Hi..I am new to this group.....i fo

[SaileshJiandani]

Hi..I am new to this group.....i found some of the advices very helpful and would like to clear my doubts too, through this informative session..

I have cleared the A+ certification, and planning to give the Network+, iNet+, and Securtiy+ in the coming weeks..

I have interest towards system/netowrk administration and would like to know as to which one is more focussed towards my goals-MCSA,MCSE or the CCNA?? I have gone through the exam objectives and all of them appear very similar..I would really appreciate expert advice in this.
Thanks..
Sailesh !!

 

[SgtB]

If you need the knowledge go for the N+. If you already know it, but just want a cert, I wouldn't bother with the N+. If you know IP, and want to prove it. Go for the CCNA. That'll get you on your way to a network admin job.

I personally think the MCSE is a completely worthless cert. I know far too many paper MCSE's who can't wrap their brain around the concept of DNS. Other companies including HR dept. really look for this cert. If you got the time and money, go for it I guess. Can't hurt you anyway.

Just my $.02

I'll see your DMCA and raise you a First Amendment.

http://www.anti-dmca.org

 

[snootalope]

I just gotta put my piece of mind here..

How anyone can say ANY cert is worth something now a days is beyond me.. CCNA, CCNE, MCSE, A+, N+, etc.. its totally worthless anymore.. IF YOU DON"T HAVE EXPERIENCE, YOUR NOT GONNA GET IT. PERIOD

I'm 22, I got 4 cert's from 4 years ago, and an AS degree in Network Administration.. You know what I remember from school??? Absolutly nothing.. It was $2700 for 2 years of what?? Whatching my classmates think thier gonna be great admins someday, yet they were all working at home depot and burger king.. yeah.. there ya go..

My advice: Get a small part-time pc job.. maybe even get lucky and get an assistant network job.. even if it's only $10 an hour and you have to sit in the corner.. In my mind, 6 months experience is better than two year degree.. 3 years experience is better than a masters degree.. but that's just in the IT field..

Save your money.. setup your own network if you have to and break it!! Tear it apart, rebuild it, get the skills it takes to do the job, not just know it..

peace

(i feel better)

"tis better to remain silent and be thought of as a fool..
then open your mouth and remove all doubt" Mark Twain

"I should of been a doctor.." Me

 

[SgtB]

I disagree snootalope. There are some certs that are in fact totally bogus, and you don't need to really know the material to pass. The CCNA is quite different. Cisco does a great job at making sure you know your stuff in order to pass.
On another note though, certs are there to get you an interview. Nothing more. If you're boot-camp certified, you might get an interview, but you'll get nailed to the wall during a technical interview.
Exprience is the key though. I agree with snoot when he says get a pc tech job. Even if it starts with low-pay, it will give you the foundation to build yourself a career in IT. That's exactly where I started out btw.

Anyway, good luck!

I'll see your DMCA and raise you a First Amendment.

http://www.anti-dmca.org

 

[SaileshJiandani]

I totally agree with the fact that I need to get experience...I am applying to diff. jobs (entry level networking)...Simultaneouslly, I am preparing for my certifications and my Masters' degree in Information Technology and Management (2 more sems to graduate)..

I am right now prearing for the Network+, so let's see...
But I really appreciate everyones' views..
Thanks, and write to you guys later...If you have any views, please share.
Take care,
Sailesh !!

 

[SuperTanker]

Keep this in mind. I work in a company that has almost 50 MCSEs only one in IT and that was from NT3.5 For us experience is golden over a piece of paper.

Totally agree w/Sgtb on the cisco certs, there are few if any paper CCNAs.

Myself I am going to actually buckle down and get the paper so I have options down the road, maybe at my current employeer, maybe at another, when the curent regime in DC figures out how to fix the economy.

 

[minxca]

Cert is very important to impress your future boss or HR (even they don't know what that is). If 2 people apply for the job, the HR'll look the one has many cert. Qualified or not, it's depend on you but the most important is they call you first!
Supertanker is right, alot of MCSE cert.
I'm only CCNA and I passed it before my stage and I got it because of that. After I got the job, I don't want to take MCSE. Why? Expensive.
If you want to take MCSE, search in KAZAA, memorize the answer and I guarantee you can pass all exam within 2 months.

 

[snootalope]

Ok winoto.. explain this one..

The job that I have now.. I have an AS degree in network administration.. and 4 cert's form 3 or 4 years ago..

I was competing against 45 year old dudes with MASTER DEGREE'S, MCSE's, CCNA's.. MASTER"S ya follow me..

"tis better to remain silent and be thought of as a fool..
then open your mouth and remove all doubt" Mark Twain

"I should of been a doctor.." Me

 

[SgtB]

You answered your own question there snoot. These 45 yr olds you speak of seem a bit overqualified for a network admin job (I'm assuming the masters is in IT). They would require more pay than you do with only an AS.
Alot of HR depts ask 'why does this overqualified person want a low-end job?' (not that net admin is low-end really, but you get my meaning). See what I mean?

Now this is gonna sound mean, but its not meant to. What point are you trying to make with that post? I'm not seeing how that involves winoto's post.

I'll see your DMCA and raise you a First Amendment.

http://www.anti-dmca.org

 

[minxca]

Snoot,

hehehe, same here. My compatitors were over qualified (master, experience) but they asked much lower salary than me. What's wrong with these guys?
The different was, I was doing my stage there when they applied the job. And I got stage because I had more (CCNA) than the others.
You get my point? If you don't have any experience, what r y going to put into your CV?

BTW SGBT answered your question.

 

[DC0]

My thoughts on this...

If a company or it department puts so much value in a certificate im not interested in working for them.. Since i dont plan to work for any consulting outfits which use the "microsoft solution provider" to get customers im ok with this.

Also consider theres 2 ways of thinking and neither are correct or wrong. If you want A job, get as many certs as your business card can handle, put some on the back even. But you know, i dont know about you but i want to work at a place where the crew and i have a fun time and just because i got some piercings they dont care because im busting my butt for the company and saving them some $$$ while protecting their investments.

So the best answer to this all is.. Look at where you want to be and take everyones thoughts with a grain of salt. Im anti college and anti cert so... =p I dont get along well with some of the old school.

One last thing.. Personel apperance,attitude, personality are big factors. Your little piece of paper gets you into the door but if i have to ask you 4 times to repeat your self i dont want you on my crew. =) No offense. I know some Old schools are going comment on the piercings.. Yea i dont bust them out first day im employeed i ease into it. For the interview i shave all my colord hair off, take all my piercings out.. Put on a crisp starched shirt and tie.. Nice pants and i look like a normal person.. =p

 

[rn4it]

I agree with alot of what DCO stated, here is what I have noticed. Certs used to be all the rage, then Cert boot camps, these boot camp have taken alot of the credibility out of many certs (ie MCP,MCSE,CCNA,CCNp,etc) There are only a few certs that I'm aware of that, because of the requirements of the cert they don't have bootcamps for(ie giac certs sans.org)

So If you select to go for a cert, then pick applicable certs according to the work you do or want to do. Don't go in for a Networking job at a juniper shop with your CCNA. You problably won't get it on just the cert, but if you have 6 yrs experience, with different switchs/routers then you will be more likely to get. On the otherhand, if you go into a Cisco shop and you have 10 yrs of building PCs, and the only network you have worked on is a 3pc home network, don't go for the networking position, they'll be picking the person with 1mth and a CCNA.

In closing it's a matter of balance between certs & exp. and what will help tip the scale is personality.