IT HAS TO BE SAID

[VaeVictis]

I seriously fucking hate comptia

[[BTF] Reflex]

 

[[BTF] Reflex]

Looks like you been at it for 3 years already.

[reaper]

why?

[VaeVictis]

lol cause comptia is changing their A+ Net+ and Security+ certs over to 3 year renewable starting january first and i just recently started into tech school to actually focus and take the classes to pass the test...

already took the a+ and net+ classes, but it was years ago and i didnt take the exam :/ so im completely stressed goin through all 3 classes before dec 22 when all the testing centers close for the year

so yes.... i hate comptia right now

[reaper]

I doubt those tests will change a whole lot, so taking the new ones shouldn't be to big of a deal, you can always take the new exams.  I'm not a fan of certifications at all, but have you looked into the Microsoft ones?  The Microsoft software is very advanced, in many cases it's even the only option.  Since so many large infrastructures work with Microsoft, knowing the email systems, or Active Directory systems, is a good place to find work.  

That said, I have a problem with certifications sometimes, because for one you are working with one vendor usually, and they won't push good standards - you may learn the configurations, specific protocols, but not ideas, and fundamentals. Also sometimes certifications seem pretty narrow, but I suppose if you were working with backups, it couldn't hurt to have some sort of backup/SAN certification : ).  That's just been my personal experience with them, I've dug my grave, and now I have to live with it, but it sure is boring : ).

[VaeVictis]

I doubt those tests will change a whole lot, so taking the new ones shouldn't be to big of a deal, you can always take the new exams.  I'm not a fan of certifications at all, but have you looked into the Microsoft ones?  The Microsoft software is very advanced, in many cases it's even the only option.  Since so many large infrastructures work with Microsoft, knowing the email systems, or Active Directory systems, is a good place to find work.  

That said, I have a problem with certifications sometimes, because for one you are working with one vendor usually, and they won't push good standards - you may learn the configurations, specific protocols, but not ideas, and fundamentals. Also sometimes certifications seem pretty narrow, but I suppose if you were working with backups, it couldn't hurt to have some sort of backup/SAN certification : ).  That's just been my personal experience with them, I've dug my grave, and now I have to live with it, but it sure is boring : ).

well the comptia are vendor neutral certs... right now they are all for life certifications but starting january 1st those 3 are switching over to three year renewable :/ and i think thats kinda stupid, if im gonna get certified ill get certified for life, and if my employer wants to pay for a new cert every 3 years thats fine

luckily though its only those three the school im attending doesnt offer the server+ cert but it does offer the linux+ one so im gonna get that next year lol

and yeah ive looked at the microsoft ones, problem is they arent cheap, they are usually pretty specific, and they usually have short expiration dates :/ so i think while im just in school the for life certs are much better to aim for

also, instead of microsoft if i was gonna go for a vendor specific cert i would get my CCNA lol very high end respectable cert for networking

just mad at comptia atm cause its stressin me out xD but i looked back over my calender and  i can lighten up a little cause i miscounted and have a week more than i estimated

[reaper]

As far as price, certifications are much cheaper than college courses.  Although a degree in computer science or information systems is the way to go for IT.  At least I think you learn a lot more in computer science courses than studying for some Microsoft certification.  Although the school I went to is now integrating more of the certification courses, where before there were things like C programming classes, computer sciences type classes which I thought were great.   I think they are making a big mistake.

For the Cisco certifications, CCNA is the entry level one.  It goes CCNA>CCNP>CCIE.  I always though the Cisco stuff was a little more fun, since you end up learning the protocols in detail and some algorithms, but you could learn things just as interesting on a regular PC.  The last certification is a day lab, where you work with a communication system that's been messed up, and you basically put it back together.  There's also Linux Redhat certifications that are similar where the third level includes a day lab you have to pass.  It's certainly one track to take, and if you get the CCIE or the Redhat stuff I"m sure you'd have no problem doing just about all the things Cisco and Redhat are working with.  I just think they're kinda lame, because it's like: learn x,y and z, and give me answers to some  useless detail, when it's really other things that matter.  Lame or not though they will get you cash money.

