Advices on courses

JonathanAnon

Hi lads, just reading through the sticky at the top at the moment. But if anybody could give me some specific advice given my circumstances I would be appreciative..

My current qualifications: Degree in Physics (2nd Class Honour), 4 Windows 2000 MCPs, CCNA from 2003..

I'm applying for Sys Admin jobs and I want to get extra qualifications for my CV. I cant afford to do the courses, I just want read the books and sit the exams, is this still possible?.. (The same way I got the MCPs and CCNA).. So tell me people, what should I be hoping to put on my CV?

Mance Rayder

I would be interested to know that too. I am studying for CCNA myself.

I believe CCNA + MSCP are a good combo to start with, so your already way ahead of me. You should renew your certs if you can.
Maybe consider a higher Cisco award? CCNA security or CCNP? I know the tests can be booked here for about 200 ish (Price changed recently). I believe security is gaining popularity.Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) is another. Cloud computing is the next big thing in Ireland IMO, with several companies hiring and Adobe planning to open a Data center here in the next year. Anything to do with cloud computing may get you noticed. Also I believe project management is a key skill which employers are looking for.

Anyway, what do I know! Surely some of the currently employed IT heads can give some pointers on whats hot in certs for 2012?

druidhill

JonathanAnon wrote: »

... But if anybody could give me some specific advice given my circumstances I would be appreciative...

It's hard to give specific advice if you don't provide more information. You have not indicated anything you have done work wise, so advice will most likely depend on that. Certainly your MS qualifications are outdated.

JonathanAnon

It's hard to give specific advice if you don't provide more information.

Fair point.. I've been working in mostly Administrator jobs over the years.. but I've also subcontracted to companies for bband installations, server repairs, web design, some database work in Access.. I did programming in college (and a little after privately) but never worked in a serious programming job..

Cuddlesworth

JonathanAnon wrote: »

Fair point.. I've been working in mostly Administrator jobs over the years.. but I've also subcontracted to companies for bband installations, server repairs, web design, some database work in Access.. I did programming in college (and a little after privately) but never worked in a serious programming job..

Refresh your certs. MCITP Server admin and a up to date CCNA:R&S would be a good start. But ideally if you have been a Sysadmin for a number of years you would really want to start to specialise in something.

Also, powershell is becoming a huge thing in the Windows Environment. I wouldn't be surprised to see it as a requirement in all Sysadmin jobs within two years.

druidhill

Unless you want to get the certs for your own personal development or if it is a requirement for a particular job that you want (perhaps internal) and if your experience is extensive and current, then I would recommend you see how things go with your applications. It's probably what potential employers will focus on. Might be a good idea also to check-in with a recruitment agency or two and see what they have to say.

JonathanAnon

druidhill, tbh I found the CCNA to be a very good course... The MCPs were a load of rubbish, basically rote learning Microsoft's way of doing things.. Exams consisted of non practical multiple choice questions, I'm sure the exams are probably the same now...

However I've decided to bring up my CCNA and put my foot back in the door with the 6292 Installing and Configuring Windows 7 Client exam.. Is it still possible for me to just sit the exam without doing the expensive course.. I'm in South Kildare, is there any Fás place where I can sit these..? (last ones I sat were in Fás in Loughlinstown).

zweton

Is this the 70-680?

JonathanAnon

zweton wrote: »

Is this the 70-680?

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?id=70-680

Yeah that's it.. not sure where I got the other code from.. it was on one of the Irish Certification sites .. maybe it's an internal code.

Cuddlesworth

Piss easy to pass with the normal Microsoft press books. If you can get your hands on the trainsignal videos even better. You would be better off starting on 640, as the Win7 ones focus mainly on rather obvious topics for any long term tech.

Also, exams are not as bad as they used to be. Still some stupid questions, but on the whole better.

JonathanAnon

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

Piss easy to pass with the normal Microsoft press books. If you can get your hands on the trainsignal videos even better. You would be better off starting on 640, as the Win7 ones focus mainly on rather obvious topics for any long term tech.

Yeah I was thinking that, but I run Windows 7 and support it for home users, so I thought it might be useful... as well a nice way to ease my way back in to things... Maybe do the CompTIA exam as well... (they are 182 euro each to do :eek:)

On your point about specialising above, which I do consider to be a very valid point, does anybody have any experience of CompTIA Cloud Essentials (since cloud seems to be the buzz word at the moment) or the CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner..

zweton

640 supposed to be tough if you have no AD exp.
Duno how true that is.

druidhill

I wasn't commenting on whether the courses were any good or not, I was trying to base advice specific to yourself. I am not familiar with the CCNA certification / re-certification process, but I still think potential employers would spot the qualification and explore your real world work experience since obtaining certification. It might be worth looking into trying to get the next level up on the Cisco path, as opposed to getting the same qualification again (if that is even possible with your 2003 CCNA), as CiscoStudent mentioned.

Closest place to you would probably be New Horizons (very close to Jervis St. shopping centre), and I would probably recommend the 70-680 to start with.

JonathanAnon

I was looking this up earlier... Am I right in thinking that the only places that you can sit these exams are :



??

Cuddlesworth

There are loads of test centres, but only a few public ones. You could try get the full list of private ones and ring to see if you can do a exam there.