alt.certification.network-plus - jobs with network +

Author

jobs with network +

2002-09-19, 4:29 pm

hey folks,

I had been doing a desktop support role for about 3 yrs and am now laid
off...

the only cert I have is the A+.

I am working toward the Network +

What kind of jobs would I be a candidate for with those certs?

Thanks in advance,

Andre..

tommorrow chapter 8, learning to subnet.....

JonnieStyle

2002-09-21, 8:29 am

The certs alone won't land you a career in the fast track. You could get a
job at an electronics store doing repairs on PC's mainly. There's alot more
"helpdesk" jobs out there too.

I've got A+ and Network+. Armed with that, I did some investigation in the
industry to find what kind of job really interested me. What I found out
was a little disillusioning, but a good wake up call:

Certs are great, but ONLY in addition to a REAL DIPLOMA or degree from an
*accredited* COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY, OR TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

So the question became, "Do I really want that interesting job?"

In my case, the answer is yes - and I'm now in the third semester of full
time studies.

And A+ and Network+ have given me a bit of an edge at school (ie., credit
for two courses), but all in all, they are entry level certs.

And entry level certs will get you entry level work.

I guess when the economy is booming, the A+ / Network+ tech may be more in
demand, but when there is a lull, that same tech will be the first on the
chopping block.

Just my two cents.

"AS" <astaubin@videotron.ca> wrote in message
news:h0ri9.15385$3F1.126982@weber.videotron.net...
> hey folks,
>
> I had been doing a desktop support role for about 3 yrs and am now laid
> off...
>
> the only cert I have is the A+.
>
> I am working toward the Network +
>
> What kind of jobs would I be a candidate for with those certs?
>
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Andre..
>
> tommorrow chapter 8, learning to subnet.....
>
>
>
>

JonnieStyle

2002-09-21, 9:29 am

I've done 3 years of helpdesk and have built and repaired too many pcs.

I guess what my question is,,,

how do I get a network admin job?

"JonnieStyle" <jonniestyle@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:52%i9.17848$Zk4.879519@news2.telusplanet.net...
> The certs alone won't land you a career in the fast track. You could get
a
> job at an electronics store doing repairs on PC's mainly. There's alot
more
> "helpdesk" jobs out there too.
>
> I've got A+ and Network+. Armed with that, I did some investigation in
the
> industry to find what kind of job really interested me. What I found out
> was a little disillusioning, but a good wake up call:
>
> Certs are great, but ONLY in addition to a REAL DIPLOMA or degree from an
> *accredited* COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY, OR TECHNICAL SCHOOL.
>
> So the question became, "Do I really want that interesting job?"
>
> In my case, the answer is yes - and I'm now in the third semester of full
> time studies.
>
> And A+ and Network+ have given me a bit of an edge at school (ie., credit
> for two courses), but all in all, they are entry level certs.
>
> And entry level certs will get you entry level work.
>
> I guess when the economy is booming, the A+ / Network+ tech may be more in
> demand, but when there is a lull, that same tech will be the first on the
> chopping block.
>
> Just my two cents.
>
> "AS" <astaubin@videotron.ca> wrote in message
> news:h0ri9.15385$3F1.126982@weber.videotron.net...
> > hey folks,
> >
> > I had been doing a desktop support role for about 3 yrs and am now laid
> > off...
> >
> > the only cert I have is the A+.
> >
> > I am working toward the Network +
> >
> > What kind of jobs would I be a candidate for with those certs?
> >
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
> >
> > Andre..
> >
> > tommorrow chapter 8, learning to subnet.....
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>

2002-09-21, 10:28 am

Russ S

2002-09-21, 4:29 pm

Hey Andre

I guess it depends on the supply/demand of IT workers in your area. I am a
newby into the industry after many years as a hobbyest and decided that in
my area a MCSA was a minimum to get into network support. I had already
decided to do the A+ first and it was a pleasant surprise to find that A+
and Net+ equals 1 MCP towards a MCSA. The tech support at the campus I
train at is MCSA and MCSE but has recently decided to add A+ and Net+ to his
credentials so I guess these certs are worthwhile because I have heard of
several others doing the same thing. I have also heard of many university
graduates with degrees or doctorates not being able to get jobs without any
Industry certifications.

RussS
A+, Net+

Russ S

2002-09-21, 5:28 pm

Gareth

2002-09-21, 6:28 pm

"Russ S" <noway@nohow.com> wrote in message
news:2t5j9.8923$Y3.1744777@news.xtra.co.nz...
> Hey Andre
>
> I guess it depends on the supply/demand of IT workers in your area. I am
a
> newby into the industry after many years as a hobbyest and decided that in
> my area a MCSA was a minimum to get into network support. I had already
> decided to do the A+ first and it was a pleasant surprise to find that A+
> and Net+ equals 1 MCP towards a MCSA. The tech support at the campus I
> train at is MCSA and MCSE but has recently decided to add A+ and Net+ to
his
> credentials so I guess these certs are worthwhile because I have heard of
> several others doing the same thing. I have also heard of many university
> graduates with degrees or doctorates not being able to get jobs without
any
> Industry certifications.
>
> RussS
> A+, Net+
>
>
>

Strings to your bow springs to mind, but I'm personally going the same way
as you; using the A+ and Network+ lets you cash in your existing knowledge,
instead of going on the typical Microsoft trip, possibly forcing you into a
path which is costlier, and maybe not as interesting (ie. I know a lot of
people who have no interest or career direction in SQL server).

