IT Certifications and Careers (Official Discussion Thread)

Disgustya Stallone · Feb 12, 2015

G-Zeus said:
is "Tech Lead" really a good title?

that's my current tittle.. ended on my lap 1 month after i started my new job.. i outperformed the old tech lead..

no extra $ tho technically i got 12k bonus more.. but no yearly extra

definitely a good thing... shows progression upwards, and that you're a leader

Disgustya Stallone · Feb 12, 2015

havent checked this thread in a long minute... seems like most of the recent convo is around entry/mid level sh*t

anyone been in the game a while? i've been doing IT for 15+ years at this point, been an architect the last few years just pushed to sr enterprise architect

curious if anyone has any thoughts on what's next... i been thinking director level or chief architect level sh*t for a midsize company or organization... anyone that high up?

i've been on the seller side my whole career... curious about the buyer side

Bernie Madoff · Feb 13, 2015

Bernie Madoff said:
I'm going to go through all the Professor Messer videos on youtube and put all the notes and pictures from the video into note form on a blog. I think it will be a lot easier for me to study without having to go through each video every time I want to get some information.

http://studyforyourcerts.blogspot.com/

After I go through all of Messer's videos I'm going to obtain this book

and post whatever study guides I can online with it. I was aiming at having this A+ in May but after talking to some people I think I can be ready for it in about 45 days, we'll see though

33 videos (1/2 way through Messers 801 a+ series) Honestly most of this shyt I've known since I was like 16, but i'm going to continue to keep going through each video so I don't miss anything.

some of the wiring and ip shyt i will need to focus on though, it seems thats where he's headed now with the lessons

semtex · Feb 13, 2015

1970's Heron Flow said:
havent checked this thread in a long minute... seems like most of the recent convo is around entry/mid level sh*t

anyone been in the game a while? i've been doing IT for 15+ years at this point, been an architect the last few years just pushed to sr enterprise architect

curious if anyone has any thoughts on what's next... i been thinking director level or chief architect level sh*t for a midsize company or organization... anyone that high up?

i've been on the seller side my whole career... curious about the buyer side

an architect. I'm heading the architect route. It'll be a long time from now tho

Silver Surfer · Feb 14, 2015

1970's Heron Flow said:
havent checked this thread in a long minute... seems like most of the recent convo is around entry/mid level sh*t

anyone been in the game a while? i've been doing IT for 15+ years at this point, been an architect the last few years just pushed to sr enterprise architect

curious if anyone has any thoughts on what's next... i been thinking director level or chief architect level sh*t for a midsize company or organization... anyone that high up?

i've been on the seller side my whole career... curious about the buyer side

That's next levels for you

I been in the game going on 8 years

Im two levels below an architect as far as my company goes...even though I now get some emails for architect jobs

Mook · Feb 15, 2015

http://www.cybrary.it/

Ice_MF_Mike · Feb 15, 2015

1970's Heron Flow said:
havent checked this thread in a long minute... seems like most of the recent convo is around entry/mid level sh*t

anyone been in the game a while? i've been doing IT for 15+ years at this point, been an architect the last few years just pushed to sr enterprise architect

curious if anyone has any thoughts on what's next... i been thinking director level or chief architect level sh*t for a midsize company or organization... anyone that high up?

i've been on the seller side my whole career... curious about the buyer side

Im in the same boat as you. And honestly, you have likely collected alot of great knowledge from the many different organizations you have worked with, as well as great contacts. I dont see any reason why you cant flip over to the buyer side and leverage your knowledge there. I think thats my plan down the road though i am still enjoying the sales engineering side of things currently.

Patent Leather AJ 1s · Feb 15, 2015

anyone here doing UX or ID?

AyBrehHam Linkin · Feb 15, 2015

Sup guys, I was browsing this forum and found this thread and it is a damn gold mine. I'm working on my two year associates in Applied Science in my colleges Network Security Specialist program and I am in my first semester. Here are my list of classes in the program:

1st Semester:
Windows Client, Python Programming, Intro to Cisco Networking, Exploration of IT(Online), and IT Security Awareness(Online).

2nd Semester:
Windows Server, Linux Server, English 2, Psychology of Human Relations, Windows Powershell, and Cisco Networking 2

3rd Semester:
Intrusion Detection Systems, Introduction to Computer Forensics, Preparation for an IT Career, Business Ethics, Technical Reporting, Emerging Trends in Security

4th Semester:
Penetration Testing/Network Defense, Firewall/VPN Technologies, Network Security Design, Network Security Internship, Contemporary American Society, and I have to choose between 4 electives. Cisco Networking 3, VOIP Convergence Fundamentals, Java Programming, and Website Development-XHTML

And the kicker, this whole program is gonna be like 6500 dollars about.

I plan on getting a Help Desk or Desktop support job in the next few weeks, because I have learned so damn much from just the first month it's crazy. There are already a good amount of people in my program that have already learned enough info to have jobs, from Help Desk to Networkers, there are even people already network admins, from just the first month of the semester with out certificates lol. I plan on working that Help Desk or Desktop support job until I start my Network Security Internship my 4th semester. Once I finish off my 2 online classes that end in the middle of this semester, I'm going to study for and take the A+ and then do the same for the Network+ in the summer.

Here is where my questions begin, after those two certificates I mentioned above, what are some good ones that delve into security that you guys recommend, or should I put off the security ones and look at others? And 2nd, my windows client class this semester directly gets me ready to take the MCSA Exam 70-410, is it worthwhile to take it or should I not? also what are ways I can truly "show out" once I get this Help Desk job? and this thread made me realize that experience is valued over education, I know I will be working a Help Desk job while I'm in school and I will be in a Network Security Internship. So that is almost 2 years of Help Desk Experience and 6 months of Network Security experience. what kinda jobs will that allow me to target once I graduate?

