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Home > Archive > Certifications and IT jobs/Salaries > April 2003 > Certification Fork in the road? HELP?
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Certification Fork in the road? HELP?
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| youngyoda 2003-04-01, 12:22 pm |
| Im having some trouble with my certification path… this is taking me way to long and I don’t feel like im getting anything out of this.. so I need some help from people that have good IT jobs. I know experience is the best thing to have. But I don’t have that. I want to get that so I want to get my foot in the door.
I have A+, N+, Server+, i-Net+, CCA, MCSA, CIW-a
And im taking Linux+ on the 4th..
But my thing is I have been at this for a while and there are so many other things to study. What do I study to get a good job? I have been looking at MCSE. MCDBA, CCNA, CCNP, Security+, ITProject+, CNA, CNE, ECT.. I want to be well rounded and at least know as many of the basics as possible. What is more valuable? To be well rounded or to be Highly specialized? I don’t really care about my status in the IT community. I only care about what the HR person is going to say about me. Im kinda stressed out so any help would be very helpful.. Ohh and any tips on Linux+ would help too since im taking that on Fri. | |
| darthw 2003-04-01, 5:41 pm |
| Which is better? That's hard to say. I work in a position in which being "well-rounded" works better. I help support Cisco switches, though we have "specialists" that deal with most of the configs, or they walk me through it over the phone. I deal with Novell servers, and we do about mid-level support and have some higher levels we rely on for specialist support. We have one NT server with IIS, so a little IIS knowledge is helpful. However, it all depends on the position.
You've got a good set of certs, and, I suspect, at least the foundational knowledge that the study provides. Many lower-level prospective IT jobs just want to see that you're motivated to learn what you need to do the job, and I think you covered that. If I were you I'd go for CCNA next as that will at least give you a basic understanding of Cisco technology, and it will be a good addition to what you've done.
As for specializing, it seems to me that most of the jobs available are more for those who a knowledge of many things. After you land a position somewhere and find that they use certain technologies heavily, you may want to focus your studies on those mainly to provide opportunities for advancement. | |
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| How about volunteering? That an exlant way to get work expearnce and good job refencees.
Hault your new cert hunt and just build a home learning lab if you don't have one now and just work on Linux and Microsoft lab skilles for now. That way you have more convedence in dealing with basic problems.
If you need network problems then get a friend to mess with your network for awhile.
This will creat problems to learn on.
While volunteering and looking for a job.
It's great to go after certs, but if your not using it you'll loose it.
If still wanting another cert, go after one of the routing certs like cisco or .... | |
| iApple 2003-04-01, 9:21 pm |
| I think both being well rounded and highly specialized is good.
It all depends on what you want to do. If you want to ONLY do 1 thing which is possible then of course specialize.
If you want to try different things before settling on one specific thing then try your hand in many different things.
I too suggest you get experience, more then getting a cert.
my .02 | |
| youngyoda 2003-04-02, 1:36 am |
| quote:
Originally posted by darthw
If I were you I'd go for CCNA next as that will at least give you a basic understanding of Cisco technology, and it will be a good addition to what you've done.
Darthw,
Thanks, I am focusing on what HR will say when I walk into that office. You helped to reinforce my initial feelings that a versatility for now is best in terms of what HR will say. Ive been sitting on the Cisco cert for quite some time. I even have a Cisco 7000 series router sitting there if you can believe that!!.. that sucker is HUGE.. hehe.. Thanks for sharing you work place environment that helps me a lot. That is the stuff I need to know. I attended a CCNA class a while ago and I have a CCNA Sybex on hand. So I will go that route. Although I do have 2 MS vouchers that are going to expire so im going to take 216 and 217 before the CCNA. Comparatively, are the Novell certs hard to obtain?
As for my LAB yes.. I know this is important.. I have 4 PC’s. 1 XP workstation!.. 1 WIN2K Domain controller. 1-Redhat 8.0 server., 1-Laptop.. I do use VMware to evaluate new OS stuff Solaris, FreeBSD, Novell, Longhorn, WIN2k3, ect.. is there any thing I should have for the CCNA? 640-607 seems fairly straight forward. But would having a specific router help me?? I have that old 7000.
Well in any case that you all for your feedback it was all very helpful. | |
| youngyoda 2003-04-02, 4:44 am |
| quote:
Originally posted by youngyoda
Well in any case that you all for your feedback
um.. that was.. Thank you for all your feedback.  | |
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| I think the CCNA is the best basic cert overall, especially when you combine it with some other certs. At a lot of places you will find that working on routers and such won't be your primary job. However, you will be all the better when you can get on the box and get it done when no one else can. | |
| darthw 2003-04-03, 11:44 pm |
| quote:
But would having a specific router help me?? I have that old 7000
CCNA is mainly switching. Really I used a simulator (I think Sybex had one at the time for about $100) to prep for CCNA and get some of the basic commands down. I wouldn't spend thousands to get Cisco equipment for a CCNA lab - maybe if you were going for CCNP it would be worth it. | |
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| MCSE + MCDBA + CCNA are what you want. If time permitted CCNP as well. | |
| thecomeons 2003-04-04, 8:58 am |
| ccna, mcse, exchange, sql. that's what's desired in my area. | |
| Cert-Seeker 2003-04-04, 1:04 pm |
| If it were me and I had the time, I would gather a few old computers together and start practicing the things that you already have learned, like running Linux, Windows, and a Cisco Switch and Router and experiment with all of them.
I do agree with obtaining a CCNA Cert. It is not a hard exam and it clues you in on how backbones are designed and how they work.
Good Luck. | |
| coolreem 2003-04-04, 5:32 pm |
| Since you are already well rounded in many certs, I am sure employers should pick up that you are a smart guy.
Now determine which cert you liked the best. Follow your dreams. Find a cert that interests you and exhaust all of your time and energy learning everything you can learn about that track.
Then, you will become a specialist.
Give it a shot. | |
| youngyoda 2003-04-05, 4:52 am |
| quote:
Originally posted by izuki
MCSE + MCDBA + CCNA are what you want. If time permitted CCNP as well.
Hai! Wakarimashita!
thanks for the feedback.. |
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