G.

Gareth

2002-09-21, 7:28 pm

Russ S

2002-09-21, 8:29 pm

Hey Gareth

Yes you get that, but I am doing MCSA and then probably CCNA so I am sorta
versatile on the local market.

Russ

Russ S

2002-09-21, 9:29 pm

Hey Gareth

Yes you get that, but I am doing MCSA and then probably CCNA so I am sorta
versatile on the local market.

Russ

Gareth

2002-09-22, 10:28 am

"Russ S" <noway@nohow.com> wrote in message
news:lX8j9.8994$Y3.1750476@news.xtra.co.nz...
> Hey Gareth
>
> Yes you get that, but I am doing MCSA and then probably CCNA so I am sorta
> versatile on the local market.
>
>
> Russ
>
>

Seems to be a good idea - do you have a good degree of some form or other
though? (not wanting to open the Pandora's box of "MCSE vs degree" of course
:P)

G.

Gareth

2002-09-22, 11:29 am

Russ S

2002-09-22, 1:29 pm

"Gareth" <gaz@gaz.org> wrote in message
news:amkq34$gp7$1@knossos.btinternet.com...
>
> "Russ S" <noway@nohow.com> wrote in message
> news:lX8j9.8994$Y3.1750476@news.xtra.co.nz...
> > Hey Gareth
> >
> > Yes you get that, but I am doing MCSA and then probably CCNA so I am
sorta

> > versatile on the local market.
> >
> >
> > Russ
> >
> >
>
> Seems to be a good idea - do you have a good degree of some form or other
> though? (not wanting to open the Pandora's box of "MCSE vs degree" of
course
> :P)
>
> G.
>
>

Russ S

2002-09-22, 1:29 pm

Hey Gareth

No I don't have a degree. I guess I am a little different from a lot of
people in my position in that I have been involved in a couple of areas as a
manager and have had IT people working for me. Past experience has shown me
that an industry qualified tech tends to be better at 'real world' problems.
I have a couple of good friends who are college grads and they do tend to be
a bit impractical & theorise too much. As the catering manager for a large
establishment I used to have a saying about staff coming from the
hospitality school ... "I'd rather have a cook that can boil an egg than a
chef who says he can".

RussS

Russ S

2002-09-22, 2:29 pm

Russ S

2002-09-22, 2:29 pm

Gareth

2002-09-22, 2:29 pm

"Russ S" <noway@nohow.com> wrote in message
news:uAoj9.9252$Y3.1779657@news.xtra.co.nz...
> Hey Gareth
>
> No I don't have a degree. I guess I am a little different from a lot of
> people in my position in that I have been involved in a couple of areas as
a
> manager and have had IT people working for me. Past experience has shown
me
> that an industry qualified tech tends to be better at 'real world'
problems.
> I have a couple of good friends who are college grads and they do tend to
be
> a bit impractical & theorise too much. As the catering manager for a
large
> establishment I used to have a saying about staff coming from the
> hospitality school ... "I'd rather have a cook that can boil an egg than a
> chef who says he can".
>
> RussS
>
>

Vendor-specific applications limit you to jobs which specifically ensure you
use that vendor's equipment (ie. CCNA, or further up the Cisco-Certified
chain shows that you're only suitably qualified to operate mostly Cisco
kit).

In jobs, especially ICT Managers posts which don't /specifically/ ask for
Cisco experience, which is better; a graduate who has shown capability in
picking up a book and *then* striding off into vendor specifics, or somebody
that has (for want of better words), hijacked the process?

Unfortunately in life, there is a *system*. All members of the system are
slightly biased, and occasionally narrow-minded people, but very
intelligent, and generally degree graduates at some point in their lives.
Being biased in such a way, that unless other people wishing to enter the
system have what they believe to be the base qualification (eg. Batchelors),
and have shown that they have spent 3+ years sweating over the academic
route like they have done, they will be denied entrance to "the system".
Life outside of the system is cold - occasionally you might be thrown the
odd bone, but it's very hard to make a meal out of scraps, and impossible to
make it last for a career's lifetime.

Ultimately, higher education certificates tend not to be worth much for
their actual content; imho, they show true testiment of the person's
character. They've knuckled down, and stuck out x years of their life in a
university which most graduates would equate to being evil and prison-like
("we all make our own hell"), which is the sort of people managers tend to
look for.

Having said all this, this is all based on my experience in "ye olde
England", as a student, employee, and the face of the employer.

Good debate though, should be interesting :-)

G.

