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Hey everyone,

I’m sure others before me have asked this question before, but I am in some serious need of guidance right now and I don’t know who else to turn to at this point.

Long story short: I have a degree in nutrition, but through my 2 years of help desk experience at my university I got a job as an IT Support Specialist. While this job was a great post college stepping stone, I am eager to move forward and learn more. Here’s my problem though, if I look into certs, people tell me that they’re a waste of my time and that I should not bother with them (A+, Net+, etc…). If I look into a college programs, I also get the “That’s a waste of time and money and you do not need to do that”.

Those that work in IT with me keep telling me I don’t need to do this, or I don’t need to do that, but they do not give me any direction on where to begin. I want to learn about security. I don’t know a lot about it at this point but from the little that I do know about it I am quite captivated.

I just want to expand my job opportunities and improve myself, but at this point my head is spinning and I don’t know where to start…any advice or guidance is really, REALLY appreciated. It’s stressful feeling so lost.

Thanks everyone.

@Microsoft @CompTIA

42 Spice ups
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If you have 2 years of helpdesk experience you really don’t need the A+, If your networking knowledge is low than take the Network+ otherwise you’d be better off pursuing CCNA if networking sparks your interest. If desktop support is your thing or server admin then consider one of the MCSA’s. A degree is usually a HR requirement, not the requirement of a hiring IT manager.

You need to find a destination for your journey, IT is far to vast to cover it all. No qualifications are worthless, but some aren’t worth your time doing. You probably know more than you think you do already, its just time to decide really where you want tot go.

9 Spice ups
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Get some good books and create your own lab environment to play/test (Infosec is a dangerous thing to play with in the wild as you may end up inadvertently breaking the law). Certs are useful, but they’re just not as useful as proven experience. Try to look at vendor neutral exams (CompTIA, etc) unless there’s something really specific that you want to get into. If you really have no experience and little provable knowledge of IT beyond 1st line helpdesk then the A+ exam may actually benefit you as you can at least prove in some fashion that you have expanded knowledge. Then if you’re still interested, look at the Net+/Sec+ exams.

4 Spice ups
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Certs are always good if you are getting hired because the people doing the interviewing look at the educational background ( a plus for you since you have a degree) and any industry recognized certifications. Unless I knew somebody by word of mouth, and was told they are very good at what they do in IT, I would rely on the first two items. Personality and character determine if you are a good fit for the workplace and if you will get along with the other employees.

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Do you have a rough idea which direction in IT you want to head off into? There are many, and you cannot possibly be an expert in everything.
Your helpdesk experience would have given you the start of a solid foundation to build on.

With regards to certs, personally I don’t rate CompTIA’s A+ at all. So much so that if a candidate for a job brags about having A+ I’d probably automatically discount them form the job. Some CompTIA certs may be worth a bit more.

If you’re into systems admin, then Microsoft certs are always good to have, while you won’t go wrong obtaining Cisico certs either.

Good luck.

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Jaganess,

First of all, I’m no expert nor anywhere near as qualified as some of the guys on here - so feel free to take my advice as a pinch of salt.

Anyway, don’t stress too much! I think at the start of any career, everyone wants to take the best possible approach and road forward although usually you’ll feel this out for yourself as you progress. As in, where you want to be, what is available to you in your area, who you know etc.

As for qualifications, it’s a good question. Many on even Spiceworks seem to butt heads over it. I’ve asked myself and researched around the topic. The average consensus was that certifications are to create a foundation of knowledge. They help your understanding of unknown areas and offer specialisations in fields (with something to put on paper to say: “Hey, I actually learnt this!”) but are by no means all you need to know! What they don’t appear to offer is putting knowledge into practice. Which brings me onto my next point…

What everyone can seem to agree on is: experience in IT is key. No matter what kind of IT work you’re in, the very best way to learn is to be around and do. Be involved in and know the ins-and-outs of what you intend to work with in a career. This is obviously never as easy it seems. Employers want candidates with experience, you want experience to become a good candidate - and so the vicious cycle goes. If you’re able to tinker around in a home-work environment, do so. Learn what you can in your own time with old systems and setups. Same goes for volunteer work or finding perhaps a small-time job in IT Security. Ask your current manager if you can alleviate some of the load on your Network Admin/Sys Admin and take up some of the Security tickets. Ask questions. Have incentive.

A lot of the time, it seems to be a matter of just doing ‘something’. Whether it’s right or not, you’ll soon find out I’m sure.

TLDR; Try, Learn, Discover, Retry.

(I will mention a few of the certifications I have heard are good for the ‘foundations’ of knowledge although are by no means the best for what you might want to do).

