Best starter Certifications for IT Newbies

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Hi everyone.

Been in and out of the IT game for a few years - i'm an Aviation Security instructor for an airline at present! Previous IT experience is: PC/Network support technician in a school (1995) IT/Electronics Engineer (hardware)(199 and at present i support the training department with IT issues. (sort of desktop support/networking-MSServer 2003/XPPro)

Ok, I'm looking to get certified to make the transition into IT completely. I've got one last career change in me as i'm 35 (so over the hill and far away) but in my defence I can play a mean game of Dungeons & Dragons and know most episodes of Red Dwarf off by heart!

Ok, joking aside, and the reason for the post....

I'm old and earn a decent wage but am realistic about potential entry salaries. SO, should I be looking to start off with compTIA A+ and Network+ and build up to an MCSA/MCSE or (taking Kevicho's excellent post into account!) plump straight for the MCSA/MCSE? As i'm touting myself with limited practical experience, what looks better on my CV?

Ive got 3 pc's and a mac at home that I can/do network (+vmware) and have access at work to Server 2003 for playing. So thats the hardware sorted - Therefore i'm thinking it's best to buy the books and go it alone?

Just which way shall I head?? before i part with £300 with Amazon. (grin)

Thoughts appreciated,
Regards

SK

 

Oops! Ken just beat me to that. Actually, it's not a competition. ;-)

All the best!

----------------
Now playing: moss_17
via FoxyTunes

 

Take Ken's (wagnerk) advice !

 

See post below.. sorry, forgot about the 5 post moderation...

 

Thanks for the comments...

I'm an electronics/science person by nature and am usually found underneath the server rack/sound stage/motorbike rather than phone support (although thats more of my role at present since the "official" IT dept. moved overseas!!) Hence the MCSE.

So simply put.... what's the value in doing the MSDST cert? Do all MCSEs start life in desktop support? Or is it just a "good" cert. to have on the CV?

Since writing the initial question i've read up on CompTIA and they look like good ones to start with so yes Ken, without recent experience i'll be doing those two. Just not sure about the MSDST?
Is it acceptable to do A+, Network+, MCSA,MCSE?

And then start on £15k? By the time i'm retiring I might be back on my current salary! But then life's too short to worry about things like that!
Cheers guys.
play safe now...

 

there's value in all certs but not everyone starts in a MCSE role and if you have been out of IT that long regreshing your memory with something like the MCDST would probably be a good idea.

 

Damn, knew that qualification would have been useful.

Despite doing my:
Helicopter CPL
Scuba 100m+ depth mixed gas technical qualifications
Advanced Police driving qualification
and DfT Firearms and Explosives course.......

I only ever had a cycling proficiency certificate....... GOD if i'd only learned to swim before i could cycle!!!..

ok, MSDST it is......

 

I would have thought that in today's climate you'd be in high demand as an Aviation Security Instructor.

Unless you just show people how to carry out basic frisking and putting car keys into a little basket.

Why on earth would you want to get into IT?

 

Hi Jonny,

Yep good question, I can't knock my current career. It's one of the old favourites really... I just need to change my personal circumstances and therefore my job.

As cabin crew for 10 years I flew around the world having a laugh. I had plenty of opportunities to take many qualifications but spent it drinking and swapping bodily fluids with the opposite sex!

So now i'm happy in my life and my GF wants to move her horses and family to the country. So I need to move from Luton. Comuting is an option on the bike but IT and electronics engineering are the jobs i always end up wanting and finding the most challenging and rewarding and therefore feel its the most 'portable' career for someone in my position.

No, the Av Sec stuff is cool, especially the training sessions in Thames House. We train crews and pilots about hijack rectification,IEDs and IIDs, Dangerous Goods and firearms recognition.

I got to do the frisking and "keys in the basket" type stuff in the Police. It was a horrid job but one where the customer is ALWAYS wrong! now that's kinda satisfying...... Just not sure i've got the temprement for MSDST... (grin)

 

I'll swap you!

 

Thanks Ken,

Frankness and insight appreciated. I think i'll aim for the A+ and Network+ quals then see where I stand.

Just going on gut feelings alone I have always been in Customer Service because of my broadcasting background and chatty nature. BUT i have always been an engineer at heart and if I am going to end up in IT, would prefer being an engineer over a support person. Perhaps i'm just too long in the tooth at the CS game. Want to have a challenge.
Also, most of my career has been spent using life experience as a method of promotion. Will be new to me having to gain experience - but thats all the fun, ain't it!?

And Jonny..... unless you're a traffic warden... you got yourself a deal! need about £30k though.... I'll take a cheque???

 

Just curious, but what do you consider being an Engineer in IT to be?

 

Sorry Simon,

I would consider an IT engineer to be someone that designs and physically implements the technology. whether that be installing software on a workstation or equipment in a remote site. Proactively fault-finding and maintaining the IT environment within which s/he works.

I see a support technician as someone who uses their CS skills to advise and train end users/managers on hardware/software usage and who are usually centrally based and telephone contactable.

engineers get their hands dirty / cs agents get their brains dirty, perhaps?

 

I'm intreagued now Ken,

Don't systems engineers "get out much" or am i simplifying the role of desktop support?

 

And mine!

I'd say that you are definitely simplifying the role of 'support'. Sure you may get to be the guy who desiglns and implements systems, but in order to implement those systems you also have to know how to support them!