To do MCDST or not to do MCDST

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Hello,

I am currently debating to do a MCDST next year, i have no real life experience, i am studying a BTEC National level 3 at college. While doing this qualification i have the chance to utilize the Microsoft Academy for free and i have a whole year at college to study for the MCDST but i do also get the chance to do the A+ and Network+ as well which i have heard being thrown around the forums. The tutors think that the A+ and Network+ are "below" me but i think its best to get some impartial advice to best manage my next year. I have some Microsoft Office Specialist qualifications and i am going to get all of them by September including the 2 expert ones.

Which way would be the best route to take?

 

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Welcome to CF, I'd say go for the A+ cert first and then the N+ as both certs would give you a solid grounding in the entrance field of IT support. Cheerio and best wishes

 

Yes A+, N+ then MCDST.

And get a job whilst doing them.

 

Certifications aren't designed to give you knowledge... certifications are designed to impress potential employers. Thus, if you have no real-world IT experience, the A+, Network+ and MCDST aren't below you... they're EXACTLY what you need to be pursuing so that you can get your first entry-level IT job. In fact... you should NOT progress further than those three certifications until you get some real-world experience under your belt.

If you can get an entry-level IT job NOW, even part-time, I would strongly encourage you to do so. Experience is what employers are looking for... certifications merely give you a slight advantage when experience levels are equal.

 

Well to be honest i still have not decided to get a job or do higher education full time like a HND or a Degree but i will definetly do some form of higher education be it full time or part time. How much do employees rate work experience (the unpaid kind) because it is hard to find a part time job which is not stocking shelves.

 

You could do work experience on your HND or Degree but remember no qualification will gaurantee you a job.

 

lol stop trying to put me down But no nothing will "gaurantee" a job but degree will certainly help me get places.

Realistically i could probably do the A+ and N+ in two weeks part time since i have already done 80% of what i understand the qualifications to require.

 

IT work experience of any kind is valuable... as long as it's work and not "helping your friends and family with their computers".

Unfortunately, stocking shelves won't get you experience. That said, there ARE part-time jobs available... tons of small companies who can't afford a full-time tech, but would be willing to take you on for a few hours per week. Excellent opportunity for experience.

 

in two weeks, thats 3 exams and atleast £370 for all exams. Thats impressive.

I am not trying to put you down, just being realistic thats all as I have learned from my mistakes i,e I came out of uni and thought I would get a networking job and get good pay. Unfortunatley it doesn't work like that anymore. You need to start at the bottom probably on about 14k untill experience is gained.

 

A degree will simply make it slightly easier to get an entry-level job. Without experience, you're still going for an entry-level job... with or without degree.

 

The BTEC Course has been designed to cover most of the work needed to gain the A+ and Network+ and all the qualifications are Free since i am under 18.

 

that good then