Beginner 5

[Charlie23]

Greetings,

Well I'm new to the board, and am at a point in my career where I have to start obtaining some certifications.

I'm 23 years old, graduated from a 2 year Network Systems program at a community college.

Since graduating I've been working in the dispatch department at Legato Software. Part of my job requirement has been to obtain my LCNA. I found the course to be quite easy, and scored 88% on the Windows exam.

However, it seems as if I've hit the ceiling here and would like to move on shortly...

What would be a good starting point Certification wise?

MSDST
CCNA
Network+
MCP

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Regards,

Charlie23,
Legato Certified NetWorker Administrator

 

[jrbarnett]

What do you want to do with your career?

John

 

[jtb]

jrb is right on... build a career plan and follow it...

JTB
Have Certs, Will Travel
"A knight without armour in a [cyber] land."

 

[Charlie23]

I would eventually like to get into some Network Administration.

At the moment I'm looking for the best certification to get my 'foot in the door' within a company.

I am starting from scratch here with minimal work experience. So I'm hoping not to jump into a track that will be over my head until I get more experience.

Thanks for replying,

Charlie23,
Legato Certified NetWorker Administrator

 

[jrbarnett]

For network admin, think network+/A+ for junior roles, MCP/MCSA/MCSE at a more senior level for Microsoft systems, CNA/CNE for Novell systems, RHCE (Red Hat Certified Engineer) for that particular Linux distribution etc. I'm sure other OS vendors have their own, if they interest you (commercial Unixes and Macs being the main ones). But I am assuming as you posted in the MS certification, this is the direction you want to take.

Suggestion would be to do the A+/Network+ as you don't have much experience to pass - fairly easy, and together they can be used towards your MCSA if you decide to do that in the future when you have more experience.

As for experience, try doing work on PC systems at home, for friends/relatives/small companies in your area that don't have internal IT support. It gets you real world experience with a range of systems.

John

 

[GlenJohnson]

What part of the country are you in? The mid-west is dry as a bone for job ops. Maybe east or west coast is different, but getting into network admin when you're new to the field in the mid-west is a total waste of time. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to discourage you, just want you to know what you're up against. There is still a bit of a glut since the dot-com bust, so check the want ads first, before you try and get into something new.

However, it seems as if I've hit the ceiling here and would like to move on shortly...

With anyluck, this is because of where you are in the company and not the country. Good luck, and keep checking in.

Glen A. Johnson
If you're from Northern Illinois/Southern Wisconsin feel free to join the Tek-Tips in Chicago, Illinois Forum.

TTinChicago
Johnson Computers

 

[Overclocker]

NOt only that, but it will help is you have a "network" of people who know you and who know that you are looking.

"If time travel were possible, I'd go back and choose NOT to attend SCD

 

[Charlie23]

Thank you for your sugguestion jrbarnett.

Glen,

I currently reside in Dundas, Ontario Canada. Dundas is roughly 45 minutes south-west from Toronto.

It looks as if I'm going to start with the MCDST track. After obtaining that I will likely go for the MCSA.

Thanks for your comments!

Kind regards,

Charlie23,
Legato Certified NetWorker Administrator

 

[aftertaf]

Charlie23:

I'm in France, and am loking to emigrate with my family to canada, french speaking part ....
which is whyi am on the mcsa mcse track (got mcsa in 6 weeks from 1st mcp to 4th one )
get money, save up, emigrate and get a good job.
it seems that it specialists are a sure thing in emigration criteria, so there must be jobs...

try and get yourself formed (paid by your job?) at least for mcsa

good luck
and let me know if you learn of someone in montreal loking fr an admin developper mcsa