IT Certification

abcitdepartment · 2018-05-02T16:04:10.000Z

Hi All,

I’ve been working in IT for the past 12 years though I do not have a technology degree or any certifications. I feel as if I need to be certified in some area in the IT field like networking, security, or windows server. I’d like to get a certification that would force me to keep learning in that area in order to remain certified. What certification do you recommend I get? I’d like any feedback you can give.

kerriedouglas · 2018-05-02T18:06:50.000Z

You don’t have to have any certs although they do open doors for advancement. The big question for you is to decide what area you would like to specialize or concentrate in going forward.

pbrain · 2018-05-02T18:28:38.000Z

#Following

I am in the same situation. I am thinking of getting my Net+/Security+ Certs and maybe getting a CEH Cert and/or Some other advanced networking cert (is there something like a CCNA but vendor agnostic?)

erin-for-digicert · 2018-05-02T18:57:59.000Z

I’m not a master on this topic, but here’s a good list of certs from a post a few weeks back that could be of use: https://community.spiceworks.com/spice_lists/10

Also… check these out:

On Certifications Networking

I'm working full time in IT at a small business. I'm trying to make the shift from computer/OS/program maintenance to networking and network administration. This is a personal choice and a business choice, and I'm supported by the higher-ups. I'd like some pointers on different certifications. I came into this job as a repurposed software engineer. I have no formal training in IT and I'd like to add at least one certification to flesh out my resume and to improve the quality of the work I can …

https://community.spiceworks.com/how_to/89349-how-to-prepare-for-a-certification-exam

And most importantly… GOOD LUCK!!! : )

kelly-for-udemy · 2018-05-02T19:39:15.000Z

Certifications certainly help validate skills you may already have! Like @justin5198-spiceworks mentioned, the big question is what sort of route are you wanting to take your career on? Is it more network and security based?

@kerriedouglas

davidpalmer7674 · 2018-05-03T10:35:52.000Z

I don’t really have any suggestions for particular certs since it depends on your personal career goals. I just want to say that I was skeptical of the utility of certifications for many years, but have since come around on the issue. I always thought they were a bit of a joke because they sort of were when I obtained my first couple of certs years ago. These days the tests are much more challenging & studying for them has really helped to sharpen my skills. A college degree is probably more useful for finding a job, but in my opinion, certifications are a better testament to your actual skills.

bryanscott5 · 2018-05-03T10:42:28.000Z

I’ve got an associates and undergrad degrees and, as of this year, 10 years of professional IT experience. I’ve taken a few different job opportunities throughout the last decade, and at my current employer, they help us achieve growth goals by encouraging and assisting with continued education. Since I’d been out of the formal education environment for quite some time, I wanted to start small to get back into the swing of things, such as disciplining myself to set aside time and acquiring appropriate resources for studying. Last year I bought a book for the A+ exam and passed the test within a few months. Surprisingly, even though it’s entry level stuff I’d been working with for years, I still learned a few things. It helped to sharpen pre-existing knowledge as well, and I passed that exam in the fall. Similarly, I’ve just completed my self studies for Network+ and will be taking that exam on Monday. By end of year, I should hopefully have attained Security+ as well.

We’ll see what other goals I can shoot for in the coming years. These are more to jump back in and get my feet wet with disciplined studies, and it’s been a good experience. My company is greatly supportive and reimbursing expenses toward these certification goals. If you’re in a similar type environment where the company will pay (or reimburse you) for continuing education, jump on that while you can. It’s good for both you and them.

abcitdepartment · 2018-05-03T10:56:23.000Z

BravesB:

I’ve got an associates and undergrad degrees and, as of this year, 10 years of professional IT experience. I’ve taken a few different job opportunities throughout the last decade, and at my current employer, they help us achieve growth goals by encouraging and assisting with continued education. Since I’d been out of the formal education environment for quite some time, I wanted to start small to get back into the swing of things, such as disciplining myself to set aside time and acquiring appropriate resources for studying. Last year I bought a book for the A+ exam and passed the test within a few months. Surprisingly, even though it’s entry level stuff I’d been working with for years, I still learned a few things. It helped to sharpen pre-existing knowledge as well, and I passed that exam in the fall. Similarly, I’ve just completed my self studies for Network+ and will be taking that exam on Monday. By end of year, I should hopefully have attained Security+ as well.

