What certification has opened you doors?

Darthn3ss

This summer i'm going to:
Get my CCNA
Hopefully MCP for XP
And start on a Server 2003 exam
Study for A+ (its a required class for school - an a+ class, so i have no choice).

the MCP won't be too ahrd since i'm fairly familiar and have taken a class on it- i'll be going through an MS press book for that as well as a sever 2003 book.

I'm hoping that the combination of A+, CCNA, the server exam, and MCP will be a good start to hopefully land me a IT job - i'm ready to leave Wal-Mart!

strauchr

MCSE for me. Not only has it got me to the interview for jobs I wouldn't even be considered for before it has also helped me gain certain work withing the company I am working for as clients demand certified people.

Comes with a nice pay too.

Some people are lucky and network themselves a job or are given opportunities despite their lack of credentials. I have never got a job through networking and I have never been without a job since starting in IT. Whilst certs alone have no got me my opportunities (theres a hell of a lot more to it than that) they have certainly made opportunities available that would not be there otherwise.

netteaser

Completed my MCSE back in 2002 and applied for a couple jobs and did not hear anything back, once I completed my CCNA I was offered a job 15 minutes after the interview while I was driving back home.

DirtySouth

Theres no question that I wouldn't have my current job without my CCNA. It was WELL worth my time and money...I love my job!

Poison Reverse

CCNA has opened a lot of doors for me

jbaello

After starting my certification I got interviewed for a 6 Figure Salary with Microsoft as a PFE, I'm sure people who got interviewed with them knows what I mean. The people that did my 1st and 2nd interview was very impressed and told me they like the way I answer each technical question they bombard me with, cause I answer without hesitation, giving them scud missile back.

Unfortunately I was just on my 3rd exam, and is greatly missing a lot of AD technogy in my arsenals, the good thing is they told me they will revisit me again after 6 months.

This was just a start I had a lot of other very good potential opportunity knocking at my door, thanks to TE.

JDMurray

None of my IT certifications were mentioned in any job interview that I've had or after I've been hired, so it's difficult to say if any were a factor in my getting any job. I don't think having IT certifications has hurt me in getting a job or interview, but I can't be sure.

jamesp1983

The only jobs I could land with my A+/N+ were contract jobs. The cert that I feel opened up the most doors for me was the MCSA. I feel like better companies as far as size and environment started to pay attention. Higher paying jobs have started paying attention to me since I received my CCNA and MCSE.

BigTone

I had my A+/N+ when I got my first job but I really think luck is what got me the actual interview. I wasn't getting any good hits from any of the job sites because I didn't have experience and then all of a sudden when i went on CL and asked for a job my manager emailed me back and the rest is history.

c0d3_w0lf

The CCNA allowed me to keep my job. If I hadn't gotten it by the end of this month, I would have been fired.

Netstudent

A degree and Network+ probably helped me get my first IT job. Degree more than anything. The job required a degree but didn't care too much about certs.

sthomas

Linux+ helped me get my first IT job as an IT Support Technician. The job required A+ certification and 1-2 years experience although I don't think the A+ mattered as much for that position as the IT Manager seemed rather interested in the Linux+.

jamesp1983

I received my CCNA, Security+, and MCSE while working a job I obtained from having an MCSA. I don't know what my potential is now. My degree definitely opened some doors, too. My first IT job ever was a field engineering position. I obtained that job with an associates and A+

MrD

CCNP got my foot in the door with zero enterprise-level networking experience.

stlsmoore

I was lucky to get in without a certificate. I went to a high school that focused on certain careers including Computer Networking. At the time I didn't even know what that was but I was always interested in computers. We were taught A+ and CCNA material and in order to graduate we had to do an internship. Which they helped you find and get into, this helped out ALOTTT. The current job I have now I obtained with an associates degree and 3 years experience. Since I've worked for this company I pushed myself to obtain my A+ and Network+ (which I have now) and now I'm shooting for MCSE. Will see what happens from there I guess!

Crunchyhippo

impelse wrote:

It is a fact, certification is better to be hire.

My main question is: What certification has helped you to open doors?

I know it is depend what kind of job you are looking for, your exp. etc.

But I want to know what kind of them you feel that helped you to obtain a job.


Raul

Well, I've had my CCNA for six months now (in addition to Security+), and on a scale from 1 to 100 - with 100 being best - my certs have benefitted me, say, at a 5 or so. Even with my college degree, they're all just pieces of paper without experience.

I think I would have benefitted far more by working for free or an internship for a while, THEN go and get some certs to go with them.

ajs1976

1st job - student worker at the schools helpdesk - Couple of CS classes and knowing a few people that worked at the helpdesk

2nd job - prior experience and some classes

3rd job - exeperiene and the MCSE with the Exchange elective

HeroPsycho

The MCSE help me land my first full time gig, which was with Microsoft as an Exchange support engineer. The MCSE has also been mentioned outright as a major reason why I was hired for every job since.

Anonymouse

My A+ got me a job at Fry's Electronics fixing computers. Soon after it also helped me to get a Helpdesk tier II position.

Almighty

I can say that I have run into every single problem that has been listed in this thread.

First... I live in no where North Carolina so the IT field isn't very large because there isn't a huge demand for it.

Secondly.. I know a good amount of people in high positions in their respective fields who I have talk ed to about work. They normally say my lack of experience is what's hurting me.

Third... I do not have a degree but have a couple certs. Not really enough for an area that only needs high level workers.

My plan is to finish my security+ and then move on to MCSE. Then spam my resume until someone feels like giving me a chance.

MikeInMoseley

I don't think the CompTIA Certs are known very well in the UK.