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What certifications are you pursuing?

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<< MCSE and CCNA

by the way.. the tests for MCSE is a joke.... with the braindumps, one can easily pass every fscking test without any training in 2k!!! >>




yeah, but I don't want to just pass a test, I want to learn enough to be an effectiive network admin who can bring something of value to whoever hires me... not just another cert mill paper tiger >>


w00t!
 
mcse being so easy due to braindumps is a BAD thing because we're going back to 'paper mcse' days again.

people won't know if you pass because you want to learn or just cheated. they'll want to use your experience as a gauge.



ccna (i took 2.0) was harder. they change the questions more often.


 


<< mcse being so easy due to braindumps is a BAD thing because we're going back to 'paper mcse' days again.

people won't know if you pass because you want to learn or just cheated. they'll want to use your experience as a gauge.
 >>



That is one of the reasons I was staying away from Microsoft and Win2k.




<< ccna (i took 2.0) was harder. they change the questions more often. >>



Good. I like 'em hard. (tests that is 😀)
 
I thought that the CCNA exam was pretty tough, but I made it through. The braindumps definitely make things too easy, particularly for the Microsoft exams. However, most companies still require SOME experience before hiring techies.

Daniel - congratulations on the CCNA! Good Luck on the CCNP!

Anybody do much programming?? Any programming certifications worth pursuing? I.e. Java?
 
Using braindumps to pass doesn't really help one to maintain a position as a network engineer or to obtain a salary increase. If you become a paper MCSE (or paper anything) and get hired simply because you've got the certification, then sooner or later (usually sooner), your supervisors (and the people you work with on a daily basis) will find out that your knowledge stops past the 45 questions you memorized.

Besides, anything worth doing is worth doing correctly. If I can't pass a test based on my own knowledge (rather than simple regurgitation of answers to the questions I have memorized), then I shouldn't receive the certification.

Further, I know that passing the tests "the right way" works for me. I've never lacked a job, never been fired, and doubled my salary within three years. I left my last job in May of 2001, even though everyone was saying, "No companies are hiring," "Techs can't find quality employment these days," "Be prepared to take a cut in salary if you lose your job and have to find another one." I applied to one (and only one) company and was hired for thousands more than my last position. Plus, the people I work with are great.

Anyway, all this was said not to brag or anything - just to alert those that are considering certification that might decide they want to cut corners and take the easy way out. Do it the right way - your wallet will thank you for it. 🙂

But, as usual, this is just a Random opinion. 😉
 
Oh, btw, congrats on the CCNA. That test was rough - you need like an 849 to pass... in my opinion, it's even harder to get than the CCNP. For the CCNA, the passing score is high and the topic is broad; for the CCNP exams, the passing scores are lower (675-700) and the topics are narrow.

Anyone going after any Citrix certifications? I see job openings for Citrix Certified Administrators all over the place, but I never hear of anyone actually going after/passing that cert.

For Linux certifications, what are your opinions on which flavor is best? The Comptia Linux+ exam is the only one I have had any exposure to. It only requires a beginning level of Linux mastery - you can supposedly pass (according to Comptia) with about 6 months of real-world experience. What about the RHCE or LPI certifications - how are they in relation to the Linux+, and is anyone pursuing them?
 
right now i'm training for me (H)PPL, then i'll be going for my (H)CPL, Instr., CFI, and finally CFII.


i hope one day to get my (H)ATP, but that's a ways off.
 
I am taking my CCA (Citrix Certified Administrator) MetaFrame 1.8 test tomorrow. I have been working with Citrix for 2 years now figured i might as well take the damn test. I just got Citrix XP and NFuse in depending how I do on the test tomorrow i want to get my CCEA.
 
If I can find another job and get out of Motorola, I'll start going for an A+ certification with the first class in summer hopefully, but currently going for my Electronics Tech. certification, then the AA after that.
 


<< Oh, btw, congrats on the CCNA. That test was rough - you need like an 849 to pass... in my opinion, it's even harder to get than the CCNP. For the CCNA, the passing score is high and the topic is broad; for the CCNP exams, the passing scores are lower (675-700) and the topics are narrow.

Anyone going after any Citrix certifications? I see job openings for Citrix Certified Administrators all over the place, but I never hear of anyone actually going after/passing that cert.
 >>



Thanks. As for the CCNP exams I have heard some of the same stuff, except for the routing one, which is the first one I'm going for so once I get that out of the way they should be easier after that.

I did get a free voucher for a Citrix exam the other day in the mail, seeing as how I haven't ever seen/touched it I don't have any use for it.
 

finished my CCNA course works... now it's prep time. I'll probably take my Network+ for the hell of it and eventhough this one is frowned upon, might as well do the A+ too.

Right now I'm doing CCNP coursework (advanced routing) and I'm taking the Sun SA-118 course. I'll take a class for my CCDA this summer.

I really wanna do my ODBA, but I dunno where I can do this inexpensively.

Speaking of CCNP, who here feels it's necessary to have a home lab to do well on the CCNP exams?
 
None, they are all about as useful as bringing in my 6th grade first place ribbon in the science fair to a job interview.
 


