Does my proposed IT career training make sense to you?

Ed1975

Hi Guys,

I intend to change career from translator to an IT professional. I would already describe myself as a power/advanced PC user.

The route that has been proposed for me is:

A+/Network+ > MCDST > MCTS > MCITP (Win 7).

Thus, I am taking the foundation computer courses, then getting certified as a desktop support agent for Win XP (which is the OS I know best and use in my daily work), finally ending up as an enterprise desktop support technician in Windows 7.

The exams I will take are:

1) A+
2) Network+
3) 70-271 (courses MS2261 & MS2262) = MCDST
4) 70-270 (course 2285) = MCTS
5) 70-680 (courses 6292A & 6294) = MCITP

What do you guys think of this proposed route and the courses/exams needed to complete it? Does it make sense? Will it be useful for securing a job?

Just as important, what skills/certifications are employers of IT professionals (hardware support/repair, software support/helpdesk, system administrator, network administrator) looking for now? What qualifications may be needed in the near future?

Thanks for your constructive advice!

Ed

phoeneous

Ed1975 wrote: »

What do you guys think of this proposed route and the courses/exams needed to complete it? Does it make sense? Will it be useful for securing a job?

Just a few corrections:

3.) MCDST requires 271 and 272
4.) Passing 270 gives you MCP, not MCTS
5.) MCITP requires 680 and 685 or 680 and 686

Ed1975 wrote: »

Will it be useful for securing a job?

That depends on your experience level and the job you are going for.

hex_omega

Honestly, if you're going to take the 270, just skip the 271 and 272(MCDST) alltogether. The MCDST is not all that worth it in the first place, especially if you have MCP. A+, Net+, and MCP is a nice start. Then make a choice towards either MCSE or CCNA/CCNP.

Michael.J.Palmer

Outside of the corrections the others already pointed out, it's not a bad start and is actually the route I'm taking (I'm actually going backwards a bit by getting the MS certs first).

Another correction to throw your way, passing 271 actually gives you the MCP since the only requirement for MCP is that you've passed a MS exam. Then when you pass the 272 you'll have both MCP and MCDST.

MCTS: Windows 7 configuration is a good route to take after that (and is currently my next certification test I'm taking), that's the 680 test by itself.

Those along with the A+ and Network+ should be enough to get you a decent help desk position. Of course if you're a translator now, then that will get you even further as most companies are now looking for translators in help desk environments.

A suggestion if you ever plan to finish your studying, another guy mentioned CCNA and what not. That works fine and dandy and I'm actually planning to get those as well, but go for the Windows Server 2008 certifications as well. There's a lot more money in networking and on the backend of working on servers, so if you're like any of us, you'll be wanting that cash flow to be in your pocket. So MCTS: AD and MCTS: Infrastructure followed by MCITP: Server Admin could get you a nice jump start, not saying you have to get it all now within the first year or two, but it's a nice goal to set if you ever want to try and advance your current knowledge base.

jamesleecoleman

What language(s) do translate??? You can use those skills to help you get a job in IT.

veritas_libertas

I would just skip XP and do the following path if you are interested in a 'DST- Desktop Support Technician' certification:

70-680 --> 70-685 --> and then MCITP:EA

earweed

If he chooses to get the MCDST first then he just has to take the 70-682 to be MCITP:EDST on Windows 7.

N2IT

Do whatever you feel like. Write out your goals and always take the mindset that they are already accomplished.

Always view your life from a baseline. If today you want to take MCDST, but the next day you realize that maybe that is too much time and not enough ROI, then **** it.

There is nothing wrong with readjusting your goals. Do what interest you.

chrisone

Like others have said , your translation skills can help you bigtime in an IT career. Just think of it like this, because of your secondary language you have just opened one or two countrys for employment oportunities, possibly more. I know spanish and I have worked in my current job i work with a lot of IT in latin countries including europe. Now i have all of latin america and spain for job opportunities and contract jobs too.

Ed1975

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the advice. I'm guessing XP will still be used at companies for a few years to come, so I think I'll try to get MCP by taking one XP exam. Then follow up with Windows 7 certs, esp. the Configuring Win7 cert. First A+ and Network+, though, of course

Ed1975

Ed1975 wrote: »

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the advice. I'm guessing XP will still be used at companies for a few years to come, so I think I'll try to get MCP by taking one XP exam. Then follow up with Windows 7 certs, esp. the Configuring Win7 cert. First A+ and Network+, though, of course

Since I'm initially planning to follow the helpdesk / support technician route, does anyone know if there is a Windows 7 equivalent for:

70-271 (courses MS2261 & MS2262): Supporting Users and Troubleshooting a Microsoft Windows XP Operating System



So far as I can see, there isn't one yet...

earweed

The closest you'll come is the 70-685 which when taken with the 70-680 will give you the MCITP:EDST (Enterprise Desktop Support Technician)