Saying Hello and Scared.

Discussion in 'New Members Introduction' started by MrGadget, Nov 5, 2008.

  1. MrGadget

    MrGadget Bit Poster

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    Hi,

    Thought i'd say hello. Tbh, i joined this forum because i have no certifications and reached an age of 30. And if i'm out of a job, i may not be likely to find another in this economic climate.

    I've been and still am going through a difficult marriage and now divorce and custody battle. This has really put me behind a great deal and stressing me out but i have to think about my career now too.

    I've been working since i've graduated back in Aug 2001. I'm now working in a large IT Services company since August 2005 as a Principle Technical Services Specialist wanting to go into a Customer Solution Architech Role or IT\Network Manager.

    I'm seriously looking at my career now and don't think i'll be moving job for quite some time and thinking about doing some certifications within the next two years to get me up to date.

    I've now got myself booked on the VMware Infrastructure 3: Fast Track V3.5 from Magirus from 1st Dec. I want to get VCP Certified by Jan 2009. Company paying for this.

    I'm then planning on doing Microsoft MCP's in Windows but starting of with Exchange 2007. I'll probably be learning and paying for this out of my own pocket.

    My skill set is as follows:

    OPERATING SYSTEMS
    MS DOS, MS Windows 95\98\NT 4.0\2000\ XP\Vista, MS Windows 2000\2003(R2)\2008 Server, MS SBS Server 2003, Novell (Netware Server 4\5, Novell Clients 3.1\4.82), Sun Solaris Sparc 9\10.

    SERVER APPLICATIONS

    MS Active Directory, DFS, RIS, MS Exchange Server 2000\2003\2007, MS Terminal Servers, MS SQL Server 7\2000, Lotus Notes 4.6 and Domino Designer, Oracle Database 9i\10g, Citrix Metaframe Presentation Server 4\4.5, Citrix Access Gateway, Virtualisation (Citrix ZenServer, Vmware Server, P2V), IBM Rational ClearCase\ClearQuest, Serena Dimensions, Network Backup (CA ArcServe, VERITAS NetBackup), Server\Desktop Imaging (Symantec Ghost, Backup Exec System Recovery Server\Desktop), Remote Desktop Connectivity, MS Cluster Server, Peregrine Call Centre.

    WORKSTATIONS\SERVERS\NETWORK DEVICES\CONNECTION AND CONFIGURATION
    Workstations and Servers (HPCompaq\Dell\Fujitsu\IBM), Peripheral Devices, RAID, Network Hardware devices and LAN Connectivity (Media Cables, 3Com\CISCO Hubs, Switches and Routers), WLAN (a\b\g\n), Bluetooth, Network Protocols (TCP\IP - DNS\WINS\DHCP, NetBEUI, IPX\SPX), Network Leased Lines, PC Anywhere, IP Telephony, Remote ILO, Storage (NAS\DAS\SAN), Backup Devices (HP\Quantum Smartstore\Autoloaders, DLT\SDLT\S4\LTO).

    NETWORK\INTERNET\WEB\EMAIL
    Firewalls and AntiVirus (Cisco PIX, Checkpoint NG, ZoneAlarm, Symantec EndPoint Protection, McAfee Antivirus Enterprise Edition) Email Security and AntiSpam (GFi MailSecurity\MailEssentials, Symantec Mail Security, Clearswift MAILSweeper) Internet Content Filtering\Proxy Servers (MS Internet Security and Acceleration Server, Clearswift MIMESweeper, Websense Enterprise) WebServers (TomCat, MS Internet Information Services (IIS) - SMTP, POP3, HTTP(S), SSL, Telnet and FTP,) Telecoms (GPRS\EDGE\3G\UMTS) LAN Management (MS Windows Operations Manager, GFI LANGuard, MS Windows Server Update Services), Encryption (PGP Personal Privacy, PC Guardian Harddisk Encryption).

