I’m a support technician (by title) but closer to a junior systems administrator. I’ve been here for about a year and a half now and it’s my first IT job. I do love my job (most days). I don’t have any certifications and my company offers training. Right now, I have access to videos and material for a TON of different certifications but I don’t know where to start.
I never bothered with the A+ because it seems too easy to be useful. I took a practice test for the Network+ and ended up doing fairly poorly because a LOT of it was based on obsolete tech which puts me off studying for it. I don’t see a need to learn about details of 802.11a when it’s so old and will never be used again.
My company wants me to take the MCSA for Windows 10 (which we just upgraded to) then Server 2012 (which we use). I originally thought the Network+ would be a good first step but I question it now after the practice test. I took the Server 2012 practice test out of curiosity and did really bad (with 0 prep) but I understood the test MUCH better and it seems more valuable. Definitely need to learn PowerShell for it though.
Basically, is the Network+ still worth it or should I jump straight to the Windows 10 MCSA?
6 Spice ups
Net + and Security +
CCNA might be useful and MCSE or MCSA
Since there are so many disciplines in IT; ask yourself which one do you want to tackle?
I became an MCP (studied for MCSE) but didn’t take all the tests. Sec + then C|EH and would have continued the Security path but got burned out.
You don’t even have to stick with one discipline and get multiple certs.
tb33t
(TB33T)
4
Although some of the technology is outdated, there are some companies who still use some old technology. I’d say the network+ is a good start since networking is the foundation of just about all IT work. Being familiar with old technology can show you how far different technologies have come and can be surprisingly useful when troubleshooting.
Network+ was worth it back when I took it. This is because when I took it, I did not know much about networking at all and it gave me a very good foundation. By far most of the information you learn during Network+ will be relevant to the real world. I have six certifications and I am sorry to tell you all of them had some degree of knowledge you have to learn, that is not really relevant to the real world.
Network+ won’t necessarily help you, if your real goal is the MCSA though and most employers don’t care about it. So ,whether it is worth it or not really depends on where you are at with you knowledge and where you want to be.
I would say jump to the mcsa. Take advantage of all the free training your company is offering and the on the job experience.
Net+ is a basic foundation to get knowledge on
I wouldn’t worry so much about the cert. Study that material.
2 Spice ups
Back in the day I did CompTIA A+, MCSE 2K, CCNA, and CCNP R&S - none of them are relevant now
If I were to do it again I probably would do MCSE (or whatever its called now), CCNA, CCNA Security and CCNP R&S. Probably do CCNA Voice and wireless also. Then see how it goes from there.
weirdfish
(WeirdFish)
8
Sounds more like you took an outdated practice test. There are still many fundamental concepts of Network+ that’s surprisingly beyond the grasp of many who’ve proclaimed themselves network admins and sysadmins in my journeys.
For those who may find themselves a little behind the times, Microsoft revamped and streamlined their cert offerings about 2 years ago. In essence, anything you think you remember from the Microsoft Certified System Administrator and Microsoft Certified System Engineer days – throw it out. They’re not relevant anymore.
Win 10 cert would be very useful, especially if your company is willing to pay for it. Based on my cynical observations on SW alone, studying Win 10 will be very beneficial because too many people think they know it as a logical upgrade to Win 7, then complain when Win 10 doesn’t behave like 7.
For Win Server cert, don’t bother with studying and certifying in 2012/2014. It’s irrelevant that your company currently uses it. Always look to the future, not the past. I wrote a How To about this.
https://community.spiceworks.com/how_to/151322-how-to-become-a-microsoft-certified-solutions-expert-mcse
1 Spice up
What technology is outdated? Refrain from making these statements unless…
1.Show proof
2 Backup your statement with substance e.g. state the technology.
Modems, Serial (Com), PS/2 etc… highly in use still
Why do you think PS/2 is back on an i7 computer with a serial port?
@tb33t
1 Spice up
Take the course the company sends to …
There are so many courses out there …it will be never ending anyways…
Microsoft learning…50+ courses
Cisco … 10+ courses
VMware…10+ courses
RHEL and virtualisation…20+ courses
Oracle …30+ courses
Other hardware & networking certifications…100+ courses…
I thought it was an outdated practice test too at first. I asked a friend who took it last month if there were questions about 802.11a (since that is the one that stuck out the most to me as ridiculous) and she confirmed there were. I still think the Network+ could be useful for finding jobs when I decide to move on in the future but I think
MCSA: Windows 10 would be more useful at this point. I know my company will pay for both so that is an aspect that is nice. Same with Server 2012 and they’d like me to try for it and nothing wrong with more certs I suppose.
Right now we’ve been having a bit of a lull in major projects so i have time to start studying on the clock. Just really on the fence I guess.
