N+ or 70-680 Configuring Windows 7

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Hi

Just wondering, I want to go for another cert (might aswell do something useful whilst job hunting). I already have A+, MCDST and ITIL.

What would be a better addition for help getting entry level 1st line support roles... N+ or MCTS 70-680 configuring Windows 7?

Thanks guys.

 

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I would go for the 70-680.

 

Alot of business's will not upgrade to Windows 7 for a good few years, and they'll probley not upgrade in a rush, since in most cases it is cost effective and beneficial to use there current O/S but this may not always be the case.
Network+ however shows you have basic knowledge of networking and would be more beneficial in my opinion as you will need to know the basics of how to troubleshoot and resolve problems that may accur. Not only that but it may make you a more employable person since it would show you have a wider knowledge range. But thats just me saying that, i'm 17 and have no job, full time education till next friday! WOOP

 

I would go for the windows 7 cert has more value I think.... network+ is not as important i think A+ is widely accepted and required by companies. I have seen very few companies actually ask for network+ windows 7 /vista / xp on the other hand would be a big +

 

I am just half way through the N+ materials i have.
And it is amazing how much i can learn(if i compare with A+ which have 10-15% Networking) I have not look for the MCDST(yet). But even if you don not plan to do N+, i would suggest to get your hands on a Meyeres AIO. And read it through.
And doing N+ this year sounds very cost effective for me

 

Actually, if I can be honest with you.. neither.

You have some pretty decent entry level certifications now, now would be the time you should be deciding what exactly it is you want to do for a job properly. You have the desktop side of things covered (with both the A+ and DST) and you also have the process side of things covered with the ITIL certification. Now you should be aiming for something a little more specialised, whether that's going down the Cisco route and getting the CCNA and onward to the CCNP or down the Microsoft route and upgrading to an MCSE \ MCITP.

If I were in your shoes now I would be looking at Server exams and the like. I don't have the N+ or A+ exams at all, the fact is I could probably sit them tomorrow and pass without too much issue (I actually sat my Security+ exam in 18 minutes, that's from walking into the testing center to walking out again, with a score of 86, I just didn't take them because that would have been too many entry level certifications for me, I needed to do something deeper and got stuck into Novell and Microsoft server exams (I didn't go beyond the Novell 4.11 CNE as it was dying out even back then).

I disagree about companies not taking up Windows 7 however, if something like Central Government is taking it up then you can be assured that others are as well (and I get a lot of calls asking for MDT and Windows 7 experience for jobs all over the UK atm). I just disagree that you should get 'another' desktop certification, you have already proven you know the desktop side of things, show you can do the server side now.

 

We don't know his current role though. If he works behind the counter in HMV then having ITIL, MCDST and MCSA/E/ITP isn't going to help him, it's only going to make it look like he is doing it for the paper certs and his experience will kill him either way. We really need to know what he is doing at the moment.

 

If you're looking for 1st line/entry level support work, I think that server exams are probably a little to heavy for now.

Vista is still a player in the enterprise market, so I'd look at doing a desktop Vista exam or possibly the Net+. To know how a network is made up and how components work is a valuable thing and I prove this at work by knowing stuff my colleagues don't simply from the syllabus of the Net+ so I wouldn't discount it just yet.

 

Agreed and a good point, I did think however that someone with all of those certs would be in the field already. No good doing the courses if you're not actually doing the job (especially with the ITIL one, that would have been a waste of money at the not even working in IT stage).

 

The way I am looking at it is this, ITIL is definitely not for entry level, so lets say he isn't entry level and he is a middle management in IT already (hence recommending the server exams) then he should already know enough about IT certifications to be able to proceed without any advice. It's strange because ITIL is quite a random certification to gain at entry level. We shall have to wait and see.

 

Apart form the ITIL they're all considered entry level certs, i.e. a way into a job.

I would go for the Network+ first to round out the skillset before doing another client exam. Assuming the OP doesn't currently work in IT that is.

 

I have no IT work experience, just an IT related degree and these certs. I was an assistant manager in a shop but have been made redundant a month ago. I've always been looking to start a IT career.

I did the ITIL because I see many ads having it as a requirement.

So I shouldn't do anymore certs? should I just focus on finding work? I thought maybe as I have some spare time I'd carry on building up my cv, but if its gonna go against me ill stop.

 

If you're coming into IT with any more certs and no actual experience then I personally believe it will go against you. I am someone who interviews and hires people and I wouldn't hire someone with a lot of certs but little experience. What you need to do now is get a job and get the experience on your CV, take a couple of years to fluff it up and then look at more certs.

Of course others may disagree with me but as someone who has hired staff it's my experience that although the HR staff may like the look of all the certs, the actual engineers on the ground won't if you can't back it up.

 

Who says that you have to list all the certs that you've got on your cv? You could do the exams and not list them.

 

I myself and I think several others frown on people that literally just sit there cramming certifications in, because ultimately, it is us that end up working with the waster that did nothing but memorize a few books and get some paper certs. It seems split between people that advocate people getting certified no matter what and people that are set in their opinion that certifications are there to back up people already in the industry. I'm the latter personally so the idea of someone sitting around working from a book and getting qualified up to the eyeballs actually pisses me off, regardless if they put in on their CV or not.

I think he should start applying for jobs, given the competition the industry has right now, that may be difficult so he should start volunteering anywhere IT related that he can.

 

So getting certified is all about memorizing a few books? He already said he was job hunting, there is no guarantee that he will get a job tomorrow, in this current economy it's all about getting an edge over the competition so at the end of the day why not learn something new and if you can get a cert out of it that's fine. 70-680 is hardly a high level certificate.

 

Why do 70-680 when most business's keep older O/S's for years anyways, very few business's will use 7 straight away as XP is still one of the most stable, and is still supported by microsoft. If he's going to take one or the other he's better off taking N+ as it shows you have basic knowledge of networking. In my opinion it does have more value than a TS in Windows 7. How many work places do you know that work in a Windows 7 environment?


Although 'Technology Specialist' does sound rather cool.

 

Actually, to give you an idea, the Houses of Parliament are running a trial now, I know because I am the one deploying the Bronze build at the moment, they will be fully deployed within the next 6 months (actually the administration staff are using Vista, the Members of Parliament will be using Win 7).

 

College have had Windows 7 since September 09