    CLIENT SOFTWARE
    MS Office Suite (4.3/97/2000/XP/2003/2007), MS Internet Explorer\Firefox, Corel (Draw, WordPerfect), Adobe (Acrobat, PhotoShop, Premier) Macromedia (Dreamweaver, Flash and Director), Veritas WinInstall, Microsoft Importer for Lotus Notes Mail, Windows Print Migrator.

    Any advice you can offer me?

    Thanks.
     
    Certifications: BSc Hons Comp Sci (2:1), VMWare VCP-310
    WIP: VMWARE VCP-410
  2. Obinna Osobalu

    Obinna Osobalu Banned

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    Hello and welcome to CF! Lets get it cleared up, certs dont get you jobs rather they get you a slot on an interview list but your skills actually determines if you are good for the job in question.

    And whats all that list of skills, thats actually like saying your are skilled in boiling water. No offence mate!:blink
     
    Certifications: MCITP:SA,MCTS(x5),MCSE2K3;MCSA2K3:M;MCP
    WIP: EDA7,70-652,Project+,MSP(70-632)
  3. Notes_Bloke

    Notes_Bloke Terabyte Poster

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    Hi & welcome to CF:D

    NB
     
    Certifications: 70-210, 70-215, A+,N+, Security+
    WIP: MCSA
  4. greenbrucelee
    Highly Decorated Member Award

    greenbrucelee Zettabyte Poster

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    yep, no qualifications can get you a job it's experience and skills that get you a job.

    Although I think going for the cert you have chosen sounds ok.

    Good luck

    Welcome to CF
     
    Certifications: A+, N+, MCDST, Security+, 70-270
    WIP: 70-620 or 70-680?
  5. MrGadget

    MrGadget Bit Poster

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    Thanks for the replies.

    No Offence Taken! I was just trying to provide a background of the technology i have experience with so that members can help me decide what certifications would be suitable or worth taking.

    I agree that certifications don't get you jobs but can help getting interviews. There's jobs out there that are paying less than what i'm getting now that requires certifications.

    Hopefully with a combination of Certifications, Skills and experience will give me a better chance and keep me up to date.
     
    Certifications: BSc Hons Comp Sci (2:1), VMWare VCP-310
    WIP: VMWARE VCP-410
  6. Obinna Osobalu

    Obinna Osobalu Banned

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    Guess you are already on the right track... cheers and best wishes
     
    Certifications: MCITP:SA,MCTS(x5),MCSE2K3;MCSA2K3:M;MCP
    WIP: EDA7,70-652,Project+,MSP(70-632)
  7. zebulebu

    zebulebu Terabyte Poster

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    You should have absolutely no problems finding a job without certs - your degree and years of experience should stand you in good stead over many more (ahem) 'certificated' competitors. If I was hiring right now I'd take your CV with that exposure over 90% of other candidates out there. You should also be able to handle a phone sift well too with your experience level, so I wouldn't worry too much.

    However, if you're talking about a Technical Architect role or something similar, then many such jobs may actually require an MCSE or equivalent level certification before you even get an interview. Don't let that put you off though - get yourself a home lab to study and you should be able to complete an MCSE faster than most people as you'll already have years' worth of experience in administering networks. Use the fact that you have by far the most important prerequisite (experience) in spades as a motivational tool to help you study. With that level and amount of experience AND an MCSE the world (or at least the UK) is literally your oyster.

    The only thing I'd say is that the VCP, whilst an awesome qualification, is pretty specified. I think you should be looking to be working toward something like an MCSA - the Server & Workstation exams should be a doddle for you so get them out the way with first. get the VCP as well, but *just* having that cert on your CV will look a bit odd!

    Good luck!
     
    Certifications: A few
    WIP: None - f*** 'em
  8. nXPLOSi

    nXPLOSi Terabyte Poster

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    The question i'd ask is, what do you work most with at your current job? I mean you've given us your job title, and what job title you want to get into, but what do you use day in day out?

    Starting with Exchange 2007 sounds a little random to me. If your hoping to get into an IT\Network Manager role, then it may be best to start with something like Network+ or the MCSA route, or the upgraded equivalents?

