Advice on Certification path

rht

Hi guys this is my first post ever on these forums. i have been reading on here for the past 4 month and i must say i have learned alot

I am 26, i have a degree in accounting and finance, i worked in customer service for 7 years (5 part time and 2 full time) but i have always wanted to work in IT so i left my job and started to study.

I am going for A+ and Network+ but i have difficulty deciding what to do next

Path 1: get MCSA Windows 7 (680 + 685)

Path 2: get Sec+ and MCSTS Active directory

i know Sec+ and AD is better on the CV but if i skip MCSA windows 7 will it hurt my knowledge on the job?

Thanks

unfbilly11

I think that the A+, Net + and Sec + are great for getting your foot in the door. By then, you should have a good idea of what you'd like to specialize in. If it's more networking/security, I'd go for Cisco certs. If it's more System Admin type work. I'd go for the MCSA in Win 7 or server 2008/2012.

coralreefguy

I did A+, Net+, Sec+, Server+

With 3 years help desk experience employers are still saying I don't have enough hands on experience. I am pushing for the 70-680 and 70-685 route, then CCNA after that. I did actually manage to land a job (yesterday, actually!) but I'm going to continue on my cert path.

Good luck

BGraves

All good suggestions for just starting out in IT. I just want to add that perhaps checking local IT job postings in your area (or the area you want to work) and see what the job requirements are certification/experience wise. Perhaps looking more at that will help you determine what certs to prioritize after the foundational compTia certs.

Also, getting a copy of VmWare Workstation/Fusion to play around and learn stuff in a virtual environment is a good idea if you haven't done that yet and can find a way to make that work.

Best of luck!

rht

Thanks for your replies guys.

unfbilly11: I think i would have a better chance of getting a job sooner if i go with the sys admin route and maybe after i have some experience work towards networking or security which i think is more fun.

Coralreefguy: may i ask why you would take Windows 7 (680+685) instead of MCSA Server 2008
and then skip directly to CCNA.

Bgraves: most job postings require network+ and MCITP so i am going this route.
i am already familiar with Vmware and have been using it to learn unix administration on the side on Ubuntu distro, i must say its way cooler than windows

Do you guys think sec+ certification is worth the time and money or should i just go for Active directory?

if i skip and Windows 7 will it affect my on the job skills?