Nomadum · Feb 15, 2015

B_Da_Mang89 said:
Sup guys, I was browsing this forum and found this thread and it is a damn gold mine. I'm working on my two year associates in Applied Science in my colleges Network Security Specialist program and I am in my first semester. Here are my list of classes in the program:

1st Semester:
Windows Client, Python Programming, Intro to Cisco Networking, Exploration of IT(Online), and IT Security Awareness(Online).

2nd Semester:
Windows Server, Linux Server, English 2, Psychology of Human Relations, Windows Powershell, and Cisco Networking 2

3rd Semester:
Intrusion Detection Systems, Introduction to Computer Forensics, Preparation for an IT Career, Business Ethics, Technical Reporting, Emerging Trends in Security

4th Semester:
Penetration Testing/Network Defense, Firewall/VPN Technologies, Network Security Design, Network Security Internship, Contemporary American Society, and I have to choose between 4 electives. Cisco Networking 3, VOIP Convergence Fundamentals, Java Programming, and Website Development-XHTML

And the kicker, this whole program is gonna be like 6500 dollars about.

I plan on getting a Help Desk or Desktop support job in the next few weeks, because I have learned so damn much from just the first month it's crazy. There are already a good amount of people in my program that have already learned enough info to have jobs, from Help Desk to Networkers, there are even people already network admins, from just the first month of the semester with out certificates lol. I plan on working that Help Desk or Desktop support job until I start my Network Security Internship my 4th semester. Once I finish off my 2 online classes that end in the middle of this semester, I'm going to study for and take the A+ and then do the same for the Network+ in the summer.

Here is where my questions begin, after those two certificates I mentioned above, what are some good ones that delve into security that you guys recommend, or should I put off the security ones and look at others? And 2nd, my windows client class this semester directly gets me ready to take the MCSA Exam 70-410, is it worthwhile to take it or should I not? also what are ways I can truly "show out" once I get this Help Desk job? and this thread made me realize that experience is valued over education, I know I will be working a Help Desk job while I'm in school and I will be in a Network Security Internship. So that is almost 2 years of Help Desk Experience and 6 months of Network Security experience. what kinda jobs will that allow me to target once I graduate?

I am in the same boat as you in the sense that I am going to be doing entry level certs to get my foot in the door. but for security I'd advise going to CompTIA's site and looking at the cert map. the few certs dealing with security that I can think about off top is;
*Security+
*CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)

AyBrehHam Linkin · Feb 15, 2015

thanks dude, certs were among my biggest concerns.

Nomadum · Feb 15, 2015

B_Da_Mang89 said:
thanks dude, certs were among my biggest concerns.

Going to tell you what I've been being told since I began courses this year, what employers look for in IT individuals is the following (and in this order)
1> Experience
2> Certifications
3> Education

Now, a degree helps one's break through the "glass ceiling". the Glass Ceiling is when you reach the apex of your particular job's ladder for your department and is restricted from advancing due to lack of knowledge, or lack of education or both. a degree is the difference between being a subordinate and a superior.

then next up is certifications, a certification is like medals on the chest of a soldier. it draws attention to your resume and it makes more people take notice of you. but it has it's limits as well, if you have a cert but no experience to back it, some employers might over-look your resume for someone who they considered more "qualified". and by "more qualified" I mean have experience.

the best way to combat this is do what you've touched upon in your posting, do internships or work in jobs that help you gain experience for the particular field you're going into within the IT world. so if you are focusing on security try you hardest to find work or internships doing security work. and although this might seemed crazy to say, trust me that it will benefit you in the long run.... If you have to work for free doing your internship, work like they're paying you a million dollars. Experience will trump education ALWAYS. but Experience coupled with the proper Certifications will net you more work offers and more money.

AyBrehHam Linkin · Feb 15, 2015

Nomadum said:
If you have to work for free doing your internship, work like they're paying you a million dollars.

lol yeah bro, fully expecting that internship my 4th semester to have no pay. :francis:

but like you said, gonna have to go ham

Nomadum · Feb 15, 2015

B_Da_Mang89 said:
lol yeah bro, fully expecting that internship my 4th semester to have no pay. but like you said, gonna have to go ham

last bit of advice then I'll jump down off my pulpit. READ-READ-Experiment-READ.

just reading the course material is sufficient but to truly grab the bull by the horns, read all you can outside of course material that's related to the subject at hand (Blogspot, News Articles, books) and also try using VM (Virtual Machines) to help you test out theories and understandings to help you better grasp the information. good luck homie! and stick with it even when it's getting tough.

AyBrehHam Linkin · Feb 15, 2015

Nomadum said:
last bit of advice then I'll jump down off my pulpit. READ-READ-Experiment-READ.

just reading the course material is sufficient but to truly grab the bull by the horns, read all you can outside of course material that's related to the subject at hand (Blogspot, News Articles, books) and also try using VM (Virtual Machines) to help you test out theories and understandings to help you better grasp the information. good luck homie! and stick with it even when it's getting tough.

fosho on that reading shyt, i was never the studying for hours type until i started this program. now I stay in my textbooks :wow:

. and luckily in the Windows Client class I've learned how to set up VMs and we will be working with VMs all semester.

IT Certifications and Careers (Official Discussion Thread)

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Disgustya Stallone

Man Who Owns 2 Microwaves

Disgustya Stallone

Man Who Owns 2 Microwaves

Bernie Madoff

Banned

semtex

:)

Silver Surfer

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Mook

We should all strive to be like Mr. Rogers.

Ice_MF_Mike

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AyBrehHam Linkin

First Black Brehsident

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Nomadum

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