2009 Cert Goals

Barrypr

So what certifications are we all going for in 2009? Hoping to have my CCNA in March then onto some security certs.

teednab-el

hoping to do a cert in web development.
maybe onto computing or a IT cert after that.

btw I have 2 degrees already

Ginger

Finish my 2 MCTS MOSS exams

Probably start the upgrades for my MCPDs and MCITPs .. but I dont know yet on those.. it would put me well into "holy mother of f***" overcertified category

Barrypr

Ginger wrote: »

Finish my 2 MCTS MOSS exams

Probably start the upgrades for my MCPDs and MCITPs .. but I dont know yet on those.. it would put me well into "holy mother of f***" overcertified category

A bit of a collector are we, well more certs equal more money/more opportunities(well they did before everything went down hill), I got A+ IT Tech and Network+ some college stuff, programming and business IT, hoping to add that CCNA very soon(March), onto security and MS after that.

Ginger

I have 17 different MS ones at the moment.. Working a lot in MOSS right now so it makes sense to just get them done..

If I add the upgrades(3*MCPD, 2*MCITP) which will be 11 certs then Im up to 30.. that kinda pushes the edge of reason a bit.

DanGlee

Barrypr wrote: »

So what certifications are we all going for in 2009? Hoping to have my CCNA in March then onto some security certs.

What would a good security cert to do?

I have a MSc in Digital forensics and Security, but would like to do a specialist cert in a specifically targeted area as a college degree will only get your foot so far in the door. And I'm currently seeking new employment (which isn't easy these days!)

Ginger

SSCP or CISSP from (ISC)2

Associate is a good starting point

Highly respected security certs

BaconZombie

Have to sit the VCP Exam {VMware Certified Professional}, then onto the Security exams.

DanGlee

Ginger wrote: »

SSCP or CISSP from (ISC)2

Associate is a good starting point

Highly respected security certs

Thanks. I'll take a look at them. Already sent off for more info... but looks expensive!

accensi0n

3 of the exams required for CCNP.

CCNA-Security

Linux+

LPIC 1

Barrypr

Ya I would'nt mind doing the Linux+ myself or Red Hat, I'm not a huge fan of CompTIA anymore after doing 2 of the courses and sitting the exams.

NullZer0

293,294,297 In Feb
CCNA in March

Hopefully and Exchange Exam in April

May - start studying for the CCNP and upgrade the MCSE to Server 2008


They are the goals anyway, seems like alot but I've done most of the study over the last year.

donaghs

Thinking about MCTS in SCCM 2007 70-401. This should be tough enough. Maybe after a Server 2008 exam and something else later.

To be honest, I've already got a post-grad diploma in IT, 2 comptia certs and 6 mcps. I'm kind of sick of studying after work! Just doing what's relevant to current job, and possible future work. Keeping skills and more realistically, my CV, up-to-date.

mark renton

Ginger wrote: »

I have 17 different MS ones at the moment.. Working a lot in MOSS right now so it makes sense to just get them done..

If I add the upgrades(3*MCPD, 2*MCITP) which will be 11 certs then Im up to 30.. that kinda pushes the edge of reason a bit.

Hows about getting a job Ginger? Or maybe even some sunlight every now and again, nothing major at first, just the last 10 mins of every day at first then work up to real sunlight :cool:

cance

1left now for my ccea, then probably ccia, vcp and get my mcitp up to enterprise before Xmas

Ginger

john47832 wrote: »

Hows about getting a job Ginger? Or maybe even some sunlight every now and again, nothing major at first, just the last 10 mins of every day at first then work up to real sunlight :cool:

He he he, funneh!

Got a job, get sun during my vacation or during the summer when its about 20+ hours here...

So all in all...

Gotta try harder than that now...

mark renton

Barrypr wrote: »

So what certifications are we all going for in 2009? Hoping to have my CCNA in March then onto some security certs.

I really have to try finishing my books first (or else stop buying more), I have one of the 11g Oracle books, one MS Network Infrastructure book which I was hoping I could swing while doing CCNA, one BCMSN book... I'm sure there are more...

If I get one of these (maybe 2) done I'll be v happy , tough though with full time job and evening college degree

Barrypr

Ya John sounds like you got your hands full, I'm just after booking my CCNA for 27th March.

_CreeD_

CCNP
CCDA
CCDP

mark renton

_CreeD_ wrote: »

CCNP
CCDA
CCDP

In one year???

NullZer0

john47832 wrote: »

In one year???

I think its very doable.... if you put in the time!

mark renton

iRock wrote: »

I think its very doable.... if you put in the time!

Last time I checked there were only 24 hours in a day and a fair quota of them have to be put aside for sleep

NullZer0

john47832 wrote: »

Last time I checked there were only 24 hours in a day and a fair quota of them have to be put aside for sleep

Well I read about 3 hours at work, 4 hours a night reading/labbing ... this doesn't include the time spend on weekends.

I mean you can complete the Cisco press books in a week - two (each) and then you just need to lab, lab,lab.

If you work with it daily that makes it alot easier too....

