New Horizons? 2

[Trevoke]

It's kind of a generic question.
My resume is currently out on monster.com and such (not necessarily the best way, but it's one place anyway). I am 23 and have no certifications, but I'm looking to get some.
I was approached by New Horizons (

http://www.newhorizons.com

) to offer to help me study and pass the certifications tests - they also include some free resume reworking, and then promise to help with finding me interviews.
For a "package" of Security+, MCSA 2000/2003, and CCNA (so with the intro to Cisco and with the MCP), it was the small sum of about $9,500 (books are free, too!)

I looked through the outline they offered for the A+, Net+ and TCP/IP Certs. I can easily pass the A+ and Net+ on my own according to what they want to make me study, but I do have to review my TCP/IP..

So, here are the questions:
How do you all study?
Is that way too much money? Is it worth it?
How do I register to take one of the tests on my own?

"That time in Seattle... was a nightmare. I came out of it dead broke, without a house, without anything except a girlfriend and a knowledge of UNIX."
"Well, that's something," Avi says. "Normally those two are mutually exclusive."
-- Neal Stephenson, "Cryptonomicon"

 

[RandeKnight]

I think it depends on how much of a self-starter you are.
Some people can study by themselves for extended period and get the certs cheaply.
Others find that a structured course which forces them to study for a certain number of hours a day is more effective.

Personally I prefer self-study. It takes me a lot longer to get the certs, but I'm having a lot more fun studying the stuff I want and need at the time (to a fairly high level), and then going back and picking up the bits and pieces than I passed by previously because I didn't find it interesting.

 

[Trevoke]

Well, let's see, I'm bored right now so I'm teaching myself C++ .. Is that enough of a self-starter? ;-)
How do you do the self-study, though? Where do you get the material?

"That time in Seattle... was a nightmare. I came out of it dead broke, without a house, without anything except a girlfriend and a knowledge of UNIX."
"Well, that's something," Avi says. "Normally those two are mutually exclusive."
-- Neal Stephenson, "Cryptonomicon"

 

[CiscoGuy33]

Trevoke,

1st I think $10,000 bucks is a lot for S+, CCNA and MCSA you could get the best books, videos, sims and CBTs for all of those certs and Net + and A+ for less then $2,000.

If you really want to do this - do 1 cert at a time! You will only find and KEEP a job if you truly understand the stuff behind the cert!!!!!!!!!! A cert might get you an interview but WHAT YOU LEARNED will help you get the job and KEEP the job.

If you say you can pass A+ - get a book - read it - go to the CompTIA site and check the objectives and take the 2 exams for A+.

When you have passed those 2 exams - do same for Net + and then move on to CCNA or MCSA!

I would finish with Security + - the more you understand about networking and computers the better you will do trying to secure those networks and computers!!!

As for books etc -

How about

http://www.amazon.com

or

http://www.bookpool.com

for books - some of the best prices you can find.

http://www.boson.com

has a great router sim and a FREE trial!

and I have always liked CBT Nuggets - go to

http://www.cbtnuggets.com

and you can "try before you buy" and watch FREE videos and see if they will help you - they have every subject you can think of for computers, networking and security!

Read back a few pages at this site and see what others have suggested!

Hope this helps!


E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[Trevoke]

Very handy!
Is CompTIA only a sponsor, or are they the route to go?
How many times can one take the test? Is there a limit within a timeframe ?
What are the test dates? I can't seem to find them...

"That time in Seattle... was a nightmare. I came out of it dead broke, without a house, without anything except a girlfriend and a knowledge of UNIX."
"Well, that's something," Avi says. "Normally those two are mutually exclusive."
-- Neal Stephenson, "Cryptonomicon"

 

[CiscoGuy33]

Trevoke,

CompTIA is who gives the + certifications - A+, Net + etc. you might want to check them out -

http://www.comptia.org/

You will need to register at a test center to take an exam whether it is Cisco, Microsoft or CompTIA -

Pearson VUE (Virtual University Enterprises)
In U.S. and Canada visit VUE on line or call 1-800-829-NETS (6387)-option 1, then 4 to register for an exam
Outside U.S. and Canada, check VUE for more information.

http://www.vue.com/

Thomson Prometric
In U.S. and Canada visit Prometric on line or call 1-800-829-NETS (6387)-option 1, then 4 to register for an exam
Outside U.S. and Canada, check Prometric for more information.

http://www.prometric.com/ContactUs/default.htm

Once you are registered you can take them just about any day or time of the week.

Each test has different costs like CCNA is $125 in USA and A+ is $140 per exam (2 exams for A+) and each exam has different limits as to how often you can take them if you fail - you need to get on the Internet and research the different exams and go to their sites to get all the details.

Hope this helps!



E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[NettableWalker]

Trevoke,

I remember a similar thing about 5 years ago before i had any certs and my CV was out there looking for entry level IT jobs. It is an easy demographic to spot and these companies look to sell training to an easy target.

