What certs should I go for?

[djheater]

I currently don't have any certifications, and they would go a long way toward keeping my consulting company happy with me.

My current position is systems administrator for 2003 server in a POS environment.

I come up with scripted solutions for software installs and OS configuration.
I manage group policy (local policy on stand alone servers), user configuration in a kiosk type environment, IE configuration.

Things like that.

I get tuition reimbursement of $5250 a year, and might be willing to burn some vacation and even pay additional out of pocket for the right bootcamp.

Looking to pick up some meaningful certs within the next six months.

Any ideas appreciated.

 

[JDMnAR1]

If you want to stay in the Windows world, you might as well start on your MCSA, with an eye towards completing your MCSE after that. If you do any SQL Server stuff, the MCTS for SQL is only one exam so that wouldn't be too much of a burden either.

 

[dainthomas]

I prefer peppermint.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

never saw the point in certs

 

[TallBill]

Why waste the time/money with a cram session boot camp. Just take the proper courses at a community college, and actually learn the stuff that you want to get certified on.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: TallBill
Why waste the time/money with a cram session boot camp. Just take the proper courses at a community college, and actually learn the stuff that you want to get certified on.

:thumbsup:

 

[JDMnAR1]

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim
never saw the point in certs

For a consulting company, certs are typically how they sell their services. "We have xx MCSEs on staff, and xx% of our staff hold multiple advanced IT certifications."

Originally posted by: TallBill
Why waste the time/money with a cram session boot camp. Just take the proper courses at a community college, and actually learn the stuff that you want to get certified on.

Agreed. Either spend the money on a more traditional class, or build your home lab and learn it on your own with books and other readily available materials.

 

[Wapp]

Is $5250 a magic number for tuition reimbursement? That's how my company offers as well.

Also, follow Tallbill's advice.

 

[TallBill]

My company "The Army" gives me $4500 in reimbursement.

I just signed up for "Micro Database Application". Looking for another.

 

[Cable God]

If you want job stability, find an area of high interest/low competition in IT. There are WAY more MCSE's/Net+'s, A+'s out there than Oracle OCP's/OCM's and they make WAY more. I focused on Oracle performance tuning and it is really paying off, and I enjoy every minute of it.

 

[djheater]

Thanks everybody. Great advice so far.

I'm in kind of an interesting position.

I'm qualified by experience for the position I currently hold, however my company gave me a ton of crap recently and made me feel my position was in jeopardy. I want to reassure them that I'm a good fit for the job and they have mentioned certs to me before.
So I'm interested in gaining certs relevant to my current position.

Personally my end goal is to be out of IT in a few years and to this end I am taking college courses in my free time (also married with three young children). I would need a bootcamp to fit into a break in my college schedule and other obligations.

I figure a few certs wouldn't be a bad thing to have under my belt for the future, might even make me a more interesting grad school applicant....

Will definately look into MCSA

and I bet the number $5250 is relevant to tax law

 

[spidey07]

nah, the 5250 is only relavent to Van Halen.

 

[SSSnail]

http://www.giac.org/certifications/

 

[ni4ni]

Originally posted by: dainthomas
I prefer peppermint.

Wintergreen is really good!

 

[j00fek]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: TallBill
Why waste the time/money with a cram session boot camp. Just take the proper courses at a community college, and actually learn the stuff that you want to get certified on.

:thumbsup:

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: j00fek

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: TallBill
Why waste the time/money with a cram session boot camp. Just take the proper courses at a community college, and actually learn the stuff that you want to get certified on.

:thumbsup:

Because it's not actually to learn anything. It's to reaffirm and solidify my value to the company. so that they can preach it to the client.
A cram session is the only option because it's the only way I can get the time.

I'm considering one of those two week, stay in a hotel, classes 8 hours a day things so that I can devote my time to the material.

 

[NuAlphaMan]

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim
never saw the point in certs

:thumbsup: If you're good at what you do, certs aren't an issue!

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: NuAlphaMan

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim
never saw the point in certs

:thumbsup: If you're good at what you do, certs aren't an issue!

They're a way to get my company off my back, probably so they can negotiate a higher rate of pay from the client.

I've worked with enough paper certs to know exactly how meaningless they are, since they're so meaningless it should be nothing to me to get them, since I'm not paying for them.