How I got numerous certifications in one year 9

[brodie1227]

I started taking comp tia A+, hardware test, then software. After passing both then studied one month for Network +. Taking these two first paved the way for my mcp. I studied for the 210,215,216,218,219,220,226. Then I started taking the tests. I mainly focused on 210,215,216 and then tested. The frst two were no problem. Failed 216 twice. Went on and took 218 and obtained mcsa 2000. The toughest was the security tests but eventually(4 months) got my mcse. Then cca citrix(easy) and sonic wall cert(easy)

I recommend Transcender over most of the other training materials. It prepares you for the real tests. However I found myself memorizing situations as opposed to experiencing them and truly learning. Keep in mind I had no experience in the industry prior so this path worked well for me. Experienced techies can probably get it done in 6 months.

Hope this helps

 

[jtb]

depends on time allowed for study and testing--as well as who's paying for the tests... the MS tests are $125 each unless you buy vouchers... CompTIA are generally more and no vouchers are available...

Make a plan before scheduling the tests!! I agree that Transcenders are one good study tool (except for 216). I found the older books were as useful as the newer ones and available for as little as 99 cents!!!

Don't waste your money on braindumps as there are so many questions in the pools it is easier to learn the materials than memorize the questions!!

Don't waste your money on useless certs!! Make a plan for certs based on your career plan (you do have one, right?). Build it with your manager and/or spouse and/or parents (as appropriate to your situation).

Don't spend hundreds or thousands (or tens of thousands) on certs if you have no experience and just want to [COLOR=green yellow]Make Big Bucks Now[/color]: IT folks generally work long hours for okay pay; but with no experience, you'd be lucky to get $30K working 60-70 hours/week on a help desk or at Computer Troubleshooters... There are a million former IT folks selling ties or changing mufflers or living off their family's savings... Make sure you know why you want IT...

Do get certs if you have a plan that calls for them--and someone other than the one selling them (or the training) has told you they are useful/needed. A really good source is someone who tells you they will pay you more if you get the certification and the amount of the raise is more than the cost to obtain the cert...

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

 

[Nzarth]

As above

Also do not forget that certs can make all the difference in a job interview if the employers has to choose between two candidates that have very similar EXPERIENCE.

Just curious, do you work as well or a full time student?

Even an experience techie would find it hard going to complete all those certs in 6 months let alone a year.

Add a job, wife, kids, other activities (i.e. you have a life? Don't you ) and it will take alot longer.

I generally give myself about 2 months per exam to really get to know the subject matter and to test ideas out on my test network.

As jtb said dont get certs for the sake of having some initials after your name. Have a goal and a reason and then go for it.

Getting the cert is half the work, you have alot of work to do to keep all those certs up to date

oh and btw well done

Nzarth

MCSA/MCSE (W2K), CCA

Working on CCNA

 

[brodie1227]

I am single(now) with no kids. I was working full time during 2002. I was doing contract work during the day and studied until falling asleep every night. I by no means meant to convey that this is an easy task but it can be done. I suppose for each person motivation, family obligations and other things come in to play. And you are correct about having the certs when interviewing with employers plays a big role. I know that if you are a good test taker it does help, but learning the material inside and out is the best approach and to accomplish this in a short time it helps to be working in the field for the certs your shooting for. For example I am tring to get my mcdba right now. I have a good deal of experience with ms access and some sql statements and sps, but find that since I do not work with sql server daily in my job it makes it much more difficult. For me, I learn quickest under pressure.

 

[jtb]

brodie1227, I understand the

single(now)

all too well... hope you're okay where you're at...

I also hope you understand I'm not trying to knock what was obviously a lot of work on your part. Assuming you avoided braindumps, you have a lot to be proud of and have proven the ability to digest a lot of material in a short period of time... and if you can dollarize the value of that, you can probably pick and choose where you work and for how much...

For other folks, like myself, a single test every month or two is quite aggressive... ;-)

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

 

[brodie1227]

Thanks JTB.

 

[trusted]

JTB's

1st post is golden. Start in the trenches and find and area that rings your bell then start training for a move into that area.

 

[Skittle]

I have to agree with truted's final posting.
I'm looking at a wide range of IT subjects at the moment with a vire to chasing certification once I find the one I like the most. In fact I find dicovering the right direction is much harder than putting in the effort to get the qualification!

Dazed and confused

 

[Nighthawkf20]

I agree wholeheartedly with first and second posts.. begin with the basics and find your niche.. after all, if you intend to make IT your career.. you've got to get a complete understanding of the basics..then keep current with the constantly NEW stuff.. I'm an old dinosaur from the "Big Iron" days of room-sized CPU's .. but I find the constant challenge of the field energizing .. a "reason to get out there and get to work" .. find out what interests YOU and GO FOR IT!!

