Getting a Tech Job with this kinda Background

I'm a 30 yr old with high school diploma that did not attend college, but had a few classes I also have 3 certifications very little experience. About to attend New Horizions for A+, N+, MCSE 2003, Secruity+ and CCNA. They also will help me persue employement. But with all this what are my chances of landing a sweet Lan/Wan Admin job.
Oh yea I live in NC RTP (Research Triangle Park) - Raleigh/Durham

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dynamik

How hard you willing to work?

Are you going to volunteer or take a low-paying job to gain experience?

More than likely, you're going to have to start at the bottom and work your way up.

It's absolutely possible. There are people here who started their IT careers in the 40s and beyond. Just don't expect to be handed a sweet gig solely because you've got a few certifications.

There's been a couple of negative posts about New Horizons, so you may want to look into them a bit more:
http://techexams.net/forums/viewtopic.php?p=76047
http://techexams.net/forums/viewtopic.php?p=41950

drainey

Don't know anything about New Horizons but I basically went the same route as you. Although I had about 2 years of college before I dropped out to work (not the best decision).

Went back to school for a semester, switched to a 6 month MCSE certification program at the local college and got my MCP. Then got a 3rd shift gig on the help desk and have just kept working and learning from there. I'm currently a Network Tech with a Managed Service Provider and doing fairly well in the salary dept. So go for it and keep chuggin' on.

Daniel333

That is a crazy amount of certifications to set your sites on. Might take you years. Either way, no gathering those certs without experience isn't going to help much. Experience is going to remain #1.

Good luck!

oo_snoopy

Are you willing to go back to school and get the required degree?

If so yeah, age doesn't matter

Degree does.

dynamik

AndreL wrote:

Oh yea I live in NC RTP (Research Triangle Park) - Raleigh/Durham

Oh, since you're there, why don't you just go for a CCIE?

AndreL

I plan on going to College but I'll keep my certification current and up to date

AndreL

I Plan on getting a CCIE but thats after the NH stuff and the CCNP then the CCIE ...
Question ... is RTP a center point of CCIE members.

AndreL

What about ITT tech or Devry what if I go that way

jryantech

AndreL wrote:

What about ITT tech or Devry what if I go that way

This is a split issue, some say go for it some say do not.

Do your research before you invest your money into a for-profit school.

networker050184

RTP is very competitive. There are lots of opportunities here but all those certs with no experience isn't going to land you an admin/engineer gig around here.

ironlung

oo_snoopy wrote:

Are you willing to go back to school and get the required degree?

If so yeah, age doesn't matter

Degree does.

You dont need a degree to land a lan/admin position.Sure it helps but not required.

sthomas

AndreL wrote:

About to attend New Horizions for A+, N+, MCSE 2003, Secruity+ and CCNA. They also will help me persue employement.

How much are you going to pay to take the New Horizon's classess? I assume it won't be cheap. If you are paying several thousand dollars out of your own pocket I would recommend self study instead. You can get all of those certifications you mention above (along with most other certs really) by self study. I also would not recommend getting your MCSE until start to gain some experience in IT. That does not mean you should not start studying for it though. I would go for A+/Net+ and then start on MCSA or maybe CCNA though I am not sure how much the CCNA will help someone with no IT experience. The main thing to do is to get experience and work your way up. Most people have to start out at the bottom and work their way up. Usually be doing Helpdesk, or perhaps Desktop support. It is possible to get a Jr. Network/Systems admin job also but with only certs and no experience it will be difficult. Good luck!

hypnotoad

Apparently if you go to ITT Tech you will get a degree in no time, and you'll get a high-paying job at some awesome company, and still have time to snowboard and mountain bike with some extreme guys.

Check the job postings for RTP companies, if that's your target, and find something you would LOVE to do. Find out what these type experience/education/certification these jobs require.

Network with some people who work at RTP and find out what they do/what they've done/how they did it.

jryantech

nl wrote:

Apparently if you go to ITT Tech you will get a degree in no time, and you'll get a high-paying job at some awesome company, and still have time to snowboard and mountain bike with some extreme guys.

TryPingingTheServer

dynamik wrote:

AndreL wrote:

Oh yea I live in NC RTP (Research Triangle Park) - Raleigh/Durham

Oh, since you're there, why don't you just go for a CCIE?

I'll do whatever it takes to get work inside that campus. I'll start with janitorial services if I have to...