New member looking for advice.

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Hey guys,
I'm a new member, but am not new to the site. For a few months now, I have been looking to this site for short term advice and now have some long term questions. I apologize for any ignorance that I bring, and assure you that I learn fast. So please be patient with me.

I have recently started working as a computer repair tech for a small company down the road. When I went into the job, I thought (much like everyone my age does) I knew everything about computers there was to know. Of course, I was completely wrong. In the past two months I have learned more than in the year and a half of classes I had taken.

In my time at this job, I have really grown to like the work environment and would like to ensure future positions in higher level and higher pay opportunities. I realize that certification is a huge part of the IT field and would like to get started right away in my studies. Now I have already got my Strata: IT Certification (which I believe was a total waste of money) and plan on having my A+ Certification within the next month. If I can manage, I am going to cram for the Network + and hopefully get it before they change to the three year plan in 2011.

Here is where I need some help. In five years, I would like to have a respectable set of certifications to my name. As of now, list is set to include A+ and N+. If my goal were to be a network administrator or an IT support specialist, what certifications should I aim for? I am aware there are tons of different certifications, and as such, tons of different answers. But if we could narrow it down to the most widely accepted certifications, that would be great.

Thanks for your help, It has provided unmeasurable support in my endeavors. I hope to be able to contribute to the community soon.

 

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Hi and welcome to CF and congrats on the new job. To be honest you're pretty much on the right track in terms of your career aspirations and certs you're working on achieving.

The only other thing I would add is that once you've accumulated much experience then look for a role in 1st line network support. Finally, get some good network books and build yourself a lab using a Cisco switch and router.

Hands on practical experience would get you places jobwise. Also after achieving the N+ start on the CCNA cert which concentrates on IT data networks and telecomms via Cisco. Best wishes and keep to your certs plan and you'd be fine.

 

At this point in your career, A+ and Network+ is about as far as I'd recommend. The MCDST is also worthwhile, but the MCDST exams are retiring on March 31, 2011, so you'd have to get it by then. Alternatively, you might consider the MCTS and MCITP certifications for Windows Vista and/or Windows 7.

I'd hold off on getting any certifications beyond those. With the exception of entry-level certifications (such as the A+, Network+, and MCDST), certifications are designed to show what you can already do... not what you want to be doing. As such, you should get a bit of experience under your belt before proceeding further down the certification road.