Need some advice

Hey all,

In the past month, I have bounced from idea to idea on what I should start with for my learning path. I currently have an A+ and an awesome job in OPS that will allow me to develop great networking opportunities with different IT groups and learn a lot along the way. The problem I am running into is WHAT I want to learn. I asked a similar question a while back and honestly think I had the wrong focus when I asked.

Cetifications are a roadmap for me (a perk of learning, not the goal of my studies though), but I don't know which technology would give me the most bang for my buck in the next few years. I really think I want to work my way towards the server side of things from OPS, and am unsure how to get there.

I know that a certification will never be enough to land a job, and I am not asking for the magical cert that will have people calling me up demanding I work for them. I am just looking for a general suggestion on what I should start with. I have been looking at server 2k8, Net+, and studied up on the 70-680 a lot a few months back. But perhaps there would be something better? Let me know what you guys think.

Thanks

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DoubleNNs

Sounds like you're headed in the right direction -> Net+, MCSA:2008, possibly MCSA: Win 7. Then if you wanted to, you could upgrade the MCSA:2008 to 2012 after passing another exam.

There's also the CompTIA Server+ but 1) I don't know how beneficial it may be, especially for the price 2) I was looking for study materials for it and couldn't find anything that seemed good.

Why don't you think the path you already decided is good enough?

About7Narwhal

DoubleNNs wrote: »

Sounds like you're headed in the right direction -> Net+, MCSA:2008, possibly MCSA: Win 7. Then if you wanted to, you could upgrade the MCSA:2008 to 2012 after passing another exam.

There's also the CompTIA Server+ but 1) I don't know how beneficial it may be, especially for the price 2) I was looking for study materials for it and couldn't find anything that seemed good.

Why don't you think the path you already decided is good enough?

There isn't an issue with the path I have so much as I feel unsure that it was the right choice for my end goal. I just wanted to double check with some more experienced IT workers and determine how they thought I could best get from point A to point B in the next year or two without wasting time on something that I could come back to after the fact if needed.

DoubleNNs

I'm the wrong person to reply then - I'm not experienced. I'm lower down the line than you are, as I just started trying to do the IT thing 2 months ago.

However, I'd say skip the 70-680. Get your Net+, then go straight into the MCSA:2008.

Just my $0.02.
Hopefully more experienced, and qualified people will be able to advise you better.

N2IT

I like the expectations you set around certifications. You are right they won't get you a job on their own, but with that said I suggest one of two routes.

Windows 7 MCSA

or

CCNA

I would not spend 245 USD assuming you are in US on a CompTIA exam. I made that fatal mistake and I cringe each time I think about how much I spent.

Security + or A+ are they only two CompTIA exams I personally believe have solid amount of value.

MCTS 70-680 would be an awesome complement to your A+. Vendor neutral meets industry standard.

kurosaki00

I think you should plan with two things in mind:

1. What I need to be better at my current job

2. What I need to be better myself

Find out what technologies run in your job, what will be your duties, with what you would like to work with in your job and study accord it.

Then is your personal path, which I think you can skip Net+ because you said you were going to work some with Networks so you will get the experience from work, no need to get into Net+

But as others have said CCNA, Sec+ and A Good MS cert will get you strong ahead with your experience.