Help on Career

[Malachai77]

Hello all,

Maybe someone of you might point me in the right direction.
I been working in the I.T field for about 8 yrs...I did most of my work on help desk, troubleshoting and other stuff.

Now I really woudl like to get into a Cert of some kind. Most of my life in the I.T feild they told me that Cert are no good just a piece of paper...

Well i would like to move up in my career and to do that I need some kind of cert.

What steps do I need to take. I know how to load all most all windows. To maintain them is a different story. I took some classes, but woul dlike to be a security guy...

Please tell me the steps you took on being a good admin.


/ A techie that is trying to move forward in my career. \

 

[dwarfthrower]

Most employers I know... myself included... do tend to look upon certs as "no-good slips of paper". "Diploma mills" have pretty much ruined it for anyone hoping to stake their career on the number of certifications they have. Our perspective is that the cert itself doesn't tell us whether you are a dilligent person who actually took the time to study the material, practise the examples and actually obtain the knowledge required to pass the exams or if you were simply able to find a place willing to pass you for the right amount of money.

I'm far more likely to hire a candidate who can go into detail about their work history at an in-person interview and demonstrate that they have the knowledge required, who presents and articulates well and who generally strikes me as the sort of person I'd like to work with.

In fact if someone came to me with an abundance of certifications that seemed incongruent with their experience I'd have to wonder what they were trying to compensate for.

_{Never be afraid to share your dreams with the world.
There's nothing the world loves more than the taste of really sweet dreams.}
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[porkchopexpress]

It took me 18 months to get my MCSA as i studied the material in my own time and i did find it valuable. I admin an Active Directory domain with approx 400 clients but i still don't touch on all areas of Windows so it's a good way to learn all of the features. I also think it lets employers know that you must at least be familiar with most windows services, i wouldn't hire someone without proof of their track record and a few years experience though and am deeply suspicious of boot camp style training.

I think it helps to have the certifications especially if you might end up in a customer facing role, companies like to be able to say "All of our engineers are Microsoft Certified" this gives customers the impression that they're getting well trained staff working on their systems and that the company looks after their staff (these small things often impress customers).

As dwarfthrower says don't go OTT and take every cert under the sun as everyone will know that you can't have a real depth of knowledge of all of those products stick to what is core to your role.

 

[Malachai77]

Thank you very much for your feed back porkch... I was wondering if you don't mind me asking but would you be able to give me some tips on what sites or material you use to get your MCSA ...

I'm thinking of getting my MCSE, and Network Security... But I guess I will start out small then move from there.

Any good sites or material would be good.

--Malachai--

/ A techie that is trying to move forward in my career. \

 

[porkchopexpress]

I find the MS press books to be good then get two workstations or virtual server and work through the material. Then i read the Exam Cram book (you can always get these second hand on Amazon) it works through each section then has 10 questions at the end of the section if you can answer all of these then your probably ready.
The books also comes with a CD that has a 50 question exam that simulates the MS exam if you get a pass score on that then book the exam.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss...url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=exam+cram

http://www.examcram2.com/markets/index.asp?rl=1

 

[mmorancbt]

Malachai77,

dwarfthrower gave you some great advice. Certs are viewed very often - and in particular, when incongruent with tangible experience - as compensation or a con job.

I am more concerned with your belief that you need certs to get ahead. I have an educational background in English and Philosophy (no computer coursework), no certs, and no many others who have followed a similar route and do well.

Moving forward in your career is more about producing results in the environment that you are in, networking with other professionals (not necessarily and definately not exclusively IT folk) and communicating the value of your work to those professionals and organizations.

If you believe that you are going to get a certification, go on an interview seeking those skills and certs, and make dramatic leaps ahead in your career, you are misguided.

Instead, set professional goals - less about x position and more about x role and responsibility, make a realistic assessment of whether your current situation helps you get there, and if not, find a role that does. Once again, a role, not a job title.

If you have to be called a marketing technical assistant but you get to work with smart people, helping support their efforts on many fronts, you are better off than being a programmer/analyst, stuck in a cubicle doing maintenance code for the next 5 years.

It is always about what experience you can accumulate more than title. Then, create collateral material (resume/cover-letter) that conveys the value of the roles you played.

Take on new responsibilities without the title or compensation, become the go to person with the great attitude, never complain, always speak in terms of the value to the organization, never buy into the us vs. them mentality of some employees, etc.

You will stick out of the crowd at any organization you serve if you do that.

My opinion.

Matthew Moran (career blog and podcast below)
Career Advice with Attitude for the IT Pro

http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/pm/career

http://techcareerconsult.blogspot.com

 

[mmorancbt]

Oops. That should have been know others, not no others. Freudian slip - for an English Major/Author, no less.

For shame!

Matthew Moran (career blog and podcast below)
Career Advice with Attitude for the IT Pro

http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/pm/career

http://techcareerconsult.blogspot.com

 

[LadySlinger]

Perhaps its just the job market that I'm in right now, but I'm finding that right now certs AND a degree are the things that will make you stand out from a resume point of view.

Unfortunately certs were originally created to show competancy (sp?) and the diploma mills just smashed most of the credentials. There are a few others that are still worthy, but you have to meet certain work requirements before obtaining them.

If you're looking at certs though, start off with the Network+ cert. This gives you the basis to begin working for the Security+ and working towards the MCSE.

 

[porkchopexpress]

I've found that when looking at recruitment sites (in the U.K.) almost all hiring for 2nd / 3rd line support and other helpdesk / site engineer jobs require MCSE/MCSA. Obviously they will be requiring experience and proof of competency but it seems that employers still look for these qualifications.
I'd imagine that the further up the chain that you get less importance is attached to just technical qualifications and degree / management experience starts to count.

I still say that on a personal level you can still learn alot by covering the material for your own benefit just don't rely on it to move you up the career chain.