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Home > Archive > Certifications and IT jobs/Salaries > October 2001 > If you had 7 grand to put towards certifications what would you choose?
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If you had 7 grand to put towards certifications what would you choose?
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| IronLfter 2001-09-20, 6:29 pm |
| This is my first post on this site and I want to start off with a hello to everyone on the board. I am a total newbie to the IT field and am looking at two tracks A+,Network+, MCSE or the CIW and Graphic artist area. My situation is as follows: About a month ago I was laid off from the company I have worked for the last nine years for. This layoff occured due to the company's filing for bankruptcy earlier this year. Anyway, to make a long story short, since I'm a dislocated worker I'm eligible for seven thousand dollars through the Dept of Labor for training and certification classes.
The reason I posted this in the salary forum is because my main concern is which track would offer the best pay. I'm interested in both areas and feel I would do really well in the CIW and Graphic arts area because of my artistic talent. Yet, I do enjoy tinkering and would really like to be a tech as well. I guess my problem in making a decision falls in the area of wages and job availability. I live in New Mexico and have heard there is not a great deal of opportunities for CIWs. So, I'm really having a tough time figuring out which way to go.
I guess all this can be summed up by asking which track will provide me with more money and opportunities (even if it means relocating) CIW/graphic arts or A+/Network+/MCSE? Thanks to anyone in advance for your help. I appreciate it and look forward to learning a lot from everyone on this board. | |
| ccnawarrior 2001-09-21, 7:34 am |
| In my opinion:
1. prefer system admin:
go for MCSE W2K + CCNA + CCNP
2. prefer database admin:
go for MCSE W2K + MCDBA W2K + DBA 8i + CCNA
(MCDBA=MCSE + only 2 SQL exams)
3. prefer programming:
go for MCSD + SCJP
no CIW (too many webdesign/webcoding people)
no CompTIA (I hate CompTIA)
______________________
Some comp.sci. college
MCSE W2K
MCDBA W2K
CCNA
working on DBA 8i | |
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| I prefer to go vacation 
Certification is expensive, take those that you need, and those the you like to do...
Good luck  | |
| ninja__kid 2001-09-22, 11:24 pm |
| Both my highschool, and my work offer free certification courses. I already went through the CCNA cisco networking academy, and am currently enrolled in A+, as well as an MCSE program that covers all 7 certs. I guess what I'm trying to get at is, if both my work and school offer A+, MCSE and Cisco (each has all three), how hard would it be for someone else to find a free edu program offering these? Also, how much do these courses cost if you have to dish out the money for them? | |
| Crutch 2001-09-28, 6:59 am |
| Hello IronLfter,
It's cool to see fellow New Mexicans on this board. I'll help you however I can. BTW, where do you live? I'm in ABQ.
Why can't you do both? Do the Networking path and the web design path? I'm unsure how the NMDOL works with it's money. Are you able to buy software? Reason why I'm asking is there are some great programs out there that don't cost alot. At my work, we just purchased a set of CBT's called CBT Nuggets. Two people have taken these video CDs and passed 4 MCSE exams so far, and we've only had the videos for two weeks! People are saying that these are some of the best video's they have ever seen. You get 92 W2K MCSE videos on 7 CDs for $299. Another great resource is the Transcender testing software. The whole MCSE W2K package would cost you $699. That would leave you $6000 left over.
Depending on where you live, you should sign up for classes at the local CC, like TVI. We have an intern where I work that is going for his Network Certificate from TVI. He's learning tons of real-life stuff like networking windows, unix, cisco routers, proxy, etc. The one year program is costing him around $1000.
Now, go search out the web designer classes you desire with the $5000 that is left over.
Let me know if there is anything I can do for you. I've lived in ABQ almost all my life and have been working in the Networking field for over two years now.
Good Luck. | |
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| Lucky,,, very lucky... FREE.
While many people(I think they are stupid) paid few thousands dollars on the market to get these certification.
Learn it well and get it done.
Good luck | |
| limsam 2001-10-03, 3:23 am |
| Hi
I like CCIE. But I am not ready to pay 25000$ for the training. It is a waste of money. So far I never spent any money for certification other than the exam fee and the purchase of a book.
Thanks
LS | |
| hard_coder 2001-10-03, 9:58 am |
| 7K? who the hell you certifying..the Kennedy's? i spent less than 1K on my MCSD : that included all training materials and money out to take the tests.
going to cert classes is ok, but OJT (on the job training) is the key. sit down with a good book, a test computer, and hack away. hands on is the best way to learn. this way you can save thousands by NOT going to class and learn even more than what the classes teach you. | |
| IronLfter 2001-10-03, 10:24 am |
| Thank you for your response hardcoder, but the thing is--it's not my money (it's the governments)...so I might as well take advantage of what I'm being given. It's not like if I don't use the money then they will just give it to me in cash to spend on whatever I want. This money is specifically earmarked for school and that's it. When you are a complete novice and newbie with no IT experience whatsoever the classroom is the only place(in my opinion) to start so someone will eventually give me hands on training. On my own I have already been practicing html and plan on working on Jscript and VB code in the coming weeks as well. However I feel that the classroom is also just as vital to at least have some "background" before entering this area. My certs aren't going to take the entire 7 grand anyway. I just put that number up there because that is the maximum of what I can use for school. I also plan on using some of the money for a personal trainer certification as well and eventually get my own personal training business going along with my work in IT. I have a lot of high hopes and ambitions. Thanks for your response. -John | |
| hard_coder 2001-10-03, 2:47 pm |
| Are you also shooting for a degree (didnt see any mention of this on the posts)? if so, what kind - 4yr, 2yr, etc. Certs are great, but a degree will help you out more than certs. | |
| limsam 2001-10-03, 7:54 pm |
| I agree 100 % with hard_coder.
(1) Certification is no match for a degree.
(2) For certification grab a couple of good books, and a test machine and study on your own.
Apart from that, even if you pay 5K for a 5-day class, there is nothing much you can learn in 5 days.
LS |
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