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How's this sound for my cert. schedule?

A

Audiofight

Platinum Member
I need to start racking up Certifications.....the more the merrier. But, being that I am unemployed, money is kinda scarce.....so I need as many as possible for as little as possible.

I am thinking this is the schedule:

3/18 - Network+ exam = Network+ cert, duh 🙂
3/25 - A+ exam #1
4/1 - A+ exam #2 = A+ cert
4/8 or 4/15 - Microsoft 70-270 exam = MCP cert

That will net me 3 certs within a month and then all I have to take are the 70-290 & 70-291 exams to snag my MCSA on Server 2003. I should be able to nail those ones down by early May if I keep at it.

If I hit total unemployment (I have some side projects to pay the bills right now), then I will alot of free time to study up and accelerate this schedule.

What do you guys think? Any suggestions for different plan of attack?

My background is in WindowsXP Pro. OS rollouts and help desk support. I also have experience supporting MAS90 on Win98/2000/XP as well as other 3rd party software used around the office on both Win2k/XP platforms. I have designed and built all of my computers for the past 5 years as well as all the desktops at the company I sub-contract to and for a good portion of my professors when I was in college.
 
High school certification = diploma?

Yes. I graduated high school obviously as well as having a Bachelor's in Computer Information Systems.

I am having difficulty finding employment in Michigan b/c the job market is tough, I have nearly 5 yrs experience and no certs. This makes me
"over qualified" for most entry-level help desks and companies want certs. to get above that level.

At least, this is what the recruiters are telling me. Go back and grab some certs. and then things will change for the better
 
Im not sure how much certifications help you in the job market. I have WinXP, A+, and got damn close to the networking+ one. No one seems to care. Experience comes in first. Certs are nice but I belive employers think of them as a 'bonus' and not an asset.
 
Originally posted by: Jynx980
Im not sure how much certifications help you in the job market. I have WinXP, A+, and got damn close to the networking+ one. No one seems to care. Experience comes in first. Certs are nice but I belive employers think of them as a 'bonus' and not an asset.
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It depends on the area, I'm finding a lot of people where I am now (Pittsburgh) seem to care about them while they were essentially worthless in Oregon.

I would personally skip the A+/Network+, those really are worthless (Though I suppose using them as your elective for MCSA might make them slightly less worthless...).

I'm scheduled for the 70-290 on Monday.

Viper GTS
 
Viper GTS

That was my plan.....take one Microsoft exam vs. the A+/Network+ exams for the elective

Granted more tests over all, but 2 more certifications.

Like you said, in Michigan certifications mean something because the job market is soo tough right now and flooded with IT professionals looking for work. When you have two guys with degrees, 4 yrs experience and one has certs and the other doesn't....who do you hire?
 
Certifications had a major impact on my getting my last two jobs, the current one of which is with a profitable, fast growing, high-retention software solution company, so yes, certs help (I'm saying this not to brag, but rather negate the certs-suck statement that people love to make in these threads).
 
Um if you have a bachelor's, then i'm assuming the job you want isn't going to be a technician at Best Buy? If so, then forget those A+, and get the MCSE or something.
But if you have a bachelor already, just get a job in a low position, heck, even tech support, and work your way up the tiers. Infact, a lot of companies will pay for your certifications, and even classes, if you wish to get those.
 
Hardcore

I haven't even been able to land an interview for these help desk and support type jobs. I've gone to some recruiters to get some advice and they told me the same thing. I am over qualified for an entry-level job. Companies are afraid to hire me b/c they know I will either expect a promotion and pay raise soon or else leave and take a better job right away. They don't want me to leave 2 months after hiring or something when an offer appears.

I have 3 yrs as a first tier help desk technician and almost 2 yrs as a system administrator before getting laid off. I finished my XP rollout, ironed a couple bugs and now I am unemployed.

Entry level help desk positions look pretty good to me, but I can't even get considered. I would go for my MCSE, but I can't afford to take 7 tests for one certification. It will take too long before I get my cert and I don't have the money for it now.
 
Originally posted by: Audiofight
Hardcore

I haven't even been able to land an interview for these help desk and support type jobs. I've gone to some recruiters to get some advice and they told me the same thing. I am over qualified for an entry-level job. Companies are afraid to hire me b/c they know I will either expect a promotion and pay raise soon or else leave and take a better job right away. They don't want me to leave 2 months after hiring or something when an offer appears.

I have 3 yrs as a first tier help desk technician and almost 2 yrs as a system administrator before getting laid off. I finished my XP rollout, ironed a couple bugs and now I am unemployed.

Entry level help desk positions look pretty good to me, but I can't even get considered. I would go for my MCSE, but I can't afford to take 7 tests for one certification. It will take too long before I get my cert and I don't have the money for it now.
Click to expand...

I hope you've at least dumbed your resume down when applying for those jobs.

Tune your resume to the job you're applying for, give them just what they need to want you.

Viper GTS
 
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Certifications had a major impact on my getting my last two jobs, the current one of which is with a profitable, fast growing, high-retention software solution company, so yes, certs help (I'm saying this not to brag, but rather negate the certs-suck statement that people love to make in these threads).
Click to expand...

What certs do you have? What type of job is it? Why did they say it was important?
 
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