any one have a certificate of A+ or/plus a N+ certificate? can you just get a job with it? or would a associates degree look good too?
I'm A+ and in college. With A+, you can pretty much walk into most computer stores that need help and get a job. It's worth it. Now employers are interested to hear what I can do to help their business. Used to be they would brush me off because I wasn't qualified for their time.
im in the process of getting my CCNA cert, and an Associate of arts in networking technologies. i intend to be certified by the end of july, and i'll have my degree in about 9 more classes. i asked my adviser about whether or not i should take the A+ test, but she said to concentrate on the CCNA because it looked better than the A+ to employers.
CCNA is more respected because it takes more time and training then A+. It's true. I think you should get both certs. Finish the CCNA first, then you can study and train for the A+. A+ is under $350 for both tests and you are not required to attend training classes, although they do help. I hope to get my Linux+ and Security+ this summer. My family wants me to get CCNA but it's not really my cup of tea. I'd rather administer servers than play with wiring and routers... not that one is better than another.
Cisco Certified Networking Associate. http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/le2/le0/le9/learning_certification_type_home.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ccna#Associate_Certifications (also, @ adderall assasin: if you dont mind my asking, whats your major and where do you go to school?)
N+ is the Network+. You prob know this. I used "The Network+ Guide to Networks Fourth Edition" in college. It's a decent book.
any one have books that they recommend? for N+? the one you mentioned Assasin is ok in its reviews in amazon.com
I think the Comptia certs are good for getting your feet wet. I knew alot more then prior to getting my A+ after I read all the material and studied for the test. I learned more when I studied and obtained my MCSE. But, nothing compared to what I learned when I finally got out in the workforce and began working. In addition, I got the MCSE back in 2000, certs weren't quite as common back then and was promissed quite a bit after certification. What the school told me and what I experienced were two different things. The employers I wanted to work for wanted experience not certification. I think it is best to concentrate first on what you would enjoy doing for a living. If you want to get into an entry level "support" job as quickly as possible, the comptia certs might get you just that. However, an associattes degree is much less focused. You might find out that you don't want to work on a help desk. You might want to create using technology rather then support others' creations. I would suggest a bachelor's degree if that is possible for you. It has been my experience that those that have that seem to progress a bit faster up the corporate ladder. Then it might benefit you greatly to get a more advanced cert after having a few years of experience under your belt. That is what I would do in hindsight.
The Cisco certs DO look better on a resume, but expect to demonstrate expertise, and do not think you are going to get a higher salary because of them. Your boss is going to give you menial tasks at first to see how you perform. These include crappy things like replacing a hard drive under warranty and on site at a customer's facility. Your advanced certs are not going to help you there! You must know the basics of basics- hardware! Passing a certification exam is not going to teach you any of that. You may understand routers, and know how to set up a VPN and still not know dick about the mundane work that pays the bills for your employer. I used to do the IT hires before I retired, and I do know what counts. First, the A+ DOES matter. It makes you more employable. Microsoft and Cisco certs make you worth more salary, but even with them, you need to demonstrate your skills to your boss. A+ gets you in the door, the others may get you more pay or a promotion. Mostly though, you must show your boss your ability and more importantly demonstrate a willingness to actually WORK. IT entry-level jobs are where you are going to start unless you have a masters and are going straight to management. Otherwise expect shitty hours and low pay. But be patient, dont break the rules, and get on the better side of your boss. Its not sucking up- its reality these days. Also, many companies will hire someone with A+ and offer to pay for your other certs either in whole or at least in part as long as you pass the exam. Bottom line, A+ gets you in. A four-year degree dosent matter for crap. An associates degree even from somewhere like ECPI or BetaTech is great because in trade schools, you get experience. A Security plus or Cisco wont at first matter because you will start at base pay regardless! I dealt with hires and human resources for over fifteen years for my IT department, and I really know about this stuff. Demonstrate skills and willingness and then dont be suprised when you come up for review and get a higher salary. I am willing to give away training materials like the A+ practice test DVD, the Security+ DVD and official study guides. You just have to promise to pass them on to some one else when you are finished with them. I do not need or want these materials as I am retired now and want to get rid of some junk. E-mail me if you want to know more gcheesebeer@gmail
gator is quite right! You have to put in as much effort in education as you expect to get from it. Certs are a quick way to an ENTRY LEVEL position. College, especially grad school, is where you get to find out what you want to get out of your interest in technology. A basic BS degree wont make you any more employable than an a+ certified person at first. But with a BS you have many more chances to find a niche in this field and chances are that you will enjoy what you do for a living. A little inside secret: VOLUNTEER! Go see if you can help at the library, or a musem...or anywhere that has a technology need. This wont pay anything but the experience and the demonstration of willingness to WORK is gold to who reviews your resume. In 1984, I wrote some Dbase crap for the police academy. This got me connected through a cop, by word of mouth to a job when I was 15 years old. Effort and social connections really matter!
I'm interested in the Security + DVD. I'm enrolled in the Info Sec track at my college. Now taking the 4th of 6 courses. Can you accept PM's? I can PM you my address and if you can accept paypal I will cover shipping.
