Cert's for IT's?

Joined
Oct 6, 2006
Messages
973
Well, I am finishing my first year of college up and i work as a Network Admin ;-) .
I want to know what certifications would help me succeed later on, and how hard they are :)
Well, list em up!!
 
Experience is more valuable that certs. Stick with the job and get some time in, learn everything you can about everything there, hardware, software, etc.
 
When I'm hiring I have no interest in certs. I have never encountered a candidate where their certs would somehow have made a difference in hiring them. They just have no value other than showing someone was willing to spend the time and money on getting them. That's it.
 
Short version: if the guy who is hiring you has certs, he will want you to have certs. If he doesn't, he won't care. Certs can also help you get past the useless HR buzzword screening.

They're good to have if you have the applicable knowledge to back them up.
 
When I'm hiring I have no interest in certs. I have never encountered a candidate where their certs would somehow have made a difference in hiring them. They just have no value other than showing someone was willing to spend the time and money on getting them. That's it.


gotta agree here, most people with certs we have interviewed are completely clueless as to how the stuff works. Just interviewed a guy with MCSE and MCP, and poor guy had no server experience at all... great that he has his certs, but offers little in real world enviroments IMO
 
When I'm hiring I have no interest in certs. I have never encountered a candidate where their certs would somehow have made a difference in hiring them. They just have no value other than showing someone was willing to spend the time and money on getting them. That's it.

What he said.

The only cert that may make me think "Wow" is the CCIE cert. I don't see value in anything else.
 
Anyone done RHCE ?

I am thinking of doing this as the company will probably pay for it.

I have been around unix boxes 10+ years but not Linux.

I figure it shouldn't be _too_ hard.

Rob
 
If your company will pay for it, do it. It's not going to hurt anything. I would focus on gaining experience over anything. Just don't rely on a CERT getting you a job.

Good Luck.
 
I think if there is apropriate experience a long with the certs, it's fine.

Otherwise, they don't show how you can use that information in the real world.
 
Experience is more valuable that certs. Stick with the job and get some time in, learn everything you can about everything there, hardware, software, etc.

100% agree. I would add along with that- reputation.

Certs, as stated, might help you get into a larger company, past the initial screeners.


For a little business that isn't very techno-savvy and not very computer-reliant (but still big enough to need someone to maintain everything), they may fall back and rely on certs.
For any major corporation, they look at what you actually know ;)
 
As zacdl mentioned, certs will help you get past the initial screening. After that, experience comes into play. I don't think just experience alone will land you a job in a large organization.

Ideally, if you had experience, certs and a degree, you'll be golden.
 
Anyone done RHCE ?

I am thinking of doing this as the company will probably pay for it.

I have been around unix boxes 10+ years but not Linux.

I figure it shouldn't be _too_ hard.

Rob

RHCE is a <b>HARD</b> test. :)

IMO certs are valuable so you can hone your existing skills. Getting certs for the sake of getting certs is pointless. It's been my experience that indeed it does get you past useless HR people and at least gives you a shot at the better jobs. As always, if you're useless, it will still show through - certs or not. :)
 
I think certs are not as a big deal as they were 5-10 years ago. They were all the rage back then but right now a degree is the best thing next to experience. You never have to worry about your degree expiring either. I work now for a large DoD contractor as a System Administrator / Network Engineer and the experience is far better than any certification.

Who really cares about a MCSE on a resume when you see a guy who has worked for Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrup Grumman, etc etc for 10+ years as a UNIX System Administrator..
 
I think the lack of good certs has cost me some jobs lately. I have my MCP and ACP (Altiris) and nearly 12 years of experience, but I keep hearing "have you ever considered getting your MCSE?" or similar questions. For the longest time I thought the same as most of you in that just because you passed some tests it doesn't mean you really know what you are certified in. But now I feel like I'm being looked over for someone younger/less experienced, all because they have that piece of paper.

I have a college degree and some minimal certs, but like I said, I have nearly 12 years of experience in IT. So, I'm scheduled to take some new training and get my MCSA and Security+ certs soon. At least I'll be able to say I have the certs AND the experience to back them up.
 
I think the lack of good certs has cost me some jobs lately. I have my MCP and ACP (Altiris) and nearly 12 years of experience, but I keep hearing "have you ever considered getting your MCSE?" or similar questions. For the longest time I thought the same as most of you in that just because you passed some tests it doesn't mean you really know what you are certified in. But now I feel like I'm being looked over for someone younger/less experienced, all because they have that piece of paper.

I have a college degree and some minimal certs, but like I said, I have nearly 12 years of experience in IT. So, I'm scheduled to take some new training and get my MCSA and Security+ certs soon. At least I'll be able to say I have the certs AND the experience to back them up.

my thoughts exactly...

i've missed out on a few cushy state jobs for the very same reason... although it doesn't mean you know anything, it ALWAYS helps when getting hired by a decent sized company by people who DO have those certs

EDIT: and whatever you do, don't tell the interviewers that certs don't matter, that they are dumb, or useless... because if they ask, they most likely have been told the opposite, or are a techie who has the certs themselves...

A+... net+.... bullshit certs... but if they're so bullshit and so easy to get... just get them.... thats what i'm doing.... my CCNA cert and degree.. which actually means something (in comparison) isn't getting me much
 
A+... net+.... bullshit certs... but if they're so bullshit and so easy to get... just get them.... thats what i'm doing

Yeah, I have never thought much of A+ since when I look at the material it is sooo outdated. Um, how often are you going to work on a system that uses SIPPS memory modules? :eek:

I am only working on the Security+ because it is part of this boot camp. I normally hate boot camps, but my company is a pain about taking lots of separate classes and being off site too much, so I'm doing a full 9 day stretch and getting as much as I can in that time. I'm hoping my experience will help as a study aid.

Heck, the AD stuff should be easier considering I just did a big migration by myself from 2 older 2k AD controllers to a new pair of 2003 AD controllers (yeah, I'm patting myself on the back since I didn't get much of one at work, even with the whole changeover not having any negative effects on any of the hundreds of users/machines).
 
my thoughts exactly...

i've missed out on a few cushy state jobs for the very same reason... although it doesn't mean you know anything, it ALWAYS helps when getting hired by a decent sized company by people who DO have those certs

EDIT: and whatever you do, don't tell the interviewers that certs don't matter, that they are dumb, or useless... because if they ask, they most likely have been told the opposite, or are a techie who has the certs themselves...

A+... net+.... bullshit certs... but if they're so bullshit and so easy to get... just get them.... thats what i'm doing.... my CCNA cert and degree.. which actually means something (in comparison) isn't getting me much

Hmm, seems like Certs are not that valued. The company I work for now is great. I do get paid quite good for being 18 and I have freedom!!!! Their old IT guy was horrible, I get to fix things, upgrade things and in few months I can pretty much redo all of their servers and everything. Is MSCE hard? I was thinking about taking some classes in a year or so.
 
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