Currently A+ and Network+ certified.....next step?

[solgae1784]

Hi,

I just finished up my second year of college, working towards comp. engr bacholer degree. I wasn't able to get a job for this summer, so I'm working on certificates, while keep looking for a job. Currently, I got certified on both A+ and Network+, which I believe is a good starting step towards more advanced certs.

Before you start to flame me, I'm well aware that college degree is more important. But I don't have anything else to do for this summer, and I'm highly interested on working on the IT field. I have a lot of experience on computers (15 years to be exact. I still remember working on DOS and even Macintosh Plus) and always helped people troubleshooting computer problems, but I never even had a help desk job. The computer intern class from high school for 2 years is all I have for job experience (and it's not even a proper job. It was a class) So I'm thinking that getting at least some certifications would help me.

I'm planning to do either Microsoft or Cisco. Which one should I move on to?

 

[xaeniac]

Get a tech job now: You need experience

 

[wbresson]

geek squad

 

[RedCOMET]

Originally posted by: xaeniac
Get a tech job now: You need experience

Does your school help you with internships or co-operative education program? get involved with that and work on your resume.


(I need to get info from my school about internships/co-op jobs)
PS: I'm trying for Comp Engr Degree also.

 

[GhettoFob]

get a jorb

 

[solgae1784]

anyone know where do I apply for geek squad?

And can anyone critique my resume?

 

[Ns1]

kill yourself now knowing that you'll get nowhere with those certs

<---A+ certified and it's not worth the paper it's printed on


EDIT

more or less, with the IT field in general, you're just gonna have to get lucky and know somebody to get a job....everybody and their mom is certified so you're just gonna have to get the experience to back that up

 

[wiredspider]

get a job, certs aren't worthy to wipe me rear end

 

[cjgallen]

3. Profit

 

[mosco]

Originally posted by: NeuroSynapsismore or less, with the IT field in general, you're just gonna have to get lucky and know somebody to get a job....everybody and their mom is certified so you're just gonna have to get the experience to back that up

Thats like where I work now and how I got my internship last summer. Almost the whole development team was from one company, and then the next wave of people were from another company, and the next wave from another company. Its just a cycle of people recommending people from past jobs and them getting the job. So now if this company ever fails, I will know a ton of people that I can get jobs through.

 

[Nitemare]

Intern

 

[TechBoyJK]

if you have the cash, go kill inet+. it will take a night or two of study.

go to techexams.net and mcmcse.com for study material and practice tests.

Get a tech support job. Soon, cause the certs do matter, but they have ten times the impact if you have experience to compliment them.

I'd suggest looking at the following

MCP
MCSA
MCSE
CCNA
Linux+
Server+
Security+

If I were you, id knock out Security+ and Linux+ soon, and then tackle MCSA. Then do CCNA. At that point, with some experience, your set for even a good entry level support job with decent pay.

 

[yllus]

Honestly, I'd say to hell with certifications that will mean little once you have your degree - intern or volunteer. The real working experience you gain from those will mean much more to your resume than a few certs.

 

[randumb]

CCNA for net cert
look at the MS certs

 

[TechBoyJK]

Originally posted by: yllus
Honestly, I'd say to hell with certifications that will mean little once you have your degree - intern or volunteer. The real working experience you gain from those will mean much more to your resume than a few certs.

how competitive does one feel like being in the workplace? I've gotten ten certs now, and I can't wait to have 20. unfortunately, life choices caused me to have to quit college, so certs are all i have currently to differentiate myself from the rest.

I think degree+experience=$$ but I also think that degree+experience+certs=$$$$$$

 

[yllus]

It's always going to be a case-by-case basis. For a person in college working towards a degree anyways, I'd think that volunteering time in his field would be much more valuable than spending that same time getting a certification or two. Would a potential employer be more likely to ask you to expand on what you learned for a certification, or what you learned working in the field at job X?

 

[CVSiN]

Microsoft next becasue you will need OS knowledge and certs...

and your A+/Net+ count as electives for MCSA and MCSE 2003 tracks...
but you will need real world exp to pass and undertand these...

get into the field..
and btw... its not too late to change fields...
this field is completely packed and oversaturated...

I'm an A+ Net+ Security+ MCSE2003 with 10 years exp in desktop support and in the NOC and right now Im stuck working at a Oil Company's helpdesk waiting on one of peeps that has been here for 20 years to retire so I can move up..

job market is very tough for IT.. change your major now and save yourself some pain..

 

[TechBoyJK]

Originally posted by: CVSiN
I'm an A+ Net+ Security+ MCSE2003 with 10 years exp in desktop support and in the NOC and right now Im stuck working at a Oil Company's helpdesk waiting on one of peeps that has been here for 20 years to retire so I can move up..

prolly better than an ASE certified mechanic with ten years experience having to work at valvoline oil changing place.

I'm 25, have A+, Net+, iNet+, Server+, MCSA, and am going for Security+ soon, followed by the next two exams I need for MCSE. I rather enjoy knowing that I'm set for even a minimal helpdesk job that will prolly provide insurance and an air conditioned environment to spend my time in. Not the best, but better than many things.

 

[PawNtheSandman]

Best advice is get out of the IT field while you still can. It is tough. Find a different major. There is a huge demand and huge pay for Nurses, Audioligists and Speech Patholigists.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

BS in CS, no certs, $$$$$

no one i work with has any certs either (that im aware of). maybe they are good for helpdesk jobs

 

[tami]

ideally, get a job.

if you want to do MS administration, then get the MCSE.

if you want to do cisco switch and router administration, then get the CCNA.

look at job listings and see what is in greater demand. work from there.

 

[Leper Messiah]

CCNA (Cisco) or sercurity+

A+/Net+ are kinda like drivers' licenses. Having one doesn't mean much, but you need it to get where you're going.

 

[tami]

Originally posted by: L3p3rM355i4h
CCNA (Cisco) or sercurity+

A+/Net+ are kinda like drivers' licenses. Having one doesn't mean much, but you need it to get where you're going.

sadly, they should mean a little more, since they are helpful in many ways. a lot of people think they are just hype, but first, one needs to get one and see what kind of experience is gained by getting one.

i'm A+ certified and took a class in net+. i learned a LOT of stuff i didn't previously know.

 

[CVSiN]

Originally posted by: TechBoyJK

Originally posted by: CVSiN
I'm an A+ Net+ Security+ MCSE2003 with 10 years exp in desktop support and in the NOC and right now Im stuck working at a Oil Company's helpdesk waiting on one of peeps that has been here for 20 years to retire so I can move up..

prolly better than an ASE certified mechanic with ten years experience having to work at valvoline oil changing place.

I'm 25, have A+, Net+, iNet+, Server+, MCSA, and am going for Security+ soon, followed by the next two exams I need for MCSE. I rather enjoy knowing that I'm set for even a minimal helpdesk job that will prolly provide insurance and an air conditioned environment to spend my time in. Not the best, but better than many things.

I agree bro there are worse things out there for sure...

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: solgae1784
I have a lot of experience on computers (15 years to be exact.

How old are you?