Hooray! I'm finally scheduled for the A+/A+OS tests!

[LeeTJ]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
My first steps towards getting certs, including MCSE. I'm taking them on Wednesday. Going to go to Borders, find a study book and just read it.

At this point, after building and configuring about 100 systems, running W2K server at home, setting up a few offices with their own networks (DNS/DHCP/WINS/etc) I don't think I'll have too much of a problem with the tests.

Hooray for me!

Before you say it, I know, I know.

the hardest MCSE exam for me was the active directory one. the Group policies kills me. God I hate that stuff. it's not only that i never use it. I just hate it. It really sux.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: josphII
my company laughs at it

I expected some prick to come in to the thread with nonsense like that but am surprised it happened so early on.

MIkey my boy, dont waste your $$ on the A+. I took an acutal course befoer I got into IT, but never took the tests. It wont help you get a job in IT at all. Not even crack a tiny door open for u!

Your response was not intended to belittle somebody in a sad attempt to make your own life seem meaningful so I will go easier on you

I want to tell you all a story. Back in 2001 it was mid-July and I'd been out of work now for 6.5 months. During that time I'd spent some time getting some software certs and I ended up getting my MCSD by then. I finally got a job down in the US and I know that a _major_ reason I got the job was because of my certs. In actual fact studying for a cert (as opposed to reading the dumps) does prepare you in the area. No, it doesn't equal experience (although experience alone isn't always worth so much if you're doing the same thing all day), but you do learn something.

If I was hiring would I care about certs? Yes. I wouldn't use them as the be all and end all but if I have two apparently equal person and one bothered to go out and get something on paper I'll give him the edge. Notice how many university grads are doing nothing related to their field? Same sort of idea - it shows the person put in the time and has the brains to get the degree. Certs are like a smaller version.

For better or for worse my current boss loves certs. They cost the company $125 per cert, which is minimal, and he gets to tell potential clients that the consultants he's billing out are certified. Oh, and also if enough employees in a smallish company are certified in the right ways the company itself can call itself "Microsoft certified", and get one of those funny plaques to put on the wall in the waiting room.

Certs are normally only a small part but you're not seeing the bigger picture if you think that $100-125 for a single cert (some cost more) is not worth it. It's a great resume builder.

 

[MichaelD]

Hey cool; my thread is resurrected! :beer:

My thanks to all the well-wishers; your thoughts mean a lot to me. Really.

I too have found the OS portion to be a BITCH. There, I said it. It sucks. I studied the book and did the CBT today at work (shh, don't tell them!) and tonight, my GF came over and tested me, verbally. I did pretty well!

Tomorrow at work (shh, again!) I'll read the book some more and tomorrow night is crammy-cram time. I feel good about the test...not confident, but good. The hardware part, I've got down. I'll have the OS part down in time to pass with flying colors. <---optimism, optimism, etc...