 

Anyways the Microsoft certifications have pretty good value as far as work, so I wouldn't just brush them off.  Don't forget programming, because it helps in everything, and it's about half the battle or more : ).  Personally I find the programming very interesting, but it's an awful lot to learn

 

[VaeVictis]

As far as price, certifications are much cheaper than college courses.  Although a degree in computer science or information systems is the way to go for IT.  At least I think you learn a lot more in computer science courses than studying for some Microsoft certification.  Although the school I went to is now integrating more of the certification courses, where before there were things like C programming classes, computer sciences type classes which I thought were great.   I think they are making a big mistake.

For the Cisco certifications, CCNA is the entry level one.  It goes CCNA>CCNP>CCIE.  I always though the Cisco stuff was a little more fun, since you end up learning the protocols in detail and some algorithms, but you could learn things just as interesting on a regular PC.  The last certification is a day lab, where you work with a communication system that's been messed up, and you basically put it back together.  There's also Linux Redhat certifications that are similar where the third level includes a day lab you have to pass.  It's certainly one track to take, and if you get the CCIE or the Redhat stuff I"m sure you'd have no problem doing just about all the things Cisco and Redhat are working with.  I just think they're kinda lame, because it's like: learn x,y and z, and give me answers to some  useless detail, when it's really other things that matter.  Lame or not though they will get you cash money.

 

Anyways the Microsoft certifications have pretty good value as far as work, so I wouldn't just brush them off.  Don't forget programming, because it helps in everything, and it's about half the battle or more : ).  Personally I find the programming very interesting, but it's an awful lot to learn

 

yeah as far as programming goes ima learn c++ to finish up the hours on the course im going through right now... considering c# because its gaining popularity but i might just do that later

college isnt just a forgotten thing to me either i can take some of my certs in and get credit for them and i plan on doing college after this, but as far as the IT industry goes everyone ive ever talked to has always said certifications are the most important thing FIRST

and with linux certs, i wouldnt go redhat myself, im probably gonna take the novell path just because i live in utah anyway lol

[reaper]

college isnt just a forgotten thing to me either  i can take some of my certs in and get credit for them and i plan on doing college after this, but as far as the IT industry goes everyone ive ever talked to has always said certifications are the most important thing FIRST

There's a million different jobs for a million different things just in IT, and certainly a lot of cookie cutter type positions requiring certfications.  Like if you're working with voice over IP, and certification X means you can fix the phones, well that's all anyone's going to care about if you're hired to fix the phones.  But with a degree in computer science, you'd be a lot more knowledable in any computer related work you're doing.  Since getting that kind of degree is such a dedicated thing to do, doing that first would make sense in most cases.  I'm saying this from experience, basically if I could step back in time, I would get a 4 year degree in computer science.

Keep in mind that even the IT stuff is more than putting together the infrastructure. Developers create and secure the code.  To put together the whole system there's electrical engineering, electronics, and all that good stuff as well.  Currently an AMD offshot is putting together a fabrication plant around here, basically employing the whole city.  Guess I am an AMD fan now : ).

[Th0m@s29]

I am with you.

[VaeVictis]

lol... sooo much hate for comptia XD

got both my A+ on the 15th, my Network+ on the 17th, and my Security+ on the 20th lol... study study study study xD

[[BTF] Reflex]

Congrats man,  some serious IRL pwnage :0

[peewee_RotA]

Kaikoura police are following up information they received on Friday about who might be responsible for the mass slaughter of seals near Kaikoura.

Sergeant Barry Hansen said police were making inquiries after being given names of people believed to have been involved.

The Conservation Department is also still receiving calls from people with information about who slaughtered 25 protected fur seals near Kaikoura, a week after the news was made public.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/kaikoura/4458787/Reward-offers-as-seal-abuse-info-steams-in

This is so terrible. The poor baby seals!

[adz1La]

LOL