what should i get after a+?

[saiedahadi1]

i know a+ certification doesnt really mean anything and im taking my 202-602 exam tomorrow and i think i will pass. im wondering what should i get after this. should i go for MCSE because it seams alot recomond that or should i do network + or server +? please admin dont delete this post.
i know people will say u need experience but u cant get experience unless u get certified.

thanks

 

[CiscoGuy33]

saiedahadi1,

You said -"i know people will say u need experience but u cant get experience unless u get certified" You do not need certs to get EXPERIENCE, EXPERIENCE will help you get certs!! There are several ways that you can get experience WITHOUT CERTS such as -

1) Take classes at a community or technical college that teaches hands on classes such as a Cisco Network Academy

2) Get an "entry level" job in the area of your choice and learn by doing with on the job training !!

3) Set up a "home Lab" not quite like this -

http://smorris.uber-geek.net/lab.htm

but I think you get the ideea and can see that this guy gets as much "experience" he needs as he works towards advanced certs with his lab!!!

As far as where you go next depends on you!! What do you want to do? Networking? Server Admin? Windows Admin? Linux admin?

If you want to work in networking then I would realisticly suggest CCNA over Net +. If you want to work with Windows then the path can be MCP, MCSA and then MCSE, check out Microsoft's website and read about the different levels of certs.

Your best bet is to pick an area you want to go into, setup a home lab to start your hands on experience, look into classes at the local college, GOOGLE for free online resources, user groups and technical forums (like Tek-Tips) for more information!! Also try to find an entry level position, build some experience with the technology as you learn - THEN get that cert and you will not only have the cert but you will know what you are doing AND that will come accross in an INTERVIEW!!!!!

Good luck and I hope this helps!!!

E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[saiedahadi1]

thanks for the responce ciscoguy33. ur always very helpfull. idk if u remember me ciscoguy33 i had another account but someone disabled it and deleted all my posts. i was the one who was asking question about the A+ exam. im the 19 year old with no money to go to college. u adviced me to get my BS while i did computer stuff

i dont think i have the money nor the experience of building that kind of home lab( i dont even know what that is but it looks like servers?) when i was doing my training for a+ i really hated doing network things because they seam really hard and i have very little experience with them. so im probebly not going toward network + or cisco. i think i should do windows admin and linux admin. does MCSE have alot of networking questions?
thanks ciscoguy33

 

[DallasBPF]

In the IT world, you will always cross into the others domain.

If you do not have the $$$ to pay for school, try getting scholarships/grants/loans to get into school. If there is a will, there will always be a way. Or atleast my mom always beat that into my head (was this big stick with it etched on there =P).

Also, don't knock the networking side of IT until you give it a shot. I actually prefer it over desktop support any day of the week and twice on sundays.

As for looking for a job for experience, are there any small PC shops that will give you a job in building PC's or helping repair them. Most of the time they are looking for people trying to get into the field to help em do the grunt work! lol but experience IS experience...

------------------------------------
Dallas, Texas
Telecommunications Tech
CCVP, CCNA, Net+

CCNP in the works

 

[saiedahadi1]

do i really need to go to school or can i get my training by videos from like testout, cbtnuggets, trainsignal?

 

[DallasBPF]

You can, but I would prefer the school with your current knowledge due to the hands on experience... There is one thing studying for the cert, there is a whole other studying to learn it, use it, and then get the cert to back it up.

------------------------------------
Dallas, Texas
Telecommunications Tech
CCVP, CCNA, Net+

CCNP in the works

 

[saiedahadi1]

can i work in a shop to get experience in MCSE? cause i can do that

 

[CiscoGuy33]

saiedahadi1,

I was woondering what happened to you and those posts!!!! I ageee 100% with Dallas - AT YOUR AGE GO TO SCHOOL!!!!!!

You can find a way to afford it if you want to, consider the military, or get a job bagging groceries and go to a community college or Jr. college first, I do not recall where you are but these classes can be less then $250 each and does not include getting scholarships, grants or loans as Dallas said above. Once you are taking classes at a community or State school, check the job board or job website for the college, or do that now, most will let you take classes for reduced price or FREE once you are working for them!!!!

When I was 20 and went to a State school, I worked 2 jobs to have money to live on and money for school, state schools and community colleges are not bad and you would be shocked by the money that is out there for school if you just look!!! I worked stock at JC Penneys AND worked the night shift as a dispatcher! At 20 you do not need much sleep

You said - "do i really need to go to school or can i get my training by videos from like testout, cbtnuggets, trainsignal?" you can do it any way you want BUT you will be kicking yourself 20 years from now when you keep getting passed over for advancement because you DO NOT HAVE A DEGREE!!!!

Do it now while everyone else your age is doing it!!! Or go into the Air Force or the Navy and get trained by them while building money for college!!

Just some thoughts!!!



E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[saiedahadi1]

when i go to college do i study anything or does it have to be something science related?

 

[DallasBPF]

well at junior colleges, they tend to offer accociate degrees that are more specific to what you are wanting to do in a technical field with out having to obtain a 4 year degree. like right now I am working on getting my accoc. degree in Converegence Technology through the CCCCD here in the Dallas area. what the degree plan is based on is converging different aspects of a network together;

linux
voip
windows xp
windows servers
wireless
installation
networking (ccna 1 and 2 i believe)
os security
pc maintanence
and so on

yes you still need your basics of math, english, speech, p.e., history, humanities...

I think mine requires a total of 68 credit hours to complete. Being that I work full time during the day, it is taking me longer than it probably should but I enjoy what I do... Actually being that they are adding an Adv VoIP class (installing Cisco CallManager) I was able to assist my professor in creating the class since I maintain one myself with my job.

