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Question : How hard is it to get a tech support gig without a cert?

C

Chu

Banned
Quick summary, I need a summer job, poker is nice but I don't have the nerve to play more then 5 hours a day which means I'd like some supplemental income. I am REALLY good with computer, been building them for 10 years now, and have fixed MANY pc's on campus and even helped others studying for their A+ certs, and worked helpdesk for 2 years now at my university. I also have finished my requirements for a Computer Science degree (saying 1 more semeter to finish MA) The problem is I don't have an A+ cert for my own and just want to work as a tech for 2 months. Anyone know how to go about seeking this job? I know all the big companies won't even touch you without one 🙁

-Chu
 
I'm doing Tech Support without an A+. Sure, I'd like to get it some day when I have the time and spare cash, but it's not required over here in England. Your mileage may vary, but the best thing to do is just send out as many CVs as you can, to as many computer companies as you can, and hope that one of them bites. Some companies will take "un-qualified" (no offence) people on with the intention of training them up the way they want them trained.
Good luck! 🙂
 
It's difficult, but possible. Certifications help give you an advantage over those who don't have them. However, that doesn't mean that certifications are required - you'll just have an easier time finding work when you are certified. The university helpdesk experience will definitely be helpful.
 
Heck, just take the A+ test. It's really easy, only takes like a half hour/forty-five minutes. And it's (IIRC) only $75.
 
The issue is that larger companies tend to hire through a human resources department. These folks don't really know (nor care) what skills you have unless it's through a degree or certificate. They go through a checklist and if you don't meet the minimum requirements, then your application is put aside. Someone with zero skills but has that A+ will get the job instead. So do yourself a favor and just get the certificate, it's not hard and doesn't cost much.
 
Originally posted by: hjo3
Heck, just take the A+ test. It's really easy, only takes like a half hour/forty-five minutes. And it's (IIRC) only $75.
Click to expand...

Could you explain how I go about taking this test in the UK? Is it done through Microsoft, or a training company?
 
Can you get an A+ cert online? And if so, where?

I'm at work so no real time to google - just a quick nef here and there~ 😀

-Ben-
 
Originally posted by: DopeFiend
Originally posted by: hjo3
Heck, just take the A+ test. It's really easy, only takes like a half hour/forty-five minutes. And it's (IIRC) only $75.
Click to expand...

Could you explain how I go about taking this test in the UK? Is it done through Microsoft, or a training company?
Click to expand...
CompTIA's site should have something that will pinpoint your nearest testing center... here:
http://www.comptia.org/certification/general_information/test_locations.asp?type=A
 
Originally posted by: hjo3
Heck, just take the A+ test. It's really easy, only takes like a half hour/forty-five minutes. And it's (IIRC) only $75.
Click to expand...

Woah . . . is this a new price, or some sort of student discount? Last time I looked (which I admit, was like 2 years ago) the price I was quoted was $200+ for each section of the test :brokenheart:
 
Originally posted by: hjo3
Originally posted by: DopeFiend
Originally posted by: hjo3
Heck, just take the A+ test. It's really easy, only takes like a half hour/forty-five minutes. And it's (IIRC) only $75.
Click to expand...

Could you explain how I go about taking this test in the UK? Is it done through Microsoft, or a training company?
Click to expand...
CompTIA's site should have something that will pinpoint your nearest testing center... here:
http://www.comptia.org/certification/general_information/test_locations.asp?type=A
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info- it appears that there's a lot of testing centres here in the UK!
 
Originally posted by: Chu
Originally posted by: hjo3
Heck, just take the A+ test. It's really easy, only takes like a half hour/forty-five minutes. And it's (IIRC) only $75.
Click to expand...

Woah . . . is this a new price, or some sort of student discount? Last time I looked (which I admit, was like 2 years ago) the price I was quoted was $200+ for each section of the test :brokenheart:
Click to expand...
Huh! I took the test two years ago. It was either $75 for the whole thing or $75 per test (for a total of $150), forget which. Maybe individual testing centers can raise the prices if they want to...?
 
Originally posted by: hjo3
Originally posted by: Chu
Originally posted by: hjo3
Heck, just take the A+ test. It's really easy, only takes like a half hour/forty-five minutes. And it's (IIRC) only $75.
Click to expand...

Woah . . . is this a new price, or some sort of student discount? Last time I looked (which I admit, was like 2 years ago) the price I was quoted was $200+ for each section of the test :brokenheart:
Click to expand...
Huh! I took the test two years ago. It was either $75 for the whole thing or $75 per test (for a total of $150), forget which. Maybe individual testing centers can raise the prices if they want to...?
Click to expand...

