Just passed Network+

A

AMD_Gamer

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Jan 20, 2002
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i am on a roll i just passed the Network+ with a 760, it was so easy i cant even think of a hard question i blew threw it, I was in and out of the testing center within 45 minutes i think it took me maybe 20-25 minutes for all 85 questions , the only thing is they word the questions very strange so sometimes you need to think about it for a second, i used the Sybex book and practice tests/study notes i found online, also i am a big networking guy so that helped alot. if anybody is planning to do the network+ i can help you out on how to study or if you have any questions.

i now have Network+ and MCTS Vista Configuration exam 70-620

its now on to the A+ to get that out of the way then i am planning an all out attack on the CCNA!

:D
 
Congrats on passing the N+.

Unless your job is requiring you to take the A+ exam, I would skip it entirely. Let me just say that I've never had an employer go "Wow, you mean you're A+ certified?!?". Unless you're trying to get a job fixing 'puters for 10 bucks an hour, it really is a useless certification track. I got mine in 1998, and it's never been a difference maker.

My advice: get the CCNA. It actually has the potential to score you a decent job. Not many other certs carry this kind of weight.
 
BakedA|aska said:
Congrats on passing the N+.

Unless your job is requiring you to take the A+ exam, I would skip it entirely. Let me just say that I've never had an employer go "Wow, you mean you're A+ certified?!?". Unless you're trying to get a job fixing 'puters for 10 bucks an hour, it really is a useless certification track. I got mine in 1998, and it's never been a difference maker.

My advice: get the CCNA. It actually has the potential to score you a decent job. Not many other certs carry this kind of weight.
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I am just trying to stack my resume to get an entry level job at some point, and the A+ and Network+ are electives for MSCE/MCSA in case i decide to go that route.
 
I always look at certifications like online MMO's....the more stuff you have the better, heh.
 
I never got the obsession in the US with "certifications"?
Take me, no papers what so ever(in IT), but what I have picked up since the Commodore 64 landed me my current job, network technician at an ISP.

If I where to look at applicants I would look more at their personality(does it fit into the rest of the team) and how "quick" them seem, anything work-related can be thaugth fast, if the applicant is a fast leaner...I know we prefer fast leaners/good personality over peoples certificaion where I work.
 
Atech said:
I never got the obsession in the US with "certifications"?
Take me, no papers what so ever(in IT), but what I have picked up since the Commodore 64 landed me my current job, network technician at an ISP.

If I where to look at applicants I would look more at their personality(does it fit into the rest of the team) and how "quick" them seem, anything work-related can be thaugth fast, if the applicant is a fast leaner...I know we prefer fast leaners/good personality over peoples certificaion where I work.
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Certs aren't everything. In fact, many (including myself) would argue that all certs are useless, with the only exceptions being the Cisco CC*, anything by Juniper (since they're the cool new kids on the block), and the CISSP security cert. Take it from an MCSE when I say the Microsoft certs are a complete waste of time.
 
BakedA|aska said:
Certs aren't everything. In fact, many (including myself) would argue that all certs are useless, with the only exceptions being the Cisco CC*, anything by Juniper (since they're the cool new kids on the block), and the CISSP security cert. Take it from an MCSE when I say the Microsoft certs are a complete waste of time.
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Like readning my mind! :eek::D;)
 
I used my A+ and Network+ as an elective for my Windows 2000 MCSA, so I can vouch for AMD_Gamer on that one.
 
Wow reading this thread made me start to think.. I graduate this december with a 2 year degree in IT administration. Mind you that i already have my bachelors in mathematics. My goal is to get into IT of course, but is it even worth me getting my certs to land the job that i want? Even if i have the degrees,my gpa is a 4.0 and i graduate at the top of the class? The classes i have taken thus far are a+ hardware and software, networking +, active directory, ccna, linux, server 2003, MCDST, and im currently taking security+.
I am planning on getting the ccna certification, around the time i graduate because i know thats where the money is and what i want to do, but is the others worth my time? As i have stated before i was always under the inpression that i must have the certifications to land a job in IT, and i really want to know what certs are necessary.
 
Charlie Hustle said:
Wow reading this thread made me start to think.. I graduate this december with a 2 year degree in IT administration. Mind you that i already have my bachelors in mathematics. My goal is to get into IT of course, but is it even worth me getting my certs to land the job that i want? Even if i have the degrees,my gpa is a 4.0 and i graduate at the top of the class? The classes i have taken thus far are a+ hardware and software, networking +, active directory, ccna, linux, server 2003, MCDST, and im currently taking security+.
I am planning on getting the ccna certification, around the time i graduate because i know thats where the money is and what i want to do, but is the others worth my time? As i have stated before i was always under the inpression that i must have the certifications to land a job in IT, and i really want to know what certs are necessary.
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i think so, they will help stack your resume and i believe that they show your employer that you are serious about what you are doing
 
AMD_Gamer said:
i think so, they will help stack your resume and i believe that they show your employer that you are serious about what you are doing
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Even still, the only ones that a prospective employer will be "wowed" by, will come from Cisco. Literally nothing else means anything to employers, unless they have some sort of vendor requirement for other certs.
 
BakedA|aska said:
Even still, the only ones that a prospective employer will be "wowed" by, will come from Cisco. Literally nothing else means anything to employers, unless they have some sort of vendor requirement for other certs.
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Not all ISP's use Cisco.
We use Zyxel/Juniper, so if certificates where a deciding factor...Juniper certs. would mean a lot more than Cisco certs.
 
Certs aren't worthless. They help you to learn new concepts, remember forgotten ones, and always look good on a resume. My A+ got me my first IT job so I would definitely recommend it.
 
BakedA|aska said:
Even still, the only ones that a prospective employer will be "wowed" by, will come from Cisco. Literally nothing else means anything to employers, unless they have some sort of vendor requirement for other certs.
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So you speak for all employers?
 
DragonNOA1 said:
Certs aren't worthless. They help you to learn new concepts, remember forgotten ones, and always look good on a resume. My A+ got me my first IT job so I would definitely recommend it.
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of course they're not 'worthless', but I can almost guarantee that employers aren't going to hire you just because you have X cert. If they do, they're stupid. Personally, I don't have any networking certs (I plan to, just don't have the time right now), but I've met people that had a CCNA and didn't know much about networking at all. On the other hand I have a SCJP 5 cert, but I don't do any programming anymore, so I assure you I could not pass it again without studying hard for it (I could pass, but I'd have to relearn quite a few things).

Anyway, point is, you can't go just by certs. you need real-world experience and more importantly the willingness (and ability) to learn and adapt to new technology.


Also, congrats to the OP on his new cert.
 
BakedA|aska said:
Certs aren't everything. In fact, many (including myself) would argue that all certs are useless, with the only exceptions being the Cisco CC*, anything by Juniper (since they're the cool new kids on the block), and the CISSP security cert. Take it from an MCSE when I say the Microsoft certs are a complete waste of time.
Click to expand...
The CISSP isn't really that hard of a cert. I have it and wouldn't call myself any sort of security expert. I'm half way through the CCSP and still say the same thing. I can't say that certs prove you aren't really bad at your job, but I can say I have only met 1 person in all of my years in IT that couldn't pass certs and was actually competent. The other 99.9% that couldn't pass certs were truly bad and shouldn't have been in IT.

I will also say I've met enough CS majors to know that a degree is about as accurate an indicator as certs are when it comes to knowing what they are doing.
 
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