat IT as a skill and keep going.
Just like carpentry, plumbing, automobiles etc..