New Job...Should I Reschedule A+ Exams

Hello all. I wanted to get your opinions.

I was recently offered a new position as a Desktop Support Technician, 3 month contract, through an IT recruiter. The work schedule will be M-F, 9-6. I'm supposed to start on Monday.

I've had my A+ exams scheduled now for way over a month. Taking the 801 February 17th and the 801 March 31. Both at 11AM.

Since the scheduled exams times will be during the hours that I will be working, do you think my new employer will be understanding of this or will they frown upon it since I will have to miss both of these days from work?

I really don't want to have to reschedule the exams as there are hardly any late PM slots available at the location I will be testing.

Should I have already brought this up to my recruiter during the interview? I didn't bring it up because I didn't want it to have some sort of negative effect on their decision to offer me the job.

What do you all think? Do you guys think they will be understanding?

Thanks...

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H3||scr3am

I'd ask the Employer once you get your feet on the ground, talk with the manager, and ask. No harm in asking, you can reschedule them up to 24hrs before the time of the exam, so you have plenty of time to get a response from the management/employer, and find out. You could likely come in early leave early, or do 4-6 hours in the morning and then put in the missing time over the rest of the week. Do you have any exam centers in your area that are open on weekends? I have one in a major city about 30 minutes from me, but they only allow certain exams (cisco and such), but it's something to look into.

Techie19

So I shouldn't bring this up to the recuiter? It's my first time working with a recruiter. I read somewhere that recruiters are you're main point of contact between myself and the client I'll be working for.

As far as rescheduling, I checked the PearsonVue site and there aren't any available evening slots for the A+ at this testing center. This testing center does not offer weekend testing. And the other one around my area doesn't have any open weekend slots until some time in June.

I want to take the exams as scheduled and get certified already.

What do you think would be the worst case scenario?

Thanks for your reply.

H3||scr3am

I've never worked with a recruiter, so please don't take my advice as gospel, these are just my thoughts towards it.

Worst case scenario, since it's a 3 month contract, you'll have 0 vacation, and the employer won't allow you to do them, so you'll need to schedule both either after project completion, or on a holiday, maybe do them on the same day and call in sick? and NEVER tell you're recruiter/employer lest they put 1+1 together....

ssnyderu2

Check with your employer to see if you take off for the exams. The worst thing they can say is no, but I have found that most employers are willing to work with you when it comes to advancing your knowledge, especially if it could benefit them.

Techie19

I honestly don't want to delay taking my exams any later than I've already had to. Taking them after this 3 month contract is not really feasible to me because I want to get certified to hopefully find a better permanent position.

So It's either tell them and hopefully they'll understand that I can't reachedule the exams for anytime soon.

Or don't tell them and just call in sick that day. Only thing with this option is the fact that I'll only be on the job for a week.

This is so frustrating.

Techie19

Forgot to post back on this thread about what happened. After getting the job offer, taking the drug test, and completing an online data security class, the recruiter called me on Friday the 6th to let me know that the client decided to go with other candidates.

So that pretty much wraps it all up. Back to the job hunting. Taking the exam on Tuesday (may reschedule due to supposed storm headed our way).

As of now though looks like Tuesday will be the day. Fingers crossed that this storm is not as bad as they're saying.

Infoseye

Similar thing happened to me in the past, dont worry go ahead take your certs and apply for jobs when you done. Good luck!

H3||scr3am

Best of luck on Tuesday, and sorry that you didn't get the job like you'd hoped.

Techie19

Thanks Infoseye and H3llscr3am for the support. I'll post back on Tuesday when I pass. I feel very confident and optimistic.

Armitron77

Techie19

Here is a few pointers to share with you as it was shared to me by others.

1. Do not over study the day before the exam. There are those who like to study or cram just about everything in the day before the exam. Do not do that. Just study lightly and look over your notes.

2. Get a good nights sleep. Try your best to get between 6 to 8 hours uninterrupted sleep. You will be surprised on how will you can do on an exam with a good night's sleep.

3. Eat a decent breakfast. Eat a breakfast that will give you good energy to stay alert. If you do drink coffee, try not to over do it. Too much caffeine can slow down your thinking process.

4. Show up early for the exam. Try to show up at least 30 minutes early because you will be asked for two sets of government issued ID's and you will be signing agreements. One from Pearson VUE and CompTIA.

5. Be confident. If you have taken practiced tests and have passed each one of them over and over again. Good chances are, you will perform great on the real exam. Read each question very carefully. If need be, read them twice or three times. If you are not sure, you can flag the question and come back to it later as long as you still have time left. Watch your time clock. You are only given 90 minutes (an hour and a half) to complete the exam. Therefore, use your time wisely. Once you have answered every question and (again) as long as you still have time left, look over each question before you submit the exam. Once you have submitted, you can not go back.

