I have to agree that Certs do hold value, especially for upstart technicians. I think before you can gain real world experience you should be able to show some form of technical aptitude that "may" qualify you for whatever position you're seeking. It's all in how much effort you put into your learning and how well you translate it. In addition it also shows a sense of dedication to furthering your education. Although this is also achieved in a classroom setting it can give you a slight advantage especially when you can see where your instructors are coming up short. So for an upstart technician without real world experience I say use certs as a measuring tool because that's how I was able to get noticed and given a chance to prove myself. You may find yourself working a job where those around you have no absolutely desire to push ahead. These may be people with college degrees who are content with where they are. The one thing I like about pursuing certs is that they keep you on the "edge". My lab at home has taken on so many forms because of the changing techologies and methodologies I'm constantly learning. While I think college does a good job of providing the basic fundamentals I don't think it instills that second layer of discipline needed to pursue certs.
On 2/7/08, Ziots, Edward <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Good view of it. > > > > Looking at Masters in IT/Information Science also, but borrowing like > 40-60K at 8% just to get through the course, and taking Graduate Placement > Exams ( MCAT? MCAP) doesn't thrill me either. I got enough real-world > experience, to breeze through possibly ¼ to ½ the cirrcumlum for the MSIT > degree ( CISSP at most accredited colleges will count for about 12-15 > credits towards the Masters, which helps get the degree quicker) > > > > True: Running the certification rat-race does get boring after a while, > but in IT its basically the Icing on the cake in my eyes, doing the jobs, > getting the experience is really what it comes down to. And hell my > undergrad was in Mechnical Engineering, wish they had the IT Degrees back in > my day in college, all they had was CIS ( Coding, which I loathe) > > > > Z > > > > Edward E. Ziots > > Netwok Engineer > > Lifespan Organization > > MCSE,MCSA,MCP,Security+,Network+,CCA > > Phone: 401-639-3505 > > -----Original Message----- > *From:* John Hornbuckle [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > *Sent:* Thursday, February 07, 2008 8:35 AM > *To:* NT System Admin Issues > *Subject:* RE: Certs + Experience + which degree? > > > > > > I've got a young woman (early 20's) working for me as a PC technician. The > position requires A+ and Network+ certifications, which she has. She was > commenting earlier this week that very little of what she learned in the > certification process has helped her out in the field. The things you come > across in the real world just can't be duplicate in books. That's not to say > that certification is useless, but we all know that certs alone aren't worth > much. > > > > I've got over 10 years of experience, and the only certs I have are A+, > Net+, and I-Net+. When I found myself with time to study, I didn't go for > more certs—I finished my Bachelor's degree (I had dropped out of college as > a junior, having already earned my AA). The next step for me is a Master's; > I'd rather spend my time and energy on that than certs. Certs have a limited > shelf life, but degrees are forever. > > > > After the Master's, I may look into additional certs. But that will be a > few years. > > > > > > John Hornbuckle > > MIS Department > > Taylor County School District > > 318 North Clark Street > > Perry, FL 32347 > > > > www.taylor.k12.fl.us > > > > > > > > > > > > *From:* Ziots, Edward [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > *Sent:* Thursday, February 07, 2008 7:51 AM > *To:* NT System Admin Issues > *Subject:* RE: Certs + Experience + which degree? > > > > > > I can see where you are coming from, I find myself at this familiar > cross-roads. It seems that re-certification is necessary evil now, but > probably going the SSCP/CISSP ISC2 route because its vendor/neutral and it > really peaks my interest, and never gets boring. Plus it doesn't pigeonhole > me into supporting one OS over another or one technology over another. > > > > But honestly, experience is the best teacher. How many times I have sat in > a class, and you knew the professor didn't have much real-world experience, > and basically was teaching you the theory of how things are supposed to go, > which we both know doesn't always work out to what it really does, when you > get down to it. > > > > Z > > > > Edward E. Ziots > > Netwok Engineer > > Lifespan Organization > > MCSE,MCSA,MCP,Security+,Network+,CCA > > Phone: 401-639-3505 > > -----Original Message----- > *From:* MarvinC [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > *Sent:* Wednesday, February 06, 2008 8:41 PM > *To:* NT System Admin Issues > *Subject:* Re: Certs + Experience + which degree? > > > > > > The time to study + the time to commit to hands on related work that may > intefere with studying for a masters/phd.. > > I've thought about pursuing one or the other but the current work load > just allow time. Of course there's also part-time and/or online schooling as > an option. I'd say it could depend on just how much you're looking to get > out of the classes and whether you function better in a classroom or working > from home. Having the 2000/2003 MS certs I'm now having to consider tackling > the 2008 certs or make the jump to another industry platform like Cisco. > Talk about wanting to pull the covers back over my head! > > At this stage in my life I've come to the conclusion that I won't become > rich or wealthy working in this field unless I stumble across a nice patent. > I believe in the "glass ceiling" and that you can max out if you're not > constantly working to stay educated in some capacity. My fear is the same I > had when I was in college and that was that my real world experiences were > educating me a lot better than the classroom subject matter. So I figure to > work towards building some type of residual income, start another venture, > build, start etc. At that point I'd be paying for classes or subject matter > that's gonna help to keep the cycle going. If I make it back to school it'll > be because I'd have the time and flexibility. (nothing like dreaming) > > > > > > On 2/6/08, *Jim Majorowicz* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > It depends on where you see yourself in 5 to 10 years. Personally, I'd go > for the MBA if I had the time, even though I'd never use it. > > > > *From:* Phil Guevara [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > *Sent:* Wednesday, February 06, 2008 2:45 PM > *To:* NT System Admin Issues > *Subject:* OT: Certs + Experience + which degree? > > > > > > I was wondering what everyone's opinion is on this. > > > > Let's say you have your MCSE cert or other industry standard cert and over > 5 years solid experience, but no degree. > > > > Which degree would be best to compliment this? > > > > CIS degree, Computer Science Degree, Business Degree, other? > > > > I noticed the CS program deals more with programming and not really the > stuff a systems administrator would do. A CIS degree might be aligned with > it but wouldn't that just be redundant to the MCSE and experience? Would a > Business degree show you as a well rounded person? > > Best Regards, > > Phil > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ~ Upgrade to Next Generation Antispam/Antivirus with Ninja! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbelt-software.com/SunbeltMessagingNinja.cfm> ~
