Newbie questions

smerdini

Hello. I just joined this forum and I appreciate it, it seems a good place. This is my story: I started my certification path a couple of months ago studying to become a MCITP SA. I don't have any job experience in the IT and I'm also noob about certifications. By the way I successfully passed the exam 70-640 and now I'm studying for the 70-642. The problem is that I have few doubt about what I'm doing. I need a little help, please check out my questions: does the MCITP SA have any worth without any experience? Should I get a different certification before I get the MCITP? Many persons advice to get the A+ before getting anything... it that right? Does it make any sense if I get the A+ after getting the MCITP?

RobertKaucher

Yes, it does have value even without experience. It just does not have as much value. What I suggest is that you start looking at other entry level certs before you complete the SA - at least consider them. Look into A+, Net+, Server+ and MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Support 7.

Read this eBook: What Every Network Administrator Knows. It will have some good advice for you starting out.

There are a few ways you can get the experience you will need to help you get noticed:
1. Volunteer your time - In today's economy you should be able to find small businesses that would be willing to call you when something goes wrong or when they need to upgrade their systems.
2. Do your time on the help desk - Every admin I know has done some sort of support work. If you can get a job as a level one tech resetting passwords, etc, you are more likely to be given a chance in higher support roles.

It is going to be hard to score the type of job you want and at the pay you expect. Create a 3 to 5 year career plan and stick to it. This should have short, mid and long term goals. Changes should only be made when they need to be. Don't go fluttering from idea to idea.

EDIT: Just to point out I said the job you want at the pay you want because you may be forced to take a good job at a low pay. Consider this an internship! It is a step to get you where you want to go.

ibcritn

I would define what you want to do....thats very hard to do at this stage because you haven't been exposed to much. I concur finding a job (even if it pays little) is a great idea. Experience is gold in IT and certifications complement experience. I have never had anyone care much about areas that I was certified in, but not experienced with.

MCITP-SA is a great certification under your belt, but you'll likely need a few years experience doing varying degree of help desk roles (T1, 2, 3) unless you get very lucky and find a place that exposes you to a lot quickly.

A+ will do a lot for you now, but only while you are at the starting stages of your career. A+ does very little once you move out of help desk roles.

aatk

I think i'm also confused about what to do next. I'm done with my CompTIA certifications. I think i want to move to Microsoft but i don't know the path. From the little research that i have done it seems like MCSA a better certification to get since it doesn't expire. However, MCITP is the highest certification availabe (that i know of) but it does expire. Also, i'm confused as far as which path to choose for MCITP and whatever path i decide to go for - in the end do i need to mention that on my resume or MCITP is enough?

Thanks all

rogue2shadow

aatk wrote: »

I think i'm also confused about what to do next. I'm done with my CompTIA certifications. I think i want to move to Microsoft but i don't know the path. From the little research that i have done it seems like MCSA a better certification to get since it doesn't expire. However, MCITP is the highest certification availabe (that i know of) but it does expire. Also, i'm confused as far as which path to choose for MCITP and whatever path i decide to go for - in the end do i need to mention that on my resume or MCITP is enough?

Thanks all

Actually there's good news; there was a recent change to the MCITP and they in fact do not expire (as in constantly having to renew them). They become inactive when support for the software comes to an end. See details from Microsoft's website below:

Q. How long will my certification be valid?

A.
All Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS), Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP), and Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) certifications retire when Microsoft discontinues mainstream support for the related technology. After a certification retires, it still appears on your transcript but is listed as "inactive." In most cases, an upgrade path is available for people who have that certification, which allows them to demonstrate their skills on the newest version of the technology without completing all exams associated with the new certification. The following certifications will not be retired: Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA), Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST), Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA), Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD), and Microsoft Certified Applications Developer (MCAD).

In my opinion if you're already working with 2003 servers I would certify in that (MCSA/MCSE). If not, you're best off going with the 2008 MCITP route. This is all speculative and I can't really talk too much about MS as I am a Cisco guy

Sounds Good

RobertKaucher wrote: »

Read this eBook: What Every Network Administrator Knows. It will have some good advice for you starting out.

is there a more updated version of this book? its from 2003, not sure how relevant it would be for today.

RobertKaucher

While a lot of the specific technologies he discusses are dated, the basic concepts are not.

Specialladie

I am also in the same boat. I just Graduated with my AAS in Computer Information Tech and took my SSCP on last sat. I am thinking after doing some reading on this forum that I should have taken my Security + first. I don't know. I took an Intro to Information Security class my last semester and the CBK was the text, coincidently I had to take a System Analysis and Network Basics with Database Management which all helped with the exam. Did I jump the gun? My instructor is CISSP and will endorse me if pass, but he was SSCP is all I need.

RobertKaucher

Specialladie wrote: »

I am also in the same boat. I just Graduated with my AAS in Computer Information Tech and took my SSCP on last sat. I am thinking after doing some reading on this forum that I should have taken my Security + first. I don't know. I took an Intro to Information Security class my last semester and the CBK was the text, coincidently I had to take a System Analysis and Network Basics with Database Management which all helped with the exam. Did I jump the gun? My instructor is CISSP and will endorse me if pass, but he was SSCP is all I need.

Why? What has it been like on the job hunt for an Info Sec position?

Specialladie

RobertKaucher wrote: »

Why? What has it been like on the job hunt for an Info Sec position?

I was waiting on my score but my instructor tells me there are DoD jobs waiting for me. Says as soon as I get my score he will hook me up with a job at Stennis Space center they are looking, also he says there are at least a dozen security jobs looking just here on the coast.

I only mention it here because I am reading about all of these certs that I should be looking into.

ibcritn

Specialladie wrote: »

I was waiting on my score but my instructor tells me there are DoD jobs waiting for me. Says as soon as I get my score he will hook me up with a job at Stennis Space center they are looking, also he says there are at least a dozen security jobs looking just here on the coast.

I only mention it here because I am reading about all of these certs that I should be looking into.

SSCP is certainly a good certification and if you get it I can't think of much benefit to get Security+ as SSCP already meets higher level DDoD 8570 requirements. After SSCP I would look into networking certifications as having that background is usually very helpful for security roles.

Good luck! Hope you passed!

Specialladie

ibcritn wrote: »

... Hope you passed!

Gawd, so do I.

I took 200+ practice quizzes on cccure.org when I stopped I was averaging 80% on hard, didn't recognize a single question on the exam like my prof said its all in the wording and scenario.

Sounds Good

RobertKaucher wrote: »

While a lot of the specific technologies he discusses are dated, the basic concepts are not.

is it just me, or are there a bunch of pages missing?