I am considering getting A+ certified.

EvilDonnyboy

Banned
Jul 28, 2000
1,103
0
0
i want to get a good job (for a 15 year old) in the computer area.

and A+ (then A++) certification seems to be a good step in that direction.

I already know enough to probably pass the exams but i'm gonna take the learning course anywaz.

So should I know something about A+ before signing up? Is A+ useful for jobs? remember i'm just 15 but i'll be 16 this summer, when i'll start a job.
 

JokerF15

Golden Member
Mar 6, 2000
1,464
0
0
i wanna take it too, im in cali, and want to know where i can take the tests, is there a website or something where i can register for it.

well hope we gets some responses
 

shawn_16

Banned
Oct 9, 1999
1,114
0
0
Ask your computer tech/repair teacher
I plan on taking the A+ test when I get $2?? to take it
I heard that you need to learn a lot about laser printers
 

Duckers

Platinum Member
Mar 30, 2000
2,089
1
0
with an A+ certificate you can probably become a 'technician' at Best Buy or CompUSA.
 

_Nauht_

Member
Jan 18, 2000
48
0
0
I'm sure the A+ certif is very good to have, as many people are looking for computer techies. Heck our school board only has a COUPLE of them to look after thousands of computers around the city in ALL the schools. I'm a 17 year old, in Gr 13 (we have Gr 13 here in Ontario Canada) and since I'm a techie myself, I help out with my school's library computers and else where. Since you're only 15, I don't know if they will even let you in.. maybe they have those 'at least 18' policies or you'll need at least a high school diploma to move on, similar to college or university.
 

Dude1

Junior Member
Oct 5, 2000
5
0
0
The test as of 2 years ago was $256.00, thats $128/test. I beleave that may have gone up. For info on the A+ go to comptia.com
 

bigshooter

Platinum Member
Oct 12, 1999
2,157
0
71
I took it, it's pretty worthless unless you want to be a computer tech at best buy, or compusa or something like someone said earlier. I wouldn't spend money on it, just try to get a job without it first, ask them if they would like you to have it, and then only take it if necessary. The only reason I took it was because I was working on my mcse and scheduled to take the NT4 Workstation test and the A+ on same day. Just wanted more to put on my resume than mcp at the time.
 

RayEarth

Senior member
Apr 15, 2000
862
0
0
I took that test back in the end of 98, cost a total of $250, but now they have another cert called network + which I think would help you out more, I still have the 2nd edition book for the A+ kit, totally useless, now the technology in there is so outdated, they talk about the Pentium 3 as a dream, & the pentium 2 are barely in the 500mhz at the time of this book, the dos/windows book talks about win98 as the next os, while they still talk about win 3.11 & win95, technicians are a dead end job, that's what my teachers said when i was trying to get the A+ cert, they said we get paid more in the start, it was words like those that inspired me, i haven't even tried to become a tech at best buy or compusa, the 1st job I had paid so low & the customer that didn't know nothing about computer or thought they knew it all be saying, I've been in this field for 15years, don't tell me I'm wrong, are a needle in the azz to talk/work with, I want to reply with, hope you get stuck with another 15 years without a raise. Building a computer for yourself is fun, even for a friend it's fun, but building a computer for days,months & years isn't fun because when there's a lot of orders, you have to build the same system config over & over & that can be boring, it's not like there's a new product coming out everyday that would make it more fun, I agree with bigshooter, you should try to get a tech job without the degree 1st, if you get it you save yourself $250, & don't go to school to get the A+, buy a book, & a software prep test & the laser printer part of the test just test you about the 7 cycles of the laser printer & common problems it has, it doesn't teach you everything you need to know to fix it. Don't stay as a technician too long, it can make you have a bad temper when all these people with all these common problems come asking for help & not all of them are polite, sometimes I wonder why aren't they polite, the technicians didn't cause the problem but the anger is alway directed at the technicians that are here to help, something that should keep you happy while you're looking for a job is the fact the are so many frustrated people with computer problems & not enough techs to help them & so they can't let their anger out on the wrong person.
 

randypj

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
2,078
0
0
I am A+ and went thru MCSE, and live in a major metro area. My observations:

