IT Certifications and Careers (Official Discussion Thread)

[L&HH]

I’m in my A+ class right now. When I’m done with the program i signed up for I will have my A+, Network+, Security+, CASP, CCENT, CCNA, MS Windows 10, MCS Server 2012, and a ethical hacker cert

I’m in the NYC market. Do y’all think I can hit 6 figs or close to it by this time next year?

If you get all those certs you shouldn't be asking for anything less than 6. But I think doing all of those in a short time is a bit of overkill and I think some of them are redundant. Also I'm not necessarily sure it'd be a good idea to stuff all of them in your resume and not have the equivalent experience. In reality you should probably just get the A+ and one other (Sec+ maybe) and get on the job hunt. Start with a $55k-$65k a year job to start making money and getting experience now (also a clearance too). Then work on 1 or 2 of the other ones while working and then applying for a new position next year.

To some people it's pointless to get the Net+ and you should just get the CCNA. You can just skip the Net+ and do the two part CCNA exam where you get the CCENT first and then do the 2nd part of the test within 3 years and you'll get the full CCNA.

Also my comment is based on who's paying for it. The Comptia certs are od expensive. The CCNET ($160) is half the cost of the Net+ ($300+) and is probably more valuable and as I said gets you halfway through to your CCNA.

Same thing with the Windows 10 and MCS server 2012. I'd just skip those entirely and go for Azure Admin and Solutions Architect.

Also if all you're looking to do is make money there's a much more streamlined approach then just braindumping yourself with all those certs. You can just get the A+ and go into linux or cloud (aws/azure) and you'll make the 6 figures.

 

[Collateral]

If you get all those certs you shouldn't be asking for anything less than 6. But I think doing all of those in a short time is a bit of overkill and I think some of them are redundant. Also I'm not necessarily sure it'd be a good idea to stuff all of them in your resume and not have the equivalent experience. In reality you should probably just get the A+ and one other (Sec+ maybe) and get on the job hunt. Start with a $55k-$65k a year job to start making money and getting experience now (also a clearance too). Then work on 1 or 2 of the other ones while working and then applying for a new position next year.

To some people it's pointless to get the Net+ and you should just get the CCNA. You can just skip the Net+ and do the two part CCNA exam where you get the CCENT first and then do the 2nd part of the test within 3 years and you'll get the full CCNA.

Also my comment is based on who's paying for it. The Comptia certs are od expensive. The CCNET ($160) is half the cost of the Net+ ($300+) and is probably more valuable and as I said gets you halfway through to your CCNA.

Same thing with the Windows 10 and MCS server 2012. I'd just skip those entirely and go for Azure Admin and Solutions Architect.

Also if all you're looking to do is make money there's a much more streamlined approach then just braindumping yourself with all those certs. You can just get the A+ and go into linux or cloud (aws/azure) and you'll make the 6 figures.

Thanks. I’m following a certain curriculum so I can’t really jump around to a certain cert. All the tests, books, programs, ect are included in the tuition I’m paying. I know 80% of the brehs in this thread went the self studying route to getting their certs but I need a classroom oriented learning environment for me to internalize the information and then apply it with the hw and midterms and stuff I’m going to get. That’s for the advice about the resume. I figured having all those certs would be useless without the experience.

 

[No Homo]

I’m in my A+ class right now. When I’m done with the program i signed up for I will have my A+, Network+, Security+, CASP, CCENT, CCNA, MS Windows 10, MCS Server 2012, and a ethical hacker cert

I’m in the NYC market. Do y’all think I can hit 6 figs or close to it by this time next year?

You're learning a lot and a bit of everything in a short time ( im guessing you're in some kind of boot camp).


Its good to learn this stuff but the certs you're getting wont get you 6 figs quick without the experience.
Now in 2020 those certs dont mean as much as they did say 10-15 years ago in terms of high paying jobs quickly. All still good to have as you can kind of figure out the direction you want to go and you'll have a good base of knowledge.

Do you know what role you eventually want to do? You have any experience?

 

[Collateral]

You're learning a lot and a bit of everything in a short time ( im guessing you're in some kind of boot camp).


Its good to learn this stuff but the certs you're getting wont get you 6 figs quick without the experience.
Now in 2020 those certs dont mean as much as they did say 10-15 years ago in terms of high paying jobs quickly. All still good to have as you can kind of figure out the direction you want to go and you'll have a good base of knowledge.

Do you know what role you eventually want to do? You have any experience?

Right from reading this thread I see that experience is #1 and the ability to show them you know what you’re doing above all else. Don’t wanna be a paper tech out here.
It’s still kinda early on my direction to go in but as of right now I wanna go the networking route, but security seems dope as hell. I won’t know for sure yet though. Cloud is another possible direction that would be cool.