I hope these tips are of any help to you. Good luck on the 801 exam and keep us posted on how you did. Once again, good luck.:D

Techie19

Armitron77 wrote: »

Techie19

Here is a few pointers to share with you as it was shared to me by others.

1. Do not over study the day before the exam. There are those who like to study or cram just about everything in the day before the exam. Do not do that. Just study lightly and look over your notes.

2. Get a good nights sleep. Try your best to get between 6 to 8 hours uninterrupted sleep. You will be surprised on how will you can do on an exam with a good night's sleep.

3. Eat a decent breakfast. Eat a breakfast that will give you good energy to stay alert. If you do drink coffee, try not to over do it. Too much caffeine can slow down your thinking process.

4. Show up early for the exam. Try to show up at least 30 minutes early because you will be asked for two sets of government issued ID's and you will be signing agreements. One from Pearson VUE and CompTIA.

5. Be confident. If you have taken practiced tests and have passed each one of them over and over again. Good chances are, you will perform great on the real exam. Read each question very carefully. If need be, read them twice or three times. If you are not sure, you can flag the question and come back to it later as long as you still have time left. Watch your time clock. You are only given 90 minutes (an hour and a half) to complete the exam. Therefore, use your time wisely. Once you have answered every question and (again) as long as you still have time left, look over each question before you submit the exam. Once you have submitted, you can not go back.

I hope these tips are of any help to you. Good luck on the 801 exam and keep us posted on how you did. Once again, good luck.:D

Thanks so much for these tips.

Today I will just be going over my notes and doing some last minute practice tests. I'm not a big breakfast person, some cereal should do fine.

Can I take a cup of cofee with me into where I'll be taking the exam?

Haven't been sleeping well lately, but that's because I somehow sprained my neck and upper back. Wife says I must have slept wrong a few nights ago.

I'll post back tomorrow with the good results.

Armitron77

Techie19,I really don't think you can take anything with you in the testing room. The testing center I went to would not allow you to take anything at all in the testing room. They were and still are strict about that. They enforce that policy 100 percent. Keep in mind, there are some testing center that have on average 6 to 8 cameras watching every move you make. The testing center I went to had 6 cameras watching me while I was taking the 801 exam. I recommend that you do not take anything with you (even a cup of coffee) into the testing room. Just to be on the safe side, drink your coffee before going into the testing center if you need your coffee that bad. As long as you follow the tips I gave you, you should be fine when taking the 801 exam. I take my 802 exam on the 23rd of February which falls on a Monday. Btw, I have been meaning to ask you, what materials have you been using to study for the exams?

P.S.

When I took the 801 exam, it asked me about RAM questions in terms of calculations. Do you know how to calculate RAM when asked for the transfer rate? If you do not know how, I will show you a few examples on how to calculate RAM. Please get back to me as soon as you can.

Techie19

Ive read how they are very strict at these testing centers. Didn't know about the cameras watching though. But I guess it's meeded with people trying to **** and all.

I guess I'll have my cofee before I get to the testing center.

I have been using the exam cram 6th edition as my main source of information but have also used the Mike Meyers and the A+ Training Kit one also.

As far as the RAM calculations, I made sure to practice that. It's pretty much multiplying by 8, or diving by 8.

DDR-400 (400 x 8 = 3200 MB/s, PC3200)

PC6400 (6400 / 8 = 800,
DDR2-800)

Armitron77

Techie19,

I too am using both the ExamCram 6th Edition and the Mike Meyers 8th Edition books. Excellent books to study from. As far as the RAM calculations, I'm glad to have read that you know how to do it. However, what the ExamCram and Mike Meyers books to do not show is how to calculate RAM that is for example, DDR2-1066. If you were to calculate 1066 x 8 = 8528, this however is incorrect. Anytime you have to calculate RAM that has either a 1066 or a 1333, the correct way is 1066.6666 x 8 = 8533.3328, on this one, you do not around up, therefore it's just 8533. Let's say you need to calculate DDR3-1333, it would be calculated as 1333.3333 x 8 = 10666.6664, on this one, you would round up by one, therefore the answer would be 10667. I thought you should know that. I found that out when researching on how to calculate RAM. Hope this helps.

Techie19

Awesome info on the RAM calculations. Thanks for sharing.

Techie19

Passed the 801 today. Got a 791. On to the 802 next month.

OTBO

Congratulations! When will you be taking the 802?

Techie19

Thx. Currently scheduled for March 31st.

OTBO

I believe I waited around a month or two before I took the 802, it gave me some time to study and save up (when I wasn't making much last year). I found the second part easier, it seems that most people do.

Good luck, let us know how it goes.