IT industry certification

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kewefella

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Topic # 58845 21-Mar-2010 14:46

Hi all

Hope this is in the right section but I am looking to find out the best way to get some IT certifications, ie MCITP or the like.

I have looked into seek learning which for a mere $5950 you can train in anything you like for 2 years. This however doesn't include the exams.

My other option is to buy the training books I need off the like of fishpond for about $400, and train myself.

At the moment I'm not in the IT industry but have a degree in computing and did work as a technician previously and I do some part time work fixing and maintaining computers in the neighbourhood so know my way around computers and networks.

Also any learning I do needs to be online or distance learning since there aren't any training facilities near me.

Basically what I'm asking is which way is best? Any pointers are welcome if there is something obvious I'm missing.

Thanks

boby55

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Reply # 309521 21-Mar-2010 15:00

Personally I would not go near seek learning.

I used them ($2000AUD) for My CompTIA A+ cert, and its all still self learning of the books made into a webapp. I found It was just as beneficial to spend $400nzd ish to buy the books when I did my MCITP

vinnieg

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Reply # 309538 21-Mar-2010 16:22

boby55: Personally I would not go near seek learning.

I used them ($2000AUD) for My CompTIA A+ cert, and its all still self learning of the books made into a webapp. I found It was just as beneficial to spend $400nzd ish to buy the books when I did my MCITP

+1 do it yourself man :)

Get the books/CDs off Fishpond or Ebay/Amazon, do it yourself, get a part time job at a helpdesk/service desk for experience and depending on what yuo want to do, start with say A+

Network+ then security+ if you want to move into the network/security side

For the Desktop/Server admin side, I reckon experience is worth more than Microsoft certs, get a desktop technician job, work in it for a few years, go into a server admin role after that etc and keep moving up as high as you want to go

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

amanzi

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Reply # 309673 21-Mar-2010 23:35

I'd also recommend doing it yourself, but that can be difficult when you're not actually working in the industry. Where do you live? Are there any small IT vendors or shops near you? I agree with vinnieg that experience is often worth more than just certs, but if you have some experience AND certification, then that's better than just experience. :-)

Lots of vendors want their staff to have certifications, and sometimes vendors find certs more valuable than experience if the certs improve their partner status with suppliers like Microsoft, Citrix, VMware, or others.

It sounds as if you already have a bit of experience under your belt, so if you started working on your first MS exam it would prove your willingness to get back into the industry, and finding a job should be easier.

browned

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Reply # 310138 23-Mar-2010 11:31

+1 for do it yourself.

Also buy from Amazon, exchange rates etc my last purchase was $64 nzd including lowest cost shipping (which took 2 weeks to arrive).

Fishpond had the same book for $90 and unknown shipping times.

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muppet

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Reply # 310146 23-Mar-2010 11:47

Experience! Get AS MUCH as you can.

There's two reasons:

1) It makes you more employable
2) You get to put into practice all the things you've taught yourself.

There are also many good blogs and online discussion forums, depending on what you're after. If it's routing and switching, there are even virtual machines you can download and configure etc. Plus the Cisco and Juniper sites have lots of free info.

Anyway, good luck! You sound like you'll do just fine.

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vinnieg

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Reply # 310176 23-Mar-2010 12:35

Yeah, you can also use experience to get you into a job which trains you up, killing two birds with one laptop

I've actually got certs and an IT degree...but in reality, I could've skipped the Bachelor and just gone straight into a Service desk role and probably be higher up than I am now, but at the time I didn't know what industry I wanted to go into

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

doubledotmedia

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Reply # 318692 15-Apr-2010 11:02

From our experience self taught developers tend to always be much better workers. They can think for themselves and aren't robots :)

xpd

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Reply # 318703 15-Apr-2010 11:23

I got my MCDST (XP) last year - just armed myself with the book from Amazon (@ $80NZD shipped vs $120+ locally), few weeks later in I went and passed.
Just ordered the Windows 7 MCDST book so will be sitting the upgrade exam in a month or two as well.

Having previous experience is a huge help though - from what youve mentioned in your original post, you should be fine :)

XPD / Gavin / DemiseNZ

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CYaBro

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Reply # 318717 15-Apr-2010 11:44

xpd: I got my MCDST (XP) last year - just armed myself with the book from Amazon (@ $80NZD shipped vs $120+ locally), few weeks later in I went and passed.
Just ordered the Windows 7 MCDST book so will be sitting the upgrade exam in a month or two as well.

Having previous experience is a huge help though - from what youve mentioned in your original post, you should be fine :)

Do you want to sell the Windows 7 book when you are done with it?

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xpd

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Reply # 318723 15-Apr-2010 11:54

CYaBro:
xpd: I got my MCDST (XP) last year - just armed myself with the book from Amazon (@ $80NZD shipped vs $120+ locally), few weeks later in I went and passed.
Just ordered the Windows 7 MCDST book so will be sitting the upgrade exam in a month or two as well.

Having previous experience is a huge help though - from what youve mentioned in your original post, you should be fine :)

Do you want to sell the Windows 7 book when you are done with it?

Cant sorry, was purchased with company account, so they be wanting to hold onto it for the other staff.

XPD / Gavin / DemiseNZ

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QuickWeb

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Reply # 319471 16-Apr-2010 17:39

You can buy books or interactive CD training materials and sit exam when you're ready, anbother option is to checkout your nearest polytechnic whether they offer something. For instance here in Tauranga the local polytech has partnership with Cisco Networking Academy and they are offering CCNA training (evening class). I prefer the latter as it will give you access to good facilities and equipment.