IT Certifications and Careers (Official Discussion Thread)

[Ice_MF_Mike]

I always search job ads for roles and see what certs they require. Then I get those certs and use them to finesse companies for jobs or higher pay. For example I know lots of companies that are big on ITIL methodology. So I went out and got that piece of crap ITIL Foundation certification despite having zero interest in it. Just because I kept seeing it on job ads.

This. Certs arent for you. They are for those HR folks who put them in the job descriptions. Noone really gives a shyt about them once you are in the thick of the interview process. But they are a necessary evil. The one benefit is it does force you to learn something and you likely will retain some of it as well.

 

[JT-Money]

This. Certs arent for you. They are for those HR folks who put them in the job descriptions. Noone really gives a shyt about them once you are in the thick of the interview process. But they are a necessary evil. The one benefit is it does force you to learn something and you likely will retain some of it as well.

It's all one big game to these companies. All they care about is how people look on paper. You look the part on paper and talk a bunch of shyt during the interview. And that's all they care about.

Some of the biggest idiots I've ran across look like world beaters on paper. And get their resumes professionally done along with having a long list of certifications. Yet couldn't plug in a keyboard and mouse. Once I learned the game was rigged I stopped killing myself to learn everything. And started finessing these companies instead.

 

[dat aint da same sandwich]

 

[Ice_MF_Mike]

It's all one big game to these companies. All they care about is how people look on paper. You look the part on paper and talk a bunch of shyt during the interview. And that's all they care about.

Some of the biggest idiots I've ran across look like world beaters on paper. And get their resumes professionally done along with having a long list of certifications. Yet couldn't plug in a keyboard and mouse. Once I learned the game was rigged I stopped killing myself to learn everything. And started finessing these companies instead.

Yup. Got to play the game.

 

[aXiom]

I am burnt the fukk out fellas. Seriously considering turning in my two weeks and taking a break from working for at least 6 months.

Yo.. I been feeling this way for a few months now.. I got some airline and hotel points to burn and a shytload of vacation days.. problem is I can't really take 2-3 weeks straight vacation, but I need to disconnect for a bit.. Gonna try this nomad shyt for a few weeks.. If they got a problem with it they're either gonna have to deal with it or fire me.. I'll just interview while travelling.

 

[ryda518]

Yo.. I been feeling this way for a few months now.. I got some airline and hotel points to burn and a shytload of vacation days.. problem is I can't really take 2-3 weeks straight vacation, but I need to disconnect for a bit.. Gonna try this nomad shyt for a few weeks.. If they got a problem with it they're either gonna have to deal with it or fire me.. I'll just interview while travelling.

A month ago I wanted to leave my contract for a full time gig

but then the idea of doing a contract after contract and then taking a month or two or three off is really starting to look appealing

I love the idea of doing new things and if I get a cert every time I do a contract the money will come. I’ll just have to just do my own insurance or probably stick with the same recruitment company I’m with now

 

[Mirin4rmfar]

A month ago I wanted to leave my contract for a full time gig

but then the idea of doing a contract after contract and then taking a month or two or three off is really starting to look appealing

I love the idea of doing new things and if I get a cert every time I do a contract the money will come. I’ll just have to just do my own insurance or probably stick with the same recruitment company I’m with now

How easy is it to get contracts? For example, I would love to be able multiple contracts at once. Like maybe one contract they want me to I.T project management, maybe another they want to me to do compliance. I will prefer something like that over what I am doing now. Maybe do privacy management next. That would be the lifestyle I would want. Then if I do want to take a month off I can.

I am bored of my current job.

 

[Lord Z]

How easy is it to get contracts? For example, I would love to be able multiple contracts at once. Like maybe one contract they want me to I.T project management, maybe another they want to me to do compliance. I will prefer something like that over what I am doing now. Maybe do privacy management next. That would be the lifestyle I would want. Then if I do want to take a month off I can.

I am bored of my current job.

That's exactly my vision within the next 2 years : have multiple contracts on the go since I can cover various areas : IT governance, Compliance, Cloud Sec, Privacy...

Getting the contracts can be easy depending on what recruiter you know . One thing we don't talk about enough here is maintaining a good relationship with Real recruiters, dudes that have put their hours in and that can get you somewhere . You just have to make sure that you keep in touch with 3 or 4 of them, 2 emails a year will do the job. I've set a reminder in my calendar and I reach out to all of them at the same time same message and everything
The real issue is that everybody wants you full time (up to 1 year contracts). The way these devils are, believe me, they will work your ass like a dog if you're on a contract . It's almost like they are mad that you're making real money

At the same time, I'm in Canada but I've also seen the same approach from NY recruiters .

 

[ryda518]

How easy is it to get contracts? For example, I would love to be able multiple contracts at once. Like maybe one contract they want me to I.T project management, maybe another they want to me to do compliance. I will prefer something like that over what I am doing now. Maybe do privacy management next. That would be the lifestyle I would want. Then if I do want to take a month off I can.

I am bored of my current job.

I got my contract with one phone interview lol

The thing is that right now lots of companies are opening back up and they needed people like yesterday lol

it’s probably different for me because I’m a few jobs and certs in it but my email gets flooded with nothing but contract jobs. Companies will rather take a low risk high reward contractor than anything else

and the idea of working a full time job until retirement feels like such an old school idea

get the job and learn the skills and bounce

 

[Steel]

Got my A+ cert a couple of weeks ago. Any suggestions on what cert I should work on next? Ive been applying trying to get some experience as fast as I can.

I would start looking at help desk/ desktop support positions. What are your trying to specialize in? Brush up on Microsoft 365 and AD maybe some powershell scripting too. CCNA would be my next cert. If your motivated you can bang it out in 2 months.

 

[deeman]

I would start looking at help desk/ desktop support positions. What are your trying to specialize in? Brush up on Microsoft 365 and AD maybe some powershell scripting too. CCNA would be my next cert. If your motivated you can bang it out in 2 months.

Good looks, Im deciding between cloud and security as the top 2.

 

[L&HH]

Got my A+ cert a couple of weeks ago. Any suggestions on what cert I should work on next? Ive been applying trying to get some experience as fast as I can.

How long it take you to study? Any of y'all know how I can finesse the A+ in a few days?

 

[deeman]

How long it take you to study? Any of y'all know how I can finesse the A+ in a few days?

it took me about a month and a half for each section. You can probably do it quicker if you have a lot of free time. I got a full time job so it took a lil longer. I pretty much went after the course twice before taking the test l.

 

[L&HH]

it took me about a month and a half for each section. You can probably do it quicker if you have a lot of free time. I got a full time job so it took a lil longer. I pretty much went after the course twice before taking the test l.

Basically just want to know if I can cram study in a few days or are there exams out there that are basically the test you can study?

 

[deeman]

Basically just want to know if I can cram study in a few days or are there exams out there that are basically the test you can study?

Dion training has some pretty good practice test that are close to the exam. It’s like 15 bucks for each test. It’s possible to cram though. 1 tip I’ll give you is the way they present some questions on the actual exam can be pretty vague.

I recommend dion training because he goes over performance based questions you’ll see on the exam as well.