Certifications

[Drew]

I'm wanting to get certified in one or more areas but I'm not exactly sure which is the most sought after and usefull of all the different areas.

I've got the brain dump for XP pro admin. A friend used it and nearly aced the cert test for it. Our office has the A+ training but that junk is borning and useless in my opinion. Just tests basic computer knowledge.

I've also got VB6.0, windows 2K admin and SQL 2K admin mcse training manuals.

Emule had just about every manual and test there is for any MCSE area so what would you guys reccomend?

Which ones are hot right now? I'd like to get one or two certs by the summer or end of summer so I can get a good IT job in Bham.

[WiggiE]

It depends on ALOT. Do you want to go into systems' admin or network admin side of things?

There are alot of certs that don't mean anything anymore. For instance MCSE doesn't mean much anymore because of braindumps like your friends.

Most Comptia certs are totally worthless. A+, Network+, etc.

Personally I am working on my CCNA, and will move onto my CCNP. I'm going to try to pair my networking certs with a good background in *nix.

Since you are looking at the MCSE side of things, I would suggest taking at least one of the Server 2003 exams, "Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment" and/or "Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure". You are also going to want a desktop support cert, which I'd suggest "Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows® XP Professional". Follow this up with one of the security certs and you will be pretty well rounded, and on your way to getting your MCSE.

Here is a page listing the requirements for MCSE.
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcse/windows2003/

[Jess]

http://www.aivy.co.jp/BLOG_TEST/nagasawa/archives/CERTS.jpg

[phillyd]

I've got 2 MCP exams 70-290 and 70-270, tomorrow I take 70-291, 4 more and I am MCSE....woo woo!

As far a WiggiE's comment on MCSE being "useless", not completly true. If you have an MCSE and no IT experience, then it probably won't do you much good. BUT, if you have a few years of IT under you brass buckle then it will probably be quite helpful in finding an Mid-level or Sr.-level position...check out dice.com, see what recruiter and companys want. I recommend anything cert you can get to help back up any experience you have.

[evrae205]

you dont need to goto any classes to get your a+ and id get it just to get your foot in the door. net+ and security+ are good certs to get. after that gowith whatever you can see yoursefl doing 8hours a day for he rest of your life.

[WiggiE]

As far a WiggiE's comment on MCSE being "useless", not completly true.
Let me refrase that.

MCSE is useful, as it will get you the interview, but not the job.

Unfortunately, because of the # of people who now have MCSE, employers do not value it as much as they did in the past. A couple of years ago, you could get a good paying job by just having an MCSE. Now, you must have the experience and degree to back it up.

[Adam]

Let me refrase that.

MCSE is useful, as it will get you the interview, but not the job.

Unfortunately, because of the # of people who now have MCSE, employers do not value it as much as they did in the past. A couple of years ago, you could get a good paying job by just having an MCSE. Now, you must have the experience and degree to back it up.

Were I work I can throw a rock (not in my direction of course I'm cert-less & proud) and hit an MSCE. Does it mean they can do anything actually useful? Usually about 1 outta 5.

A MSCE will get you in the door but, if you don't know anything beyond what they spoon feed you :whogives:

[Grider]

Cert-less and proud here as well. Hell I'm degree-less as well.

Need to start fixing the degree part soon.

I've seen MCSE who know their shit well, but they have backgrounds that go deeper than Microsoft. You got to have some knowlege beyond the MS exams to back up what you are doing, because the stuff MS recomends does not always work for every situation.

Anybody here taken the CompTIA Security+ test? Is it any good?

[phillyd]

Anybody here taken the CompTIA Security+ test? Is it any good?

not yet, but hopefully soon!!! I have heard it is useful, also it can be used as an elective for the "Security" specialization on the MCSE

[Drew]

I posted my resume on dice. The problem I 'm running into finding a job is that everyone wants so much specific experience in particular areas of work that at this point, I really have none. I can't seem to find any intermediate or mabey entry level IT jobs that aren't stupid contract jobs in Bham *which is where I want to work*.

there are a ton of jobs on dice's site for bham but it seems that I can't do any of them b/c of lack of experence :(

[Adam]

You do the stupid contract jobs to get experience :D

[Drew]

That's what I'm doing now. It's a dead end helpdesk job. :(

I do get to use company time and resources to to cert training though.