CCNA Discovery or COMPTIA + onto N+

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What to do? My local college offers both of these courses....would the COMPTIA A+ be a good place to start Or the CCNA Discovery 1 & 2? The problem is I am on 21k at the moment and I don't think the COMPTIA A+ would earn me the same salary or would it? But as I have no experience perhaps the COMPTIA A+ would be the best place to start???

 

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Getting the A+ can help you get a solid entry-level IT job.
Getting the CCNA without first having experience administering Cisco routers will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks for $5.

 

First let me say if you think you are going to earn 21k or more in your first IT job then your in for a shock and this is regardless of what qualifications and certifications you have. You would be looking at 14k - 18k and 18k would be extremly lucky.

I am not sure what discovery is but the CCNA certification itself is designed for people who already work with CISCO equipment and is there to show these people work experience not that they can pass a couple of exams, whereas the A+ and N+ is there to show that you can pass a couple of exams (3 actually) and are ready for your first steps into IT.

 

If you have no experience I would recommend you stay away from the CCNA, by all means pick up the ccna book and have a browse, but you won't really appreciate the purpose of the many of the protocols unless you have a good grounding so start with the A+ then N+