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I was recently given what amounts to a blank check from my CEO for training and certification. Tomorrow I have a meeting with HR and the IT manager about the subject.

The Situation
So today I was talking with the CEO about something or another and the subject of training was brought up. I mentioned that I hadn’t had any formal training and just had to learn on my feet, he was REALLY supportive about training and when I mentioned certifications he called over someone from HR to make it happen.

I’ve looked into certs in the past and had like a whole plan for it but now that I’ve been given the option I’m drawing a blank.

So what training or certification should I do? any recommendations as far as services like CBTnuggets or Lynda?

I have no certifications but I’ve held a Sysadmin role before and now a generalist role.

6 Spice ups
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Are you a Linux or Windows shop?

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Oh I forgot to mention.

Primarily Windows and VMware.

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CBT nuggets is excellent from my experience.

I would be curious to see how much they are willing to help you with.

I guess the big question is…Where do you see yourself in a couple of years and what will you need to make that happen?

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You and me both, when the CEO says something everyone tends to move heaven and earth to make it happen.

And talking with the girl from HR after that… I just have to ask for it.

I’d honestly like to move to a more specialized systems administration role, but I don’t know what would get me there. Is the CCNA still worth the time? maybe a MCSE would be something to go for?

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Wow, I envy you!

For certs the best advice I have gotten from the community is going for something that will actually grow your knowledge and benefit you more that just a paper hung on the wall. For instance if you already have a very solid Cisco knowledge no need to go for the CCNA, but if you are lacking in the general Windows server roles area go for MCSA 2012.

DO you see your company moving in a direction that you think the technology might go, that would also be a good place (more cloud based like AWS for example).

1 Spice up
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I for example lack in the network department so am studying for CCNA right now. CBT Nuggets is a good resource as well as getting a few different media types (reference guides, video series, even in person workshops if it makes sense would be good).

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I agree with BuckyIT to a certain degree that if you have a decent Cisco background, you might want to put off the CCNA for now for something you want to learn and are going to use and then get the cert for that.

But no one in IT likes a ‘paper tiger’ - if you have the background, then going for the formal training and getting the cert is a viable option if it is something the company is going to\is currently using and is of value to both you and the company.

I was in corporate IT for about 5 years initially working with PCs only and some cursory server experience. My boss sent me to a 2 week bootcamp for MCSE Windows NT 4.0 in 1998.

The bootcamp sent me a set a books to go through about 6 mos before the class. I was probably one of the youngest and least experienced guys in the class at the time. But I studied and worked with my ‘craft’ before the classes. I was the first one in the class to pass each test on the first try and get my cert and it is something I am proud of. But I had a good amount of experience in PCs\servers\internet and studied my butt off before I took the first class.

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That is awesome Richard3966!

Since you already have a ton of experience, looking to get certified, and are working full time, I would suggest a Unitek Education certification boot camp .

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Richard,

If you are a windows shop, you might be able to swing training if you were to pursue the MCSE (or even VMware’s certifications). Was your organization open to online video training? If you have any questions regarding CBT Nuggets’ training/features, I am here to help in any way possible.