Originally posted by: ericlp
I wonder if they are doing this because of Win 7 coming in and vista going out?
I am a IT professional too and I second your opinion, especially the laid back partOriginally posted by: kimchee411
Originally posted by: CheapFlyer
Ericb,
Thanks for the info. I have been reading up on the A+, even though a lot of that is out of date, it's a good starting point. I think my next stop will be the MCDST. I do realize without a degree in IT (I have a BS in another field) I'm not going to be making any kind of decent money. Luckily, the job I got furloughed from will someday call me back. I just want to get started in the computer field and see where it takes me.
Again, thanks for your insight. Anyone other recommendations are welcomed!
You're on the right track with A+ and MCDST for a Helpdesk/Desktop position. Once you gain experience at that level and you want to go into Systems Administration/Engineering you should look into the MCITP certs. MCITP Server Administrator is essentially the new MCSA and MCITP Enterprise Engineer is the new MCSE. Also, virtualization is a hot commodity right now and the next big step in IT.
As for the money aspect, you probably won't make great money not because of your lack of a BS in IT, but because of your lack of experience. I don't know anybody in IT who has a BS in IT. In fact I've never even heard of a program offering a BS in IT. IT is not an academic field -- it's the practical application of Computer Science, and a CS degree is commonly what is desired... on paper, that is. In IT, what REALLY matters is experience and knowledge. "Fitting in" can often play an important role too. IT are usually laid back people who have a real passion for technology, and a lot of us are pretty lazy too =P... which is ironic because that laziness compels us to spend countless hours making things more efficient so we have to do less work.
Anyway with that said, if you like to play around with computers in your personal life, it makes perfect sense to pursue it in your professional life. IMHO what ultimately drives one's success is one's passion and truly enjoying one's work. You're going to be spending the majority of your life at work, so you better like it. I friggin love my job -- not too many people who can say that.
Best of luck to you!
Originally posted by: Linflas
Is this dead or is there a trick I am missing to get the Apply button to work?
Nevermind, I figured out that pasting it in was the problem.
Originally posted by: RobsTV
Does this path make sense:
With goal of cheapest way to get to MCITP.
1. Taking exam 70-271 and 70-272 to get MCDST
2. Then upgrade from MCDST to MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician, exam 70-621.
Quick look at practice tests, and thinking can pass MCDST without any courses.
Then with this deal, get Collection 5103 for training on upgrade exam 70-621.
3 exams. One collection.
end result:
MCDST
MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician
MCTS: Windows Vista as a bonus cert
Please correct me if this is wrong.
Thanks
EDIT: for those having trouble adding promo code or checking out, the only way it worked for me was to be signed into Live! and manually entering code as well as credit card info. Copy and paste and autofill would not allow it to work. Manual and all went through fine. Confirmed March 19th 9pm.
Two questions:
1) anyone know how long this deal will be going on for
and
2) would these certs actually be useful for those looking to get an entry level position with an unrelated degree
Originally posted by: elkinm
Mine keeps saying the program is un-available at the moment when I try to add a means of payment.
I tried adding collection 2278.
Anybody else have this issue. I am looking for the most comprehensive and complete collection for server 2003 or later. Any other good collections that work fine?
Thanks for the deal.
Originally posted by: lxskllr
Sorry to seem so helpless here, but what collection would be a good start for someone trying to get into an IT help desk position? Like an earlier poster, I have a fair amount of experience in a home environment, but no professional experience. Even though this price is great, I don't have much extra money due to being on unemployment. I'd rather not get a package that goes over most of the information I already know, and I also don't want to get something that's over my head, or not really pertinent to my goals(help desk).
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated :^)
Originally posted by: MrMaster
Originally posted by: lxskllr
Sorry to seem so helpless here, but what collection would be a good start for someone trying to get into an IT help desk position? Like an earlier poster, I have a fair amount of experience in a home environment, but no professional experience. Even though this price is great, I don't have much extra money due to being on unemployment. I'd rather not get a package that goes over most of the information I already know, and I also don't want to get something that's over my head, or not really pertinent to my goals(help desk).
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated :^)
What people are trying to say here is you should have some type of CS degree and if you don't have that then you better have some certifications. Otherwise, your chances of landing a IT help desk position are low.
It isn't what you know, it's what piece of paper you hold.
Sorry to seem so helpless here, but what collection would be a good start for someone trying to get into an IT help desk position? Like an earlier poster, I have a fair amount of experience in a home environment, but no professional experience. Even though this price is great, I don't have much extra money due to being on unemployment. I'd rather not get a package that goes over most of the information I already know, and I also don't want to get something that's over my head, or not really pertinent to my goals(help desk). Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated :^)
Originally posted by: jzodda
I think you should do the MCDST and I think there is a link to that package somewhere in this thread. Then upgrade it to Vista if you like since there is one of those for $35 also. I think that link was in the first post.
Then take A+ cert which is 3 exams (I think 602-604) if I am not mistaken.
Then you should be fine for help desk entry level. Once you start you can game plan what other certs to go for and the job itself can help with that possibly or give you clues. For A+ you won't find anything in those packages though.