<< None, they are all about as useful as bringing in my 6th grade first place ribbon in the science fair to a job interview. >>



you'd be suprised... these certs still have alot of clout... usually you're hired by some HR person who doesn't know how to rate experience in an industry they know very little about... when they see a cert, they are under the impression that you really do know your stuff.
 
<<eventhough this one is frowned upon, might as well do the A+ too.>>

When I got my MCSE and the A+ was still relatively new, A+ was looked down upon by upper-level techs as an unnecessary certification. We were "beyond that test". Nowadays, you might be surprised at how many MCSE's don't know how to

a) assign IRQs
b) troubleshoot hardware problems
c) change a simple PCI card, or even more horrific yet, an ISA card
d) tell the difference between the SCSI versions
e) simply format a floppy disk or hard disk.

More and more employers are looking at the A+ as a benchmark for how much hardware common sense you have as a tech. Sure, you might know how to manage Active Directory, but what if the server crashes and it's not Windows' fault? Hmmmm...

So, when I have a chance, I'm going to go back and get those so-called "lesser certs" such as A+, Net+, iNet+ and Server+. Heck, couldn't hurt, my company pays for it, and if I supposedly already know the material, they should be easy.

<<you'd be suprised... these certs still have alot of clout... usually you're hired by some HR person who doesn't know how to rate experience in an industry they know very little about... when they see a cert, they are under the impression that you really do know your stuff. >>

I'd agree. Of course, the truth comes out sooner or later if you're worth the cert. But the cert will sometimes get your foot in the door, nonetheless.

My interview for my present company was a little different. Our HR person had a list of Microsoft-based and Cisco-based questions ready to ask me. The answers "Oh, that's not done in the 'real world'" and "That wasn't covered on the test" just do not apply during an interview. 🙂 After all, interviews and real technical experience are why we're pursuing these certs to begin with, right? Better jobs, better pay, more promotions?
 
<<Speaking of CCNP, who here feels it's necessary to have a home lab to do well on the CCNP exams?>>

Is it necessary? Probably not... but it helped me with the CCNA. From what I've heard, the CCNP tests have quite a few questions regarding "Which command would you enter to..." The Sybex CCNP Virtual Lab by Todd Lammle is normally $200, but you can find it on Bookpool.com for $115 or so. Or, better yet, I saw one on Ebay yesterday, 2 days left, $35 so far, $99 buy-it-now.

In addition to the virtual lab, my local Cisco office gave free CCNA training, complete with routers, switches, cables and instructor, every Thursday afternoon. They even bought lunch - Subway, pizza, whatever. For all I know, they're still doing them. Call your local Cisco office, if you have one, and see if they're providing free classes. Helps you, helps them.

If you don't get a virtual lab, study the concepts AND the commands.
 
<Nowadays, you might be surprised at how many MCSE's don't know how to
a) assign IRQs
b) troubleshoot hardware problems...>

Trey - I would agree with you. There are way too many paper MCSEs out there. It is still possible to get a job as a paper MCSE, but the mega-dollar jobs aren't being to paper's much any more, or at least it seems that way. I had about a year of experience before I even began going for my MCSE. Also, I can say that had I not had the MCSE, I would not have gotten my present job.

In regards to the going back to get A+, Net+, etc. I also plan to go back and get these, even though I have done user support for several years in the past. It shouldn't take long for one thing, and it may get me past the next guy applying for a job who is a paper MCSE and doesn't know how to format a floppy disk.

What are some of these other certifications? I.e. GCSE, KBE, (H)PPL, (H)ATP, etc. Are they computer certifications, or are they for something else?
 
geez!! I don't know what the freak anyone is talking about in this thread!!

I don't have any computer certifications and do not intend on getting any... some how I ended up as computer administrator of my firm without any training.

but anyway, I do intend on going for my Ph. D. this fall though!
 
What Certs should a college student get? Im in co-op and have had 2 jobs doing IT. I want to learn more networking. should i start w/ CCNA first? or something like A+?
 
Just passed my Citrix Certified Administrator test WHOO HOOOOO! should have done it 2 years ago if i knew it was that easy of a test.
 
Congratulations, Citrix!


<What Certs should a college student get? Im in co-op and have had 2 jobs doing IT. I want to learn more networking. should i start w/ CCNA first? or something like A+?>

The cert you should get should correspond to the type of work you want to do. For example, since you like and want to learn networking, you might want to try getting the Network+ cert; the A+ cert would probably be good if you want to get a job as a network technician where you might also be required to work on end-user computers. If you want to configure routers, then the CCNA would be the way to go. One of the big differences is with the Network+ you will learn about more diverse network equipment. With the CCNA, you will learn only Cisco technologies, which isn't a bad thing, just different.
 


<< In addition to the virtual lab, my local Cisco office gave free CCNA training, complete with routers, switches, cables and instructor, every Thursday afternoon. They even bought lunch - Subway, pizza, whatever. For all I know, they're still doing them. Call your local Cisco office, if you have one, and see if they're providing free classes. Helps you, helps them.

If you don't get a virtual lab, study the concepts AND the commands. >>



Yeah, that's right... I remember something about this... where Cisco would allow you some pretty nifty resources if you were a cisco partner, which I am. I can't believe I forgot about this one. This would be great for me to actually start my Advanced Routing labs.

Thanks for the reminder.
 
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