MCSE: Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert;

CCNA/CCNP: Cisco Certified Network Associate/Professional;

Network+/Security+

8 Spice ups
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I would seriously advice you take certs from Comptia such as the A+ and Network+

Aside that, take a look at this site, it’ll help guide you and recommend what courses to take accordingly:

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I would recommend to start getting the MCSA in the direction of Windows Server for certifications. This should get you off to a good start and you can choose to branch towards what field of security you would either want to specialize in.

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It all depends on where you want to take your career. it is hard to figure this out after just getting into the field. you have 2 years of helpdesk support now. that eliminates the need for an A+ cert. Start with the Network+ and Security+ certs and move on from there.

For more networking side? go with the Cisco certs CCNA to start.

And for more server admin maybe start with MCITP or MCSE.

Also if it does interest you. Linux in the enterprise are getting bigger. and people that are good are more than good at it are rewarded.

If you want to get into something more Dev side. Saleforce.com admins can make good money. if you can develop for sf.com stuff? even better.

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Certs are quick fixes to get interviewed, and prospectively hired. Degrees are long term investments in job security.

Base Nutrition degree is good, assuming it is a Bachelor’s level. For senior tech to management level positions, consider a Master’s program (MBA/etc).

.

I.T. field is huge. Main point is: what/where do you want to be?

Too, what type of company do you want to be in? Big, small, tech/not tech, private/public, etc.

Check the various job sites (Indeed, Dice, Craigslist, SimplyHired, et al) and setup mailing to get an idea of what is out there and acceptable.

Traditional demarcations have been—

  • Desktop
  • Server / SysAdmin
  • Networking
  • Database
  • Developer/Programmer
  • Web Developer/Web Designer

Increasingly, there are mixed classifications and emerging roles—

  • Storage Admin

  • Project Managers

  • Cloud & Virtualization (based on a foundation of the above “traditional” roles)

  • SDN (Software Defined Networking)

  • UX/UI Specialists

  • etc

Single biggest thing: Get a mentor. Go to your local Spicecorps (or one less local), and ask for a few minutes to drop the question. There may be a person to fit the mentor role there. Idea is a mentor can not only lend direction, but give advisement based on knowing you.

Similar to a mentor is an advisory group. This would be a group of five-ish people who you know and know you, that are already in the field(s) you want to be in. Meet with them regularly for lunch, coffee, or whatever. Update on progress, issues, and future plans/goals/objectives.

12 Spice ups
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It really depends on the size and culture of your current company. I agree that you are beyond the need for an A+ cert. If your current employer is large enough that you think you have an opportunity to learn what you want and stay there, then consider having them send you to training classes.

If your current employer / culture doesn’t have the opportunities for you then I would get the Network+, Server+ and Security+ certs in that order. I would also consider the MCSx certs since most of the corporate world runs Micro$oft.

Also, get comfortable with VMware. A virtual lab is a great place to break things and then learn how to put them back together again.

Unfortunately, many places aren’t interested in your development because then they have to pay you more or you leave. They fail to understand that if you can’t grow you will leave too.

1 Spice up
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If you have 2+ years…heck even 1 year of I.T. helpdesk experience… you’ve got the A+ an much more …you just don’t have a fancy piece of paper that says you do.

A college degree certainly won’t hurt you, but certifications can provide immediate results, whereas an education will often only provide long term results or merely as a gating requirement to even get you in the door.

I myself am only 25 but I’ve been fortunate enough to have gotten my foot in the door early (got to do intern/contract work with govt defense contractors right out the door at 18) and then have slowly worked my way from doing call center/remote support to help desk to networking/sys admin.

Ultimately it depends where you see yourself…do you want to get into networking, strictly high level sys admin work, or a mix of both? (small/med business)

if you’re interested in Security…elaborate on that. What type of security? Systems or networking? Once you’ve narrowed it down to at least one of those…you can go deeper. While both play off one another, they are vastly different.

3 Spice ups
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I throw in my pence of perspective.

When I first started in it ~98, we had an MCSE get hired at some very high pay rate. Talk of the office. The Sr. Engineer at the time made a statement I’ll never forget.

"…That paper gives you permission to work on those things, it doesn’t mean you know how to work on it… "

Certifications are important as they say you know enough to work on it. It does not give you experience. Myself, I’m in the backwards position of a lot of experience on many things with very little certs. I’d have to put a bit of work in to get any of the certs. I’ll probably only do so to go after a specific job / update my resume.

IT is very nontraditional that way; you don’t have to go through school to get access to the experience…

5 Spice ups
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Let’s face it, experience is key here BUT, you’ll always get the last place since you dont have any cert, degree, or anything in the field (Help desk/phone has it’s limits on what you see and fix thus what you learn might not be enough), some places will simply not hire you no matter what, trust me, in a time of economic struggle your lack of any type of certs wont get you nowhere unless you have a CV with so many hands-on experience that it justifies hiring you over someone with a degree. If you plan on making a life in there, get a course if it’s just for the paper do it.

