What's next (certification) ?

Bascotie

Hey everyone,

A while back I posted for advice on certifications to get, read a CCNA book, and just wasn't quite ready to take it, or not sure if I wanted to.

Here's my summary:

I have about 4 years experience in the IT industry, mostly as an intern, but my last job was IT Admin / SEO Specialist for a small office (I don't wanna do SEO anymore!)

I just got my A+ Certification because I felt maybe it would give me some confidence or at least get my foot in the door. I'm not looking for a job currently since I am running a computer repair business, but in case it doesn't work out like I plan, I want certifications as a backup (and for fun).


I love just fixing computers. Hardware, malware removal, and all that fun stuff. I enjoyed being an IT Intern more than I did doing SEO because it was so repetitive. I like to be distracted and busy or time KILLS me.

What do you guys think is a good certification to take next?

Should I go Network+, or skip it? Should I consider finishing CCNA? I was kinda looking at some MCITP certifications. I'd like to learn more about server, but which MCITP certs do you guys recommend? (Windows 7, Server 2008, etc?)

Thanks!!

mattlee09

Bascotie wrote: »

Hey everyone,

A while back I posted for advice on certifications to get, read a CCNA book, and just wasn't quite ready to take it, or not sure if I wanted to.

Here's my summary:

I have about 4 years experience in the IT industry, mostly as an intern, but my last job was IT Admin / SEO Specialist for a small office (I don't wanna do SEO anymore!)

I just got my A+ Certification because I felt maybe it would give me some confidence or at least get my foot in the door. I'm not looking for a job currently since I am running a computer repair business, but in case it doesn't work out like I plan, I want certifications as a backup (and for fun).


I love just fixing computers. Hardware, malware removal, and all that fun stuff. I enjoyed being an IT Intern more than I did doing SEO because it was so repetitive. I like to be distracted and busy or time KILLS me.

What do you guys think is a good certification to take next?

Should I go Network+, or skip it? Should I consider finishing CCNA? I was kinda looking at some MCITP certifications. I'd like to learn more about server, but which MCITP certs do you guys recommend? (Windows 7, Server 2008, etc?)

Thanks!!

All of them are great certs.

If you think you have a good understanding of basic networking, you could probably just brushing up on the Net+ materials and continuing on where you left off with your CCNA studies.

Windows 7 - Exam 70-680 will get your feet wet with the client & somewhat server admin by going into deployment methods, GPO, Software Restriction policies, user permissions, etc. and ease you into the Server 08 exams. Regardless, you'll need to have 70-680 or some sort of client elective exam for your MCITP:SA/EA in the end, so it's a good place to start if you only end up deciding it isn't what you think you want to do.

Some people make a career out of the hardware fix/malware removal gig and love the Helpdesk day-to-day, whereas you'll see many a thread by the title of "Finally escaped Helpdesk".

The beauty of this world...to each his own!

Bascotie

mattlee09 wrote: »

All of them are great certs.

If you think you have a good understanding of basic networking, you could probably just brushing up on the Net+ materials and continuing on where you left off with your CCNA studies.

Windows 7 - Exam 70-680 will get your feet wet with the client & somewhat server admin by going into deployment methods, GPO, Software Restriction policies, user permissions, etc. and ease you into the Server 08 exams. Regardless, you'll need to have 70-680 or some sort of client elective exam for your MCITP:SA/EA in the end, so it's a good place to start if you only end up deciding it isn't what you think you want to do.

Some people make a career out of the hardware fix/malware removal gig and love the Helpdesk day-to-day, whereas you'll see many a thread by the title of "Finally escaped Helpdesk".

The beauty of this world...to each his own!

Thanks, I was looking at the 70-680 and I saw it applied to a couple interesting certs so maybe I'll do that and ease my way into server or something

earweed

About that Windows 7 cert...
A lot of people have had a really hard time with the 70-680 and I've seen a lot of recommendations here and in some other places that it may be a good idea to get some server knowledge and/ or experience prior to attempting it.

mattlee09

earweed wrote: »

About that Windows 7 cert...
A lot of people have had a really hard time with the 70-680 and I've seen a lot of recommendations here and in some other places that it may be a good idea to get some server knowledge and/ or experience prior to attempting it.

It's definitely a difficult one no mistake (I failed) but I think doable with the right amount (a ton of) hands-on lab and command line experience. Agreed, I can't honestly call it a 'client' exam with as much emphasis is on the 08 deployment and tools. On the other hand, it'll let you dip your toes in MS and their wicked ways.

Could even start off with the Professor Messer free vids to get associated with the topics before reading the Errata...err...MS Press book...lol.

Has anyone in particular out there skipped 70-680 after attempting it and then came back around to it? I could certainly use an inspiring story.

joehalford01

I'm working on Net+ right now and all I can say is, I don't know how any one can perform as sysadmin without this knowledge, it's really opening up my understanding of how everything interconnects in my network. I'd love to spend some more time on Server2008 or linux but it just seems like it wouldn't serve me so well without understanding whats going on with the network first.

Bascotie

joehalford01 wrote: »

I'm working on Net+ right now and all I can say is, I don't know how any one can perform as sysadmin without this knowledge, it's really opening up my understanding of how everything interconnects in my network. I'd love to spend some more time on Server2008 or linux but it just seems like it wouldn't serve me so well without understanding whats going on with the network first.

Thanks guys. I'll probably go for Network+ as well, since I wanna sharpen my networking knowledge before trying CCNA, or anything else

Bl8ckr0uter

Just study the N+ material and go for the CCNA or CCENT. Don't waste your money on N+.

N2IT

Bl8ckr0uter wrote: »

Just study the N+ material and go for the CCNA or CCENT. Don't waste your money on N+.

+1

Agree with this 100%

rogue2shadow

N2IT wrote: »

+1

Agree with this 100%

+1 on this as well. Knowledge wise the ROI in studying the Net+ material in preparation for the CCNA will naturally be priceless but the ROI from a "job seeking" standpoint (considering annual fees and CEs) is grim.

powerfool

Based on your current desires and working arrangements, look for certifications that support it. It may be expensive, but take a look at MyHardDriveDied.com; they offer data recovery training and it includes tools that will be useful in your work. Also, if you are getting into recovery from malware, the SANS malware training may be a good bet, or anything forensics related.

Best wishes.

EDIT: It appears that they have dropped the price of the class in favor of letting just use the tools in class, although it is still expensive for one week of training. Plus they have updated the course to also cover Solid State Drives!

Bascotie

powerfool wrote: »

Based on your current desires and working arrangements, look for certifications that support it. It may be expensive, but take a look at MyHardDriveDied.com; they offer data recovery training and it includes tools that will be useful in your work. Also, if you are getting into recovery from malware, the SANS malware training may be a good bet, or anything forensics related.

Best wishes.

EDIT: It appears that they have dropped the price of the class in favor of letting just use the tools in class, although it is still expensive for one week of training. Plus they have updated the course to also cover Solid State Drives!

Appreciate the tip. I did go through a Malware University once (at Malware Removal Forums). I don't remember them telling me this originally, but about half a year into this awesome course, they told me that they found out I had my own business and was being kicked out =/ Thank God, though, I learned a LOT of this course, though I would have loved to continue it.

Though I don't know how to recover data at the hardware level for REALLY bad hard drives, I have found that a lot of tools on certain boot cd's have worked great in the past.