Hello Friends, I really like this web site.. and I've been a member here for a while, although I have not posted in a while, I still visit here often. My post is mainly for the "new" guys and gals out there that are getting certified and are going forward in a career or maybe starting out late and changing their career to Information Technology and Services. Please note, that “the only reason” why I am spending my time right now writing this out,is to help “you” out going forward.Just a short background on myself, for
over 35+ years I've worked in information technology and services. I work on one of the largest enterprise level wide area networks (WAN) and I am multi disciplined in many I.T. fields.Additionally, I also teach now worldwide remotely and sometimes live. And in regards to not getting into "who" in regards to their privacy, I've help many well known I.T. book authors in regards to quality assurance of their own material over the years. I'm not going to go on and on about my long career, just that I'm venerable.Here is my solid“
lessons learned” advice.. that you will “
not hear” from most people out there that you are learning from, and this “will” help you.
The most IMPORTANT THING IS - You learn and acquire certifications for:
1) Yourself FIRST, either to better your own understanding or to prove to “yourself”that you know this skillset / area. This is the number one thing to remember.
2) To get into a better job or a better raise and to better yourself.
3) To better your company and also maintain your position in the company. Leaning more skillsets makes “YOU” an valuable employee to your company. And I've actually seen people that have got laid off” of the company“first” because they never went for any types of certifications even if that company “paid” for them to do so!
ALL Certification ARE NOT EASY!
1) No matter what Bob,Jack and Sally says to you on the internet forums or in real life,all certifications are not easy. Does not matter if it is CompTIA A+or whatever. If they were easy, everyone would have an I.T.certification. Trust me on that. I've heard many time..“oh that's easy I didn't even study for it…” LOL… WRONG.
2) All certifications get updated with newer content, so if you can get continuing education credits, like taking other courses to keep your certification "current".. do it, don't let them expire.
Certifications are aMONEY DRIVEN business !
1) Do not be fooled,certification vendors do not like you.. they like your money.
2) Book Authors do not like you, they like your money.
3) Training companies and training content providers do not like you, they like your money.
4) In regards to 1)thru 3) you'll pick up on that as you go forward, I'm just giving you the "real deal".
Do NOT SKIP certifications if you are just starting out!
1) Get CompTIA A+. Why?Because you gain all of that troubleshooting experience going forward. I've seen it MANY times, a person skips CompTIA A+ and all of the hardware and software core troubleshooting and gets another certification like Cisco CCNA and then, can not even diagnose and fix their own office computer!
2) CompTIA A+ also gives you the “basic three” areas of where you can move to next.Networking, I.T. Security or help desk / administration (in regards to Windows, Linux and MAC OSX. Not to mention mobile devices, and printers… ect. From CompTIA A+, THEN choose where you want to focus on, and I would go into the next CompTIA certification THEN bounce toa higher certification from another vendor (Microsoft, Cisco, ISC2,Ect….)
Working in the RealWorld… fun times? LOL
1) Have a college degree is not “real world” experience. You may have to start out“small” Working at Staples or Best Buy or another retail store that provides computer services, doing “computer tech” work. Graba job like that and run with it! Doing that sort of work is awesome as you get to troubleshoot a lot, however.. remember that these“so-called” computer repair places are “money driven” as well. $60.00 to replace two memory modules or a video card or even$$$more$$$ that the big box stores tech bench business. Also, make sure you watch the “so-called” management of this place and also how you and your peers are treated. I learned “a lot” in regards to bad management practices, how “not” to treat customers and even employee discrimination.. sad but true. But LEARN and REMEMBER it all... and how "not" to be / act !
2) After you get some real world experience, say two years.. “try” and get a job in an actual company, not retail but somewhere that has an office and a local area network or wide area network. Maybe help desk,Administrator. Or maybe a “junior” role in a I.T. Network or Security center.
3) Working as your own“I.T. consultant” either installing computers or networks seems great, but trust me.. you will see the most nasty and cheapskate type of people that you will ever see in your lifetime. Many years ago, I had one very well off Doctor that did not think it was right for me to charge him money in regards to the software
that he wanted installed on his computer, like Microsoft Office for example. Some people think that negotiating with you “after” you have done the work is normal. Other people will constantly call you back, week after week with new issues and then say is the “same issue” that you fixed “last time". Trust me friends.. you'll run into that.
4) Wherever you work,remember that there is “always” people that always “think”they are better than you.. it seems that in the “I.T. world” that is the case. Most of the time, if your troubleshooting skills are“great” and you have that great background in troubleshooting “theory” to backup your argument with these I.T. “professors”, you'll be able to handle things when they happen. Trust me when I say, you bump into these people a lot, and many seem to be the ones that“skip” over the real great certifications that have all of the troubleshooting. For example, the OSI Model for networking, people always laugh at and think they'll never use it.. but trust me again..when you have a really “tough” network connectivity issue, following that OSI chart “does” help you narrow down that issue.
If you can not find ajob in I.T. locally:
1) Don't forget “remote help desk” may be out there. Do internet searches however, and“read reviews” on places like “glassdoor” in regards to employees reactions, and then gauge how that company is.
2) Health Insurance companies is also a good place to look for I.T. jobs.
3) Hospitals is great.Health Care I.T. is also a great place if you can get your foot in the door. I know CompTIA has a Healhcare I.T. certification and maybe there is a few others.
4) You may have to get either a “temp” position or even a short term “contract”position, which may be kind of bad because your job may be short term.. however you again “gain” experience.. and that's a good thing to be able to build on your resume.
I have spent about an hour writing this above. And I could spend many hours more. Again,I've been in this business since Micro-computers (TRS-80, C-64 oh yes) IBM XT (8088 and 8086) and AT form factors, Operating Systems like: DOS, Windows version 1.1 and also I've been around since the inception of GNU/Linux. And again.. as I am rambling.. I could spend HOURS talking about the old “legacy” days of personal computing…and even gaming (not get me started on that.. LOL).In the beginning of my career there was a few people along the way that helped me going forward and I truly hope that some of you out there, read what I wrote.. as I know it will help you as you go forward. Take care, good luck and remember
“NEVER” give up!
