Hi All, newbie, see my career path

Discussion in 'New Members Introduction' started by Tnim, May 21, 2010.

  1. Tnim

    Tnim New Member

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    Hi guys i am 21, have just joined this forum, forum seems awesome, hopefully will be getting lots of advice from you guys

    Can people tell me what they think about my career path

    Currently working as a Firstline support agent for Fujitsu, I am planning to go to University in September to study Computer networks and security. However next month i am going over to India to for 3 months to complete my MCSE 2003 and CCNA with in 3 months. All i will be doing is studying while i am over there.The reason i am going for MS exams is that i dont want to waste time with Comptia exams but just get done with MS exams

    Ok some of you might be asking why dont you just do it in the UK. Basically the UK prices are really expensive and doing a full time job and studying will be impossible for me.

    So my aim is when i come out of University in 2013 i will hold the following

    MSc Degree in Computer Networks and Security
    MCSE
    CCNA, Switching, Security
    CCNP
    RHCE - Plan to do this probably in the next couple of years

    I think i stand a good chance of getting hired when i come out of University, but i will always be trying to update and improve my skills.

    In the future i do want to go into networking security and also to follow the Cisco path


    your thoughts are much appreciated
     
  2. JK2447
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    JK2447 Petabyte Poster Administrator Premium Member

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    Hi and welcome to CertForums. I hate to be the one to break this to you but.... an MCSA, MCSE, CCNA, CCNP, CCA, RHCE (you see where I'm going with this) are almost useless without experience to back them up, mainly based upon the fact that the companies that administer these certifications recommend that you have a certain amount of experience before confirming your competence by passing the relevant exams.

    If a successful career in IT were as simple as having a few certs, everyone would walk into IT, and believe me that rarely happens, search this site or any you wish and you will see.

    I agree with you, courses in the UK can be expensive, but have you thought about self study? I have worked in IT for 10 years but in terms of the certs I have, its been mostly self study. I have a server and some routers and switches at home but thats all only a fraction of the cost of 1 course (always seems to be 2k per course I find). Work pay for the odd course and my exams but it they didn't, £88 per MS exam isn't going to bankrupt me. Each to their own but I'd save the trip to the beautiful India for 2 reasons:
    1) You can learn using books, home labs, CBT's, Practice labs and exams in the compfort of your own home.
    2) Although an adventure, a lot of these far flung training companies will show you the minimum and give you braindumps (the answers) rather than ensure you fully understand a subject. I have no doubt you will come back certified up to the eye balls, but will you know your stuff? Not be out of your debth? Be successful in IT? I'm sorry to say I doubt it.

    Let me put it to you this way, would you hire someone who was not only a mechanic, but a turbo specialist, yet had never actually touched a car? You'd be much more likely to hire a man who's spent the last 2 years getting cars back on the road but who didn't get his mechanical engineering qualifications because you could send him on those once he worked for you.

    My 2 cents at a late hour in the UK.
    Jim
     
    Certifications: VCP4, 5, 6, 6.5, 6.7, 7, 8, VCAP DCV Design, VMConAWS Skill, Google Cloud Digital Leader, BSc (Hons), HND IT, HND Computing, ITIL-F, MBCS CITP, MCP (270,290,291,293,294,298,299,410,411,412) MCTS (401,620,624,652) MCSA:Security, MCSE: Security, Security+, CPTS, CCA (XenApp6.5), MCSA 2012, VSP, VTSP
    WIP: Google Cloud Certs
  3. BosonMichael
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    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    My advice: follow Jim's advice. :)

    Welcome to the forums! :)
     
    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!
  4. SimonD
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    SimonD Terabyte Poster

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    Koenig Solutions I am betting? If so then the chances are that all you will accomplish is learning how to read a Brain Dump (I know guys who went to both Koenig and others like it and they were constantly offered brain dumps).

    Like Jim says, you will only damage your career with those certifications and lack of experience, added to that is the fact that if you don't use the technology every week then you lose it. Also something else to remember is that Cisco require you to recertify every 3 years. So taking your CCNA this year to use in 2013 is not only a waste of time but also money.

    If I were you I would cancel the course and do the A+ and N+, get some experience under your belt and learn to walk before you run.
     
    Certifications: CNA | CNE | CCNA | MCP | MCP+I | MCSE NT4 | MCSA 2003 | Security+ | MCSA:S 2003 | MCSE:S 2003 | MCTS:SCCM 2007 | MCTS:Win 7 | MCITP:EDA7 | MCITP:SA | MCITP:EA | MCTS:Hyper-V | VCP 4 | ITIL v3 Foundation | VCP 5 DCV | VCP 5 Cloud | VCP6 NV | VCP6 DCV | VCAP 5.5 DCA
  5. Tnim

    Tnim New Member

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    Thanks for the advice mate, I know what you are saying. What you say is what a lot of people are saying all over the forums, without experience the certifications are pointless. I know that i am only young. From working in IT for the last 2 years i have realised that you have to have some sort of decent certifications these days regardless of experience to get into a company these days. Even a ****ty job at 19k is asking for a MCSE.