    Just my two cents :)

    EDIT: zeb beat me to it :)
     
    Certifications: A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA 2003 (270, 290, 291), MCTS (640, 642), MCSA 2008
    WIP: MCSA 2012
  9. Dullage

    Dullage Byte Poster

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    Hello Mr Gadget, welcome to CF :D

    Like the new avatar Zeb :)
     
    Certifications: A+
    WIP: Network +
  10. BosonMichael
    Honorary Member Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    What?!? That's absolutely absurd. Saying that you have experience with, for example, Exchange 2000, 2003, and 2007 is the same as saying you have "skill boiling water"?

    Obinna, are you really in IT? :rolleyes: Some of the statements you make are absolutely nonsensical.
     
    Certifications: CISSP, MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCSE: Messaging, MCDST, MCDBA, MCTS, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
    WIP: Just about everything!
  11. BosonMichael
    Honorary Member Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    As someone who has been in IT for a while, I can say that Zeb (who has ALSO been in IT for a long while) is absolutely on the right track with his advice. You should have no problem getting a job with your experience level... and for those jobs that absolutely *require* certifications, it should not take you very long to get them, considering your experience. The MCSA/MCSE would serve you QUITE well.

    That said, even if I were an employer that required certifications, I'd see your skillset on your CV and immediately put you in the KEEP stack. I could then determine whether you truly understand the technology during the interview process.

    Best of luck! And welcome to the forum!!
     
    Certifications: CISSP, MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCSE: Messaging, MCDST, MCDBA, MCTS, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
    WIP: Just about everything!
  12. MrGadget

    MrGadget Bit Poster

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    Thanks for the confidence!!! I hope you're right.

    Where I’m currently employed, we don't really have IT\Network manager roles. The equivalent is comparatively Technical Architect roles. That is next on my career path and I will be discussing it during my appraisal in Jan.

    I have a fairly decent home setup running AD, DNS, DHCP, IIS on 2003 server (system is slow for 2008 Server), Exchange 2007, 1 TB RAID 1 NAS, Quad Core WS plus laptops and importantly users. I want to purchase another HP Server so I can do Virtualisation and maybe run more systems...... People says that’s an overkill but I’m learning from it! :) ... and paying the electric bill :blink

    MSCE was next on my certification list after my VCP but I wasn't sure if I should do Windows 2003 and update with 2008 it or simply go straight to the Windows 2008 MCSE.

    I've not done exchange for some time now so I was thinking of starting off by doing that. I should ideally do the certifications that correlate with what I’m working with and that’s Microsoft\VMWare\Citrix\Oracle\Solaris right now.

    The A+ seems quite popular so I could possible do that if I’ve not over done it by then.

    It seems for me the favourable ones are:

    VMWARE VCP – Nov 2008-Jan 2009.

    MCSE\MCSA – Feb 2009-December 2009

    Maybe A+’s – Jan\Feb 2010 + onwards if it's worth doing as i should have VCP\MCSE.

    Which MSCS\MSCA structure would be advisable for me to do?
     
    Certifications: BSc Hons Comp Sci (2:1), VMWare VCP-310
    WIP: VMWARE VCP-410
  13. BosonMichael
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    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    I don't really see much need for a VMWare certification, but since you're already slated for the class, might as well knock it out! :)

    If you're going to do the A+ at all, I'd do it earlier rather than later. The A+ would be good to get your feet wet with certifications... but if you're already doing the VCP, then you'll already have a little exposure to certification exams.

    I dunno what the MSCS/MSCA is, or what you mean by structure. If you mean which version of the MCSA/MCSE should you go after, there's only one: the MCSA/MCSE on Server 2003. The Server 2008 versions go by a different name - the MCTS and MCITP certifications - and you should wait on those until after you've done the 2003 stuff.
     
    Certifications: CISSP, MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCSE: Messaging, MCDST, MCDBA, MCTS, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
    WIP: Just about everything!

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