just failed
a score in the low 500's. what a farce... i'm an IT professional with years of network experience under my belt. I just passed a networking course at the Harvard extension school with a very high grade. Yet i missed this. Waaay too many Novell (who uses this anymore?) and Wireless questions (ok people actually use this but it was way over emphasized).
My question.. do IT managers even care about this cert? and secondly, do they offer any sort of re-taking discount? I simply cannot afford to be taking tests on obscure technology's.
My question.. do IT managers even care about this cert? and secondly, do they offer any sort of re-taking discount? I simply cannot afford to be taking tests on obscure technology's.
Comments
As for Novell, I can say that in our town there is one hospital here that has a strictly Novell network! So someone uses it.
My $.02.
Net+, like boyles23 said, its an entry level, stepping stone, and foundation cert. Not sure about the discount on comptia, but MS has thier "second shot" promo.
either way, welcome and good luck in the future!
:study: Current 2015 Goals: JNCIP-SEC JNCIS-ENT CCNA-Security
I know there a few places that use Novell, same with appletalk. I know of a few school districts that have older and newer Mac's and use that protocol for file sharing and printing.
I started with the CompTIA lines of test and I seriously regret it. I earned my A+ and Net+. Consider the demand for entry level certs like MCP/MCSA, CCNA and LPIC-1. Also look at the big picture, CCNA leads to CCNP, MCSA >> MCSE, LPIC-1>>LPIC-2.
Why would/did I bother with a cert in no demand that will require almost as much time as other more RELEVANT certifications with in demand technologies? (actually I am finding the MCP XP 70-270 to be MUCH easier than net+) N+ also provides little to no growth potential for better certs down the road.
A+ at least got me my job at Geek Squad, I'll give that to CompTIA. But Network+ is months of wasted time setting up Novell, MacOS, Win95/NT networks. If I had invested that same time into XP/2003 I'd be MCSE already.
I wasn't thinking about this when I decided on my CompTIA path, but think about the demand for a cert, shoot to monster.com and search for CCNA or MCSA? What do you find? Now do a search for net+ and compare. I think the choice is clear.
"One of the nice things about technology is that it's always changing. One of the bad things about technology is that it's always changing."
CompTIA certifications are pretty useless as far as advancing your career. Go on any online job site and you'll notice that Cisco and MS certs are more in demand. CompTIA does, however, offer a good introduction to basic concepts which can help you learn more advanced material at a faster rate. I regret wasting time with CompTIA though. I should have started with Cisco right from the beginning.
These exams arn't meant to trick you. They're basic in design. Re-read your material and give it another go.
[Forum moderators are my friends]
Sorry to hear you didn't pass your with your first attempt, though you are not the first and won't be the last to fail a cert exam.
While the exams are targeted towards candidates with Experience...what sort of materials did you use to prepare for the exam?
At a minimum I would hope you had downloaded to objectives? Overconfidence can be a problem when taking any exam especially the entry-level type exams. I hear comments similar to yours too frequently on the A+ exams.
The exams are easy if you understand the material and.....just don't think to hard about the answer. Here is where books by Meyers and Sybex will be helpful. If you think the objectives look easy, then consider using the Passport book or ExamCram2 books to prepare.
And on this site we have a GREAT free .pdf technotes of the NET+ exam. A number of members reported that this study guide has helped them prepare.
There are no discounts for 're-takes'. Microsoft is offering a second shot, but that's MS and something you'd need to sign up for BEFORE the exam.
You may consider a voucher from http://www.getcertify4less.com/techexams.asp?REFID={18567D5A-E590-4C16-831F-A9A584E52DD4}
As far as what IT Managers think...Degrees, certifications or other credentials may get you in the door. If you are proficient in your field...a cert may or may not matter. As to whether or not you should retake the NET+, it depends. As mentioned A+ & NET+ count as an elective on MCSA/E certs. If you have other networking certs that are 'higher' or non-vendor neutral, then you may wish to skip it. Just don't quit because you failed once. CompTIA exams are some of the most straightforward exams you'll run into. Choice is yours.
Best wishes
_____
"Grammar and spelling aren't everything, but this is a forum, not a chat room. You have plenty of time to spell out the word "you", and look just a little bit smarter." by Phaideaux
***I'll add you can Capitalize the word 'I' to show a little respect for yourself too.
'i' before 'e' except after 'c'.... weird?
Im sorry, But I have to disagree with that statement in bold. I wouldn't consider MCSA (or CCNA for that matter) entry level certs. Any cert that requires 4+ exams and more than a few years experience should not be entry-level. I also wouldn't put them on par with Net+/A+ either seeming you need BOTH of those, plus three more exams to attain MCSA status.
