What next? Cisco or Microsoft

[Mikel05]

Hello everyone, my name is Mike, Ive been looking for a place like this! I got a late start in IT. Ive been a Field service tech for 13+ years (Copiers fax printers etc). Now everything is connected. Now I didnt shy away from this. I plan on passing security + in January. That would give me A+, Net+, Server+, and security+. Btw Im a big fan of

http://www.testout.com

CBT's. My initial goal was to pass comptia's primary 4 certs.
Now what? My job has'nt paid for any of my training, so I dont feel the loyalty I used to. Which certification would make me more valuable to a company? Mcse/Mcsa or Cisco. Ive been studying for security + for about 2 months now, no brain-dumps. Security seems very interesting and I would like to focus on security. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance

 

[tfg13]

Well, considering that both Cisco and Microsoft have a security path, it's really hard to say. What do you feel more comfortable with? Designing/working on networks (routers/switches), or designing/working on servers?

You can also remain on the security path by looking into other security related certifications:

http://www.securitycertified.net/

http://www.giac.org/certifications/roadmap.php

and a breakdown of a whole bunch:

http://certification.about.com/od/securitycerts/a/seccertessentls.htm

These type of questions are really hard to answer for individuals due to not having a first hand perspective of what the person really has in mind. All we can do is guide you with the information given.

Good Luck!

 

[Mikel05]

Thanks for the input.

 

[fs483]

It also depends on what you are looking for... Look up jobs that interest you and then find out what they require. You might be spending a whole lot of money on certifications that you don't necesarly need for a particular job. If you enjoy learning and want to go the extra mile, then by all means, keep on reading Also since your current employer isn't paying for those certs, maybe a new employer will be willing to pay so get what you need to get a desired job and have the rest of the certifications paid by your new employer, but be loyal to the new boss !

 

[directlyconnected]

Same as me, Mike---I'm a copier tech also, and I acquired my CCNA last month. I am planning to pass the A+ and Network+ in the next week. There seem to be a lot more places willing to hire a non-experienced IT person with an MCSE than a CCNA. If I would have known better, I may have gone with the MCSE first, since also this seems to be more generalized training (compared to Cisco), and it seems to be a lot easier. CCNA cert requires a LOT more preparation. I'm not MCP, MCSE, or Microsoft anything actually, but I have looked at plenty of practice questions. I wish more people would switch to Linux, actually...

 

[Wishdiak]

Copier tech, you say? It looks like there's at least three of us just in this one thread!

I'm slaving away as a contractor for Xerox myself, recently trained on the Document Centre 220/230/420/425/432/440 family, which incidentally runs Linux (when equipped with network capability).

To address a specific comment...

If I would have known better, I may have gone with the MCSE first, since also this seems to be more generalized training (compared to Cisco), and it seems to be a lot easier.

Alas, that's the path that I'm on. Had I known better, I would have taken the CCNA first. Reason? I can motivate myself to take one exam more easily than I can motivate myself to take seven individual exams.

Either way, I'm still in the field every day working on copiers until something else comes along.

Wishdiak
A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA: Security 2003

http://www.wishdiak.com

 

[directlyconnected]

I'm a Canon tech, trained on color, segment 3 and segment 4. Canon's network connectivity devices (or rather Fiery---same as Xerox, I believe) is Linux based also. My advice---don't wait until something better comes along---go get it! The jobs are out there. You have (I'm assuming) a buttload of contacts and a lot of customer relations experience (you and I know that copier customers aren't picky or difficult to deal with ever, are they?!?!?!). I have found that a lot of people don't advertise that they are hiring, but it's as if they can almost be talked into hiring people like us! We have the common sense and mechanical aptitude and especially the people skills a lot of employers are looking for. All we need are certs! We have the resources that most people don't! Use them!!! I've interviewed with one of our customers who just happens to be heading a brand new it services department. We started talking, and next thing you know, I've been communicating with her. It looks promising. People like you and I don't have to necessarily follow all the typical rules all the time---I've got a new family to feed! Good luck.

 

[Wishdiak]

directlyconnected,

I agree with you that we have skills that other people don't, and often the ability to have contact with parts of companies that other people don't.

I have an account that's a huge multi-national that may be hiring for their IT department. I don't intend to hit them over the head, but I might inquire as to what's going on there. Most of the accounts I deal with are not difficult.

Xerox production color does indeed use Fiery for network connectivity, but I'm dealing with older low-volume black & white stuff that uses older technology for networking.

Good luck with that customer.

Wishdiak
A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA: Security 2003

http://www.wishdiak.com