Advice on my next step?

cjkeagle112

Hey everyone, I thought I'd try posting here and see what you think. I just passed MCTS: 70-620, thinking about getting consumer and enterprise support mcitp. I am also considering the benefits of the Network plus for finding my first full time position.
here's my exp/ credentials now:

3 years IT experience, 2 years helpdesk, 1 year in a systems admin/net admin type role at an IT consulting company. I have the A+ (new version), MCTS: vista config. am graduating this semester with an associates in CIS: Cisco Networking. which untimatly through the cisco academy I'm in, prepares me to take the ccna someday.

I'm tight on funds right now and have a student discount for some microsoft exams, the Net+ is over 200 bucks, I could take probably 3 MS exams for that price, is it more worthwhile to verify my network skills and take net+? since that would give me my work exp. degree, network+ A+ MCTS while I'm looking for a full time desktop support, senior helpdesk, Assistant netadmin type role? Let me know what would make more sense, MCITP or Network + basically I was to have a very marketable resume by summer.

thanks in advance for everyone reading and posting!

chrisone

Just curious what your long term goals are? What position are you looking for within 5 years from now? I think you should find a position as a Junior Server or Networking fields, depending on what your goals are within 5 years. If you want to be a Network Engineer dealing with Cisco products and network troubleshooting, complete your CCNA Cert since you are in the networking academy. If you see your self as a Server Engineer, then go the MS path and look for a Junior Server position.

Since you already have experience in the help desk field don't get stuck by starting in that field again. Because of your certifications people will give you a JR position , trust me there are a lot of admins out there that need help with the little things. There are a lot of senior admins who get frustrated and stuck with little tasks that a JR server or network technician can deal with, while they deal with bigger issues. It is called "grunt work" by higher level/senior engineers, it is called "experience and the chance to get your foot in the field" by Entry level technicians.

Hope this helps

Oh yeah dont waste your money or time on Network+ since you have Cisco Net academy exp. Get your CCNA if you want Networking cert.