Study tips please

nothing_pt

Well, a week ago i did the CCNA and i don't wan't to stop from here. I was considering three options: MCSA, CCDA, OCA.
After some brainwork i excluded OCA because i'm not much into Databases (but it has high demand here in Portugal) and, currently i'm divided between CCDA and MCSA.
But i'll go for MCSA because of the extended second shot. It's a good oportunity and if i'm into it i'll do the CCDA later.

For MCSA i'll start with 70-270 and i'm asking you some general tips about it. What's on the exam, best study materials, etc.

Thanks people.

Ricka182

Are you just trying to pile up certs, or are you actually looking for a career in IT? If you've already got CCNA, why not continue the Cisco track? How difficult was CCNA for you? Any experience? Most importantly, what do you want to do for a career?

nothing_pt

The CCNA was not very difficult.

I want to pile up certs, but only those that are important for the career i choose. I'm on a university on a IT masters but getting a job is getting more and more difficult and the more knowledge you have the better.

I want to continue the Cisco track but it's too early for CCNP and i'm not sure about following network design and that's why i want to go for a MCSA. To complement the network knowledge with system knowledge.

Ricka182

I'm sure more people here will respond to your questions, but from me, I would strongly advise against piling up on certs, I think most people here would agree also. Having certs without relevent experience could label you as a paper tech, something you want to avoid.

nothing_pt

Again, it's not certs pile up. I see the MCSA more like an software complement to the hardware part (CCNA). Later i will focus on network security but for that i need to get job experience and with a blank CV it's difficult (at least here in Portugal) to get a job.

Thanks.

jmc724

JOB is what makes your CV looks good even if its an entry-level one to start your career. Too many certs and no job means nothing to prospective employers. Many people can memorize ***** and get thier certs but to do the practical they cant. That is what many prospective employer want.

I just came from an interview in which not even the IT manager interviewed me. One question asked, where do I see my career to be a systems engineer in the next 5 yrs. I said I see myself working as a systems engineer in the next 1 yr not 5 yrs. I see myself moving up the corporate ladder.

The interviewers were Sr Tech Analysts, none of them have any ms certs. They didnt even asked any technical questions. To make matters worst, I told them I will finish certifying myself in 30 days...so much for the technical analyst position. None of them knows exchange/ms server operations. Corp is running novell and lotes notes messaging systems. Corp will migrate to Windows servers later this year.

garv221

Its good to pile up the certs. After awhile you'll get experience & have certs. You can't loose by being certified. I would do what your doing, get your MCSA then go back to the CCNP track. I'm currently doing my MCSA (when I have time) & plan on taking the CCNA before the fall. I run all servers & switches/routers/firewalls at my job. I do both - My corp. busniess cards reads "System Administrator\Network Engineer".

Baredor

I can understand why there's a lot of hate for paper certs, but I think people don't realize that some are trying hard as they can to find a position in the field, but because of inexperience/the economy they're having a difficult time (ie. me). So I'm working up my certs trying to build a baseline of knowledge so that I can actually get, and be competent in, an entry level network admin position.

I have an associate who is well known in the local IT field who got me an interview with a marketing co. They were looking for a very green (read: cheap) network admin to replace theirs. who had just quit to start his own consulting biz. They told my associate that they thought I was great, but that they were going to contract with the old guy because that would be cheaper than paying me fulltime - especially since I told them I planned to have my MCSA within 3 months. Of course they then assumed that I would be wanting, say a 10-15k raise. :P

In any case, what I'm trying to say is that there are many people trying to use certs to break into the field because we have no work experience. Every company's policy is "get your experience on someone else's dollar, then come see us". Makes it tough for new guys.