Russ S

2002-09-22, 2:29 pm

heh heh heh

I just love to stir up this kind of debate. Don't get me wrong as I do
actually have a lot of respect for someone who strives to gain a higher
level of education. However on a practical basis I prefer to employ someone
with solid experience in the field over a piece of paper, be that a degree,
doctorate or industry qualification. Over the years I have had many
exceptional staff working for me in different areas who were absolutely
outstanding in their areas but who for many reasons could (or would) never
succeed in a tertiary environment.

On a similar vein, I have found locally that employers here are very
interested in vendor specific qualifications. Even worse are employers who
will not employ someone at even an entry level position unless they have
experience (doah!!). No matter what a persons experience, certification or
any other consideration if they are not a team player and willing to learn
and to pass on what they have learned they are usually a liability.

Gareth

2002-09-22, 3:29 pm

Russ S

2002-09-22, 3:29 pm

Mik

2002-09-22, 6:29 pm

am trying to get both of both worlds. I am studying through the open
university for the degree and am also studying for the net+ and a+ at the
same time. Only thing is I work in a warehouse job at the moment and need
the experience which will take the certs to get, and then I can concentrate
on the degree. Was hoping for a job on a help line like the ADSL for BT in
the Leeds call centre only 16k a year, about 4k less than I can earn order
picking for 48 hours a week, but it is a start.

Mik

"Russ S" <noway@nohow.com> wrote in message
news:Zqpj9.9272$Y3.1781850@news.xtra.co.nz...
> heh heh heh
>
>
> I just love to stir up this kind of debate. Don't get me wrong as I do
> actually have a lot of respect for someone who strives to gain a higher
> level of education. However on a practical basis I prefer to employ
someone
> with solid experience in the field over a piece of paper, be that a
degree,
> doctorate or industry qualification. Over the years I have had many
> exceptional staff working for me in different areas who were absolutely
> outstanding in their areas but who for many reasons could (or would) never
> succeed in a tertiary environment.
>
> On a similar vein, I have found locally that employers here are very
> interested in vendor specific qualifications. Even worse are employers
who
> will not employ someone at even an entry level position unless they have
> experience (doah!!). No matter what a persons experience, certification
or
> any other consideration if they are not a team player and willing to learn
> and to pass on what they have learned they are usually a liability.
>
>

Mik

2002-09-22, 7:30 pm

Matt Prall

2002-10-01, 12:29 am

Yeah, what I have seen around here (washington state), no matter how
much knowledge you have about technology, they dont even want to talk to
you unless you have some experience out in the field. Not to mention
its impossible to find a computer related internship thats not just
data entry.

Russ S wrote:
> heh heh heh
>
>
> I just love to stir up this kind of debate. Don't get me wrong as I do
> actually have a lot of respect for someone who strives to gain a higher
> level of education. However on a practical basis I prefer to employ someone
> with solid experience in the field over a piece of paper, be that a degree,
> doctorate or industry qualification. Over the years I have had many
> exceptional staff working for me in different areas who were absolutely
> outstanding in their areas but who for many reasons could (or would) never
> succeed in a tertiary environment.
>
> On a similar vein, I have found locally that employers here are very
> interested in vendor specific qualifications. Even worse are employers who
> will not employ someone at even an entry level position unless they have
> experience (doah!!). No matter what a persons experience, certification or
> any other consideration if they are not a team player and willing to learn
> and to pass on what they have learned they are usually a liability.
>
>

Matt Prall

2002-10-01, 1:29 am

Hashem Ouaida

2002-10-28, 6:24 am

I hope that things get better for you Matt.

I am affraid that its not much better down here in Melbourne Australia.
Interesting to mention that Intel invests more money into Research and
Development (R&D) than the whole of the Australian Government. Scarey aint
it! I guess that the dot.com problem a few years back took its toll. Anyway
keep getting those certificates rolling. Eventually someones gonna offer u a
job. Another thing u could look at is going to the Middle East like Saudi
Arabia. They are keen on IT professionals.

Best of luck

Hashem

A+ Network+

"Matt Prall" <-remove.this-infox@infox.ath.cx> wrote in message
news:3D993226.4000105@infox.ath.cx...
> Yeah, what I have seen around here (washington state), no matter how
> much knowledge you have about technology, they dont even want to talk to
> you unless you have some experience out in the field. Not to mention
> its impossible to find a computer related internship thats not just
> data entry.
>
> Russ S wrote:
> > heh heh heh
> >
> >
> > I just love to stir up this kind of debate. Don't get me wrong as I do
> > actually have a lot of respect for someone who strives to gain a higher
> > level of education. However on a practical basis I prefer to employ
someone
> > with solid experience in the field over a piece of paper, be that a
degree,
> > doctorate or industry qualification. Over the years I have had many
> > exceptional staff working for me in different areas who were absolutely
> > outstanding in their areas but who for many reasons could (or would)
never

> > succeed in a tertiary environment.
> >
> > On a similar vein, I have found locally that employers here are very
> > interested in vendor specific qualifications. Even worse are employers
who
> > will not employ someone at even an entry level position unless they have
> > experience (doah!!). No matter what a persons experience,
certification or
> > any other consideration if they are not a team player and willing to
learn

> > and to pass on what they have learned they are usually a liability.
> >
> >
>

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