are these certifications worth it?

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bigal80ak

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Apr 30, 2012
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Hi i have been thinking about doing something with computers and getting certified but question is will getting certified really help me get a job???? and if so which of these is the best choice? i would like people views in the field figured toms should be a good place to ask. Thank you

http://www.ed2go.com/career/training-programs/cyber-security-training
http://www.ed2go.com/career/training-programs/it-cyber-security-training
http://www.ed2go.com/career/training-programs/network-plus-a-plus-security-plus-certification-with-exam?Category=information-technology-software-development
http://www.ed2go.com/career/training-programs/cisco-certification-ccnp?Category=information-technology-software-development
 


Network+, Security+, CCNP are good ones.
(I know a professor at Thomas Nelson CC)
 
As stated. "something with computers" is exceptional vague in a field that is a diversified as the medical profession.

If you have zero computer experience then you should go ahead and do A+ and Network + to get your feet wet and see if you even like it.
There is little to no jobs that only require these, but they are a good stepping stone.

Security+ is a must for anything DoD and for most large corporations, but this alone only opens a few more doors.

Looking at hardware and not software programing there is 3 main categories you could look at (would advise already having Network+/Security+):
Server Admin: Look at windows certs like MCSE
Network Admin/Engineer: Look at Cisco certs like CCNA, and CCNP
IT Security (this is the hot field right now): Look at CISSP or CISM
 
i have used computers all my life toyed with programs did the basics like fixing some issues running command prompts doing a hdd over and reinstalling windows, building my own computers and things like that i think i would like something with computers but i DO NOT WANT TO DO PROGRAMMING and most i look at just seem to involve programming and that is not something i want to do.
 


Now that we know what you don't want to do...what do you want to do?
Help desk? IT support? Networking?

Anything server related will involve 'programming'.
Shell scripts, PowerShell, etc.

 
Help desk? IT support? Networking i am not sure between the 3 to be honest i would be happy with an entry level in either of those 3 and working my way up
 
Helpdesk in a large company can be terrible. It's what is often called a "sweat shop" you are there because the people who knows anything are too good to pick up the phone and talk to end users, but if you have no other choice to start somewhere. Medium-small companies better because the boss has not enough people around and tend to give you more responsibilities beyond answering the phone.

Networking my next preference, because if anything goes wrong, blame the carrier! Don't have to shoulder all the blame yourself.

Security is best, but you gotta have chops. Best mula$$

Programming, either you like it or you don't. If you are able to hack-a-thon your way to impress Suckerberg, you got it.
 


Programming at facebook/google/microsoft/apple is not the be-all and end-all.
That's sort of like being one of the millions of high school football players and if you're not picked first round in the NFL you are a failure.

 



by your answers i am guessing these will most likely not get me in to the door?
 
I would recommend getting Security+ at the least, then A+, and Network+ if you are up to it, then try and find a job in one of those three areas. Do you have any college degrees right now? Certifications will help, but if they aren't in addition to some kind of degree, it will be hard to find even an entry level job that you will be qualified for.
 



so no degree =certifications are just worthless? pretty much?
 
Note I have CCIE in R&S and Security for more than 10yrs and some other miscellaneous certs.

Most certs by themselves are close to worthless...at least as getting a job. Problem is too many people have the easy to obtain ones like the ones from comptia. Even some of the harder ones from cisco or microsoft so many people have.

The largest issue is the massive cheating. You can pretty much get all the test questions and answers online for any cert. So it is more a test of who can memorize stuff rather than learn the material. There are people that can not even speak english that pass tests in english by brute force memorization. On top of this you have people that will actually pay someone to take the tests for them.

Problem is people that cheat can get into jobs where the management does not have a clue. In companies where you have other techs in the interview these people soon embarrassed themselves.....and I enjoy making them squirm. But it still wastes my time so we mostly rely on personal recommendations which of course is impossible to get when you start out.

Now if used properly many of the certifications and the test form a good basis to learn the topic. It is extremely important that people know why the answer to a question is rather than just knowing what the answer is by seeing the question before. It provides a good blueprint to learn the topics even if the cert itself may not get you a job.

A degree helps a lot especially if you work very hard to get work internships though the college. This will give you experience and contact in the industry which is the most important thing. Still if you are very lucky and have the right contacts you can get into the field without a degree or any advanced certifications. There are also contract companies that will take people with just certifications and put them in short term positions. They pay horrible and you never know if you have work from day to day but it can be a foot in the door for some people.

 
I will tell you how I started it. By getting a job (minimum wage, but is for experience) at my school's computer lab. Actual experience, the school is happy to have you without paying some high-priced consultant. Go from there.
 
Yeah, I definitely agree with that. Get your foot in the door wherever possible, previous experience, and solid references will go a long way for getting where you want to go in the IT field. Certs will definitely help open more doors though, along with better pay.
 


At facebook or google? Not a chance.
However, there are several million other IT type jobs out there.
 


I only used FB because, from the movie Social Network, they have, at least used to, Hack-A-Thons. I can code, but I tip my hats to those who can code like playing speed chess. What takes me 2 days to code, they probably take 15 minutes. Talk code like they are born speaking it.

Don't sell yourself (in general) short getting a job at FB/Google. Once I encountered a bunch of Googlers at the airport, they were going to their yearly Disneyland outing, and at least the ones I listened to, they were pretty clueless how to board the airplane blah-blah and I thought, these are suppose to be the brainiacs? Am guessing like savants, dealing with life's mundane tasks is not what they are thinking about!
 


See, that's the thing.
Far too many people think that getting hired at FB or google is the one and only thing you should shoot for.
Like if you are in the medical track, if you're not the chief brain surgeon at a major hospital within 5 years, you are a failure.

I'm not saying aim low, but do consider the literally millions of other "IT jobs" out there.
 
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