Which COMPTIA card(s) do you carry?

So whats in your wallet?

Its a bit silly I think to carry 3 separate ones. I was hoping they would combine them on to one like merit badges on a sash but alas, I have 3 separate cards.

Or do you carry one at all?

Or did you make your own cards? I could go the vistaprint route.

I am wondering what is a convenient way to carry my credentials with me and be able to show to people who wonder what they mean.

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Comments

Arysta

I've requested several duplicate cards and fashioned them into a hat I wear to interviews. It hasn't helped me get a job yet, but I know it will eventually.

Edit: Really? Negative rep? Sorry I didn't contribute to your super serious discussion about your manly wallets and plastic cards. If it helps, I keep mine in my desk drawer. I've never had to produce them for any reason. Usually they're right next to the Petsmart card, but sometimes I get crazy and put them with the Gamestop card.

erpadmin

Chris:/* wrote: »

I have no cards in my wallet. It seems unnecessary the only people care is during measuring contests and during the job hiring process. In the end the certs are either in the office or in a binder for hiring.

Are there really people who have those "measuring" contests? That justs seems grossly juvenile. The guy who has umpteenth certs that has to show he's got the largest amounts of certs, IMO, lost before he decided to whip them out.....just by the fact he bothered to do that...

uhtrinity

None, I figure that is what the transcripts are for. Anyone can forge a card or even a paper cert.

N2IT

Do doctors or accountants even carry their licenses with them? I can see a drivers license, but not my A+ certification acknowledgement. Seems rather extreme to me.

SteveO86

Sadly I still have those cards in my wallet.. I've never had to take them out in the years I've had them in there.. I'll probably throw them in a draw soon and forget about them.. I don't even hang my certs up on the wall anymore

I got em in a draw collecting dust.

xenodamus

None. I also don't carry a full size wallet either, though.

Fossil Multicard Magnetic Front Pocket Wallet from Macy's at SHOP.COM

I used to carry a wallet jam packed with cards, receipts, and tons of other useless junk. When I did, I think my A+ card was in there with everything else. I've never had a need for it, however.

Reseven

MechaniX wrote: »

Nope, never have and probably never will. My wallet is full of enough junk as it is. Maybe if I had a purse....

^This, right here.

My wife even gives me crap sometimes about my "Costanza" wallet.

Hypntick

xenodamus wrote: »

None. I also don't carry a full size wallet either, though.

Fossil Multicard Magnetic Front Pocket Wallet from Macy's at SHOP.COM

I used to carry a wallet jam packed with cards, receipts, and tons of other useless junk. When I did, I think my A+ card was in there with everything else. I've never had a need for it, however.

That's brilliant! I do just the stack of cards (DL, debit card etc.) in my front pocket. I could never stand to have anything in my back pocket at all. Gonna have to pick one of those up when I get the chance.

xenodamus

Hypntick wrote: »

That's brilliant! I do just the stack of cards (DL, debit card etc.) in my front pocket. I could never stand to have anything in my back pocket at all. Gonna have to pick one of those up when I get the chance.

I know - I love it. My wife bought me one for Xmas. I had never seen one before that. I actually lost my wallet a few months ago and for a while I only carried my DL and debit card. I got used to not carrying a wallet and this was the next best thing.

Thxlbx

Never thought about this....thought we only got the certificates. So we get cards too when we pass? Do they come with the physical certificate or do you have to order them separately? I just passed my A+, but did not see any mention of cards, just that you should be mailed your physical certificate in about 8 weeks. Thanks!

eMeS

Mike-Mike wrote: »

I have a seperate wallet just for this purpose in my truck

CardStar

MS

Chris:/*

erpadmin wrote: »

Are there really people who have those "measuring" contests? That justs seems grossly juvenile. The guy who has umpteenth certs that has to show he's got the largest amounts of certs, IMO, lost before he decided to whip them out.....just by the fact he bothered to do that...

People in the Government often think position = knowledge. So when someone comes to tell me how things are going to be done they then see my proven knowledge on the wall they dial it back a bit. Instead we can work as a team to create an appropriate solution that is what I mean by measuring contests. It is also one of two reasons that I have the certs in my office. The second is because military members see them and ask how to study for them, so I get to help them as well.

cisco_certs

i have the ccna and cwna cards in my wallet but i really see no point for having it.

Plantwiz

demonfurbie wrote: »

for some of hte msdn stuff microsoft checks the number of people in the company that are microsoft certified

i carried my 4 comptia cards for about a week then i realised they made my wallet too big

MS doesn't 'check' but you need to supply your employer with your MS-ID# and they'll add you to the roster. This gives you access to the same level of benefits the corporation holds, so both parties win, but there isn't MS Audit police who knock on doors to valid the data, it's all done electronically through the portal.

erpadmin

Chris:/* wrote: »

People in the Government often think position = knowledge. So when someone comes to tell me how things are going to be done they then see my proven knowledge on the wall they dial it back a bit. Instead we can work as a team to create an appropriate solution that is what I mean by measuring contests. It is also one of two reasons that I have the certs in my office. The second is because military members see them and ask how to study for them, so I get to help them as well.

Oh, you mean a **** match....I was envisioning all these morons whipping out certs and saying he/she was more qualified because he had more...lmao.

**** matches are a bit different, and I do understand them (that isn't to say I condone them). I have a father who's a textbook Taurus, so I already know how to do deal with stubborn people. (No one is quite like Dad in that regard...lmao.) But we come to a mutual understanding, not unlike how you get to your solutions. No one loses face, and stuff gets done to everyone satisifcation.

