Which IT Cert should i go for?

charliel

Well lads,I have a degree in IT from a couple of years back but have been working in a different sector in the last couple of years.As I have lost my job I was thinking of getting back into IT.I was thinking of getting into Networks.I was going to do the Comptia A+ and Network + Certs to start off.Would this be the way to go?

ntlbell

whatever interests you most.

Dardania

I'm in a broadly similar position to you: degree in elec/electronic eng, but working the past few years in a different field and want to get into networking.

I'm planning on doing the CCNA because the way it seems to me, you learn the fundamentals of networking, plus the practicalities of configuring devices etc...

What makes you want to do comptia a + & network +?

charliel

Thanks for that feedback,a great help.I was just wondering are the two courses i mentioned worth doing ?

charliel

I was going to do the CCNA aswell but i heard it would be tough to start out on .I just taught the Compia A+ and Network + would be a good start to get into IT again.

Dardania

I'd heard it was tough as well, so I bought a Todd lamalle book on it and a cisco 871w to practice before going to do the course...

ntlbell

charliel wrote: »

Thanks for that feedback,a great help.I was just wondering are the two courses i mentioned worth doing ?

No need to get sarcastic.

If it teaches you something you don't know, then it's worth it.

MCSE/MCSA/N+/A+/S+/CCNA/Linux+/

Are all fairly basic low level certs.

Follow a set that your genuiniley interested in rather than one you think will get you a job.



At the end of the day a cert won't get you a job, it might get you a phonecall.

charliel

I suppose its experience thats needed at the end of the day.Its hard to get that though.

Barrypr

ntlbell wrote: »

No need to get sarcastic.

If it teaches you something you don't know, then it's worth it.

MCSE/MCSA/N+/A+/S+/CCNA/Linux+/

Are all fairly basic low level certs.

Follow a set that your genuiniley interested in rather than one you think will get you a job.



At the end of the day a cert won't get you a job, it might get you a phonecall.

Wow......what a statement

Gaz

Barrypr wrote: »

Wow......what a statement

What do you mean ?

NTLbell is quite right , MCSE/MCSA/N+/A+/S+/CCNA/Linux+/ are all low level or entry level.

The likes of the MCSE are all ten a penny, excellent courses if you learn the material and will defintely help in getting a basic support job. But you will need to go on from there and specialize. CCNA > CCNP > CCIE etc etc

Dardania

Go easy on us trying to start out! ;-)

So...specialisation is the key to becoming more useful...fair enough.

ntlbell

Barrypr wrote: »

Wow......what a statement

Maybe you could offer your opinion on it?

donaghs

Gaz wrote: »

What do you mean ?

NTLbell is quite right , MCSE/MCSA/N+/A+/S+/CCNA/Linux+/ are all low level or entry level.

The likes of the MCSE are all ten a penny, excellent courses if you learn the material and will defintely help in getting a basic support job. But you will need to go on from there and specialize. CCNA > CCNP > CCIE etc etc

MCSE may be common, which devalues their worth. But to call them & CCNAs "entry level" is very misleading. The actual course work involved in CCNA and most of the MCSE has practical applications in the work place, aimed at a higher level of support, and is unlikely to be done by an entry level helpdesk guy. E.g. configuring Cisco routers and switches. Or in the case of MCSE configuring and managing servers, AD, etc. Would you let an entry level hire "Plan, Implement, and Maintain a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure"?

ntlbell

donaghs wrote: »

Would you let an entry level hire "Plan, Implement, and Maintain a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure"?

No, But I also wouldn't let someone who had an MCSE do it, just because he had an MCSE.