LiquidMasterSwords
All Star
we started on the opposite, im watchin professor messer's videos on youtube.
bet ima get my cert first nikka
lol nah goodluck breh.
Lol nah you too. When did you start watching those videos?
IT Certifications and Careers (Official Discussion Thread)
- Thread starter fendi_mane
- Start date
Lol nah you too. When did you start watching those videos?
Find and take apart an old pc if you have one. When you are done with the book and videos start going through the prof Messer pop quiz questions. I would go through 30 questions a day. Do this up until the test to stay sharp.
Taking practice exams from different sources are also helpful. The biggest hurdle I had with the exams was the terminology and wording of the exam questions. Practice exams can help clear this up.
I stress reading the book twice because most of the material (even some of the small seemingly irrelevant details) can find its way onto the exam. You'll know that you are ready for the test when you feel like
while going through all of the practice exam/pop quiz questions (book and online).Also it is best to take both tests on different days.
Lol nah you too. When did you start watching those videos?
this morning
I'm a good student and I been doin "computer stuff" so I'm confident.. but payin $350 to take a test means I ain't taking no chances
I'm also shooting for mid/late August
Data-Hawk
I have no strings on me.
Even though its been about 7 yrs since I took the A+ and I know the test has changed, hitting up a couple of non-cert sites will help, so you aren't always in test taking mode and trying to memorize things.
Here's a couple:
AnandTech
Tom's Hardware: Hardware News, Tests and Reviews
HARDOCP - HardOCP Computer Hardware Reviews and News
World Leader in Visual Computing Technologies | NVIDIA
HowStuffWorks "Tech"
Product reviews and prices, software downloads, and tech news - CNET
Technology News | ZDNet
Here's a couple:
AnandTech
Tom's Hardware: Hardware News, Tests and Reviews
HARDOCP - HardOCP Computer Hardware Reviews and News
World Leader in Visual Computing Technologies | NVIDIA
HowStuffWorks "Tech"
Product reviews and prices, software downloads, and tech news - CNET
Technology News | ZDNet
ahomeplateslugger
Superstar
the software programmer at my job told me you can just pick up a book and study. practice programming at home until you feel comfortable with it.
but like data-hawk said, it might be better to take some classes. im sure your local community college has a intro to programming class.
if you dont wanna deal with school then just pick up a java/ruby book and read it and practice it.
it took me about 3 months but that's because my job had me working 12 hour shifts for a month at the time i started the book. if you consistently score over 90% on the practice exams then you should be good.
God bless you brehFastEddie215
Rookie
can watching professor messer videos and studying a bunch of practice questions be enough to pass the exam? I find that the info in the prof messer videos are easier to remember than having to read from the books
tofuspeedstar
Bosozoku Champion
3 weeks. Most of it is common sense.
FreshFromATL
Self Made
Damn quality thread...reps and daps for everyone when I get home.
the Indians are kinda fukking the game up at the moment. the higher-skilled positions in IT are now full of them and they have no problem taking less pay than an American would for the same work.
they're on top of their shyt too, so competition for computer/software work is strong right now.
that being said, you can still can make a decent buck in the field. E-commerce and supply chain technical work is booming in the south. most times you can get an entry level position in one of those areas with just a few years of help desk experience, and compensation at most of those companies isn't bad at all.
they're on top of their shyt too, so competition for computer/software work is strong right now.
that being said, you can still can make a decent buck in the field. E-commerce and supply chain technical work is booming in the south. most times you can get an entry level position in one of those areas with just a few years of help desk experience, and compensation at most of those companies isn't bad at all.
Unless you can acquire really hard to find skills fairly early on your career IT for the most part is an dead end field. Especially if you get stuck working for an company that almost never upgrades their technology. Plan on upgrading your skills on your own dime just to get ahead and even that's not an guarantee.
IT Skills: Jumping the Chasm - Computerworld
IT Skills: Jumping the Chasm - Computerworld
JT is being a bit pessimistic(compared to other career fields, IT is still better than most for the foreseeable future). But I will say this - A+ is pretty worthless. You have four options if you want close to guaranteed success in IT and just in general as they can open up other areas outside of IT(some of these you can do in tandem for even greater success).
First, get a bachelors in Business, Comp Info Sys, Computer Science etc.
Second, find a way to pay for a CCNA or MCSA (or maybe something more specilized like VMWARE or SQL) boot camp (save, borrow or take out a school loan - sign up for a semester at a Community College and take out a loan that will give you a few thousand extra in your pocket). It will be the best investment you will ever make (from speaking to IT/COMM guys I know).
Third, if you want to start low, skip A+ altogether and go straight to something relevant - Network+/CCENT or MCITP (I suggest finding a boot camp for the latter).
Your fourth and last option is you go into the military(find a reserve or guard unit near you) get a good ASVAP score(which isn't really hard) and tell your recruiter you only want a COMM job.
First, get a bachelors in Business, Comp Info Sys, Computer Science etc.
Second, find a way to pay for a CCNA or MCSA (or maybe something more specilized like VMWARE or SQL) boot camp (save, borrow or take out a school loan - sign up for a semester at a Community College and take out a loan that will give you a few thousand extra in your pocket). It will be the best investment you will ever make (from speaking to IT/COMM guys I know).
Third, if you want to start low, skip A+ altogether and go straight to something relevant - Network+/CCENT or MCITP (I suggest finding a boot camp for the latter).
Your fourth and last option is you go into the military(find a reserve or guard unit near you) get a good ASVAP score(which isn't really hard) and tell your recruiter you only want a COMM job.
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tofuspeedstar
Bosozoku Champion
I disagree on A+ being a useless certification in the beginning, when you're just starting out having the A+ cert gives you some credibility when you're interviewing for a helpdesk position where most people start in IT. Because most of the people in this thread I've seen posting are asking questions regarding on how to break into the field.
However as you work your way up to Network Admin, Server Admin, etc...then yes it becomes worthless, and that's where the Network+/Security certs take over.
Because there's nobody that will hire you straight into a Network admin type role w/o any experience, and most people that move into that position started at the helpdesk/Desktop Support position, in my experience there's no skipping positions in the IT field, you gotta start at the bottom and work your way up. Of course if you do go to college for MIS/CS or join the military then I agree, skip the A+ cert. But if you aren't going that route and looking to start from scratch the A+ can go a long way in negotiating pay for those entry level help desk jobs.
Just my .02 brehs.
However as you work your way up to Network Admin, Server Admin, etc...then yes it becomes worthless, and that's where the Network+/Security certs take over.
Because there's nobody that will hire you straight into a Network admin type role w/o any experience, and most people that move into that position started at the helpdesk/Desktop Support position, in my experience there's no skipping positions in the IT field, you gotta start at the bottom and work your way up. Of course if you do go to college for MIS/CS or join the military then I agree, skip the A+ cert. But if you aren't going that route and looking to start from scratch the A+ can go a long way in negotiating pay for those entry level help desk jobs.
Just my .02 brehs.