Dakinggamer87

I have them in a business card holder and I haven't had to have them.

slinuxuzer

None.. Believe it or not, I've never been asked to provide proof of credentials

spiderjericho

Thxlbx wrote: »

Never thought about this....thought we only got the certificates. So we get cards too when we pass? Do they come with the physical certificate or do you have to order them separately? I just passed my A+, but did not see any mention of cards, just that you should be mailed your physical certificate in about 8 weeks. Thanks!

I can't speak on VMware, Juniper, HP, ISC (2) and a few other orgs, but Cisco, Microsoft and CompTIA include little wallet size proof of certifications. They usually come with the certificate, etc. And TBH, with the way some people are with test prep, even with a CCNP, CCVP, MCSA, MCTIP, etc on the wall, I won't respect them until they show me their mettle. I had a friend during a design class grill one of his students about Active Directory and Exchange during a presentation. The student boasts about his MCSE and MCTIP, but he doesn't seem to know much.

NetworkingStudent

futurethat88 wrote: »

So whats in your wallet?

Its a bit silly I think to carry 3 separate ones. I was hoping they would combine them on to one like merit badges on a sash but alas, I have 3 separate cards.

Or do you carry one at all?

Or did you make your own cards? I could go the vistaprint route.

I am wondering what is a convenient way to carry my credentials with me and be able to show to people who wonder what they mean.

I say I get them tattooed on your arms. Then you are really certified for life!! Haha..ok I thought it was funny.

Honestly, I got certified and I haven’t even hung up the certs yet. I took pride in getting them, but my main goal is to get the knowledge, retain it, use it, and gain employment in IT. If you want to show off your certs then you should print the pdfs and bring them in the folder to interviews.
The last interview I had I brought my certs(in pdf form) and the person interviewing me said “that’s nice, but I don’t need to see them.” The interview was for an ISP level 0 or 1 help desk, and I needed to pass a written 20 question and 20 minute exam to get considered for the position.

The certs are nice to have, but passing the tech pre assessment employment interview exam is way more important, so my advice is keep your certification books, for prepping for the interviews.

Chris:/*

erpadmin wrote: »

Oh, you mean a **** match....I was envisioning all these morons whipping out certs and saying he/she was more qualified because he had more...lmao.

**** matches are a bit different, and I do understand them (that isn't to say I condone them). I have a father who's a textbook Taurus, so I already know how to do deal with stubborn people. (No one is quite like Dad in that regard...lmao.) But we come to a mutual understanding, not unlike how you get to your solutions. No one loses face, and stuff gets done to everyone satisifcation.

We call it a measuring contest because the competition began before the talking did and the results were known to both parties. Since there were no arguments then there was no **** match. Cheers, and I agree I wish I did not have to deal with that part of human nature.

TheShadow

NetworkingStudent wrote: »

I say I get them tattooed on your arms. Then you are really certified for life!! Haha..ok I thought it was funny.

Don't laugh it has kind of been done before. I met him and saw it in the flesh as it were. Scroll down the page and check the tat. He is a good writer an windows has made him a ton of money over the years.

http://www.charlespetzold.com/bio.html

RomBUS

I just got my Sec+ wallet card just this weekend, so now I have A+ and Sec+ wallet cards

I didnt think they emailed the paper certs anymore, I thought they were doing the same as Microsoft's "eco-friendly" paperless, pay to get your certs method

TheSuperRuski

RomBUS wrote: »

I just got my Sec+ wallet card just this weekend, so now I have A+ and Sec+ wallet cards

I didnt think they emailed the paper certs anymore, I thought they were doing the same as Microsoft's "eco-friendly" paperless, pay to get your certs method

So did I. It arrived last week Friday. That will be the third CompTIA card for me. They are taking up too much space now. Somebody has got to give.

seanchen

TheSuperRuski wrote: »

So did I. It arrived last week Friday. That will be the third CompTIA card for me. They are taking up too much space now. Somebody has got to give.

I have 3 of these cards. A+ (2009), CTT+ (classroom Trainer), CTT+ (virtual trainer) and I do carry them in my empty wallet other than my middle school ID, I do not have any other ID. Check my video out.
YouTube - Youngest CTT+, A+, MCP, MCTS
YouTube - Youngest CTT+,A+, MCP, MCTS

jtoast

I just checked my wallet and discovered I don't carry any of my certification cards. I've never been asked to show them to anyone.

I take that back, I sent my certification transcripts to WGU for transfer credit. Other that that, I've never had anyone ask to see them.

badboyeee

My N+ / Sec+ cards and certificates are still in the mailing envelope

My A+ card got stolen along with my wallet, years ago..

stephens316

I don't carry them really, I have them in my portfolio just in case someone were to ask for them. The only place that would really require them is a government office from my experience.

DoubleD

I have the comptia tri all three main ones
but I dont carry any of them on my wallet
I only carry imporant cards in my wallet like my credit card not gimick cards

michaelcox

don't carry any of them.

Netwurk

I once carried both the Net+ and A+ card, although they are both so faded now I doubt I would show them to anyone

I'm glad the certs themselves are still lifetime for us oldtimers (which includes the kids who passed last year). I recertified my CCNA last year - but recertifying CompTIA certs every 3 years would not have worked for me.

To me, CompTIA should have stayed with their original plan. Let's say you got your certs in 2001 and 2004 like me. Your certificate and card lists the year you were certified. That tells employers all they need to know. So let it stay a lifetime cert. What was the goal in changing things? To help clueless companies who don't know how to interview jobseekers?

As we all know, the economy isn't great and CompTIA is no doubt trying to make some dough on recertification tests. Makes you wonder if not-for-profit is really not-for-profit these days.