which certification to start? which one better on the resume 1

[sleepyguy]

I just recently graduated for my undergraduate school with an MIS degree. Currently I am looking for an IT job however...I would like to ask all of you for help.

What certfication would be best for me to start studying for? I thought about Windows NT...

but please any feedback would be appreciative.

New guy,
Eric

 

[zmann]

cirrus28,

Win NT certifications are no longer offered, they have been retired. IMHO I would recommend either an entry level networking cert such as Network+ or CCNA in combination with a certification on a desktop OS, such as Windows 2000 or Windows XP. I would go with Win XP and Network+, shows rounded knowledge and they are good base to add to. Certifying in Win XP will get you an MCP, you could then pursue the MCSA and the MCSE if you choose to.

Hope this helps,

Z

 

[jtb]

A+ is fixing PCs, MCP/MCSA/MCSE is good for some employers, etc...

But really, you must look at certs as a means to an end, not the end in themselves... they are certainly not "silver bullets"...

Short version:
Find out what you want to do, find out who hires people who do that, find out what the hiring managers want, get that, get hired, get the other certs you and they want...

Good Hunting!!

JTB
Senior Infrastructure Specialist
MCSE-NT4, MCP+I, MCP-W2K, CCNA, CCDA,
CTE, MCIWD, i-Net+, Network+
(MCSE-W2K in progress)

 

[Nzarth]

I agree with jtb.

No point in getting certs that you might not use or your future employer(s) might not value.

You first need to decide exactly what you want to do in IT.

Getting a Linux cert is not going to help you in the field of Windows.

Just like a network cert will not help you land that DBA job.

Decide what you career path is and then post the question what cert is more appropriate for your choosen field.

Nzarth

MSCA/MSCE (W2K), CCA

Working on CCNA

 

[johnnymc]

These guys are hitting the nail on the head. You need to look at where you want to be and what you want to be doing and then take certs geared that way. From my experience most smaller companies (300 employees or less) really like to hire a jack-of-all-trades kind of guy who knows a little Cisco/Microsoft/security/telephone and can help them in all areas. Bigger companies tend to make you specialize in one area (but having a broader backgrown can help get you into the job) such as mainly Cisco or server administration.

I would recommend the following:

A+ - this will tell your employer you know your way around a PC and this prepares you for a job in a compUSA or BestBuy repair shop.

Net+ - This tells your employer you can network PC's and prepares you for a helpdesk role.

MCP - Take the WIN XP exam from MS, this shows you have experience in a microsoft operating system and helps you in both the previous roles mentioned.

CCNA - This tells your employer you are smarter than the guy working at compUSA, you can subnet your network and handle basic routing with Cisco equipment. Your ready to run the helpdesk or take an entry level infrastructure position.

MCP - Win 2003 server exam, this tells your employer you can handle that entry level network admin position.

Security+ - Now you have a basic understanding of the threats against your network.


After you finish these 6 exams you have a taste of every part of IT (except programming), you have a bunch of initals after your name and you have some valuable experience under your belt. It is here you can decide what you liked best and then move in that direction. If security was fun work towards the CISSP, if you liked the Cisco path go CCNP or CCIE, if the network admin role was more to your liking then take the remaining 5 exams and get your MSCE.

I work in a large health system and I teach a little at the local college so I have contact with a lot of IT people. I hear the same thing over and over again "I wish I knew how much more I liked doing XXX was" If your gonna be successful in IT you have to like what your doing and find the role that fits your personality. Learn whats out there and choose whats best for you.

This post is huge already so I'm gonna throw out a few tidbits from my experience, (these and 50 cents will get you a cup of coffee):

Certifications may get your resume noticed but experience gets you hired! Get all the experience you can.

Dont let your head get big! You will never know everything about IT and everyone brings a valuable skill to the table, your not any more important than the next guy.

Make friends! That new helpdesk guy that everyone picks on now may be your boss in 10 years and he WILL NOT forget you!

