Comp TIA certification

[Hatedregret]

Just curious if anyone bothered to take these tests. I hope to set up a time soon to complete the certification and networking tests.

If anyone took or at least knows of these, what are your opinions of being able to get a tech job afterwords? Nothing fancy, foot in the door type of job. Geek squad, local computer shop tech etc etc.

School is really not an option so hoping this could be an option. Please let me know your opinions on possible jobs and on the certifications themselves.

Thanks

[Tythera]

I've done Network+ (in HS) and Security+ (about a year ago for current job) and while I imagine they don't hurt I can't imagine Network+/A+ doing an awful lot to land you a job (Security+ was almost worthless).

If it's not a local mom and pop tech place they want an obedient salesman more than they want a self thinking properly trained employee anyways.

[Dmitry]

Getting your A+ can never hurt, although it is a little expensive if you're not employed. It's just another thing that can set you above anyone else that might not be motivated enough to get theirs.

[Kerberoz]

If it's not a local mom and pop tech place they want an obedient salesman more than they want a self thinking properly trained employee anyways.

This. They really don't care what you know because you're just going to be reading off checklists and trying to sell $200 HDMI cables anyway.

[Bockage]

If you're looking to get your CompTIA certs get them fast because this is the last year to get lifetime certifications. Starting next year you'll have to re-test every three years to keep your certifications.

[Ohemgee]

It doesn't hurt to study and learn it. But as far as them being useful compared to MCSE/CCNA (+)...

eh

[xopher]

best buy requires A+ to get a job in geek squad

[Kriz]

If I had to pay for them, I'd do A+ and Net+. Microsoft, on their old MCSE path, allowed certain CompTIA combos to count for MCSE.

Where I work pays for cert tests, so I have A+, Net+, Security+, and Server+. Server+ is the absolute most worthless thing ever. I enjoy security stuff so Sec+ wasn't so bad, but unless it's required I wouldn't get it.

My company (computer VAR, covers a lot of tech ground) will hire service guys with no certification, but you have to get your A+ ASAP. And if you get more certs then chances are you'll move up faster. If you end up in a place like that, it lets you pad your resume later. If you don't, I wouldn't take anything outside of A+ and the tests for MCITP Windows 7 / server.

As for studying, I hit up torrents for materials. I think the best tool is the exam test programs, a neat site for that is http://www.examcollection.com/

[Rellikard]

best buy requires A+ to get a job in geek squad

They do not. If it was required for you, may be at a specific location but the company does not require. The do however pay more upon being hired if you have certs.

[Ohemgee]

http://certcollection.org/

Also.

Try to find lab manuals as well. You can use a virtual box and dick around with the lab procedures for safe practice

[Melena]

Things may have changed since when I got my A+ in 05, but my teacher compared A+ and Net+ as the high school diploma of the tech industry. Basically required to get hired, but won't set you too far ahead of the pack compared to someone who continues onto MCSE

[Norellicus]

In 2005, though, A+ and Net+ actually counted TOWARD your MCSE; they don't anymore, nor are they required prerequisites, so I wouldn't consider them particularly valuable.

If you want serious certification, take a certification path that actually targets what you want to work on.

The A+/Net+/Sec+ are all great intros to the finer points of computing though. If you don't know where to start, they're not bad, and can be book-learned inexpensively.

Contrary to the above, I would actually recommend Security+ to anyone who is going to work heavily in any computing field, as it teaches you the basics of cryptography (which is used EVERYWHERE) without inundating you with too much useless crap or bad method (like Net+ or even some Microsoft courseware tends to).

[OWS_Tonx]

idk as far as best buy, geek squad, etc., but I'm newer to IT and got hired without any certs. They're going to pay for them too, and I do real IT shit. Diagnose, fix, etc. Same as someone who posted above, it's kind of "If we hire you, will you go earn your degree according to the job and go to the bootcamps."

[richardd]

i remember back in 06 when i heard my teacher used to say "getting an MCSE is guaranteed to land you a 60k/yr job within a few weeks"

lol, ugh. i still commend people who get them, but having it doesnt mean nearly as much as it used to lol. what do high lvl IT employers look for now?

[Norellicus]

i remember back in 06 when i heard my teacher used to say "getting an MCSE is guaranteed to land you a 60k/yr job within a few weeks"

lol, ugh. i still commend people who get them, but having it doesnt mean nearly as much as it used to lol. what do high lvl IT employers look for now?

In my experience...

Specialization, in large organizations particularly. They need someone who knows product X moderately well and can pick up the reigns on it in their environment, potentially without a lot of technical direction.

The larger the environment, the more individual (but also strict, in terms of knowledge scope) the specialization tends to be. Everyone with any appropriate-level credentials can do the "basic" stuff and spread the load around; they need people they can delegate tasks to on a higher level and make sure all the individual pieces parts stay running. The more specializations you take on, the more of these different roles you can fill (and the more valuable you'll be to smaller companies as well, since you can fill multiple roles of an "ideal" environment without the need to hire multiple specialists).