Need Certification / advancement advice

PeaceChaser

Hello!

As this is my first post, I want to say thanks to the people here for sharing their wisdom and expertise so that everyone can glean from it.

Well, my situation is this: I currently have 2.5 years of college, no degree, no real plans to go back. I'm completely uncertified. I held a job for 2 years at a locally owned computer repair shop and gained some experience and reputation. With a little help from some inside contacts, I got a job working at a local intermediary school district (ISD), which serves 5 school districts of various sizes between a couple counties.

I make a decent amount of money for having NO credentials (30k). I've been here 2 years and the whole time the guys at the ISD have been telling me that they want to give me a raise, but they can't because policy prohibits it since I have no papers.

I've been considering a few different certifications that could please my boss and perhaps get some more money, but I haven't seen anything that really fits my situation well. I don't want to study something I can't use, and I don't want to be stuck in a program that's going to take years to complete if i can possibly help it (I.E. more college).

I've been stationed in 4 different schools so far, 3 of which are Windows based networks; the ISD itself uses Novell. They already have a database specialist, so I'm not really looking to overlap his skills. We are just barely starting to look into VM stuff. Most of what I do is basic networking and troubleshooting, ordering parts, resetting teacher's passwords and trying to keep on the good side of the really nerdy kids so they don't hack my network again.

Most recently, I've been looking into / studying for the CompTIA Server+ certification, but from what I understand, it's an entry level cert, and I'm really not looking to "enter" the industry. (Am I?)

Could anyone recommend a certification / education path that would benifit the schools and myself? This school is in my home town, and I really don't plan to change companies, but maybe hope to advance to Tech Director some day.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Peace

veritas_libertas

Welcome to TE!

My suggestion would be pursue something like the MCSE or MCITP:EA. Unless you want to do the CompTIA certs for learning purposes I think you should skip them. You already have inside knowledge, and I don't think the CompTIA certs can add much.

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/mcitp.aspx

Microsoft Learning: Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)

stephens316

You may or may like what I have to say, but to advance in what you want to do it would be true that you need a BS degree. The longer you wait the more it will cost you. By getting a certification will not get you a raise with a school district , matter of fact I would be concerned about not having a degree you would be one of the first ones I would cut if I was there. They want a degree when they say they needs papers not a certification. A school district will not pay you anymore than 33 to 35k anymore and that would be to much.

You need to look at what you want to do in 5/10/15/20 years from now networking, programming system administration whatever it is.

I feel you should focus on going back to school getting a degree in something like business administration with a focus in IT. This should be your first priority.

As far as certifications you like everyone else should start at the bottom and work up just like in the work force. So start with Comptia N+ and Sec+ > then decide MS or Cisco > Then choose the other MS or Cisco and work back and forth between them. I have posted tracks in other places here in the forum.

You should read Higher Education Results in Higher Lifetime Income this should tell you about why I stress the degree.

Hope this helps

veritas_libertas

stephens316 wrote: »

You may or may like what I have to say, but to advance in what you want to do it would be true that you need a BS degree. The longer you wait the more it will cost you. By getting a certification will not get you a raise with a school district , matter of fact I would be concerned about not having a degree you would be one of the first ones I would cut if I was there. They want a degree when they say they needs papers not a certification. A school district will not pay you anymore than 33 to 35k anymore and that would be to much.

You need to look at what you want to do in 5/10/15/20 years from now networking, programming system administration whatever it is.

I feel you should focus on going back to school getting a degree in something like business administration with a focus in IT. This should be your first priority.

As far as certifications you like everyone else should start at the bottom and work up just like in the work force. So start with Comptia N+ and Sec+ > then decide MS or Cisco > Then choose the other MS or Cisco and work back and forth between them. I have posted tracks in other places here in the forum.

You should read Higher Education Results in Higher Lifetime Income this should tell you about why I stress the degree.

Hope this helps

Unfortunately this true, and especially for academia. You might consider Western Governors University if money is an issue for you. You could also earn certifications as you go, which might be a major benefit for you.

NetworkingStudent

PeaceChaser wrote: »

Hello!

As this is my first post, I want to say thanks to the people here for sharing their wisdom and expertise so that everyone can glean from it.

Well, my situation is this: I currently have 2.5 years of college, no degree, no real plans to go back. I'm completely uncertified. I held a job for 2 years at a locally owned computer repair shop and gained some experience and reputation. With a little help from some inside contacts, I got a job working at a local intermediary school district (ISD), which serves 5 school districts of various sizes between a couple counties.