 

[Terpsfan]

I've decided that after working 4 years in the field as a database admin/application developer, I am going to go for some certs. I think it's like a degree. In one sense it's a sheet of paper, but behind that sheet of paper, it tells the prospective employer, etc that you have worked your butt off, are disciplined and shows you have a certain body of knowledge in your chosen field.

I'm going for the MCSD in .NET and then the MCDBA. I might take the A++ as well. Instead of forking out thousands of dollars for cert classes, I am going to go the self-study route. I have a feeling I am going to have some late nights for the next year and many weekends holed in my study... But I think that it will pay off in the end.

Reading some of the stories of the people on this forum has inspired me to go for a few of these Microsoft pieces of paper...This seems to be a good forum for professionals to support each other in their endeavors.

 

[nishi57]

Hi Brodie,
That was a great advice, as far as myself I do not have that much industry experience as well. I am starting out with MCSE, but I did my bachelors in MIS. That helped me a lot in MCSE. I am preparing for the 20-710 test which I will take on April 22nd. I am reading the books as well as practicing from the transcenders, but just like you said "I recommend Transcender over most of the other training materials. It prepares you for the real tests. However I found myself memorizing situations as opposed to experiencing them and truly learning".

I want some tips from everyone as to what material to focus on more, what kind of questions can I expect in the test.

Suggestions are welcome.

 

[brodie1227]

Good Luck Nishi.

 

[jtb]

Nishi57,

Buy all the old sybex and examcram and other books... they should be between 0.99 and 4.99 about now... frequent used book stores...

Read them... practice doing the stuff you read about... a single PC with the minimum CPU (Pentium 133), memory (128MB), CDROM drive (2x), and HD capacity (1GB free) will be enough... two or three is much better... you should be able to buy them for under $100 each, including shipping and extra memory or whatever...

(example:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=51096&item=4121743386&rd=1)

You'll also need the network "stuff"... You can figure on about $5 per PC for an ethernet cable and $25 for a small hub or switch. Go ahead and buy these new unless you have the ability to test them... no sense adding to your woes... and don't worry about modems or internet access for these... you only want these to familiarize yourself with enough to pass the tests... they're not for "entertainment" and you won't have time to download all the patches and service packs...

I definitely found it easier to tackle stuff I hadn't fully studied but had seen on the screen...

When you're done, sell 'em on Ebay or to one of your "certifiable" friends!!! ;-)

Good luck!


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

 

[jtb]

Ooooops!!

Ok, I forgot the eval software... You'll need to go to the MS site and see if you can still order the Eval CDs...

(

http://register.microsoft.com/regsys/regsys.asp?wizid=4147&lcid=1033)

If not, I'm sure you can find them at your local MS dealer, University, or PC Users Group...



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

 

[nishi57]

Yup getting as much practise as I can. Transcenders is the praticse test that I am practising through. Doing labs, setting and installing stuff on the side.

I am just crossing my fingers.

 

[nishi57]

One more thing I am reading as much as I can getting hands on practise as much as I can. Reagrding networking I am also reading the material for 70-216. All the detailed stuff about DHCP, DNS, WINS etc. Do I need to study this material or just do the Installtions, administration for windows 2000 Pro and server.

How detailed do I need to get?

 

[brodie1227]

210 and 215 to me were the same. Good luck

 

[Anarax]

jtb,
Hi, we have replied to each other's post on another thread, but this one (the one about setting up a home network) is the direction I am going. I read, then I try to apply; however, I am running out of "things" to do with AD; I have created several groups, set permissions (NTFS and Group); I was wondering if you can recommend any books that offer any lab exercises. I find I retain knowledge so much better if I "just do it".
Thanks again!

Tim
Still DM'ing after all these years

 

[setnaffa]

Nishi, 216 was all about *knowing* the MS Way and security... lots of tough questions... practice everything you can think of, including security... in fact, try to imagine how security can affect each step...

Tim, I just went through the books doing everything... I set up my small network as though I had 10 sites, 2 domains, moved stuff around a lot... The older MS Press books had a lot of lab exercises; but the tests were tougher than that... I'd say do a design, make it happen... imagine some sort of merger, make the changes... play around a lot with GPOs... stuff like that...

Setnaffa is an MCP-W2K (working on MCSE-W2K) with a few other certs, too...

 

[brodie1227]

There are multiple 'right' ways to accomplish the tasks microsoft presents to you. In fact more often than not all the answers are correct and you have to pick microsofts best answer. Keep going w/ transcenders nishi, it is very helpful as a learning tool. Also measure-up is a good tool.