Which direction?

Discussion in 'New Members Introduction' started by Echalon, Jun 6, 2005.

  1. Echalon

    Echalon New Member

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    Hello all

    I apologise in advance if i have posted this in wrong catagory, but im still at work and they dont like webmail :rolleyes:

    My question to you guys is which course to follow as there are so many. You prob been asked this many times, again if you have i apologise for that, im just very confused.

    I am soon starting the 3rd year of a Degree in Computers and Network Technologies (which actually is more multimedia than actual technologies :eek: )

    I have built almost 50 pcs for customers and have a lot of hardware exp and repair/faultfinding and troubleshoot many pcs.

    I also have a great interest and a moderate amount of experience with virus's, trojans, spyware, adaware ect and have a keen interest in problem solving to.

    I really really would like to get into security in some form or another or possibly networking admin (at some point :biggrin )

    I realise the degree i am doing is nowhere near strong enough to get me a place within the field of my choice, and have accepted the fact that i have to supplement the degree with additional courses.

    A+ certification i will do for sure, but are there any courses that you guys feel would benifit, or any that are a MUST DO to stand a good chance in the competative market?

    My strengths do not lie in remembering hundreds of techie terms and phrases, but rather logical thinking and problem solving.

    A long post i know but, the greater the confusion the longer the conversation :D

    Thanks in advance

    EDIT (J): Moved to New Members.
     
    Certifications: I have a license to throw tomatoes
    WIP: 2 double cheeseburgers and fries
  2. Echalon

    Echalon New Member

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    :oops: sorry
     
    Certifications: I have a license to throw tomatoes
    WIP: 2 double cheeseburgers and fries
  3. Mitzs
    Honorary Member

    Mitzs Ducktape Goddess

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    Sorry Echalon, I personally haven't seen your post till now. While we do have a good number of members we also have twice as many guest and bots that scan the fourms but can't reply. We really aren't a rude bunch till we get to know each other. :biggrin

    As to your question. After A+ I would follow up the N+ and then the security+.

    And if you come back, welcome to cf we didn't mean to ignore you. Sometimes post are missed by people that can anwser them. It was nothing personal.
     
    Certifications: Microcomputers and network specialist.
    WIP: Adobe DW, PS
  4. JonnyMX

    JonnyMX Petabyte Poster

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    Hi mate.
    I read your post, but to be honest found it a bit too vague to give any helpful advice on. It's not rudeness, it's just a case of not having anything useful to contribute.
    his forum is for people to help and support each other, but it's not necessarily a careers advice service.

    However, I think that your second post is out of order and isn't likely to encourage anyone to help you.
    Maybe you could refine your original message with regards to what options you have considered and why.

    The guys here aren't rude or arrogant.
    They're a great bunch.
    And the girls, sorry Mitzs!
     
    Certifications: MCT, MCTS, i-Net+, CIW CI, Prince2, MSP, MCSD
  5. Jakamoko
    Honorary Member

    Jakamoko On the move again ...

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    If you're still around, a belated welcome to CF from me.
     
    Certifications: MCP, A+, Network+
    WIP: Clarity
  6. Echalon

    Echalon New Member

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    Hi guys and thanks for replying.

    No rudeness or anything like that was intended, it was more of a "well ok...cya then". Just to explain:
    I run my own forum to and am a moderator on another and get extremly frustrated with the fact that usually people with a small amount of posts, or those who ask rudamentory questions are sumtimes shunned. I thought that was what happened here but i am big enough to say i made a mistake and for that i apologise. :oops:

    I am definately not in need of career advice, but rather fine tuning a career. I will be doing the A+ and hope to have that by end of the summer with a start (if possible on Network +)

    I realise Comptia is the way to go, but there is also a whole host of other companies that once you ring once then continue to hassle you with sales calls. It is this aspect im confused by. Did most of you guys go thru one of these companies (computeach for example) or do home study for the A+ and Network+ and if so where did you get your info and where did you take the test.
    The closest place i found (not being in the centre of london) is in Walthamstow East london as the test centre. Any recomendations on any other test centres?

    Thank for your time

    :D
     
    Certifications: I have a license to throw tomatoes
    WIP: 2 double cheeseburgers and fries
  7. Jakamoko
    Honorary Member

    Jakamoko On the move again ...

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    I think it's big of you to apologise, Echalon. Accepted by me at least :)

    TBH, m8 there are soooo many opinions around here about this, I'd really point you to the Training & Development Forum, and also the "What training provider do you use" Poll in the Polling Station (I'd post the actual links, but I'm lazy tonight. :oops: )

    Personally, I used Nitlc in Newark, but never completed the coures (yet). However, I'd seriously contemplate self-study if going again.

    Anyway - glad you made it, and hope you can stick around.
    :)
     
    Certifications: MCP, A+, Network+
    WIP: Clarity
  8. Mitzs
    Honorary Member

    Mitzs Ducktape Goddess

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    I go with the self studying for the comptia certs. No reason to invest that kind of money when there are good books and other resources out there. Just get a spare comp to pratice on that way if you get stuck on something you can still get online to find a solution.

