IT Certifications and Careers (Official Discussion Thread)

[Gallo]

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.

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.

You may be right, I'm not an IT/COMM person I just know quite a few and parrot what they say.

 

[No Homo]

Anyone here have their own consulting business or IT biz?? Just curious

 

[ahomeplateslugger]

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

i think you can pass doing just those two. just make sure you score over 90% on your practice exams consistently and you'll be good. my A+ test had a lot of customer service and OS questions.

Anyone here have their own consulting business or IT biz?? Just curious

i think most techs have one. i get hit up every once in a while to install an anti-virus program, upgrade an OS or upgrade their RAM.

 

[humble Hermit]

Studying for my A+ cert. I work for Xerox and they have free classes online sync with University of Pheonix. Figured I'd start with help desk stuff then get some more certs.

 

[AgentGrey]

so is it safe to say a military education > certs/bachelor degree?

 

[Silver Surfer]

so is it safe to say a military education > certs/bachelor degree?

nope.....80% now you cant even get in the door without that paper

 

[Q2EEzY]

I'm in QA right now, and i want to get into automated testing, I heard C# is a good language to learn for that, or should i learn something else?

I got a business degree in IS so i have some programming experience from some of my classes but nothing substantial

 

[Silver Surfer]

I'm in QA right now, and i want to get into automated testing, I heard C# is a good language to learn for that, or should i learn something else?

I got a business degree in IS so i have some programming experience from some of my classes but nothing substantial

C# is just M$'s version of Java..google java


For the enterprise, Java and Microsoft's .NET rule. However, Java has the edge, as it is No. 1 language in terms of number of developers. According to Evans Data, there are more than 9 million Java developers in the world. That means there are tons of Java applications out there that will have to be supported, updated and maintained. Furthermore, Java is the language of the Android mobile operating system. Android provides the tools and APIs necessary to begin developing applications for the Android OS using the Java programming language. Java ranks No. 1 on the TIOBE Programming Community Index for June 2010 (after a brief stint at No. 2, behind C, in May). The need for Java developers to build new Java applications is not about to wane.

 

[Data-Hawk]

I'm in QA right now, and i want to get into automated testing, I heard C# is a good language to learn for that, or should i learn something else?

I got a business degree in IS so i have some programming experience from some of my classes but nothing substantial

Java and C# are your best bets and once you learn one you, you know about 70% - 80% of the other.


Also throw in vbscript if you will be doing automated testing with HP QTP/QC. Mobile automated testing is also picking up, we use DeviceAnywhere @ work( even though it sucks!!! )

 

[Q2EEzY]

I took a java class in college, that stuff was

It didn't help that the instructor was a British cacksucker.

 

[Data-Hawk]

Also for those who are looking to teach themself programming, the biggest hurdle is actually completing a project by yourself or with help. Which is why I recommend starting a project you actually enjoy and simple games are the most rewarding.

I recommend C#/XNA(Which is just a wrapper around Directx), and try out a small 2D side scrolling game, yeah theres alittle Math involve but if you remeber the X cordinate is left/right and Y is up and down you shoudn't have a problem.


Welcome - RB Whitaker's Wiki ( Good intro to C# and XNA )
App Hub - welcome: 2d game development tutorial

 

[Spatial Paradox]

Props for those links. I'm about to apply for grad school and go for my master's in computer science. Eventually, I'd like to get into game programming/development, so that seems like a good first step. Plus, I've been slowly learning C# recently, so this'll definitely help.

Still, I might hold off on actually jumping into using C#/XNA to make simple games for awhile while I finish this book on iOS Programming. I sometimes think I lack focus, so I'm trying to work on that and stick with learning one thing at a time.

 

[tofuspeedstar]

Anyone here have their own consulting business or IT biz?? Just curious

Always doing stuff on the side playa.

 

[LiquidMasterSwords]

Always doing stuff on the side playa.

Where/how did you start, you have a legitimate company, or you hang up fliers in the neighborhoods, word of mouth, newspaper ads etc.?

 

[TLR Is Mental Poison]

Is it possible to do desktop support part time/nights?

I am making decent $$$ right now in engineering but the field I went into is limited. Thinking about making that switch brehs. Lookin to do that network admin thing. I dont have any experience beyond setting up a real basic network in my apartment. But I don't want to start 100% from the bottom, because I am trying to start a family + settle down and shyt in the next year or two.

I know a few dudes who started in that desk job realm and made the leap from there. Have a few friends + family in that world too. But I guess my question is, whats the best way for a grown dude to make the switch?