    I understand in what you saying about self study about the exams, £88 is not going to break my bank account or £44 at the moment because of the student discount. But at the moment there is too many things going on in my life and studying and full time job seems quite far away. Thats the reason i plan to travel to india where they teach in a classroom based environment which i prefer.

    When i am at university i will be doing some vouluntary work which will help me use my skills so that i dont forget it. At the end of the day that i know that i will be able to pass the exams, its all depends on how much you want it and the amount of effort you are going to put into it.

    Also one of the reason I am going for the certs now is that fact that, when i am at University i will be ahead of the game, and so i dont struggle on my course.


    I worked out how much my courses will be costing me

    MCSE = 200 hours
    Course Teaching Fee = 300 +245 (exams) = £545

    CCNA = 100 hours
    Course Teaching Fee = 190 +170 (exams) = £360


    I hope i can rely on your support guys, you all seem to be an awesome bunch
     
  6. Tnim

    Tnim New Member

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    Sorry its not that company, but its this one http://www.rjpinfotek.com/. I understand what you are saying about loosing my skills, hopefully i will be doing some vouluntary work while i am at university so that should not be a problem. A+ N+, studied the books they are not much of a challenge and dont want to waste time in taking exams. Just saving up the money to go to india really.
     
  7. craigie

    craigie Terabyte Poster

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    I wish you the best of luck in India, it will be one hell of an experience!

    In relation to the Certifications, one of the most important factors are if you don't use it then you loose it.

    Most of us with MCSE's don't implement new sites everyday and re-design our AD infrastrucutures but we do know the fundamentals behind them.

    Worst case scenario if the qualifications hamper your career in the future, just take them off your CV.
     
    Certifications: CCA | CCENT | CCNA | CCNA:S | HP APC | HP ASE | ITILv3 | MCP | MCDST | MCITP: EA | MCTS:Vista | MCTS:Exch '07 | MCSA 2003 | MCSA:M 2003 | MCSA 2008 | MCSE | VCP5-DT | VCP4-DCV | VCP5-DCV | VCAP5-DCA | VCAP5-DCD | VMTSP | VTSP 4 | VTSP 5
  8. Tnim

    Tnim New Member

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    That is true, if you dont use it, you will loose it. What i need at the moment is a motivation, the mentality to move forward, this will mentally help me and motivate me to go forward. At the end of the day even if you have no experience, you have a piece of paper that says that you learned and know something.

    Basically if this will get me my first job in a good company after my university, it would have been worth it.

    I will keep you guys updated on whats happening in india
     
  9. dmarsh
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    dmarsh Petabyte Poster

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    Its not a case of don't use it, lose it, as Jim says, chances are you will never have it, these places rely on braindumps, probably none of their students would pass otherwise.

    If you can afford the flight and hotel and time off, I'm sure you could buy a CBT and study 24/7 in your own home with a lab.

    Look around the forums about the 291 exam, look at figures for MCSE, MCPD, CCNP/CCIE, SCJP, RHCE, etc, plenty of cert exams with high failure rates, in fact take out the braindumpers and its by no means a sure bet, even for experienced, intelligent hard working people that want it.

    Good idea, why not work in IT evenings and weekends or during holidays ? Why not look for placements or internships ? Why not self sudy, create a home lab and cert along with experience as you work and study ?

    India's cheap, but its not that cheap, I'd be very surprised if you got those many hours of quality tuition. If its not good tuition then it will still be wasted money and a wasted trip. You'll end up with a bunch of braindumped certs and most employers will look at you with suspicion. Microsoft changed their policy to try to discourage westerners taking such courses, but apparently you can still cert in india but must fill out a form at the test center.

    These sorts of things are why I don't think the cert industry really cares about wiping out braindumpers and I have made this point to BM before.
     
  10. BosonMichael
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    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    Tnim, they're right. All you'll end up with is a bunch of braindumped certs, and you'll look *way* overcertified for your experience level. Contrary to what you believe, being overcertified is NOT a good thing... it can make you look *less* attractive to employers.

    I agree. They've got the tools at their disposal, but they don't seem to want to use them. The mind boggles.
     
    Last edited: May 24, 2010
    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. Tnim

    Tnim New Member

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    I thought i'll update this thread, i am doing my mcse course at the moment, its going well, there is lots of lab work, lessons are 4 hours a day 5 days a week

    First exam passed: 70-270 :D

    i can see that its getting hard, but i know that i am more than able to cope
     

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