Which path to take?

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I've done a mixture of roles in the last 7/8 years, but i dont have any "big" IT certifications.

The other problem is, im one of these people that learn by doing, i find it very hard to learn from a book because it goes in and out..

The other problem I have is that I wouldnt use most the stuff I studied for at work.

I have looked at retaking and finishing my CCNA, but i wouldnt use it, I have also looked at MCDST, MCSA and finally the MCSE, but again it would soon be forgotten, the only ones to benefit from it would be my employer by increasing our Microsoft Partner Status and I would be paying for it!!

So could anyone suggest what would be a good start? Obviously it's to progress into a better job as my family comes first.

Thanks

Andy

 

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What is your current role at work? What do you enjoy doing?

Learning something that you do on a daily basis and enjoy doing will make any material easier to learn.

 

Current role at work = Pleb!

Official job title is IT Technician

But I do the following

Install/Upgrade PCs, Servers, Laptops, Networks, Printers.

Data Migrations, Data recovery, Network installs including wireless, cabling, install/supply ADSL, resell Draytek routers, install/configure VPNs, support and manage multiple windows OS's including 2003 Server, Exchange 2003 and SBS 2003, backup solutions with various packages, we used to sell Sophos, but have moved to CA, also used Norton Corporate.

I have also setup a client with a terminal server, linking two offices into their head office with their bespoke financial system.

We are about to start reselling VOIP as well so no doubt I will be trained in that hopefully.

Also product research / purchasing and maintenance contracts, at present i look after four local companies and their entire IT infrastructure with one I visit once a week and another once every other week.

I was in a large scale helpdesk role for 5yrs with some project management / migration / consolidation experience.

I have now been in this job for nearly 2yrs and before that I was an IT admin for a small company...

As for what I want to do, anything that involves decent hardware and a structured company as I miss that from my previous job.

I want to be actively involved in 2003 server and Vista, I see books are starting to appear on Amazon for this and I have Beta 2 on my laptop along with Office 2007 beta.

I am also currently looking to evaluate Exchange 2007

So i have a mixture of experience, but with no idea where to go.

 

Fella, you have plenty of experience, are knowledgeable in a wide range of technologies, and also have (although I don't know how much) Migration and project management experience.

You are an ideal candidate for the MCSE. Since you don't do much hard networking I wouldn't bother with the CCNA - I've got it but, to be honest, haven't done much Cisco work outside PIX FIrewalls, so its not really proved much use for me.

Lots of MS experience makes you an ideal fit for the MCSE. Since you've got the experience to go along with it, once you get the cert, you'll have a massive advantage over 80% of people going for the same jobs as you - since the vast majority of them, sadly, will be paper MCSEs.

Its hard work - and takes a long time to get - but it is definitely worth it for you in the long run. You'll be able to point to your wealth of experience in the industry and quantify your technical skills by pointing to your MCSE.

 

You certainly appear to have loads of varied experience, I would recommend the MCSE also.

"The other problem I have is that I wouldnt use most the stuff I studied for at work"

Have you had a good look at what the MCSE covers? Most of the stuff you are currently doing at work would fall into this category. As for the MCSE benefiting your work, if they dont pay they dont have no say. I imagine you would find the MCSE reasonable to deal with given your experience, and with 7 years experience and a solid cert you could quite easily expect to move into a better job/pay band.

Remember most employers view the cert as a way you have demonstrated that you can actually do what you say.

Just my 2p worth

 

Thanks for those comments, you have helped me reassure myself that the MCSE is the way to go.

Would you say that a good start would be to work towards my MCSA first and then do the remainder of studying to get the MCSE?

I will also look to do the Vista MCP if and when one appears.

Thanks again!

Andy

 

Hi madman045,

You have the experience, the first thing I would suggest is go for the XP (70-270) exam, pay your £ 88.00 and see how much you know.

If you have problems with books and are a hands-on person then look at Computer Based Training (CBT/TBT)

From what you say you may get away with doing the practice tests, but from another angle you only know what you have dealt with in your work, which may not be the whole picture? Just a thought. Have you ever installed 50 computers at the same time?

Keimos

 

Speaking as someone who works in a call center for a large communications company that develops, sells, and supports voip, if you were to become a good voip tech, you'll pretty much set your own salary.

I play with and configure Cisco 2400 and 2600 series routers all day for voip. I've gotten numerous calls from companies to come to work for them, but my comfort level with voip isn't as high as I would like it.......but as soon as I'm comfortable with it, look out.