 

[L&HH]

Right from reading this thread I see that experience is #1 and the ability to show them you know what you’re doing above all else. Don’t wanna be a paper tech out here.
It’s still kinda early on my direction to go in but as of right now I wanna go the networking route, but security seems dope as hell. I won’t know for sure yet though. Cloud is another possible direction that would be cool.

My recommendation is go cloud. The other ones aren't bad but cloud is where the demand is and with this IT shyt that's kind of your advantage when you're new and young(er). You can chase the new shyt the older people don't feel like wanting to learn. Also you can incorporate networking and security into cloud.

 

[Dre23]

How do y’all feel about contracts? I’m so used to being a worker under an actual that contracts kinda scare me. I have seen a lot of people prefer contracts and actually jump from contract to contract. I just got an offer that was just for 7 month.

Contract jobs are great, you just have to be on it and have another line up. It is great for getting experience. If one person worked at Company A for 3 years doing the same thing in his role everyday. Compared to you working 3 contracts for a year each. You will have wayy more experience and will be exposed to alot more. I bet you will get to 6 figures quicker than person that worked at 1 company for 3 years.

 

[patscorpio]

How do y’all feel about contracts? I’m so used to being a worker under an actual that contracts kinda scare me. I have seen a lot of people prefer contracts and actually jump from contract to contract. I just got an offer that was just for 7 month.

When I was younger I did them...less responsibilities back then to worry about that. Dont know if I'd do that now.

 

[SuavePrince]

I have my A+ right now and im going to school to get my MIS degree. What else could i possibly do? I'm a young breh (23)

 

[Dre23]

I have my A+ right now and im going to school to get my MIS degree. What else could i possibly do? I'm a young breh (23)

you can do anything you want in IT bro. Like for real, get a job in helpdesk and explore the different avenues.

 

[SuavePrince]

you can do anything you want in IT bro. Like for real, get a job in helpdesk and explore the different avenues.

I hear ya. Thanks breh

 

[Dre23]

I hear ya. Thanks breh

read this thread from page 1 to 949. SO MANY GEMS!

 

[Deflatedhoopdreams]

If you get all those certs you shouldn't be asking for anything less than 6. But I think doing all of those in a short time is a bit of overkill and I think some of them are redundant. Also I'm not necessarily sure it'd be a good idea to stuff all of them in your resume and not have the equivalent experience. In reality you should probably just get the A+ and one other (Sec+ maybe) and get on the job hunt. Start with a $55k-$65k a year job to start making money and getting experience now (also a clearance too). Then work on 1 or 2 of the other ones while working and then applying for a new position next year.

To some people it's pointless to get the Net+ and you should just get the CCNA. You can just skip the Net+ and do the two part CCNA exam where you get the CCENT first and then do the 2nd part of the test within 3 years and you'll get the full CCNA.

Also my comment is based on who's paying for it. The Comptia certs are od expensive. The CCNET ($160) is half the cost of the Net+ ($300+) and is probably more valuable and as I said gets you halfway through to your CCNA.

Same thing with the Windows 10 and MCS server 2012. I'd just skip those entirely and go for Azure Admin and Solutions Architect.

Also if all you're looking to do is make money there's a much more streamlined approach then just braindumping yourself with all those certs. You can just get the A+ and go into linux or cloud (aws/azure) and you'll make the 6 figures.

This is what I was going to say. Before my current company offered to pay for me to complete my bachelors in Computer Science. I had my A+. Was going to work a entry level IT job and get certs as I went along. The game changed when I was offered to get my degree and I can master some programming languages til I graduate. I mean I already make good money in my current job so I’m not hurting whatsoever.

 

[Auger]

This is what I was going to say. Before my current company offered to pay for me to complete my bachelors in Computer Science. I had my A+. Was going to work a entry level IT job and get certs as I went along. The game changed when I was offered to get my degree and I can master some programming languages til I graduate. I mean I already make good money in my current job so I’m not hurting whatsoever.

Wait, so how did you enter the field and what training/education did you have prior to landing your first gig?

 

[Snoopy Loops]

Been studying this AWS shyt for like 4 months now. Hella burnt out. I have SA, Dev and SysOps, all two weeks apart in Feb. I might reschedule one of them.

Been doing the bonso exams, I feel like I see new services everytime i take a practice test. Always feeling uneasy.

Just need to give a final push.

 

[Dre23]

Been studying this AWS shyt for like 4 months now. Hella burnt out. I have SA, Dev and SysOps, all two weeks apart in Feb. I might reschedule one of them.

Been doing the bonso exams, I feel like I see new services everytime i take a practice test. Always feeling uneasy.

Just need to give a final push.

I plan on taking those 3 by june. & Azure in july