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Computer Certifications

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PloKoon

Junior Member
ok i'm at a turning point in my life where i can really make good with what i have here. i've been given about 3 months to do just straight certifications full time, in hope that it will help me land a job that's not the regular technical support helpdesk slob work, which i've been doing for the past 5 years.

i definately would like to be involved with system administration, network administration, etc, anything really in the IT field would make me happy.

alot of people believe that the MCSE certs are overrated, and personally i see some of that myself with my previous jobs, folks would have these and be doing the same exact work i was, and i had nothing!

i already have the hardware portion of the A+, so i need to finish up the OS portion and that will be complete, but next i'm thinking about taking on Cisco.

there's a lot of Cisco exams out there, and from what i understand they become obsolete within 3 years where you need to retake them, i may be wrong... but from glancing at open jobs that seems to be where it's at.

anybody have any suggestions? i've got some time to think about it and would like to get some opinions from those who are currently in these types of positions or have used these certs to get their foot in the door, because we all know alot of employers want experience over degree.

what do you think the most sought-after techs will be in the next year or two?
what would be the best certs to get in the long run?

thanks!
 
what do you think the most sought-after techs will be in the next year or two?
Click to expand...
The one who does the most work, for the least money.
Also, must wear multiple hats.
 
Agreed...a computer engineering, MIS, or equivalent B.S. from a college or university will put you in the running over any graduate of a "computer training Cisco and Microsoft certification school" out there.
 
well i don't really have the time to go to school to get a degree, so i'm having to stick with certifications at the moment.
i know that a degree will override certifications as far as employers go, but like i said i'm limited to certifications unfortunately.

the CCIE seems like a good shot, would it require any previous cisco certs, like ccda, ccdp, etc?
 
A friend of mine has his B.S. in Management, and he completed 3 or 4 Cisco Network Administration Certificate Programs.. His salary > $120K at age 28. Pretty good IMO.
 
BS in Business Administration followed by a CISSP certification. My friend recently graduated college with such credentials and landed a job making 6-figures right out of school.
 
Originally posted by: dtyn
BS in Business Administration followed by a CISSP certification. My friend recently graduated college with such credentials and landed a job making 6-figures right out of school.
Click to expand...

Don't you have to have a minimum of 3 years professional experience in Information Security to even take the CISSP?
 
Originally posted by: aves2k
Originally posted by: dtyn
BS in Business Administration followed by a CISSP certification. My friend recently graduated college with such credentials and landed a job making 6-figures right out of school.
Click to expand...

Don't you have to have a minimum of 3 years professional experience in Information Security to even take the CISSP?
Click to expand...

4 years without a degree, 3 with. But internships are counted as experience.
 
jesus,

I'm taking the Cisco Academy CCNA and just completed module 1. Even having the experience running my own IT business, some of the stuff was new or phrased differently...

I can't see anyone even remotely considering doing the CCIE in a 3 month course... without even having any experience...

 
In the long run, I would definitely recommend MCSE and CCNP (or CCIE, but this is extremely difficult). I believe that neither Cisco nor MS will go away anytime soon.

However, it is important to note that spending the money to get MCSE certified without having the requisite experience to go along with it probably won't provide a quick ROI. Many companies have been screwed by people who were supposedly qualified based on certifications, but didn't have the experience to back it up.

Having the certification may get you in the door, but it won't take long before they start asking you questions about specific scenarios. In many cases, the only way to know the answer is to have experienced it before; studying a book or CBT won't necessarily provide someone with the ability to troubleshoot a network issue.

The most sought-after techs will be those will a variety of skills. Most companies simply don't have the money to pay a dedicated Exchange admin and a dedicated SQL admin and a dedicated Cisco specialist. The person who can do all or most of these things will be the best candidate for these positions.

The best advice I can provide is to just set up a test network and go at it. Try anything and everything. Break it, fix, then break it again. With Cisco products, you may want to get a simulation product to save you some money on actual equipment. There are several of these available. As far as certifications, I would finish your A+, then perhaps get some of the lower level MS exams and maybe the CCNA. Be advised, the CCNA is a tough exam and should not be attempted without A LOT of study.

Good luck!
 
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