What are useful certifications for a PC Tech?

[AgentJean]

I'm currently studying for the A+ test and I'm looking for future certifiations that are useful for working as a deskside support tech(not phone support, actually tearing machines apart type work). By useful, I mean something that goods great on a resume and will add more dollars on my paycheck 😉 I was thinking about working for a CCNA but I think that's something more long term and CCNA type work is "outside" the "paygrade" of deskside support.

Are vendor certs like HP and DELL worth the money? Are they "easy" to do a self study for or would I be better off taking a course?(I know I won't be able to self stuff for CCNA. A lot of technical stuff I never delt with)

I wanna get as many good certs as I can by August if possible, that's when my contract for this job is up and I want to secure another chair before the music stops, just incase they do not renew the contract(or give me what I want pay wise)

 

[ViviTheMage]

ccna can take years ive been told...as can all the other worth while certs.

 

[Zolty]

usable experience > any cert

Although some shops require certain certs.

Generally speaking (8 years in IT multiple jobs) certs will not help you do your job better but some places like them. The places that like them generally are not going to understand what you have done.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

A+ + proven experience = you stick around. Between now and August you could easily get a Net+ and Sec+ as well I'd wager ... but that kind of thing isn't really for Deskside. I assume you're hoping to move up and out soon? 😛

- M4H

 

[AgentJean]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
A+ + proven experience = you stick around. Between now and August you could easily get a Net+ and Sec+ as well I'd wager ... but that kind of thing isn't really for Deskside. I assume you're hoping to move up and out soon? 😛

- M4H

Oh yeah. I don't want to be stuck doing tech work, I want to specialize in something(maybe networking, not sure yet) but I need a more "time served" for experience. I've been doing deskside work offically since December, I was doing call center support work for about 18 months before that and then did repair work in a retail store for a year prior. I also need a "stable" work history. Jumping from contract to contract doesnt look good and the pay sucks.

I know my stuff to fix computers but for some reason companies here want certs. Just the other day I got "yelled" at for cutting a bad ethernet cable and then crimping a new plug on because there's a specialized department who has special training and certification to work on cables. It might have taken me 45 minutes to do the repair job, but that was much much quicker than calling maintance and waiting for them to get their fat A$$ to run new 30 foot cable.(ok enough ranting)

 

[pontifex]

why would you want a low paying, unsatisfying, crappy job?

 

[TreyRandom]

Both Network+ and the MCDST are worthwhile at your level. After all, if you're interested in being a desktop support tech... you can't get much closer than the Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician certification, can you? 🙂

The CCNA won't be very helpful to you at this point because you won't likely be working with routers at this stage of your career. Router admin jobs are typically given to people with years of real-world experience. That said, it's certainly worth looking into as you work your way up the career ladder.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: pontifex
why would you want a low paying, unsatisfying, crappy job?

Just because you find your position low paying, unsatisfying, and crappy doesn't mean everyone else will.

 

[FoBoT]

certifications are only useful if your employer gives you something (like a raise/promotion or the job to start with) for getting them

otherwise they are useless

knowledge is what you should seek, not a piece of paper

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: pontifex
why would you want a low paying, unsatisfying, crappy job?

Just because you find your position low paying, unsatisfying, and crappy doesn't mean everyone else will.

what are the chances of getting a good tech support job? very slim

 

[RichUK]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: pontifex
why would you want a low paying, unsatisfying, crappy job?

Just because you find your position low paying, unsatisfying, and crappy doesn't mean everyone else will.

what are the chances of getting a good tech support job? very slim

😕

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: RichUK

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: pontifex
why would you want a low paying, unsatisfying, crappy job?

Just because you find your position low paying, unsatisfying, and crappy doesn't mean everyone else will.

what are the chances of getting a good tech support job? very slim

😕

what are you confused about?

 

[RichUK]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: RichUK

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: pontifex
why would you want a low paying, unsatisfying, crappy job?

Just because you find your position low paying, unsatisfying, and crappy doesn't mean everyone else will.

what are the chances of getting a good tech support job? very slim

😕

what are you confused about?

Your strange nonsensical question.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: RichUK

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: pontifex
why would you want a low paying, unsatisfying, crappy job?

Just because you find your position low paying, unsatisfying, and crappy doesn't mean everyone else will.

what are the chances of getting a good tech support job? very slim

😕

what are you confused about?

Okay, let's not turn this into a PPP (pontifex pity party). Back on topic.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: RichUK

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: pontifex
why would you want a low paying, unsatisfying, crappy job?

Just because you find your position low paying, unsatisfying, and crappy doesn't mean everyone else will.

what are the chances of getting a good tech support job? very slim

😕

what are you confused about?

Okay, let's not turn this into a PPP (pontifex pity party). Back on topic.

no one is turning it into that unless you are

 

[AgentJean]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: pontifex
why would you want a low paying, unsatisfying, crappy job?

Just because you find your position low paying, unsatisfying, and crappy doesn't mean everyone else will.

what are the chances of getting a good tech support job? very slim

It depends what you mean good?

I got called about a IT Specialist position today.
They want A+ and a HP Certification(which non I have, but I do have experience)
$25/hr + milage(it's a field position).

That's another 400 a week from what I'm making now.

EDIT, hell yes i'm going to apply. You just never know.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: AgentJean

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: pontifex
why would you want a low paying, unsatisfying, crappy job?

Just because you find your position low paying, unsatisfying, and crappy doesn't mean everyone else will.

what are the chances of getting a good tech support job? very slim

It depends what you mean good?

I got called about a IT Specialist position today.
They want A+ and a HP Certification(which non I have, but I do have experience)
$25/hr + milage(it's a field position).

That's another 400 a week from what I'm making now.

EDIT, hell yes i'm going to apply. You just never know.

the opposite of low paying and unsatisfying and crappy

most tech support jobs i see listed pay about $10 an hour.

 

[Wapp]

Originally posted by: AgentJean

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: pontifex
why would you want a low paying, unsatisfying, crappy job?

Just because you find your position low paying, unsatisfying, and crappy doesn't mean everyone else will.

what are the chances of getting a good tech support job? very slim

It depends what you mean good?

I got called about a IT Specialist position today.
They want A+ and a HP Certification(which non I have, but I do have experience)
$25/hr + milage(it's a field position).

That's another 400 a week from what I'm making now.

EDIT, hell yes i'm going to apply. You just never know.

Why don't you at least pick up the A+? Its stupid easy.

 

[Mxylplyx]

I've never much cared for the chip on the shoulder attitude that people with certs have in my IT field, programming. Their certs never seem to translate into capability, just ego.

 

[AgentJean]

Originally posted by: Wapp


Why don't you at least pick up the A+? Its stupid easy.

I've been review the chapters and will nail the first test soon.

 

[clamum]

You can probably get some at Computers.com or whatever the site is.

 

[Wapp]

Originally posted by: AgentJean

Originally posted by: Wapp


Why don't you at least pick up the A+? Its stupid easy.

I've been review the chapters and will nail the first test soon.

Good luck, ask around your friends and one of them might have a copy of the certkiller study guide.

 

[mpitts]

I bill my clients $120 an hour and I only have an A+ cert and over ten years of experience.

Experience and trust/references >>>>>>>> certs anyday

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: RichUK

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: pontifex
why would you want a low paying, unsatisfying, crappy job?

Just because you find your position low paying, unsatisfying, and crappy doesn't mean everyone else will.

what are the chances of getting a good tech support job? very slim

😕

what are you confused about?

Okay, let's not turn this into a PPP (pontifex pity party). Back on topic.

lol every post of his is him whining about something or another.

 

[Wapp]

How do the HP certs work?