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Home > Archive > Certifications and IT jobs/Salaries > June 2003 > A little advice, in over my head???
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A little advice, in over my head???
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| hi all! this is my scenerio
ok, after bieng laid off after 4.5 years as a systems admin/systems support specialist at a financial company, who never took the time to send me to training, so all i know is the systems that were there, and NOT bieng able to find a job here in Denver for the past 4 months, ive been working on some certifications.. I eventually want to go into network infrastructure/design.
im starting with A+, which so far is very easy for me... probably test in 2 weeks
then im planning on MCSE (i have experience with 2000, 2000 server, 2000 adv. server)
then CCNA (no prior cisco experience, but networks intrigue me)
then CCDA
then CCNP
perhaps then CCDP.
Im very motivated, and excited to finally be getting some edumication  , even if it is self study (i made the mistake of going with smart certify, which dosnt help me with jack).
is this too much to do?? what kinda time frame am i looking at?? i read about 3-4 hours a day right now.. i definatly dont want to be 'paper certified', i believe i have just enough experience to not be. i want a better job where i can grow my experience, and use my skills to the best of my ability.
ok, i have been rambling on long enough, thanks to anyone who replies.
*gir*
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| Supertech 2003-06-13, 2:20 pm |
| Sounds like a plan.
One step at a time.
Ain't nothing to it but to do it. | |
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| Sometime, we need "luck". But "luck" is very hard to come by. | |
| reggie29 2003-06-13, 8:53 pm |
| It sounds like your taking a good step towards job security. | |
| reggie29 2003-06-13, 8:59 pm |
| Sorry about that people. I only passed my A+ Hardware exam. I made the corrections in my profile for my current certification status. But like I said before its a good step to job security. | |
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| would N+ be worth my time, would it make CCNA easier to transition into than MCSE (as in A+, MCSE, N+, CCNA, CCDA, CCDP, CCDP bieng the order)...
i understand that either A+ or N+ (and S+ etc) count towards an elective for MCSE.. is this correct?
thanks guys, i can already tell this is my new forum home, you guys rock!
*gir* | |
| reggie29 2003-06-14, 5:46 am |
| Some of my co-workers and friends that are more groomed with certs highly recommend the path of A+, N+,MCP,MCSA,and then on to CCNA, but I figure if you like the networking side of the house more, (Like myself)after MCP I would go straight to Cisco. That is my plan. I Think I will do some power studying today for my A+ OS exam. Im ready to get it out of the way. | |
| reggie29 2003-06-14, 5:57 am |
| Gir, but if your highly experienced in networking the N+ plus could be a waste of time. I mean I have some experience in networking (terminating fiber, cat-5, routers, switches etc)but I think that the N+ would help me enhance my skills more and help prepare with the CCNA exam. | |
| Carl_Docklands 2003-06-16, 5:13 am |
| Gir,
I am assuming you have a pot of money, if you dont, borrow some. Buy a two 2600 Cisco Routers and two Cisco 29xx switches. Set them up and learn how they operate.
Learn Windows 2000, but do not do the certifications. They are a wasted effort at the moment.
Get the CCNA, then get ready to do the MCSE 2003 later in the year. In answer to your question, yes it is too much.
Apart from the CCNA, I would completley forget about the lower level certifications like the compTIA as they are a waste of financial resources and time. | |
| BinaryFission 2003-06-16, 12:37 pm |
| I have to agree partially with Carl.
I agree in the fact that lower level certs don't mean anything UNLESS you want a lower level job. IE . Level 1 Tech support, PC technician, and some installer positions. These are generally entry level positions that pay from 6-15 an hour. 15 maybe too high but you get the picture.
Cisco is the way to go. However, I think you need to know some Operating systems and a good place to start out is your MCSE.
If you want to go even furthur then go into security. Aim for a Bach, CCNP/CCIE, CISSP, MCSE +security, Security+(entry level cert).
I am a firm believer that a BACH/MASTERS with experience and certifications will get you any place in the IT industry.
I will have my MCP/MCSA/MCSE + security
CCNA/CCDA/CCNP
A+/Net+/Server+/security+
by the time i graduate.
Carl, you think 10 certifications along with exp/degree is going to put me ahead of everyone else? I think so. | |
| mrfixit 2003-06-16, 1:14 pm |
| quote:
Originally posted by BinaryFission
I agree in the fact that lower level certs don't mean anything UNLESS you want a lower level job. IE . Level 1 Tech support, PC technician, and some installer positions. These are generally entry level positions that pay from 6-15 an hour. 15 maybe too high but you get the picture.
I have to disagree with part of your statement, specifically the above where you state that "entry-level" positions pay 6-15 per hour. In this day and time, and I don't know about where you live, but most companies are paying as little as possible for IT. If you read my post on my new job, you will see that as a Sys Admin, (contract to perm), I am only getting paid $15.00 per hour. That's just over 31k per year. At my last position, which I was at for close to 4 years, I was making just over $45k per year. It isn't just the "lower" end IT positions that are getting the shaft in the pay arena, it's high level IT people too! Companies aren't willing to spend the money on IT, not with the economy in the toilet. Maybe in a year of so the market will bounce back, but I'm not holding my breath. And after being out of work for over a year, (14 months), I would probably have taken this position if they had offered me $12.50 per hour! (It's beats the hell out of unemployment!!)
Just my .02 cents worth. | |
| Carl_Docklands 2003-06-16, 3:56 pm |
| A Computer Sci degree has always been a gamble. As i came from a poor family, I didnt have that choice. On the bright side I have 4 years more experience and for all that time i was pure hands on.
If a degree is on the cards and for most, especially with the high cost in the states, it is not, then yes, i would go for a MBA or a Business/Computers related degree. | |
| Carl_Docklands 2003-06-16, 4:30 pm |
| A Computer Sci degree has always been a gamble. As i came from a poor family, I didnt have that choice. On the bright side I have 4 years more experience and for all that time i was pure hands on.
If a degree is on the cards and for most, especially with the high cost in the states, it is not, then yes, i would go for a MBA or a Business/Computers related degree. | |
| Crutch 2003-06-17, 11:05 pm |
| quote:
Originally posted by Carl_Docklands
A Computer Sci degree has always been a gamble. As i came from a poor family, I didnt have that choice.
Carl, I don't know what it's like in and around England, but I, like many others out here, put myself through college. I worked fulltime in manufacturing and went to school fulltime. It depends on how bad you want something.
A degree, a few certs and experience goes a long way.... | |
| Carl_Docklands 2003-06-18, 10:31 am |
| Hi Crutch, unfortunatley I had other commitments outside work, which influenced my direction. I am was just taking into account different peoples circumstances, some would say this is a rare trait in these blaise times | |
| Gundyman 2003-06-18, 7:56 pm |
| Experience is everything.
If your job is working with cisco product.
CCNA, CCNP is nothing.
If your job is on infrastructure, CCDA and CCDP is nothing.
Experience again...
If you know your stuff and have the skill. All exams are easy.
Skip those lower level cert. | |
| bloodshotx 2003-06-20, 10:51 am |
| Gundyman
Take some classes and learn some english.
If your job is working with cisco product.
CCNA, CCNP is nothing.
Either you our toattly wrong or you mistyped. |
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