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If you want to get into IT security, you first need to have a really good working knowledge of networking. (I’ve had numerous applicants who have an associate’s degree in network security, but no experience in networking, so I can’t hire them.)

Your post indicates you have two years of helpdesk experience, but depending on that experience, you may not have any network admin experience. Get that first. Either ask your current employer if you can “apprentice” on some network admin work, or if that’s not possible, take classes toward your CCNA and connect with a Spicehead who does net admin. Unlike some other certs which are pretty easy to get, the CCNA is an introductory cert that actually means something (IMHO).

Once you have some net admin knowledge and experience, you can probably interview for entry-level net admin jobs, and then start taking IT security classes. You’ll have a job setting that allows you practical application of what you are learning.

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If you have a job and can get the company to pay for certs, do it. If you want to change jobs and are finding it hard, get certs. Certs help you stand out from the next guy, that’s it. You wont learn a bunch of stuff you need to be a general purpose Admin. But the HR guy screening your cv doesn’t know that those certs don’t make you any better at your job.

As for collage, blah, 1/10 would not recommend. get your 5 years experience a few certs in things you like, ccna, mcsa, lpic, yadda yadda, you get the idea.

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Wow! I wasn’t expecting so many responses, I really appreciate all the feedback I have been receiving guys. I truly, truly do. I am spending my time taking some notes on all of your responses and trying to get myself organized for the next step.

My long term goal is to get into the security part of the IT field, preferably becoming a pen-tester. I know that it won’t happen overnight but I’d like to do whatever I can to set myself up in the right direction. Unfortunately my current job does not show any signs of expansion, and I fear that if I do not start making moves I will be stuck in this position for a very long time.

I was always curious about going to the Spiceworks meet up in Boston, but I am also a little intimidated as well. I have so much to learn still, I feel like I’d come off as an idiot if I went. :stuck_out_tongue:

Seriously though, I appreciate all of the responses. You guys have made my morning.

6 Spice ups
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As some have stated before, it all depends on what you all ready know. If you feel you need to focus a little more in one area than another due to either needing more knowledge or you are curious and want to test the waters of what is out there. Then do some research and study up on something. There are tons of resources available.

Regarding a degree or certs, those are nice to have to get past the HR robots but generally experience and being able to prove you know what you say you know is more important.

I was in the same boat as you earlier this year, so I decided I would start with studying to get my Network + cert . I built a decent sized VM lab and have been doing lots of testing. I grabbed a couple good books, and have been watching lots of youtube on the subject.

Take what you have read and heard and then test it out in the lab will be very beneficial to growing.

Good Luck!!!

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Think of it this way. Let’s say you learned Nutrition from, say, your mother. She taught you more than you learned getting your degree BETTER than your school did. Now go try to get a job with, “My mother taught me. Just give me a chance and I’ll show you!” You won’t get very far. Trust me on this.

So long as you stay with your current school, you’re fine. If you try to get a job with someone that knows you or is friends with your boss or co-workers, that probably works, too. Anything else, you NEED certifications just to get your foot in the door. I’ve been a Network Admin (1-man IT department) for a Mid-sized company for 9 years now, with over 20 years total experience. I interviewed for a job with another company, and even my peers, who recognized my skill and experience while talking to me through the interview, pretty much said I didn’t have a chance since my Microsoft Certs were old.

So get your CompTIA A+ and Network+. You probably won’t need to do a course or do much more than read an online study guide or two. Then I’d say go Microsoft for some of the certs mentioned here already, then decide if you want more to specialize in…

1 Spice up
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Certifications will aid in your path to whichever road you choose to take.

Of note is that A+ is only relevant to landing a first time helpdesk/technician position. Beyond that, the cert serves no purpose.

The other aspect to consider especially if your long term goal is security is gaining experience. There are some certs that will help along that path but for the most part security is driven by experience. You cannot tell me how to secure my network if you don’t have experience managing, building, creating a network in the first place. The Security+ certification might be your first stepping stone towards achieving something in security.

The other routes to consider for getting into security are via networking (although be advised as networking as a whole is a fairly saturated market at the entry level.) Cisco’s certifications have dedicated security courses that build on their main courses. Once you’ve obtained your CCNA Routing and Switching, you can go for your CCNA: Security. Once you’ve done those two, you can aim for your CCNP Routing and Switching, and of course, CCNP: Security.

Keep in mind, Cisco is not easy especially if the fundamentals of networking are not in place, which is where the network+ can lay a solid foundation of concepts for you to learn from and when you take the Cisco path, you can apply the concepts to actual configurations and route you want to take in solving the problems presented.

All in all, either track you pick, networking, sys administration, security, management, they all require experience. Some have certs along the way, some need a bulk of experience.

This is more than likely the 3rd of 4th thread you’ve recommended the A+ to someone who has over two years of experience doing IT in some formal manner. What can they stand do gain by obtaining a pre-entry level cert?