Comptia A+, N+ and Security+

[syntax]

I want to study IT when I have passed Matric --> Mostly interested in hardware and networking. I am really interested in PCs, and have a thorough understanding of them and have quite a bit of technical knowledge having made plenty mistakes and learned from them with PCs at home. Also having assembled machines and testing installations of Windows Server 2k3 as well as doing IT at school (a combination of theory and practical - programming work).

I now see everyone saying these certs are useless but I see in job requirements that one would require x years of experience here and y qualifications, but how are we as juniors supposed to get into the industry when there is so little need for inexperienced IT folk and such a high demand for skilled professionals? Does it become a case of knowing the correct individuals in order to get a placement in a job which will teach you more and give you the experience you need?

Welcome to the predicament of IT.......Thing is, most companies dont want inexperienced ppl workign on their systems...It means downtime, things take longer etc etc..
You have 3 chances:
1. You know someone who throws u a bone
2. U work for a small company hired to be a general techy, during this time you weasel your way into looking after and installing everything, hence getting the experience you need
3. Cert yourself to death and apply for a job lower than your cert suggests.

Alot of ppl have a misconception that all IT guys earn a fortune....I have seriously not found this to be true unless you are very lucky...usually, the guys earning the cash, have a fair whack of experience and are damn good at their jobs...If you are starting out...dont expect to be rolling in it

 

[adielh]

if you want to make real money in IT rather study , Java, C++ there is where the money hides

 

[stroebs]

if you want to make real money in IT rather study , Java, C++ there is where the money hides

Currently doing Java at school - rather simple stuff, only got into networking now for my final matric project. I plan to study Java and/or C++ as well as hardware after school.

 

[syntax]

Currently doing Java at school - rather simple stuff, only got into networking now for my final matric project. I plan to study Java and/or C++ as well as hardware after school.

what do u mean by this? studying hardware? u talking about general fixing and building?

 

[homeboy]

Will agree with you here. Did my A+ in 2001 as I knew jack about hardware even though I was coding since '85.

Actually going to be teaching the maids 13yr old son A+ content this year - will even get the latest books for him. All A+ dose is say you have certain foundations (back in 2001 they benchmarked the A+ against 6 months on the job experience for the most junior IT tech level in USA)

yes i did mine in 2003 at dynamic and they too want you to have 6month experience before you can write the exams. now i work in a pc enviroment and and i`m trying to sharpen my skills and then try to write the exams to get a certificate.
anyone want to give me more experience. you don`t have to pay me.

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

Currently doing Java at school - rather simple stuff, only got into networking now for my final matric project. I plan to study Java and/or C++ as well as hardware after school.

The hardest part your facing is filtering the crap. Too many courses with no valuable content.

If you want to study code, rather do a BSc. If you do not have cash then do it through UNISA. Currently at a UNISA BSc done over 6yrs (the recommended timespan), will cost you R10K a year - books included. You even cover networking and hardware theory.

You can also do a certificate with UNISA which is actually a 3rd of a BSc and this will take you 2yrs at R10K a year. You can select the modules your interested in: networking; c++; delphi; theory; project management; etc ...

End of the day, UNISA costs the same as CompTIA but the difference is UNISA is more recognised worldwide.

 

[nakedpeanut]

Busy doing my BSc Honors in Computer Science. There is a big demand for software developers as i can see from the companies that come and head hunt at uni.
Having said that my sis bf has done his A++ and N++ (without matric) and was lucky enough to find a job within a month.. And he knew squat about computers before that. So there are jobs, you just gotto find them.
I would recommend the degree route if you want to do software development. There is no courses on hardware (for my BSc anyways) just software orientated.

The field of Computers is huge!! First try narrow down what you want to do then then get the relevant qualifications.

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

Just a FYI: IT jobs are getting scarce right now with all the retrenchments. Just found out today a friend got retrenched. The IT house he works for shut shop and these guys did some big contracts with some big players in the IT industry.

The scary thing is that if your in the job market your going up against guys like him with more experience than you. In IT nobody can make the statement they are over qualified, thats just a BS excuse to make them feel good that they did not get a job.

So, make sure you get at least something behind your name.

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

Busy doing my BSc Honors in Computer Science. There is a big demand for software developers as i can see from the companies that come and head hunt at uni.
Having said that my sis bf has done his A++ and N++ (without matric) and was lucky enough to find a job within a month.. And he knew squat about computers before that. So there are jobs, you just gotto find them.
I would recommend the degree route if you want to do software development. There is no courses on hardware (for my BSc anyways) just software orientated.

The field of Computers is huge!! First try narrow down what you want to do then then get the relevant qualifications.

I did networking and hardware architecture last year for my BSc.

 

[stroebs]

At the moment it's all a bit complicated from my point of view. By the looks of it, I will be doing software and hardware (Being hardware theory and networking), even if it means doing 6 years of university.

 

[NeonNinja]

Nice views. I'm sticking with my top 5 combination: A+. N+, MSCE, Security+, CCNA. Even if it means starting with no pay, then minimal pay, well I'm climbing the ladder after all.