Does my job 'require' me to have a degree, no. But I am pushing myself to finish it, it's a great way to find out what you want to do, meet other people, and get hands on experience. I know a few professors that keep an eye out for open jobs for his students...

Hope this helps.

------------------------------------
Dallas, Texas
Telecommunications Tech
CCVP, CCNA, Net+

CCNP in the works

 

[CiscoGuy33]

saiedahadi1,

Once again, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP

That is what you take at college!!!! If you want to go into IT or MIS then take those classes and pick up the experience and certs along the way. Then in 4-6 years when you are 25 years old, you have an AA/AS (after the community college) and a BA/BS from the state college, tons of experience from the hands on classes, your home lab and work you did while going to school and you should have several certs!!! Now you are ready for a real good job in IT or MIS etc. if you already have not worked yourself into one!!!

If you don't want to do MIS, IT or computer work, get a job or 2 at a super market, Target, Wally-World etc., line up grants, loans and aid for school and take the classes that will get you where you want to be - if I remember it was health care ?? If it is health care - try and get a job at the hospital while you are in school.

Now, while you are YOUNG, it is time to do the 2 jobs and school thing - but put school first and work towards what YOU want to do!!!! And the classes you take will depend on THAT !!!!!!! REAL WORK will follow school !!! You will have 40 to 50 years after school to WORK!!!!!

Good luck!!!

E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[saiedahadi1]

ciscoguy33 ur right. i want to do health care but i want a job in computers while im studying in college. thats why i just got a+ certified and i was thinking of getting cerfied in Server+ or security + so i could get a job while im attending college getting my preq ready for dental school. so u think i can get a job with a+ certification and server+ certification.
thanks ciscoguy 33 and dallasDPF

 

[saiedahadi1]

i guess im saying that in which way should i go to earn more money while im studying in college for health care cause i want to do something with computers while i study and not work at JCpenny. if u get what im saying
thanks

 

[DallasBPF]

In what I have seen, you more than likely will start at the bottom working for a help desk or a mom and pop shop doing pc repair to get your foot in the door. It won't be great $$ but it's work and it won't be at JCpenny's (or something like that). Plus, I have seen a few different places that have 24/7 helpdesk set ups, so that might be something to look into if you are wanting to work for decent money while going to school... able to get some study time in on those late night.

------------------------------------
Dallas, Texas
Telecommunications Tech
CCVP, CCNA, Net+

CCNP in the works

 

[saiedahadi1]

i actually got certfied today passed it depot tech with score 880. but yeah, ur right.im not looking for any big money , i just want to do something with computers while i attend school. what u think i be earning like 20 k a year or less maybe? if i get certified in server + u think ill earn a bit more cause a+ was easy as hell.
thanks man

 

[DallasBPF]

i would probably look at about that price, depending on where you live that is... it won't be anything great, actually any of the following wouldn't be bad;

server+
net+
linux+

all of em would be good for the helpdesk.

------------------------------------
Dallas, Texas
Telecommunications Tech
CCVP, CCNA, Net+

CCNP in the works

 

[CiscoGuy33]

saiedahadi1,

Just don't expect too much - certs with NO EXPERIENCE and being 19 will just get you in an entry level job if you are lucky - it should be a little more then min wage and would not be a bad job while you are in college. As Dallas said many help desk jobs (still in this country) are 24/7 and are great places to do homework when it is slow!!!!

JUST don't put soooooo much time into a part-time career, a few certs and NO EXPERIENCE are not going to = BIG $$$$$$$ there are a lot of ex-IT people out there with lots of experience and certs looking for ANY work!!!

IF you are set on doing the computer thing while going to college I would say that Network + would be better then Server +, I do not know of an admin out there that would let you NEAR a server with just a Server + cert and NO EXPERIENCE but lots of computer repair and small networking things that you could do with A+ and Net + - check with Verizon FIOS in your area - I have heard they are looking for techs because of the service trouble they have had meeting demand - just an idea!!

But get enrolled at a community college - even if it is for just 1 class to start and START!!!!!!!

Good luck!!

E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[saiedahadi1]

yeah def i need to go to college. yeah im not really looking for good paying job. where can i find an help desk job? how?

 

[CiscoGuy33]

saiedahadi1,

Start with the local colleges in your area - they should have a job website and many (like the college I work at) have help desks for thier students!! They also have computer labs, dorms and study areas that need to be staffed.

As I said - check with the ISPs in your area - Verizon FIOS, Time Warner, Bright House etc. find out who does the installations and where they handle help desk calls, installations will be local and as much as FIOS is spreading around the nation you might be able to find work with them or a sub-contrator that does work for them!! In my area in Florida we have an AOL call center as well as a Verizon call center!

You said - "where can i find an help desk job? how?" talk to people and ASK QUESTIONS, don't be afraid to ask if they are looking for a college student to do some work!! With your A+ you can go into any computer store such as Best Buy, Circuit City etc. and ask them about repair jobs etc.

Just make sure that you "LOOK the part" - nice shoes, pants and shirt, trim your hair and be neat/clean, does not mean you need a 3 piece suit but leave the holy jeans at home I have seen people come in looking for work that looked like they just got out of bed - even if I needed someone badly I would pass!!!!

It NEVER hurts to ASK !!!!! Talk to people, find out what they do , many jobs are NEVER advertized!

Good luck!!



E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[saiedahadi1]

i know fios is being stalled near my area but im just a+ certified, what does that have to do with deployment of fios.

yeah i went to monster.com and i saw some people who said they needed people who were A+ certified. i applied for some and im hoping they will call back. i also applied to best buy office depot and staples. do u think if get my N+ certification ill have better chance of getting a job?
ur right about clothing, are khakis better than jeans or should i wear something formal. ur very helpfull ciscoguy33.
i truly appreciate ur help man and also dallasBPF.
thanks guys