    I'm really glad you came back. Here to new friendships. :beers2
     
    Certifications: Microcomputers and network specialist.
    WIP: Adobe DW, PS
  9. tripwire45
    Honorary Member

    tripwire45 Zettabyte Poster

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    Depending on your comfort level, you just may want to tackle the A+ and Network+ as self study and fly without a net. Oddly enough though the certs are billed as "entry level", my understanding is tha they have been made increasingly challenging of late.

    Sorry about the late "welcome". Hope we can provide more timely responses in the future.
     
    Certifications: A+ and Network+
  10. Phoenix
    Honorary Member

    Phoenix 53656e696f7220 4d6f64

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    Ok personally im a bit confused
    and would definatly ask you to clarify some of your points


    You need know career advice, just some tweaking, yet you havn't really begun your career yet?
    whilst I appreciate you dont want people telling you 'you dont wanna do it like that, you wanna do it like this' career advice (see it says advice not instruction) is definatly something you may well want some of
    it also helps us to get a better picture of where your headed (or want to be headed)


    secondly, comptia is the way to go? im real confused by this one
    I'm one of the few people here who doesnt put much faith in the A+ or Network+ certifications as career makers, they will not get you a job on thier own in the majority if cases!, infact your degree is far more likely to, and by the sounds of it it covers very similar material, the de facto requirement in the industry these days is an MCSE (if you plan on ever touching a windows network, its a silly de facto i know) A+ and Network+ are not pre requisites, you dont have to do them
    if your really new to computers, sure they are great stepping stones in the vast learning curve that is IT, but they are no means required to get a job (i very rarely see jobs asking for an A+ cert over an MCSE, even for first line/call center stuff), Be warned an MCSE is on a scale close to a degree, it can take just as long to pass, and involves a hell of alot of studying, so out of curiosity, what makes you say comptia is the way? :)

    however without more info I cant say if you really want to do an MCSE or not
    give us a few pointers as to where you see yourself headed, and into what specialised field

    Anyway, didnt see your second post, but did see your first, however your name was still grey at the time, so didnt see the need to post :)

    Welcome to CF, and hope your stays a long and pleasent ones, you will find folks round here to be pretty friendly, even on bad days, and we help wherever possible
     
    Certifications: MCSE, MCITP, VCP
    WIP: > 0
  11. Tyler D

    Tyler D Gigabyte Poster

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    Greetings echalon :biggrin
     
    Certifications: A+,70-270
    WIP: 70-290
  12. JonnyMX

    JonnyMX Petabyte Poster

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    Hi mate.
    Sorry, didn't mean to kick off on you - I'd had a long day.
    No offence meant or taken.

    If you're looking for testing centres, have a look at Pearson and Thompson who both have a list of centres sorted by country.
    Hope that helps.
     
    Certifications: MCT, MCTS, i-Net+, CIW CI, Prince2, MSP, MCSD
  13. drum_dude

    drum_dude Gigabyte Poster

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    Bad hair day Jonny? LOL :)
     
    Certifications: MCP, MCSA 2000 , N+, A+ ,ITIL V2, MCTS, MCITP Lync 2010 & MCSA 2008, Sonus SATP SBC 1k/2k
    WIP: Hopefully Skype for Business and some Exchange stuff...
  14. JonnyMX

    JonnyMX Petabyte Poster

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    Just a bit mate.
    Boiling hot day in Cardiff.
    No air-con.
    All the desk fans are pointing at the servers to stop them melting down.
    I could hardly see through the heat haze.
     
    Certifications: MCT, MCTS, i-Net+, CIW CI, Prince2, MSP, MCSD
  15. Echalon

    Echalon New Member

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    Hello again guys.

    Thanks again for all responses.Been great help so far.

    I am gonna take the A+ for sure, but only found 1 test centre which is in devon lol. There surley must be others. I have taken onboard the comments about which book to use for the study (Michael Meyers) and have ordered one already. Does this book teach you the material for the exam or simply prepare you with samples and such? Im not to sure about this.

    To Phoenix:
    I can understand the points you made (well made at that :) ) but just to let you know, you say the degree alone may get me a job, but in 2 years so far we have not touched, put together or even seen 1 piece of hardware! Truly dissapointing. I really dont believe the degree alone will be good enough for any kind of career, and i have been into computers since the good ol days of the DX486 :biggrin
    I say comptia is the way, only because they seem to offer the 2 or 3 courses that would supplement my degree. My main aim is to get an MCSE or MCSA (system administrator - the hardware one :D like system analysis) after my degree is finished. Bear in mind i am not a "fresh out of college" kinda guy, i have been in commercial IT for over 8 years already. This is change of career and i simply want to build a strong CV to give me a good chance in the market. I cannot consider the MSCE route till the 3rd year is over, but feel confident i could do the A+ and Network + by the time the degree is finished.

    Subjects we have studied:
    Flash, dreamweaver, director, networked multimedia, VOIP, Digital Design and synthesis, Network technologies, Fundamentals of sound and vision, microprocessor and processor architecture.

    As you can see, for sumone with an interest in problem solving, fault finding, security, system analysis these modules all seem to revolve around design and using software to design. :x

    ps -you guys have been great so far. Thanks all :biggrin
     
    Certifications: I have a license to throw tomatoes
    WIP: 2 double cheeseburgers and fries

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