Certifications

[JM Aggie08]

So i'm over 1/2 of my way through my CIS degree, and am trying to find a way to make my summer productive. A thought that came to my head was getting one or a couple certifications in various areas, ie Dell cert, Apple cert, CCNA, etc.

What I ask to you, ATOT, is if getting certifications like the ones mentioned are worth my while. I've got nothing going on this summer besides full time work, and I already have an internship lined up for next summer (fingers crossed.) So, would I be wasting my time and money trying to become certified?

And with that, I leave you with a :awe:

 

[invidia]

Only if it helps your internship/job. Not worth time and money if you are not doing anything related to the cert.

 

[JM Aggie08]

bump

 

[Pantlegz]

It really depends on what you want to do, I think the CCNA and MCSE are both 2 o r3 year certs so be prepared to take them again before or shortly after you graduate. But those are the 2 that I would suggest. As for the dell/apple/whatever I wouldn't owrry about it unless you need it for a job. I applied for a job that 'required' the dell cert apparently you can take it over and over they just sit you in a room untill you get it right and it's apparently pretty easy anyway. A+ is another cert that MAY help get your foot in the door but might not be worth the money if you have other certs and or a dgree..

 

[Spineshank]

Depends on what you really want to do. I have A+ and Network+ but do Telcom now so A+ isnt really relevant to me anymore. Network+ isnt that much either since I am not doing VOIP..yet anyhow. Once that kicks in ill be going for CCNA and so on and so forth.

 

[Cable God]

Network+ isnt that much either since I am not doing VOIP..yet anyhow. Once that kicks in ill be going for CCNA and so on and so forth.

Net+ isn't a "VOIP" related cert. It's a very basic networking certification that you can build on. Think of it as the "foundation" upon which you build a house.

 

[bas1c]

I wouldn't waste time with Dell cert and the CCNA I would hold off until you get a couple years of experience. You should try for CCENT which is the cert before CCNA and also Network+. Network+ you can use as credit towards CCNA and MCSE when you decide to go for that. I believe starting January of next year A+, Network+, and Security+ are no longer lifetime cert. If you want to have to recertify for those, I'd get them before 2011.

 

[TechBoyJK]

If you have the time, studying for the certs and taking them will only benefit you. It doesn't hurt to have them on your resume. It's also important to get real world experience. Having a degree and a bunch of certs but no experience will just look kinda weird.

 

[Pantlegz]

Having a degree and a bunch of certs but no experience will just look kinda weird.

Not really, especially in this economy. It's kinda hard to get IT related jobs without a degree or certs. Maybe a help desk position if you're lucky which would be a decent place to start but I don't think it would be strange to see a resume with a degree and a few certs with little or no work experience.

 

[James Bond]

If you have the time, studying for the certs and taking them will only benefit you. It doesn't hurt to have them on your resume. It's also important to get real world experience. Having a degree and a bunch of certs but no experience will just look kinda weird.

Uhh, no.

 

[Spineshank]

Net+ isn't a "VOIP" related cert. It's a very basic networking certification that you can build on. Think of it as the "foundation" upon which you build a house.

Hence why i said it isnt really related but its still networking related.

 

[bas1c]

Uhh, no.

If you have "advanced" certs like MCSE and CCNA with no experience it will look weird. Ever hear of paper Network Engineer?

 

[txrandom]

The company I interned with last summer paid for me to take the CCNA exam although I did to it on my own time before beginning working them. I didn't have too much experience in networking still being in school, but it's definitely passable if you put the time into studying the concepts inside and out.

Obtaining a CCNA directly led to me getting a job offer with one of the big US oil companies, so I would say go for it.

 

[child of wonder]

When I was interviewing people for a Sys Admin position I ignored any A+, Network+, etc. certs they had. They're pretty much irrelevant. I just ask questions during the interview to gauge their level of expertise.

My advice, go after a bigger cert or nothing at all.