Off subject, maybe. But that needed to be pointed out. However, I pretty much agree with the rest of it.
:study: Current 2015 Goals: JNCIP-SEC JNCIS-ENT CCNA-Security
This isn't always true, I recently saw a job posting for a Network Engineer that wanted someone with A+ certfication and MCSE requried. Maybe this wasn't a true Network Engineer position as it seemed more like Systems Administration but still required A+ in the job description. A lot of employers have heard of it so they require/prefer it even if most IT pros find it unessecary if you have exprience. For that reason alone I think it is good to at least pick up A+ but that is just my opinion.
But CompTIA certs are good for life.
lol sure you would've, specially when u spent months on a simple test lol, like everybody said here those are entry level certs that will prepare you for the real stuff, i didnt have to do comptia, but the most i did 1 month peer test, now it just been a year that i stated collecting certification and not because i need them i want to fill up my wall with certs, degrees and awards it looks cool lol,
i dont undestand why people just stop in Network+ oh because they are MCSE elective rite dhaa!!!!
so u still need them for mcse
Sorry didn't mean to highjack the thread with a CompTIA debate!
HOWEVER, I may not take the network+ exam. Because no employer looks at this cert. But after I study Network+, I can put something like: "Knowledge of TCP/IP, basic networking etc. " in my resume....
So yeah, this is my opinion on this cert. What do you guys think?
On the other hand, I can see the requirement of A+ exam couple of times in those network related job....so I guess A+ is more useful than network+.
I also agree that it being good for life is pointless. Everyone is effected by the "if you don't use it you lose it" fact. When I took the Net+ i was really unaware of the certification realm so I didn't realize it wasn't going to do me any good. Yes Net+ is great for beginners to have some kind of foundation, but I was beyond that when I took it. I guess just be aware of your skill set and what the test is requiring of you. Any certification shows willingness to learn and other resume building softskills.
If you are a network professional with years of experience, then I would have to think that you would know how to prepare for an entry level certification like Net+. The fact that you did not combined with the questions you are asking and the fact you are a professional yet you wasted your time on an entry level cert makes me wonder. Anyways next time work at it, and you will see positive results.
Also years of experience will always trump Net+. You taking net+ is a regression if you truly are expereinced. If you want your career to progress, then take upper level certs like MCSA or CCNP.
To say that this is a waste of time is too much. Let's think what would say an CCIE about CCNA?.....
You said that you are an IT proffesional with years of experience and you have failed this exam. This kind of things happend. Learn from it and go forward.
But going back to the point of this whole post, overall the test is for entry level candidates. So I think that employers would like to see an entry level cert for an entry level position.
What do you all think?
e.g. ...You will need at a minimal a CompTIA A+ or Network+ Cert....plus a CERT for the environment, you are working on...
http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/html/857001m.htm
Page 64
Funny..... You must not know many people working for the DoD!!!!
I took the N+ exam for 3 reasons:
1. I had to take a Networking class for school and the N+ exam eliminated the class.
2. My employeer wanted all admins to have N+. No it wasn't requried to get hired.
3. I was curious of the Comptia exams. And I was due for an exam.
At my company they encoruage us to take IT certs. I think it kind of justifies our salaries too and also keeps us up on new things. We have to update our resumes every 6 months so something new is always great for the higher ups to see.
McToy
DoD Directive 8570 is NOW in effect. A grandfather clause gives current employees until FY09 to get required certifications. New hires have 6 months. Required certifications vary depending on your primary function. This DoD Directive applies to military, civilians, and contractors within the DoD for all Information Assurance Managers and Information Assurance Technicians. The definition is somewhat loose at the moment, but most agree it includes standard HelpDesk and Systems/Network Administrators, all IA folks, and generally anyone with system level priveledges (ie a developer who has admin rights on his own computer will need baseline certs as well). So this will give a big boost to CompTIA A+ and Network+ certs (not to mention on all the IAM's scrambling to get their CISSP).
Microsoft: MCSA 2003
www.blacksintechnology.net
a wide background can sure open up some doors, give you added value, spice up your resume, etc... i like that a lot and use it, high competition out there
Microsoft: MCSA 2003
Its alllll in the startup scripts. All in the startup scripts. >.<
(\__/)This is Bunny. Copy and paste bunny into
(='.'=)your signature to help him gain world
(")_(")domination.
I took the exam about 3 weeks ago and failed I scored 501. I didn't really follow the exam objectives plus some of the study guides I had was a joke. I mean a complete waste of time. I bought the Network + 2005 in depth. The book was a hard read and it did not have the answers to the practice exam. but after burning the midnight oil and trying to digest 14 chapters I managed to go down and past the test on the second time . The bottom line since you failed you now know what to expect so don't be down on yourself go retake the exam