I make a decent amount of money for having NO credentials (30k). I've been here 2 years and the whole time the guys at the ISD have been telling me that they want to give me a raise, but they can't because policy prohibits it since I have no papers.

I've been considering a few different certifications that could please my boss and perhaps get some more money, but I haven't seen anything that really fits my situation well. I don't want to study something I can't use, and I don't want to be stuck in a program that's going to take years to complete if i can possibly help it (I.E. more college).

I've been stationed in 4 different schools so far, 3 of which are Windows based networks; the ISD itself uses Novell. They already have a database specialist, so I'm not really looking to overlap his skills. We are just barely starting to look into VM stuff. Most of what I do is basic networking and troubleshooting, ordering parts, resetting teacher's passwords and trying to keep on the good side of the really nerdy kids so they don't hack my network again.

Most recently, I've been looking into / studying for the CompTIA Server+ certification, but from what I understand, it's an entry level cert, and I'm really not looking to "enter" the industry. (Am I?)

Could anyone recommend a certification / education path that would benifit the schools and myself? This school is in my home town, and I really don't plan to change companies, but maybe hope to advance to Tech Director some day.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Peace

Here is what I recommend doing.
1. Talk you boss and ask what credentials you need to get your raise, and then proceed accordingly. You may need a college degree to obtain your raise. On the other, you may need just a few certs to buy up your pay scale.
2. Quote “Could anyone recommend a certification / education path that would benefit the schools and myself? This school is in my home town, and I really don't plan to change companies, but maybe hope to advance to Tech Director some day.” I would look at the certifications required for that position, and make those certification and education requirements long term goals
3. Based on your position I recommend starting with the following certifications..
“ Most of what I do is basic networking and troubleshooting, ordering parts, resetting teacher's passwords and trying to keep on the good side of the really nerdy kids so they don't hack my network again.”
I would do the following certs in this order
A+, Network+ and then Security+
A+ because you deal with a lot of computer parts
Network+ Because you do a lot of networking
AND Security+, because you have your own students hacking into your network.
That’s my advice

PS you say you are worried aobut going back to school, have you ever thought about going to WGU
They take a lot of IT certifications in exchange for college credit.
A lot members on TE go to WGU, so don’t be afraid to ask around
Good luck and Welcome to TE

veritas_libertas

NetworkingStudent wrote: »

PS you say you are worried aobut going back to school, have you ever thought about going to WGU
They take a lot of IT certifications in exchange for college credit.
A lot members on TE go to WGU, so don’t be afraid to ask around
Good luck and Welcome to TE

Veritas_Libertas wrote:

You might consider Western Governors University...

Umm, jinx?

Hyper-Me

stephens316 wrote: »

By getting a certification will not get you a raise with a school district , matter of fact I would be concerned about not having a degree you would be one of the first ones I would cut if I was there. They want a degree when they say they needs papers not a certification. A school district will not pay you anymore than 33 to 35k anymore and that would be to much.

You are correct. Except I make a bit more than that at a school district, but still.

brad-

Finish your degree. Let that be your focus. After that, if you want to choose an area of expertise, then do it.

You probably wont get any ROI on entry level helpdesk certs unless you lose your job and have to go hunting.

PeaceChaser

veritas_libertas wrote: »

Welcome to TE!

My suggestion would be pursue something like the MCSE or MCITP:EA. Unless you want to do the CompTIA certs for learning purposes I think you should skip them. You already have inside knowledge, and I don't think the CompTIA certs can add much.

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/mcitp.aspx

Microsoft Learning: Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)

Thanks for all of your input, especially Veritas_Liberatas. I believe this is the direction I will take.

It's probably quite true I won't advance my job title without completing my BS, but I believe certifications should suit me fine for now.

I think it's quite a different world for smaller companies, and then again for school districts.

Also, for the curious: the two other guys with my job title make pretty close to what the job was posted for - 47k. Tech directors make 60k+ I believe. Interestingly enough, I'm currently serving a school with about 700 students, and I'm the only tech that works there. Shouldn't that make me the tech director? :P

Thanks again,
Peace

MentholMoose

Apply your 2.5 years of completed school toward an AS degree. Send your transcript to a nearby community college and see what transfers, then take whatever is left (hopefully only a few courses). It's not a BS but at least it's something.