I'm currently aiming for my MCSA (halfway there), but how well known, and how highly regarded is the MCSA? I realise its a cut-down MCSE, and therefore has less prestige. But does it count for that much. Would it be better to gain A+ and CNA and show a more varied skill base?

Any advice please.

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The M$ certs are good. All the certs are getting watered down but they are good to have on your resume. The A+ is really recognized as a basic tech cert.

I dont want to tell you that one is more
valuable than the other because I wouldnt want you discourage you. But if you check the Market for jobs and certifications that
Companies want us to have, you will see that
certian certs are not as recognized.

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when i was made redundant, i looked at as many vacancy adverts as possible in the computer/networking industry. most of the jobs required mcse and degree as well experience and sql.

i think the thing is to find out what qualifications seem to be required in your area.

i do not have a degree. my experience is in desktop printing. i am a+ qualified and hope to be network+ qualified by the end of the year. i will evaluate if i want mcsa/mcse around that time.

at the end of the day, it all depends on what kind of job you want. the closest i got to a dream i.t. job was when i applied for the post of the-guy-who-delivers-the-systems-from-your-local-pc-shop-and-assembles-them-in-your-home, but the shop claimed to have lost my application form (even though they had told me that they would hold my resume on record three months previous!).

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At the moment the job market is not good,with my mcse,mcp,cna,a+,i am still looking for IT job,but i will keep on adding to my certs for future gain when the economy picks up.
so i will say go for mcsa, then after that full mcse.

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i totally agree,,,
number 1,, A+ is not as big as it used to be, BUT it's kinda like the must have for the intro level jobs, Helpdesk, level1 support, even some helpdesk position's want a freakin MCSE now...

MCSE is the most marketable cert right now,, do a search on monster.com for the whole USA, you will find like 20 pages of jobs asking for a MCSE, and only about 6 pages asking for a CCNA, most are wanting CCNP just for intro,,, alot of A+ too but they want A+ people with experience and you are still not going to get jack for $$,,even if you get a job,,,
best thing to do now it seems with the economy is get a degree, and work up to the bigger certs,, MCSE, MCSA, CCNP,

it seems if they offered a job of running fiber through a ditch in 100 degree heat for 6 bucks an hour most people would take it these days,,,

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Thanx all

I'd been wondering if my certs (or lack of) had been stopping me from finding a better job, but I guess I should be happy I've got one at all. I know jobs are scarce, but didn't realise it was that bad.

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u might want to check out a+ and network+. they work together as an elective for mcsa. costly though compared to what m$ exams u have to do instead.

best of luck, a5h.

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Im going through the exact same dilemna right now,
The good news is that my A+ did get me an interview with a big tech company and the skills I learned through A+ did help me easily pass their exams.

(a good point here is that some companies, like that one are not interested in tech-wizards who know all the latest outrageous sound cards or Linux buzzwords)

In fact - this companies exam was basically an A+ exam!

It didnt pay much but combining the level one helpdesk experience with the awesome training they offered would be a huge step forward into IT.

Anyway, based on anything I have researched You almost cant find a better next step than to do the Net+ then 3 MS core exams and Voila - You are an MCSA. As someone said earlier - you can get the MCSE later on after hopefully securing a invaluable starting position.

Im new to the cert game, but I have been hiring people for the last 7 years and I really have to say that while certs are the way to get 'In' to the interview - personality and drive and honesty are so HUge when it comes to hiring.
My company in particular will always go for a great guy with a keen attitude yet only a few basic certs.
Truthfully - I have had guys come in with 'elite' certs and lots of 'insider' buzzwords and they are simply not going to get hired because we dont like them.

As to training.. I think its worth noting that many companies WANT to train a basic A+/MCSA guy who is an clean slate rather than a cert-wizard who already has his routine and prejudices.

Im going MCSE because that just happens to be the only course available to me right now. Otherwise Im sure I would do MCSA.

Just a last thing to note here - I added something to my A+ but almost no one thinks about this aspect.... Business Management diploma.
Nothing to do with tech - everything to do with resumes/CV's and broadening the range of potential jobs.
We've had two people get hired without even writing the A+ yet because the company wanted supervisors and managers with some computer skills. Now those two A+/Business students are the higher paid supervisors of guys with MCSE/CNA/BLA BLA.

Crazy world

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After all MCSA is better than A+ and CNA.

Also is personal goal, don't let those certification value to ajust your knowledge.

Aim high, sky is the limit

Good luck

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quote:

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Just a last thing to note here - I added something to my A+ but almost no one thinks about this aspect.... Business Management diploma.

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