Which cert next?

dave330i

I'm about to take my 2nd MCTS exam (70-642), but feeling burnt out on all things Microsoft. I currently have the following certs:

VCP4
CCNA
Security+
MCTS-640

I was thinking of maybe ITIL v3 foundation? Maybe Linux? Any opinion? Any advice?

instant000

dave330i wrote: »

I'm about to take my 2nd MCTS exam (70-642), but feeling burnt out on all things Microsoft. I currently have the following certs:

VCP4
CCNA
Security+
MCTS-640

I was thinking of maybe ITIL v3 foundation? Maybe Linux? Any opinion? Any advice?

Two questions:
1. What are you doing today?
2. What do you want to be doing tomorrow?

N2IT

dave330i wrote: »

I'm about to take my 2nd MCTS exam (70-642), but feeling burnt out on all things Microsoft. I currently have the following certs:

VCP4
CCNA
Security+
MCTS-640

I was thinking of maybe ITIL v3 foundation? Maybe Linux? Any opinion? Any advice?

ITIL is always a possibility, but I really like Linux as well. I read through the first 4-5 chapters of the Linux + book and found it facinating. After the first chapter you get going pretty quickly.

Either way you can't go wrong. Linux + is my choice, I wish I had the time to do it.

pzero

Really does depend on what you want to do in the longer term.

If you can push thru the pain (give you have the 70-640 under your belt), sit the 70-642 and then the 70-646 for the MCITP:SA cert. It would complement your existing certs.

dave330i

instant000 wrote: »

Two questions:
1. What are you doing today?
2. What do you want to be doing tomorrow?

I'm an IT generalist. I do a little bit of everything with focus on VMware and Windows admin.

As for what I want to do tomorrow, not sure.

Essendon

In that case, what do you like doing?

Slowhand

If you're a generalist, then Linux+ is probably your best bet. You've already got the CCNA, you're working on, and will continue working on Microsoft certs, so having some Linux credentials will help round out your resume.

dave330i

Essendon wrote: »

In that case, what do you like doing?

I enjoy planning and building out a network infrastructure. I guess it's a carry over from my ME background.

Thanks for the advice/input everyone.

instant000

dave330i wrote: »

I enjoy planning and building out a network infrastructure. I guess it's a carry over from my ME background.

Thanks for the advice/input everyone.

Being a generalist is fun for getting exposure to a lot of different technologies, but once you find what you really like to do, it is wisest to go towards that. Reasoning: you always can go back to being general as a fall-back, and provide great rounded knowledge and help to a small to medium-sized business who needs someone who can do it all for them. You may find, though, that the greatest rewards in this industry are through specialization. (Same reason the surgical specialists make more than regular M.D.'s)

If you like planning and building out a network infrastructure, look at this:

CCDA - Career Certifications & Paths - Cisco Systems

or this:

VMware Certified Advanced Professional

The Linux+ would be useful, if only to provide some OS diversity to your background, if you really like this generalist stuff.

Also, you could look into storage certifications, if you're interested in that type of thing.

What "ME" acronym are you using?

ME - Definition by AcronymFinder

Bl8ckr0uter

instant000 wrote: »

What "ME" acronym are you using?

ME - Definition by AcronymFinder

Probably mechanical engineering

dave330i

Bl8ckr0uter wrote: »

Probably mechanical engineering

Correct. Worked for a long time designing stuff.