I chose the cheap route and bought some books and then got a CCNA, a Net+ and eventually a job.

To learn his stuff from scratch is a long, serious process: to read a book is easy, but to learn it to the extent that it is part of your day to day existence to subnet, troubleshoot and eat & sleep networks takes a long time and a lot of hard work. But as jobs go it could be a lot worse and we get paid quite well.

I would save your money and buy a book, and a few routers from Ebay and lose the next 3 months of your life learning CCNA. This is a solid base of TCP/IP which underpins all else that you need to know for networking. Then a MCSE is a good idea because very few companies will let you near their routers until you have already proved yourself with desktops and server support, as the potential to bugger up large portions of a working system by messing a router config are too great.

Think of all this as a long journey. You are still v.young so you got loads of time. But see these basic certs and just basic certs. There are millions of people out there with an MCSE working on helpdesks earning ok. But you will get bored with desktop support quite soon. To get much more money and work on more interesting jobs, bigger systems with more satisfying complexity you need to first earn your stripes in the workplace and learn a subject in much more depth. (I wouldn't bother with Net+ etc as i have never seen any job ask for them).

Study a CCNP and see the vast depths of knowledge open up before you. Check the advanced job adverts and see how much more you can earn if you have the drive.

Learn to love text books and long hours working and you will soon find yourself earning a lot of money.

Just my 2 cents....



MCP,CCA,CCNA, Net+, Half CCNP...

 

[Trevoke]

Thanks!
Though the "long hours working" rather scare me a bit, as I have activities outside I would love to not give up, such as time in the dojo, teaching and learning martial arts..

Unless you meant long hours working on the CCNP?

"That time in Seattle... was a nightmare. I came out of it dead broke, without a house, without anything except a girlfriend and a knowledge of UNIX."
"Well, that's something," Avi says. "Normally those two are mutually exclusive."
-- Neal Stephenson, "Cryptonomicon"

 

[NettableWalker]

Wait until you add a 50 hour work week as a network manager, wife and 2 kids into the equation and try to find time to hit the books!

I haven't even seen my hobbies for a long long time now. There is a thick layer of dust on my surfboard!

MCP,CCA,CCNA, Net+, Half CCNP...

 

[Trevoke]

NettableWalker : now you're scaring me.
I don't *want* a 50-hour work week. There's gotta be a BOFH solution to this.

"That time in Seattle... was a nightmare. I came out of it dead broke, without a house, without anything except a girlfriend and a knowledge of UNIX."
"Well, that's something," Avi says. "Normally those two are mutually exclusive."
-- Neal Stephenson, "Cryptonomicon"

 

[NettableWalker]

Ah, but you're missing the point:

We all love our work and can't get enough of it



MCP,CCA,CCNA, Net+, Half CCNP...

 

[Trevoke]

If the certifications mean not dealing with lusers anymore, it may well be worth it.

I do have every intention of still practicing my arts.. And if I have to bring a sword to work to do it during long nights, so be it.

"That time in Seattle... was a nightmare. I came out of it dead broke, without a house, without anything except a girlfriend and a knowledge of UNIX."
"Well, that's something," Avi says. "Normally those two are mutually exclusive."
-- Neal Stephenson, "Cryptonomicon"

 

[CiscoGuy33]

Trevoke,

There always seems to be something else to study or learn - I USED to enjoy reading adventure novels before I got into networking

And all these cert except CompTIA need to be recertified every 2-3 years - so you are either learning something new or working on a recert of something old!

It seems the more $$$$ the longer the hours !!!!

Just my thoughts!




E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[Trevoke]

That's what it seems, anyway.
While I've got you guys here.. Which certifications or experience/knowledge would you recommend if someone goes the path of the sysadmin, rather than netadmin?

"That time in Seattle... was a nightmare. I came out of it dead broke, without a house, without anything except a girlfriend and a knowledge of UNIX."
"Well, that's something," Avi says. "Normally those two are mutually exclusive."
-- Neal Stephenson, "Cryptonomicon"

 

[CiscoGuy33]

Trevoke,

Realisticly there is little difference between a "Network Admin" and a "Systems Admin" in the real world - both are concerned with the network that the system is running on!

But, I guess if you were to draw a line it would start with the system that you wanted to be an admin over - Microsoft - then MCSA and MCSE etc.

Once again it would only be in the largest of enterprizes that you might find seperate hats - in most the same guy will wear both hats as well as a few more .......

Just my thoughts!




E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[Trevoke]

The only two hats I want are white and black, and I want the (l)users to be educated enough to know which days they can mess with me and which days they can't.
It's probably a bit puerile.

Thanks for all the advice. I'll come back if I have more questions

"That time in Seattle... was a nightmare. I came out of it dead broke, without a house, without anything except a girlfriend and a knowledge of UNIX."
"Well, that's something," Avi says. "Normally those two are mutually exclusive."
-- Neal Stephenson, "Cryptonomicon"