Taking a BREAK on TECHNICAL CERTIFICATIONs!!

dvalenzuela

I dont know if i am at the right forum but anyway here it goes... After finishing my MCSA I am taking a break on getting technical Certification... I am working for the GMAT TEST in order to get into a MBA, later I will be taking on my PMP and ITIL certs.. I trying to point out more on Management... What do u guys thinks about having a mix of technical part (bachelor on IT, MCSA) and management part(MBA , PMP, ITIL).. What is a employer's point of view for this Profile?? I appreciate your comments...

nel

Its always a good thing to have obviously if you want to head into management. Besides ive noticed a lot of employers look very highly upon technical qualifications and project management skills as PM is pretty hot at the moment.

One last thing i would recommend is probably finishing of your mcse at some point and possibly look towards a ccna if you want to dabble in networking.

LarryDaMan

I am in a similar situation, maybe in reverse. I have a B.S in Business Administration, PMP, and hopefully soon a CISSP. I started doing some of these entry level IT certs to give my resume a more well rounded look. I enjoyed doing the CompTIA certs, and I may do some more IT certs in the future. (CCNA? Some MS certs?)

However, my future lies in the management track. I am no spring chicken (32), and I feel the need to get moving up the ladder. I think Information Security Management is a good avenue to bridge these two things (technical/managerial).

I enjoy writing policy and standards, doing budgets and purchasing, training and supervising others... but I also like to get my hands dirty and know how things work and how to understand the technologies involved.

I initially planned to do an MBA program next year, but now I am leaning towards an Info Sec Masters program for the reasons mentioned above.

It comes down to your goals and what you enjoy and how you see your career taking shape. My favorite senior level managers throughout my life have been those who are excellent managers and leaders with a foundation of technical and practical know-how. That is what I aspire to be.

eMeS

dvalenzuela wrote:

I dont know if i am at the right forum but anyway here it goes... After finishing my MCSA I am taking a break on getting technical Certification... I am working for the GMAT TEST in order to get into a MBA, later I will be taking on my PMP and ITIL certs.. I trying to point out more on Management... What do u guys thinks about having a mix of technical part (bachelor on IT, MCSA) and management part(MBA , PMP, ITIL).. What is a employer's point of view for this Profile?? I appreciate your comments...

I think it's terrible! Don't do it!

OK...I was kidding...IMO (and I've said this here many times before), higher level qualifications are often meaningless without the corresponding ability to make things happen.

I've seen this repeatedly throughout my career: A consultant with higher level qualifications who is really good at telling people what should be done, without any inkling of what it takes to actually execute on the advice being given.

From an employment perspective, my opinion is that by taking this path you'll be positioning yourself more squarely in the camp of independent consultants. That's based on the highly scientific longitudinal study that I've done over my career where I concluded that the more knowledge and capabilities that I acquired, the less likely I have been to put up with the organizational nonsense that comes with being someone else's full time employee.

Sounds like you're on the right path...a good mix of both technical know-how and higher-level conceptually-oriented qualifications will make you a rare commodity.

MS

Slowhand

eMeS wrote:

higher level qualifications are often meaningless without the corresponding ability to make things happen.

Truer words have never been spoken about any line of work. I worked with an individual that held a Master's degree in Information Systems at the last place I worked. While he got paid a little higher than I did, he was doing the exact same job, doing the same tasks, and would often come to me for help on things that I'd worked with before. The degree helped him get the job, but it's the combination of training and experience that would have made him a great admin.

eMeS wrote:

I've seen this repeatedly throughout my career: A consultant with higher level qualifications who is really good at telling people what should be done, without any inkling of what it takes to actually execute on the advice being given.

Which one of my bosses have you been talking to, and at which company?

eMeS wrote:

Sounds like you're on the right path...a good mix of both technical know-how and higher-level conceptually-oriented qualifications will make you a rare commodity.

MS

It's a shame that it has to be so rare, but it's very true. An educated person with practical skills is truly a rarety. You have to be both intelligent (through school, training, etc.,) and smart (common sense, experience, among other things,) in order to stand out in IT, or whatever field you set your sights on.

dvalenzuela

Thanks guys for the advices...... I am planning to go back to USA to do my MBA..........

vCole

I'm sort of on the same track as yourself. I'm currently working full time as a help desk technician, and finishing up my MCDST on Friday. I will then start on my MCSA/MCSE, as my Windows Server class is based on 70-290. I am also going to college full-time, finishing up my associates in IT Support Specialist then transferring to a state school to get my Bachelor's in CIS. I will then get my Master's and a few project management certifications. I possibly will have a few EMC certs & odds and ends from work as well. (As work is paying for college & my certifications )

dvalenzuela

FadeToBright wrote:

I'm sort of on the same track as yourself. (As work is paying for college & my certifications )

way to go FadeToBright!!!!! That 's what I am looking forward too.

vCole

dvalenzuela wrote:

FadeToBright wrote:

I'm sort of on the same track as yourself. (As work is paying for college & my certifications )

way to go FadeToBright!!!!! That 's what I am looking forward too.