If its only $75 I think i'll just take it today 🙂 Quick question though - do you just get a cert, or do you get a cert and a score? If no score I'll just take it and hope to pass (from the .pdf on their site reguarding required material it looks like a breeze), but if they actuially print a score, well . . . I'll have to study to look good 🙁 I'm a little rusty on the legacy stuff . . . does it really matter that much what the default irq/dma is for a parallel port (one of the questions on a sample test I took) :roll:

-Chu
 
If the question is so lame why do you want to take the test? Certifications are ALL about knowing obscure stuff, not building computers or general knowledge.
 
Originally posted by: Chu

If its only $75 I think i'll just take it today 🙂 Quick question though - do you just get a cert, or do you get a cert and a score? If no score I'll just take it and hope to pass (from the .pdf on their site reguarding required material it looks like a breeze), but if they actuially print a score, well . . . I'll have to study to look good 🙁 I'm a little rusty on the legacy stuff . . . does it really matter that much what the default irq/dma is for a parallel port (one of the questions on a sample test I took) :roll:

-Chu
Click to expand...

The price in the US is $145 for each exam. You must pass two exams for the A+ certification: a hardware test and an OS test.

Yes, you get a score, but employers probably aren't going to care what your score is. I've never been asked for any of my individual exam scores.

Don't take the exams too lightly... it may not be that difficult, but I've seen more than one person come away from it shocked because they failed by a few points.

Hope this helps. 🙂
 
I'm doing it. Been doing it also, but I have experience what a lot of places will look for just as much as certs. I've been in the field for 7+ years now.
 
Originally posted by: Imdmn04
A reputable CS degree(top 10 to 15 in rankings) is way more valueble than a cert.
Click to expand...

if you want to bust your ass for 4 years to get a cs degree then do PC tech support, all the power to you. but you will probably be beat out in the interviews by a high school kid with an a+ cert.
 
From what I've seen, you should be able to land a tech support job if you have any of the following qualifications:

a) you have a pulse
 
Originally posted by: rudder
Originally posted by: Imdmn04
A reputable CS degree(top 10 to 15 in rankings) is way more valueble than a cert.
Click to expand...

if you want to bust your ass for 4 years to get a cs degree then do PC tech support, all the power to you. but you will probably be beat out in the interviews by a high school kid with an a+ cert.
Click to expand...

I think people missed the part in the op where I mention I want to do this for summer only 😕 From the looks of things I'm going to be working at Lockheed, IBM, or the NSA when I actuially get my degree in the fall.

-Chu
 
Originally posted by: TreyRandom
Originally posted by: Chu

If its only $75 I think i'll just take it today 🙂 Quick question though - do you just get a cert, or do you get a cert and a score? If no score I'll just take it and hope to pass (from the .pdf on their site reguarding required material it looks like a breeze), but if they actuially print a score, well . . . I'll have to study to look good 🙁 I'm a little rusty on the legacy stuff . . . does it really matter that much what the default irq/dma is for a parallel port (one of the questions on a sample test I took) :roll:

-Chu
Click to expand...

The price in the US is
$145 for each exam. You must pass two exams for the A+ certification: a hardware test and an OS test.

Yes, you get a score, but employers probably aren't going to care what your score is. I've never been asked for any of my individual exam scores.

Don't take the exams too lightly... it may not be that difficult, but I've seen more than one person come away from it shocked because they failed by a few points.

Hope this helps. 🙂
Click to expand...

I plan on just picking up a second hand book to go over the legacy stuff, anything modern I doubt i'll have problems with. At $75 I see no reason not to do it, but $300 seems a much heavier investment 🙁 I don't suppose there are ANY discounts for students or the like? I remember there was about 1 year back from a thread in the hot deals forums.

-Chu
 
Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
If the question is so lame why do you want to take the test? Certifications are ALL about knowing obscure stuff, not building computers or general knowledge.
Click to expand...

I think questions like that are lame because that's what google is for. Seriously, if a legacy system got completly screwed up and you need to do irq/dma assignments by hand and want to use the default, unless you have to do it often would you really trust your memory on this?

-Chu
 
Originally posted by: TreyRandom
It's difficult, but possible. Certifications help give you an advantage over those who don't have them. However, that doesn't mean that certifications are required - you'll just have an easier time finding work when you are certified. The university helpdesk experience will definitely be helpful.
Click to expand...

It is not difficult at all.
 
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