What to go/Where to go...

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Hi,

I am little bit stuck as to exactly what to do...

I have fairly good GCSE's and A Levels, went to Uni but quit, and then got a apprentice job at a computer distributor, whilst there I completed an NVQ Level 2 in Computing, a HNC distinction from the local college on a day release and then moved to a specialist server retailer. At both these places, I built, and configured, and troubleshooted servers and PC's over a period of 2 years. I then got a job at the college as an IT Technician, and have been here for approx 7 months, in which time I have completed A+ and the MCDST in XP.

I am just about to take the Network+ exam, and I then plan to take the Apple OS 10.4 Helpdesk qualification, Server+ then Linux+. So I have a basic grounding in everything before I move on to something specific.

However I feel I am being slightly ripped here as I am only on 13K with no real prospects. Ideally I want to study MCSA + Messaging, but as the College is running a Novell Network it seems pointless studying something which I will not be able to use. And no way am I studying Novell....

I just wondered what others would suggest for career options/development, I am 21.... and 50 miles from London if that helps!!

Very confused..

 

I agree with WagerK. Sounds to me you would be better off focusing your efforts on a single path rather than spreading your net far and wide.

I don't really understand the reasoning here. Just because the place you work doesn't use MS products shouldn't put you off going for a very useful qualifaction like the MCSA. Hell, you don't sound happy there, you want to earn more money, so it seems to me you will be moving on fairly soon anyway and it's far more likely that were you move to will be using MS than Novell. You already have previous IT experience to build on so go for it.

Get your N+, then all you have left (if you use the CompTIA or MCDST quals as an elective) is 3 exams to get your MCSA. Then start looking around for a better job. That sounds like the winner to me....

 

Hi,

Thanks for your replies, I too think that I do not want to be a jack of all trades master of none kinda guy, but without being offensive to anyone here, CompTIA qualifications are low level, so I would like ideally to have a series of low level qualifications in as many areas as possible, purely so I then have experience with as much as possible (Particuarly as CompTIA certs are lifetime quals), and then narrow down onto something (MCSA, MCSE or Linux equivalent).

Unfortunately I do not know really what to do/where to go career wise. MCSA is something I am looking at, and I was thinking of knocking off the CompTIA's and then starting for an MCSA when the new Windows Longhorn based servers appear/and start looking for a new job around then also...

What would people here recommend as being attractive to employers?!

 

Probably the A+ and Network+ are what have scored me the most jobs back when I was doing free lance. Keep in mind, it's not just getting the quals but actually demonstrating that you can do the job they say you can. Plenty of people have studied to get the Linux+ for example, then never used Linux again. Naturally, they forgot almost everything after a period of time so having the Linux+ beyond a certain point meant really nothing.

 

Hi again!

As I am sure you can tell, I am a little "hazy" as to my direction in terms of my career. This is probably down to the fact that the jobs I have had have been very "open" in terms of what I actually do.

For example at my current job, my supposed role was helpdesk support/technician, however after about a month I got given a task to create, build and maintain an Anti-Virus server, then a month later create, build and maintain a Ghost server.. It has got to the stage where I just walk in and do whatever really, because the people I work with, whilst they may not understand exactly what I am doing, know that what I am doing will benefit them!!

The network admins want me to do a Zen 6.5 course and start using that too... its nice in a way to be respected and trusted to do these things (Especially as the other helpdesk guys have been there for 6 years+ and they have not been asked!) but it has not really helped me in terms of a career decision!

I see myself really as having the MCSA+Messaging as my top level Microsoft qual in mind and really going for Linux+ then working up to a Red Hat qual... I just do not know anymore!! It gets more confusing the more I think about it really...!

I mean more experienced people here could probably help me out a bit by telling me what employers expect from people for certain jobs?!