IT certification opinions...

[polishmafia]

So wait, you're telling me those commercials featuring Justin from PC Pro Schools is just a scam!? Noooooo!

LOL

[mlomker]

Everyplace I've worked at, if they see A+ on the resume they throw it out, pretty funny.

When I worked for Sovran (a consulting shop in Eagan) they required every employee to have the A+. At the time I was MCSE/CCNP and all the techs laughed because it is joke outside of a rank newb.

Sovran had a salary scale that rewarded certs (and they paid for books & exams). They love advertising how heavily certified their staff are. Fortune 500 companies don't have to sell me to their clients so it's a different ballgame.

[scheides]

I have no certifications, but if you're gonna do it, go big or go home. I've completed a ton of CCIE labs and even did one at the interview for the job I just started today. Worth it.

[tpunx99GSX]

you should get your MOUS Cert. Now thats goin big.
http://certification.about.com/od/mous/l/bldef_mous.htm

[tehehodi]

haha yes pete, it is. DAMMIT! :/ oh well, live and learn. At least i have something? haha. I have some server 08 active directory and configurations books if you'd like to look through them sometime mlomker. also have a great study tool to study for MCITP and other various cert tests out there. I'm starting to like linux/unix a lot.. :)

[mlomker]

I have no certifications, but if you're gonna do it, go big or go home.

An acquaintence just dropped me a line. I thought you had to be former military to get a contract job in Afghanistan/Iraq (due to security clearances). He said if I renew my CISSP that I'd be a shoe-in for a position.

Hrm. I'm going to pick up the CCNP on the way to CCIE. I don't see any reason not to. You have to pass the written, anyway. Failing that fucker by a couple points (twice) is how I lost my CCNP/DP in the first place.

[mlomker]

Spoke to a recruiter and it sounds like all contracting jobs require a Security+. That and a CCNA and I can apply. They say I can take exams on base to keep moving along.

I love to travel and really need a change. I'm going to pursue this.

[tehehodi]

^Good luck! Sounds fun!

I didn't think so many people were in the IT field on this board! Awesome! So....any leads for an entry level newb? haha

[scheides]

Nice dude, go for it! Stay in touch on this, very interested to see how this turns out for ya!

[bramagedained]

Just a small FYI, the CompTia certs are no longer lifetime as of 1 Dec 10.

For some reason, the Army is a fan of their stuff. Despite being almost a joke, N+ and A+ might be good to have.

For my job, which is mostly maintenance/repair of highside equipment we do
some of the networking too. By 2012 we're all supposed to have at least N+ and Security+. It's strongly encouraged to have CCNA as well.

As far as I know, all of the jobs that touch the network require a Secret clearance at the very least. Those they will pretty much hand out to anyone that isn't a fellon or currently has a warrant somewhere. The investigation isn't super time consuming and there's no polygraph. On the other hand, my Top Secret investigation took 6 months, they sent investigators out to 3 different states to talk to people I listed as aquantences and I was polygraphed.

DOIM is the main IT "group" the Army goes through, ITT is the most prevalent contractor I see here in Afghanistan.

Networks above Secret are managed by a government agency. Almost everyone that works for them is prior service military.

Contracting with the Army overseas=$$$. Every one of them I've talked to over here makes more than 100K/year. Even the generator mechanic down the road.

I know as soon as my contract with the Army ends in August of next year I'm going to be a contractor doing the exact same job I do now.