Should I take the time to go for the A+ certificate
Hi All,
I have been under the impression I had the A+ certification although have recently found out I never passed the exam.
So, this leaves me asking a couple of questions:
1. Is it worth while to go back and obtain this certificate?
2. Will this look good to go along side my Security + (Already in the middle of studying for this certificate)?
I am just unsure on how this exam is viewed in the communities and just want to make sure that this is something worth working towards, as I don't really need the extra piece of paper as there are other exams to also focus on.
Regards,
Bob
I have been under the impression I had the A+ certification although have recently found out I never passed the exam.
So, this leaves me asking a couple of questions:
1. Is it worth while to go back and obtain this certificate?
2. Will this look good to go along side my Security + (Already in the middle of studying for this certificate)?
I am just unsure on how this exam is viewed in the communities and just want to make sure that this is something worth working towards, as I don't really need the extra piece of paper as there are other exams to also focus on.
Regards,
Bob
Comments
In Progress: Linux+/LPIC-1, Python, Bash
Upcoming: eJPT, C|EH, CSA+, CCNA-Sec, PA-ACE
Master of Science in Information Security and Assurance - Western Governors University
Bachelor of Science in Network Administration - Western Governors University
Associate of Applied Science x4 - Heald College
How does that happen?
Thank you for taking the time to reply -- I think I will be leaving this exam at this stage and will come back to it in the near future if I require it.
Makes sense on this and I think this is what I will do as it makes it a bit more manageable with all of the certificates to go after these days.
That being said, I would recommend that you ensure to scrub profile here, resume, etc, so you aren't claiming a certification that you don't actually have.
The A+ certification is worthwhile to pursue, especially for those newer to the IT field because it lays a lot of the groundwork and provides many of the fundamentals that will be beneficial to learn to get started in the industry. It also will help to prepare you for some higher-level exams. I agree with others that it won't likely help you to land a "big job" if you only have this certification but it should help you to get your foot in the door if you're proactive enough.
I've heard from some people that it's not even worth getting anymore because "everyone has it" but in my opinion the fact that "everyone has it" makes it all the more necessary to obtain. If you're applying for a job and you're pretty well evenly matched with other candidates but the other candidates have the A+ certification and you're the only one who doesn't you may not be considered simply for that reason. Of course, if you already possess a stronger certification it may make no difference anyway, it will just depend on what kind of career in IT you're going for.
The fact that you're not new to the IT field does make somewhat of a difference as to whether or not you need to "go back and get it" because a lot of times experience will still trump certifications, but it really just depends on what the company you're applying for wants. I've seen candidates with 10+ years of experience and little to no certifications get passed over for jobs in favor of candidates who have little to no experience but have a resume packed full of certifications. I've always been of the mind that an extra certification on your resume, whether you have relatively little experience or a ton of experience is never a bad thing!
Really though, I think A+ is still worthwhile. Some people may disagree with me and that's ok, but I wanted to offer my 2 cents as someone who has several years of IT experience and has been responsible for hiring employees. Good luck!
Anderson
"Everything that has a beginning has an end"