We’ll see what other goals I can shoot for in the coming years. These are more to jump back in and get my feet wet with disciplined studies, and it’s been a good experience. My company is greatly supportive and reimbursing expenses toward these certification goals. If you’re in a similar type environment where the company will pay (or reimburse you) for continuing education, jump on that while you can. It’s good for both you and them.

What are your reasons for taking the CompTIA path and not the Microsoft path for certifications? It seems CompTIA provides a more balanced approach where Microsoft is more exclusive to them. Is that the case?

bryanscott5 · 2018-05-03T11:17:45.000Z

Strengthening foundational knowledge while adjusting to student/studying life again. CompTIA certs being vendor neutral are good for building or strengthening conceptual and foundational knowledge. With these basics out of the way, I would then more likely consider vendor specific certifications to zero in on skills applicable to where I am, or where I want to go.

If you’re familiar at all with the DiSC profile tests, I’m an SC (Steadiness, Conscientiousness), and am naturally not quick on decision making. I’m slower, more methodical in my approach to things and so I like to start small and then build up. I could have probably jumped into more advanced cert studying and made it, but my personality style leaned toward going after the basics first and then working up. You may be quite different in your approach.

abcitdepartment · 2018-05-03T11:25:22.000Z

BravesB:

Strengthening foundational knowledge while adjusting to student/studying life again. CompTIA certs being vendor neutral are good for building or strengthening conceptual and foundational knowledge. With these basics out of the way, I would then more likely consider vendor specific certifications to zero in on skills applicable to where I am, or where I want to go.

If you’re familiar at all with the DiSC profile tests, I’m an SC (Steadiness, Conscientiousness), and am naturally not quick on decision making. I’m slower, more methodical in my approach to things and so I like to start small and then build up. I could have probably jumped into more advanced cert studying and made it, but my personality style leaned toward going after the basics first and then working up. You may be quite different in your approach.

That does make sense and seems like that way will work best for me also.

How are you preparing for the certs? What are you using to study? I will have to pay out of pocket for anything I do. My plan is to purchase a textbook, study it, and take the exam.

bryanscott5 · 2018-05-03T11:39:00.000Z

Chris Beane:

BravesB:

Strengthening foundational knowledge while adjusting to student/studying life again. CompTIA certs being vendor neutral are good for building or strengthening conceptual and foundational knowledge. With these basics out of the way, I would then more likely consider vendor specific certifications to zero in on skills applicable to where I am, or where I want to go.

If you’re familiar at all with the DiSC profile tests, I’m an SC (Steadiness, Conscientiousness), and am naturally not quick on decision making. I’m slower, more methodical in my approach to things and so I like to start small and then build up. I could have probably jumped into more advanced cert studying and made it, but my personality style leaned toward going after the basics first and then working up. You may be quite different in your approach.

That does make sense and seems like that way will work best for me also.

How are you preparing for the certs? What are you using to study? I will have to pay out of pocket for anything I do. My plan is to purchase a textbook, study it, and take the exam.

I’ve bought the ExamCram series of text books. It might sound like it’s a summed up “Cliff’s Notes” version, but they’re fairly large and extensive books. I’m kind of a slow reader as well, so it took me some time to get through them. With each, you have access to the Pearson Vue practice test software and by registering your book on the Pearson Vue website, you can download their practice tests for the exam. This is a good reason to buy them new instead of used, since you are guaranteed an unused code to register the book and get the software. I will warn, these aren’t like question-for-question practice tests like you’ll see on the real thing, but it hits on all the concepts you should be familiar with for the real thing.

In addition, there are a ton of free A+ resources on the web with flash cards, real world scenario situations, etc, for practice. I went through some of those. And lastly for this Network+, in addition to the book, I also bought a Udemy video course that was 15.5 hours long to watch through. Udemy courses frequently go on huge sales, and I happened to catch that one for $10. (Side note: I had also purchased a Udemy PowerShell course for $12 last year to teach me some more advanced usage on that. It was quite helpful and informative, and fulfilled one of my personal development goals for 2017.)