Best IT certifications

Well, considering im the highest authority to speak here, I belive you all should stfu, and listen to ME, ok, one day, the majority of you will work for me. Thank you. J.
 
krono9 said:
Hi, If i just received my honours accounting degree but also want to get involved in the I.T side of things, are there popular career paths combining IT and Accounting/Audit qualifications and what further I.T qualifications are recommended depending on the career path?

Just a question of interest.....

Thanks
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Become an IT auditor ... just remember everyone always hate auditors cos they make work for people... so if you become an auditor the people you audit will not like you :P

Kawak said:
+1

I have also interviewed multi-cert qualified pple who has no idea what they are talking about when put into a real life situation, I believe the most important thing is experience, when a system won't start a program and everything seems to be fine, you need to know that it might be hardware compatibility issues and not something a re-install will fix, especially after you have re-installed for the third time, worst is he is so proud to tell me that the third time is the charm :eek:
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Glad I got myself a degree then. It was actually quite easy for find a job without experience, banks graduate programs are a good place to look for people coming out of varisty without any experience.

Rainy said:
Whats your guys opinion on a BSC Computer Science Degree?
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Rainy, this is the degree I have, I found it very challenging and interesting. Considering doing my MSC in computer science in a year or 2. Was easy to get a job if that is what you are after. I chose the BSC Comp Sci more out of interest in the field than "doing a degree that gets you a good job". The fact that something i was interested in got me a job was a bonus a guess.

Oh Rainy, i would suggest one thing. Whatever degree you do, get an Honours... Puts you on international level with your degree, as their undergrads are 4 years.
 
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Rainy said:
Whats your guys opinion on a BSC Computer Science Degree?


where in Durban can we do these certs.
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If you have time, go for it. It is something that will never be outstated.

But all of these certifications, including BSc will not teach you how to write code.
 
rogerwe said:
Quite frankly I would hire a bright teachable graduate before I hire somebody with a certification for the role of software developer. Why?

  • Certifications become outdated
  • Certifications teach and bind you proprietry practices of a product. eg. Putting all your code on a Windows Form or Aspx page because you can just drag and drop components onto it.
  • I've interviewed very expensive senior certified guys that can't answer basic object orientated theory
  • Many certified guys think they know everything and aren't teachable
  • Certified guys are expensive

I'm generalising here with the above list, so if you're certified and don't fit the above description, please don't be offended.

Suffice to say that for every 10 senior guys we interview (many of them certified with some MS****, we hire 1 because of the above reasons.
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I think you are generalising here, but I agree that certification does not mean that you have a decent developer at all.
 
BCS Degree all the way. Aiming for a masters you will be untouchable and gives you bragging rights.

This is were you learn the fundamentals and basics of IT.
Here they teach you to think, adjust & trouble shoot for yourself.
You also learn here how TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!
You are flexible and not bound to a certain function you will die off one day.
That is why its called an science degree.

From here on onwards you can just add building blocks like MS, Linux & Cisco certifications, but you get teachet the basic in a bsc bachelors degree too.

Put it simple and sweat. You can't build a ten story building without a proper foundation.

Ask yourself this question:

Why is it that so many people is without an Job that got all these certifications, but the person who has an degree has a better change to get or keep his job ?
Companies hire people who can prove they did there part to learn and are prepared to learn even more. Where people with a certification got the training to perform there job function. and M$ is laughing all the way to the bank. They do not care less as long as THERE PRODUCT SELLS.
Do yourself a favor and DO NOT become a product.


just me 2c
 
All of the things listed in this article should only be considered AFTER you have a degree and a few years experience, when you're looking to specialise in a certain area of IT.
 
I'm currently doing a Bsc in Computer Science, what I want to know is what kind of jobs are there for this type of degree,or where did some of you who read it start/end up? I also want to know what the practical applications of this knowledge are? Such as how did you apply it to your careers?
 
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Mouse said:
All of the things listed in this article should only be considered AFTER you have a degree and a few years experience, when you're looking to specialise in a certain area of IT.
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Exactly what I was thinking! The reality is that any certification you have on your CV is going to help you get a job interview, but unless the person who interviews you is a moron, it won't help you unless you have the skills and experience required for the job.
 
I've sat here for the last few minutes reading this thread and dozens of questions have popped up in my head.

I'm 16 and my passion is IT, now I know that I'm going to go into IT when I finish school. I've shadowed a few techies and developers and one of the guys actually approached me and told me that I know a lot more than a lot of the techies he's seen in his experience. Now I want to know, If I'm 16 and these guys have a job and are 10 years older than me... What do I actually have to do to get there?

I obviously still have a lot to learn about certifications and what use they will actually be to me 5 years from now and I also have a lot to learn about universities and what kind of work i'll be getting myself into one day.

