First IT Job, A+ Worth It?

[GMPoisoN]

I'm 19 (soon 20), live at home as I go through college for Computer Science, and am going to be looking for a part/full time help desk, tech support job. I have no prior working experience, and need the money. I would rather get a job as help desk rather than making pizzas at pizza hut, as I'd like to do network administration as a career, so I figure if I can get in and start my career now rather than working a dead end job that would be cool.

Does anyone here think the A+ would be worth the $400? Yes it would prove I know what I'm talking about, but I can always say on a resume that I'm pursuing my A+ cert, I just can't afford it at the moment. What do we think, worth it or will it not help me too much in finding an entry level job? Thank you!

 

[herrwizo]

The only advice I can give you - if you are going for any certification, do it for yourself and only for yourself. Do not expect to gain anything from it except the knowledge. In theory it should help, yes. But this world is a strange place and noone can guarantee that this will help you in any other way.

 

[delaro]

As a Tech yes A+ means something, anything you complete and can put on a resume helps. There are many places that wont even look at you unless you have either 2+ years job experience or a few Certifications and a work study/ Internship of at least 6 to 12 months. Anyone with a federal or government contract will prefer it and that is also where the decent money is.

 

[GMPoisoN]

Thank's for the replies. I took a networking class in high school that pretty much went over everything that would be on both A+ exams, plus I've known most of what will be on the tests for a while now just from being a computer/tech guy. I suppose it would be worth it if it lands me a job, or helps at least. I'm just afraid of having to get some job doing nothing related to my career for the money, because there's no help desk / tech support jobs near me that will take me due to lack of experience/certs.

 

[Pinhedd]

Thank's for the replies. I took a networking class in high school that pretty much went over everything that would be on both A+ exams, plus I've known most of what will be on the tests for a while now just from being a computer/tech guy. I suppose it would be worth it if it lands me a job, or helps at least. I'm just afraid of having to get some job doing nothing related to my career for the money, because there's no help desk / tech support jobs near me that will take me due to lack of experience/certs.

The A+ certification is valuable to have but it is not a cakewalk. A high-school class and a rudimentary understanding of computers is not sufficient. Fortunately, official prep material is readily available.

 

[delaro]

Thank's for the replies. I took a networking class in high school that pretty much went over everything that would be on both A+ exams, plus I've known most of what will be on the tests for a while now just from being a computer/tech guy. I suppose it would be worth it if it lands me a job, or helps at least. I'm just afraid of having to get some job doing nothing related to my career for the money, because there's no help desk / tech support jobs near me that will take me due to lack of experience/certs.

The A+ certification is valuable to have but it is not a cakewalk. A high-school class and a rudimentary understanding of computers is not sufficient. Fortunately, official prep material is readily available.

A good place to start.
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/A%2B_Certification

http://www.proprofs.com/certification/comptia/a-plus/

Lucky you can get most of the info you need for free as well as a sample test, if you want something more intense and faster paced there are plenty of online training programs for under $200. A+ is just the beginning and far easier than say MSCE which required far more reading and also far more boring.

 

[GMPoisoN]

Thank's for the replies! I wouldn't call my knowledge rudimentary as the class I took was designed to prepare students to take the exam at the end of the year, I just never did at the time because I didn't have the money. When ever I decide to take the exams I'll probably study for a week or so to bring me up to speed rather than the couple of months most people need if they've never taken a class before. Thank's for the links as well!

 

[wllmgrms]

I am literally in the same boat you are. I have a solid understanding and personal experience with computers (building PC's, fixing, trouble shooting, etc), but could never land a job in IT. Not certs, degrees, nothing. Now, I just recently got a job in IT... and I was hired because of my attitude. I am pursuing my A+ certification, but don't have money yet to take the tests. I still want it even though I landed a job, because it's not gonna hurt at all, and will only help me personally and my job. I know hardware pretty well... but I don't know much about networking lol. I'm in position to get a lot of experience and knowledge through my new job though. $400 is a small amount to help yourself and your career in computers... especially when you're already going to college lol.

 

[GMPoisoN]

I am literally in the same boat you are. I have a solid understanding and personal experience with computers (building PC's, fixing, trouble shooting, etc), but could never land a job in IT. Not certs, degrees, nothing. Now, I just recently got a job in IT... and I was hired because of my attitude. I am pursuing my A+ certification, but don't have money yet to take the tests. I still want it even though I landed a job, because it's not gonna hurt at all, and will only help me personally and my job. I know hardware pretty well... but I don't know much about networking lol. I'm in position to get a lot of experience and knowledge through my new job though. $400 is a small amount to help yourself and your career in computers... especially when you're already going to college lol.

What do you think it was that landed your job other than your attitude? Did you have any previous work experience in IT, and volunteer work, things like that? Also, did you put on your resume (if you don't mind me asking) that you were "perusing" your CompTIA A+ Cert?

 

[wllmgrms]

I honestly don't know besides my attitude lol. I've got a willingness to learn, I catch on quick, and I did inform them that I have been building PC's and troubleshooting them for around 8 years. I don't have anything previous experience in IT. I have experience running computers and audio for a church I use to attend, but that was the extent. Yes, I did mention I was currently in pursuit of my A+ certification... but they never brought it up in the interview process. Nor do I have a set time to get it... I'm a slow reader and can't speed read or I wont retain information lol. If you look around and maybe try to make contact with companies or even schools and see if you can get your foot in the door as an IT guy while in college that would be great. Especially if they knew you are aiming to get your A+, while still going to school so you can be in the Network Administration field when you graduate.

 

[GMPoisoN]

Thank's for your input!

 

[GMPoisoN]

I'm also brushing up on my web development skills because I think I would do well as a jr web developer/designer. I know most of HTML 5 and CSS 3 so if I can just get a good understanding of Javascript and then some PHP I should be good to go.

 

[wllmgrms]

That would be great, too! Everyone I work with at my job have no degree's or certifications lol. And they know a TON of stuff about everything. Networks, servers, administration, java, HTML, CSS, etc. It's pretty cool... it also makes me feel good about not having anything besides self-taught knowledge lol. Just gotta get your foot in the door to get that job experience.