Where do i start? so lost, please help!

BBTburt

I work for Suddenlink Communications as a Broadband Tech and i really want to get into the IT department with my company, i see a lot of open positions open all of the US. I dont have any real IT experience besides my installing and trouble shooting of Cable,Internet and Phone.

My wife goes to WGU and i was thinking about going there to get my BA and all the certs which are

• CIW Web Design Specialist
• CIW JavaScript Specialist
• CIW Database Design Specialist
• CompTIA A+
• CompTIA Project+
• CompTIA Security+
• Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): Windows 7 – Configuration
• Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician (CCENT)
• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA®)
• Cisco Certified Network Associate Security (CCNA® Security)

I think id like to get into the Security part of IT jobs, we have a couple of Cisco Eng and Network Security Jobs.

My ? is, Is this the right path? Should i just go to WGU and get my degree and IT Certs with it or should i just go and get certain certificates? if so where and which ones?

sorry so lengthy thanks for any help!

instant000

BBTburt wrote: »

I work for Suddenlink Communications as a Broadband Tech and i really want to get into the IT department with my company, i see a lot of open positions open all of the US. I dont have any real IT experience besides my installing and trouble shooting of Cable,Internet and Phone.

My wife goes to WGU and i was thinking about going there to get my BA and all the certs which are

• CIW Web Design Specialist
• CIW JavaScript Specialist
• CIW Database Design Specialist
• CompTIA A+
• CompTIA Project+
• CompTIA Security+
• Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): Windows 7 – Configuration
• Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician (CCENT)
• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA®)
• Cisco Certified Network Associate Security (CCNA® Security)

I think id like to get into the Security part of IT jobs, we have a couple of Cisco Eng and Network Security Jobs.

My ? is, Is this the right path? Should i just go to WGU and get my degree and IT Certs with it or should i just go and get certain certificates? if so where and which ones?

sorry so lengthy thanks for any help!

Um, you troubleshoot Cable, Internet, and Phone, and you're saying you don't have real IT experience?

What's going to make it more real for you?
EDIT: You actually did say it was real experience (goes to lash himself).

In IT, all you really do is Install, Configure, Troubleshoot, Plan, or Manage. So, you're doing IT. Troubleshooting skills are pretty critical, and great to have.
EDIT: Pointless, you already said it WAS real experience, you just want to get that next "bump up".

You can start studying for the CCNA on your own, right now, and see how well you can catch on to the stuff. It looks to be the most difficult class in that curriculum, and getting that would help you a lot in moving up in your company.

As you see your wife doing WGU, you should have a pretty good picture of what you're about to put yourself into. Some people think online means easy, and the people on this forum skew it, too (but most of them have years and years of experience, so of course they jump through the classes quickly).

Hope this helps!

EDIT: Hope it's less harsh than it was before, and more helpful.

KrisA

instant000 wrote: »

In IT, all you really do is Install, Configure, Troubleshoot, Plan, or Manage. So, you're doing IT. Troubleshooting skills are pretty critical, and great to have.

Couldn't have been put any better.

BBTburt wrote: »

I dont have any real IT experience besides my installing and trouble shooting of Cable,Internet and Phone.

It sounds as if you have the aptitude for IT. There are Practice Exams and assessments out there ( And here) to find out where you are and it will also give you an idea of what your facing.

BBTburt wrote: »

should i just go and get certain certificates? if so where and which ones?

CCENT into CCNA is very achievable through self study. The resources are readily available through books and the internet. Not only that, if your seriously considering WGU the certs do transfer in for applicable credit. ( See instants0000's Signature ) Now I point to CCNA because there are discussions here (TE) that it is the MVP cert. Too many reasons to name here, ( You can find the thread pretty easy ).

Hope this helps to clarify,

******EDIT*******
On further thought, since your in "Technology" you very well may have certification reimbursement available to you as well. More motivation if it saving you money.

instant000

Be encouraged.

Don't discredit your current work. You just want something better.

As your wife is already in WGU, you know what you're up against. Go for it.

While you're waiting on that to kick off (takes about a month or so to get it all set up), you can go ahead and start studying for the CCNA, as it appears to be the most rigorous certification in your curriculum.

Also, WGU likes to see the students come into the program with some kind of background, and since you already have an Associates degree, that helps, I'm sure. You might want to try a certification test out, as you may be used to the traditional college work of performing the papers, but you might not be used to the certification tests.

Go over things with your mentor, as soon as you can. They'll want to set you up for success. The way my mentor talks to me about making positive progress, I'm convinced that they must have incentives for their assigned students to complete school.

MrRyte

Considering your background; CCENT and A+ should be the two certs that you should focus on getting first.

Deathgomper

MrRyte wrote: »

Considering your background; CCENT and A+ should be the two certs that you should focus on getting first.

I agree and it will help you know if this is really what you want.

BBTburt

Thanks for all the responses guys, where do i start looking at taking these courses/study materials to get the A+ and CCNA Certs?

instant000

BBTburt wrote: »

Thanks for all the responses guys, where do i start looking at taking these courses/study materials to get the A+ and CCNA Certs?

Google - Researching stuff for yourself is a handy part of an IT career.

Of course, you may not have a clear idea on where to start right now, so maybe this stuff should help you.

For study prep (FREE)
TechExams.net IT Certification Forums - Free MCTS MCITP CCNA CompTIA and CISSP exams, study notes and forums - just go to the appropriate forum, whether it be for A+, or CCNA, and tons of people will be ready to help you!
CCNA: cisco - http:/www.cisco.com/go/ccna - in60days | Pass Your Exams in 60 Days
A+: CompTIA - CompTIA A+ Certification. For study resources, I've heard positives on Professor Messer's videos:
Professor Messer, CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, Microsoft Certification Training

Windows Virtual PC: Home Page (for windows)
VirtualBox
GNS3 | Graphical Network Simulator
Welcome to The TCP/IP Guide!


For study prep (PAID):
A+ --- been so many years since I took this, back in my day, it was anything with "Mike Meyers" on it was golden. Not sure what it is nowadays. I apologize for not being much help here.
CCNA -- Todd Lammle gets great reviews. Some people like Wendell Odom. What 100% agree on is that you need to make hands on practice, if you want to pass this certification.

Lab Equipment:
For A+ - any PC
For CCNA - You can try the GNS3 above, if you're truly bottom-of-the-basement financing, but it's best if you tinker with physical interfaces, to be honest. You don't need anything spectacular to study for CCNA: 3550's can be bought nowadays in the $100 range on ebay, and truthfully, a three router lab with a few inexpensive switches can get you through. Wendell Odom made posts on this before at his site, but I don't have the link right now. (maybe you could google for it)

veritas_libertas

Since you work for a service provider the CCNA seems like an excellent fit. As Deathgomper mentioned, it will certainly help decide if it's for you or not.

Psoasman

I agree with the previous posters, that a network cert like the CCNA or perhaps A+ would be a good place to start your cert path.