New to the Industry Looking for Advice

[TDHoma]

Afternoon Everyone,

Looking for some advice hope the veterans her can lead me in a good starting point. As the title says I'm new to the Industry I've been working n the Industry for a little more then a year May 05 I started professionally. I am 22yrs old and am trying to keep my knowledge growing as well as experience. I started looking into the certs just recently and thought it would be a good way for me to really get future employers to look at my resume. I am thinking of taking the 270 exam once I can get a solid stand on the Pearson's book I have. After that I'm not to sure where to go from there any suggestions to a new guy in the industry.

Any suggestions are appreciated,

 

[NickFerrar]

If your job is general admin or server admin I'd work towards the MCSA then MCSE, after that you can look a product-specific stuff such as SQL or Exchange exams. If it's more desktop support currently then look at the MCDST to start with. It's expensive though so you need to find a way of getting your employer on-board. If you have some old kit lying around get a small test network set up and learn instlaling/configuring everything from scratch then work on the stuff you don't usually do day-to-day in your normal job.

I'm still a believer in instructor-led training as it puts you in the Microsoft mind-set (how they want you to do things isn't always how you would do them in your job ). Many people just self-study though and taking decent practice tests (Transcender or Self-Test) gives you a good idea of the exam/question format.

 

[paulhthomas]

I agree with Nick. I found my self in a similar position to yourself about 3 years ago. Didn't really know where to go in my IT career so thought I'd get some exams under my belt.
After showing in an interview that I was keen to learn and telling them what my plan was as far as exams go, I managed to get a job in an outsourcing company. I've now had 3 years of brilliant experience with a huge variety of prducts and all OS'.
I've also managed to get 4 of my exams done towards my MCSE (5th one this month).
As Nick said,instructor led courses are best (and less boring than reading a 1000 page book), but they are costly.
If your employer's willing to pay then great. If they can't stretch to that, then ask if they're willing to pay for the books and exams and show that you're willing to do the studying in your spare time. This will benefit you as well as them.

There's also a lot of study material out there, I personally use the MS-Press books and the CBT NUggets videos.
I know that few people of this board detest the MS Press books, but the way I look at it, is the Microsoft books, show you the Microsoft way. and if it's not in the book, it's not in the exam!
If you need any more info , post back

Paul Thomas
Network+ - Passed
70-210 - Passed
70-290 - Passed
70-291 - Passed
70-293 - Passed
70-294 - Working Towards

 

[brichr]

Check out your local JC. In the area I live you can get instructor lead corses for 13 dollars a unit. They are not very fast paced but they help a ton to keep you focused on studying. They can be good sources for study groups or sharing materials. Depending on your JC they may or may not have any good classes. Where I live you can take M$oft classes for server 2003, UNIX classes, and they even have a path to Cisco CCNA.

If your JC does not offer then stick to what the others have said.

 

[Auger282]

college works wonders

 

[HutchHutchison]

Getting the Certs will put your resume to the top of most lists when it comes to hiring. it is a simple fact.

The certs also help you to understand and impliment technology more than college probably did. Get your hands dirty. Build some servers. Get you company to pay for some of the stuff too. It is in there benefit that you learn more and understand more.

 

[Auger282]

I disagree with HutchHutchison... I think Experience comes first then School and then Certs. There are too many ways to cheat or cram for certs.

It also depends on who's hiring you.. but I would like to think that a person who has a high school education with MCSE wouldnt get a job over someone with a college degree and MCSE.

Also if you get hired by someone who doesnt know what MCSE is.. they are sure going to know what a BS degree in computer science is.

 

[mrdenny]

It also depends on who's hiring you.. but I would like to think that a person who has a high school education with MCSE wouldnt get a job over someone with a college degree and MCSE.

As a person with no college and several certs I take offence to that. Just because your parents paid for you to go to college for 4 or 5 years why does that make you more qualified than me for a job? Especially once you look at my certs?

Experience is definetly first. After your first job school means nothing. Certs won't get you in the door, however they will give your resume that little bump above the folks with the same experience as you but no certs.

Certs are easy to cram for, but they are hard to cheat on. And if you get caught cheating on an exam Microsoft will revoke all your certs.

The fact that certs are easy to cram for is why everyone knows that if you have certs but no work experience then you are simply a paper-MCSE and not worth hiring.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000) / MCTS (SQL 2005) / MCITP Database Administrator (SQL 2005)

--Anything is possible. All it takes is a little research. (Me)

http://www.mrdenny.com