Your are replaceable! No matter how much you think your company would fall apart without you, it wont. There was a guy before you and there will be a guy after you.

Be thankful for your job and do the best you can. You were happy when you took the job and you were happy with the money offered or you would not have taken the job in the first place. There are 10,000 people in foreign countries who would gladly come here and do your job for a quarter of what your being paid. If you think I'm talking smack go ask the out-of-work dell phone support staff who have all been replaced by people working in another country, (check out InfoWorld or CIO magazine, InfoWorld is doing a series on the savings a company got by moving programming to India).

When your fresh out of college and you find it hard to get that first IT job make a commitment with your interviwers and stand by it. I know many IT managers who will not hire college graduates with little of no experience because they feel that person will only stay on long enough to get some experience and then leave for a better job. Tell your interviewer you will commit to a certain amount of time and reassure them you will not be leaving them in 6 months but stand by what you say. IT is a small world and you will be meeting some of those people again someday.

OK thats it for me! Sorry I got carried away...

 

[manners]

I started my certs with the 70-216 exam for MCSE due to that being the core of what i was doing day-to-day in my job, then i moved onto 70-217 based on work i "would" be doing. Tailoring your certs to your job roles and job direction is vital to make your CV (sorry, resume!) look fresh. Good luck.

 

[sleepyguy]

Hi Johnny

Thank you for the valuable advice you have given me. Actually I took quite a while to respond because I was in a big change moving out to cali. anyways...my background has been mainly been working with web development....because most of my internships have been primarily in that area...and also i just began working a little with help desktop support.

i am looking for a job around those 2 fields...but i dunno silicon valley is not doin super great so..i dunno how much i can get money wise and if employers will hire me. i mean everyone loves money but hey if iget a job i will be already happy...you know?

so while i am trying to apply for jobs out here..i decided to put myself into the water and start with the MS exam 70-270 which is windows XP. and start from there.

i think i really want to work in the networking field..more like troubleshooting if you catch my drift. i am not really a strong computer programmer. so i am gonna start with the MS 70-270 and work my way up.

you have been awesome writing this up for me. i hope you give me more insight as time passes.

take care
eric

 

[TheWorld]

You guys have helped alot especially johnny with:

A+ - this will tell your employer you know your way around a PC and this prepares you for a job in a compUSA or BestBuy repair shop.

Net+ - This tells your employer you can network PC's and prepares you for a helpdesk role.

MCP - Take the WIN XP exam from MS, this shows you have experience in a microsoft operating system and helps you in both the previous roles mentioned.

CCNA - This tells your employer you are smarter than the guy working at compUSA, you can subnet your network and handle basic routing with Cisco equipment. Your ready to run the helpdesk or take an entry level infrastructure position.

MCP - Win 2003 server exam, this tells your employer you can handle that entry level network admin position.

Security+ - Now you have a basic understanding of the threats against your network.

Problem is Microsoft did a piss poor job of mapping out what courses are needed for each exam. Any insight on that

 

[jtb]

Microsoft does not suggest that people without hands-on experience are appropriate for their certs... but there will always be people who are willing to sell you the perfect book or study guide or boot camp...

I really cannot recommend anyone spend the hundreds or thousands of dollars necessary to be certified unless and until they (1) spend the time to figure out what they want to do for a living, (2) figure out which, if any, certs they need, and (3) what financial benefits these certs will give them...

I have several certs that directly relate to my job and my employer paid for those. I have several other certs taken to fill up my "I love me" wall... And frankly, I'd just as soon have the money right now.

Of course I understand the desire of people to differentiate themselves in order to maximise their income. But it might be worth noting again that Bill Gates and Michael Dell don't have an earned degree or technical certification between them... although they both sell several...

Just a word to the wise, YMMV...

JTB
Senior Infrastructure Specialist
MCSE-NT4, MCP+I, MCP-W2K, CCNA, CCDA,
CTE, MCIWD, i-Net+, Network+
(MCSE-W2K in progress)