Aswel as all of the above you have to take into consideration knowledge/experience that one may already have before starting scheduled study.





iRock




EDIT: I think Creed has got a "little" bit of experience too

mark renton

Ok so just to straignten this out - I dont work with routers/switches, have a CCNA and would expect to take a year to complete CCNP - am I lazy or is this average?

NullZer0

john47832 wrote: »

Ok so just to straignten this out - I dont work with routers/switches, have a CCNA and would expect to take a year to complete CCNP - am I lazy or is this average?

Nope, I wouldn't consider that below average... or lazy.
Everyone is different and learns things at different paces.

I know for me Cisco stuff is very interesting so I can get the same entertainment out of reading a Cisco press book as I would something else or watching tv etc... = Geeky I know!

CorkFenian

Just curious, how many people who work in helpdesk level 1 are doing ccna\or cisco related exams. For the past 2 and a half years have been working in lot closer contact with routers\switches\vpns etc a mix of desktop\admin etc.And have held off doing CCNA till now.Even now when doing it.I would have to say experience is key and I am very concious of that.I worked in a helpdesk 6 years ago and there was people doing it who in my opinion were dumping it and hadnt a clue.Is there any point doing it when on a helpdesk.Would be curious as to yere comments..

NullZer0

CorkFenian wrote: »

Just curious, how many people who work in helpdesk level 1 are doing ccna\or cisco related exams. For the past 2 and a half years have been working in lot closer contact with routers\switches\vpns etc a mix of desktop\admin etc.And have held off doing CCNA till now.Even now when doing it.I would have to say experience is key and I am very concious of that.I worked in a helpdesk 6 years ago and there was people doing it who in my opinion were dumping it and hadnt a clue.Is there any point doing it when on a helpdesk.Would be curious as to yere comments..

Interesting question CorkFenian,

I have an unusual story, I started doing phone support (from a "script" if you like). I did this for about 4 months before landing a job with as a consultant in a small software company (mainly Oracle and Filenet solutions), In this role I did a little bit of everything and I worked closely with their only Network/System admin managing Sonicwall firewalls (no big deal), VMware Infrastucture and about 20 application servers. I managed to get hands on experience in that job for almost every subject on the MCSE.

I came to work one morning and the network admin had just left. So I got thrown in there in the deep end... and it wasn't easy for me. I read and read and read, CBTs, VMware labs, Real world "test" environments etc.

I worked there for another year before moving on to work for a pretty big company located here in the midlands, our network covers IRL, 17 US sites, India, Germany, Paris, Italy and Australia. I do alot of stuff here (Basically MCSE level, CCNA and some citrix stuff, VMware thin client rollout), I learn something new everyday and I value experience. Its unbelievable the opportunities that come up.

However, I am the kind of person that just ALWAYS wants to know more. I seek out further reading (for enjoyment mainly), contribute to alot of online forums (where I can - Im no genius) and try to improve.


I don't like to stand still so I'm averaging an exam every two months at the moment and I realise this may be bad for me but I'm willing to take the chance. I suppose I'm just waiting for my "break" which is one of the main reasons I haven't sat the CCNA yet (study completed ages ago).

I'm hoping to do it in the next few weeks and I'm just going to keep battling with it to CCIE level no matter how long it takes. For me its the journey and learning experience that I'm interested in - Im not a "cert collector".


I'd be interested in hearing about anyone else in the same situation/with a similar story.


iRock

_CreeD_

john47832 wrote: »

Last time I checked there were only 24 hours in a day and a fair quota of them have to be put aside for sleep

Sleep? Nah
I had to do a fair amount of the CCNP recently for something else, and the CCDP is only one more exam (both the BSCI and BCMSN are included in both). So really it's 6 exams, 1 associate level with the CCDA which I'd hope by now I can get through easy enough and then 5 professional level about half of which I already have a decent understanding of. I've just gotten a new job that while primarily security requires stronger R&S than I currently have, and of course this learning thing is addicative .

Ginger

john47832 wrote: »

Ok so just to straignten this out - I dont work with routers/switches, have a CCNA and would expect to take a year to complete CCNP - am I lazy or is this average?

It purely depends on the amount of time you can dedicate to it.

3 years ago I did a cert rush and spent a year doing MS exams to make sure when I moved here I would be ok. I just went from work to study to sleep. I wouldnt recommend it but it was a means to an end.

Now its about 3-5 certs a year depending on software introductions, product updates etc. You have to keep up to date unfortunately so it means you are always reading. At this stage I have it down a fine art in the planning, preperation and actual taking the exam.

I get a lot of mine done during the winter months so that I dont have to do much later in the year and can enjoy my summer (you know sunlight)

A lot of my reading/training in on the job. Working on some of the systems I do, and also with the type of people I do, you learn a lot and it just makes it easier to certify.

tech

Just finished my MSCA + Messaging last OCT. I've taken a break till now but starting on my MSCE last 3 exams

Then Id like to do CCNA and some VMware

Ger the man

Hoping to get CCNA and MCSE

Correct me if Im wrong but isnt SSCP a project management based qualification?