1. I would have loved to have a tech job at age 16, rather than mowing lawns and working at McD's through high school.
2. A+ got my foot in the door at an organization of 5000+. We were doing a 1,000 pc rollout. It was good, initial experience.
3. My corporate experience has opened up other doors for me. Nice thing is, I can always tell them to take a hike, and know I can get another job.
4. I would also suggest, if you go the A+ route, don't take a class. Not needed if you use this forum. Chances are you know almost enough already. I spent 4 hours reading up on the laser printer steps and SCSI, then took the test. They probably still have A+ brain dumps you can look at to see what type of questions are being asked on the tests. I think the comptia site may have sample questions. Yes, they are that easy.
5. Sure, you may not want to stay as a tech, but, it's a way to get EXPERIENCE for your resume.
6. I imagine working as a tech at the retail level would be a major pain. If I had to go that route, I think I would check out some cloners in my area first. Especially if you don't need all the bennies that go with a corporate job.
7. It has been suggested in other threads to try libraries, universities, etc. Might be a good way to go. If you are fortunate enough to get in with a large organization, and have interest and good work ethic, other positions will open up for you.
8. LOL......in a non-retail tech job, techs are often thought of as gods when they come to reinstall a video driver....or, reboot to Safe Mode. In a large organization, the majority of users don't know hardware, and are even at least half scared of the pc. Yeah, I bet retail would be a real pain.
9. The only way I can think of that would be better, is if you are wanting to get into graphic design or web design and can find a job as an intern. However, you would probably still need some experience, like working on a school web site. This is what my niece does. She doesn't know jack about hardware and doesn't want to.
10. One last thing. You will probably find that network people don't know jack about the hardware end. Often they don't have to. But they sure can sound ridiculous when they try to talk hardware.
--Randy
 

jinsonxu

Golden Member
Aug 19, 2000
1,370
0
0
Dang, A+ is expensive!

Rayearth, you sounded pretty down about your job. Is it really that hard? If the customer goes too hard on you, you could always mutter about the short somewhere between the keyboard and the chair....
 

miken

Senior member
Mar 22, 2000
710
0
0
Take a look at monster.com they usually have alot of jobs for A+ folks, around $12-$13 an hour. A+ is only a stepping stone for MCSE/CNE. Mostly break/fix work until you bust into the MIS field.
 

certifyexpress

Senior member
May 30, 2000
211
0
0
At age 15 with A+ hmmm....

I suggest you get a college degree first before venturing into certification, thou it no harm getting the cert but getting a tech job at the age of 15 is not quite a easy task.

check out my certification discussion forum, and ask around.
 

Rigoletto

Banned
Aug 6, 2000
1,207
0
0
6 months ago I was talking to a tutor in a computer tech who took MCSE for NT4 and went on to do a teaching certificate in it.
MCSE is not immediately VERY profitable, and he started off "fishing out sandwhiches from a school's drives". People want to see evidence that you could look after gear and servers, not just a certificate any spotty kid could get.
I think he is on £20-30K a year right now. Not the highest computer earner I know but job is not that hard.

>edit< I think that the actual MCSE is good value compared to a college course providing you don't pay for a school, only the exams. I would take it but am too lazy to get out of bed.
 

superbaby

Senior member
Aug 11, 2000
464
0
0
A+ will only land you tech support/help desk jobs. However since you are 15 that's really good experience but be careful not to get STUCK doing help desk the rest of your life. I know a couple friends who have technical qualifications and tech support job descriptions usually look good in the paper ads but once you are there it can be some of the most boring stuff you've ever done.

I think you should try it out but just keep it as experience and don't go down that route. It's a thankless job, you'll get your weekly paycheck but that's about it. You'll spend your days digging through MS Knowledge Base or MSDN and browsing the web. However you'll need this technical experience as any higher IT job (such as developer, analyst) assumes you have these skills. Otherwise how can you expect to program, if you don't even know how your computer works? You can also be your own help desk so you don't have to wait for their slow asses to come over :)

&quot;Network Support&quot; is a pretty cool title but keep in mind you are still &quot;support&quot;. The industry needs them but there are limits to how far you will go in your career.