I just want to know from the guys who are qualified:
-What is the best path for me to follow right now?
-Should I get a degree? What degree?
-What certifications should I go for? When should I start studying for these?
-Will my 3 years IT work serve me any purpose in the outside world (Java OOP, hardware and software basics as well as Office '07 basic training)
-Just how far should I go with training and education? (Don't be afraid, my passion is IT and I will go to whatever lengths I have to to get it right)
 
How long does it normally take the average person to complete a MSCE or CCNA (or any of the other popular certifications?)

fulltime/partime
 
CrazYmonkeY159 said:
How long does it normally take the average person to complete a MSCE or CCNA (or any of the other popular certifications?)

fulltime/partime
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I would suggest self study using a mixture of CBT if you like that and books / internet. Seriously there are a bunch of unscruplous training providers out there that train you nothing.

Actually, i'd do it part time and try and get a job in IT beforehand and train on the job - thats where you get the most experience.

A MSCE or MSTS (same for CCNA) cert should take you a year part time if you are learning the content properly and have a good practical understanding.

Unfortunately there is a misconception about the certs, they are designed for people already working on the job and not a means to an end to get a job.
 
Stuyvesante said:
BCS Degree all the way. Aiming for a masters you will be untouchable and gives you bragging rights.
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I've nearly got a MSc in Computer Science, and I wouldn't say that I'm untouchable. I suppose that it does distinguish you from those with only honours, which is nice. I can pretty much go to any software company and they'll offer me an interview, but it doesn't mean that they'll automatically hire me because of my qualifications ;)
 
stroebs said:
I've sat here for the last few minutes reading this thread and dozens of questions have popped up in my head.

I'm 16 and my passion is IT, now I know that I'm going to go into IT when I finish school. I've shadowed a few techies and developers and one of the guys actually approached me and told me that I know a lot more than a lot of the techies he's seen in his experience. Now I want to know, If I'm 16 and these guys have a job and are 10 years older than me... What do I actually have to do to get there?

I obviously still have a lot to learn about certifications and what use they will actually be to me 5 years from now and I also have a lot to learn about universities and what kind of work i'll be getting myself into one day.

I just want to know from the guys who are qualified:
-What is the best path for me to follow right now?
-Should I get a degree? What degree?
-What certifications should I go for? When should I start studying for these?
-Will my 3 years IT work serve me any purpose in the outside world (Java OOP, hardware and software basics as well as Office '07 basic training)
-Just how far should I go with training and education? (Don't be afraid, my passion is IT and I will go to whatever lengths I have to to get it right)
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If I were you i'd go for either BSc Computer Science or BCom Information Systems. Computer Science gives you a strong theoretical background, and prepares you to be a software developer, amongst other things. Informations Systems is less low level in a theoretical sense, but has a greater focus on business.

If employment is what you're worried about, I don't know of anyone with a BSc computer science degree that doesn't have a job right now out of choice.
 
How long does it normally take the average person to complete a MSCE or CCNA (or any of the other popular certifications?)

fulltime/partime
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My one friend dropped out of university to pursue an MCSE because he didn't think a degree was relevant to the industry, he told me he'd finish the MCSE in a year and a half and that he'd probably be employed in some software company. I saw him 6 months later at my university, he'd finished the MCSE and was there getting an application form to come back and finish his degree.
 
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hyperian said:
If I were you i'd go for either BSc Computer Science or BCom Information Systems. Computer Science gives you a strong theoretical background, and prepares you to be a software developer, amongst other things. Informations Systems is less low level in a theoretical sense, but has a greater focus on business.

If employment is what you're worried about, I don't know of anyone with a BSc computer science degree that doesn't have a job right now out of choice.
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I'm doing my honours in IS, and i don't think you can compare the 2 degrees like that. ie i would say IS is more theoretical where BSc is more practical.


BSc computer science is more focused on building the system where as IS is about designing the system. BSc computer science will push you towards a programming focus where as a IS degree will push you towards Business Analyst role for example (there are plenty other roots). But yes an IS degree does have a lot more business stuff in it.
 
Well What about getting both BSc and IS? I will do whatever I have to do to to have a really good overall background on pretty much everything :p

I just want to learn more and more and more :D

IS is appealing to me as well as I like to have a business perspective on things. Sorry to be such a noob but seeing as I'm in grade 11, I don't know much about universities etc. Could someone please explain honours to me?
 
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Well What about getting both BSc and IS? I will do whatever I have to do to to have a really good overall background on pretty much everything
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You can probably look into this new type of degree from Wits.

It called a Bsc in Applied Computing. Basically its a combination of Electrical Engineering, Information Systems and Computer Science. I know it sounds really difficult but its probably the best Computer Degree in the country. The plus side of this degree is that after your third year you can either do an honours in information systems or get an electrical engineering degree in 2 more years.

I would have done it myself but they only start offering it in 2010.

Could someone please explain honours to me?
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I'm not too sure how honours works in commerce (Information Systems) but in the science faculty honours basically is: if you obtain an average of 65% or more in your third year for a subject, say computer science, then you maybe entitled to do honours in computer science,which is sort of a forth year. Its a really tough year,which is why they have a restriction, you do 6 months of coursework,and then you are given a project to complete in the remaining 6 months, generally a very technical and difficult problem that requires many hours of research. But the pay is really good afterward, from what I've heard.
 
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I will do some research on this new degree myself. My only thing now is wondering whether or not to take a gap year before I embark on this studying mission.
 
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