Should I get certified, and if so, in what?

[Rajahal]

Not storage-related, sorry.  However, over the year or so that I've been an unRAID user I've seen this community act selflessly and do some wonderful things for people (myself included).  I have come to trust you and your advice.  I now beseech you for some advice that may change the course of my life.

 

My backstory:

I currently hold a job as a web designer for the U.S. Government.  I landed the job largely on my good graces and charm, since I have very little IT experience on paper (I was briefly a webmaster for a small start up company, which was the whole of my web design experience at that time).  I hold a B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy (dual major), clearly a far cry from IT or IS (though I can make arguments to the contrary).  My current job with the gov't is a student position that is going to expire in 2 - 6 months (depending on whether I enroll in more classes).  I have been running an illegitimate (unlicensed) computer/tech business as a side job for several years through which I have gained a lot of hands-on experience regarding end-user-level troubleshooting, upgrade, repair, etc.  My tasks in this side business include desktop and laptop design, repair, upgrade, maintenance, and troubleshooting, data recovery, disc duplication, web design and maintenance, home theater and HTPC design and installation, home networking (LAN and wifi), and, of course, unRAID based server design and implementation.  I am completely self taught (though I have had a few mentors along the way) and currently hold no certificates or anything IT-related besides a few resume stuffers (two webmaster positions and my current gov't position).

 

My goals:

I would like to work an IT or other technical job to pay for grad school and beyond.  I am also considering making my side business legitimate (applying for a business license) and pouring more time and effort into it, effectively making it my full time job.  My long-term career goal lies more in experimental psychology, but given the extensive use of computers and modern technology in psychological studies, any tech experience I gain between now and then will certainly be an asset.

 

My question:

Should I get certified?  I've looked into certificates such as A+, MCSE, and MCSA.  I've looked into schools such as CBT Direct (which based on reviews appears to be a scam, anyone know for sure?).  The A+ certificate appeals to me because it seems to be the most hardware-related, and I already know roughly half of the material.  However, from what I've read, this certificate may help me gain an entry-level job but that's about it.  I've been told that the MCSE certificate is the most highly sought after certificate on the market, and I have seen in recruitment ads that it may help me attain a much higher paying position as a Network or Systems Administrator.  While pay is of course always important, it is not as important to me as is landing an engaging, fulfilling position that I actually enjoy.  I'm tired of browsing reddit for hours on end because I'm so bored at work all day.

 

If I should pursue a certificate, which one, and how should I go about it?  Should I pay multiple thousands of dollars for an interactive online course?  Or should I spend a couple hundred dollars on some good textbooks and self-study?

 

I thank you in advance for any and all advice.

[WeeboTech]

"A+, MCSE"

 

This was the recommendation I gave my brother back when Novell and Microsoft were the competing technologies.

He has his own thriving business now and is highly sought after.

 

Personally I like Unix/Linux. I've grown up on Mainframes and Micros, and would not want to be be a desktop or office server technician.

However if I were to start my own technical support business, this is where I would start.

Good skills in technical can land you work in almost any situation.

 

Merging the Microsoft skills and Unix skills will provide a heavy foundation for almost any office or business solution.

I would start with the Microsoft skills as the classes will teach you where Microsoft will test you.

In addition, be prepared, I was told that sometimes the MCSE certification will test you in areas not covered in books or classes, but more with hands on knowledge.

 

Also, if you feel you are strong in Unix foundations, you can look for other positions in the Gov't or Educational institutes.

[ftp222]

I'm sure there will be many differing opinions on these questions, so it should be interesting.

 

My opinion, the A+ certification is a complete waste of time.  As a hiring manager in IT, I view this as a bogus certification.  I can ask 2-3 questions in an interview that will tell me more than that test will.  As a side note, if you are just getting started and want to work at Best Buys geek squad, this may be the perfect certification to get your foot in the door.  The majority of companies buy from major resellers with support contracts, so there is very little work being done on the physical machines; however an understanding of basic networking and hardware is a good thing, which it sounds like you have a grasp on anyway.

 

MCSE can be a great certification, but there are a lot of "paper" MCSE's out there that don't know what they are really doing.  If you really enjoy the MS operating system and see yourself using it and administering domains, this is the option I would choose.  This certification will typically command a few grand per year more in my eye's as long as the person can demonstrate they know what they are doing during the interview.

 

The real question is - what do you enjoy doing?  Do you like working with people?  Do you want to sit in the back and manage the network?  Once we know what your passion is, then we can recommend a path to take.

 

Regardless of what option you pursue, the best advice I can give you is build your resume with as much IT related work experience as you can.  When you finish your degree, employers will always go for someone with real world work experience over someone who just has a degree.  People with experience command a premium as long as they can demonstrate they know the material.

 

[Rajahal]

Thank you both for the replies.  As for my passion, I would say it is largely hardware-based.  I like the hands-on stuff, dismantling computes and laptops, diagnosing problems, building systems with a very particular goal in mind (such as an HTPC that uses Crossfire to allow two simultaneous HDMI outputs, a semi-recent project of mine).  Computer hardware is like legos to me, I love playing with it.  However, I hesitate to jump into a 'desktop technician' type of position since I fear that if all I ever did was hardware, I would learn to loathe it.

 

I am also fascinated by the idea that information (which I see as the 'meaning' behind data) is this sort of transcendent thing that exists outside of the physical data/hardware.  For me, systems like unRAID and backup plans in general take on a deep philosophical tone.

 

I also love playing with HTPC and home theater configurations.  My living room is decked out, of course, and some of my friends have entreated me to build HTPCs for them.  I generally do this work pro bono since I enjoy it so much, though of course I realize from a business perspective that I need to start charging for this.

 

I like working with people to an extent.  I'm very personable and I've been told quite often that I'm a good teacher (I'm good at explaining technical concepts in plain terms and simple analogies).  I'm good at a help desk type of position, but I don't find it very gratifying.  I've dabbled in helping the elderly with technology, but again, it seems somewhat menial to me.  I get more pleasure out of building low cost computers for my low income friends than I do teaching wealthy elderly ladies how to use email.

 

One path I've considered for my own company is to focus on the budget home theater market.  I enjoy building customized systems, and I'm generally good at helping people get the most bang for their buck.

[boof]

The real question is - what do you enjoy doing?  Do you like working with people?  Do you want to sit in the back and manage the network?  Once we know what your passion is, then we can recommend a path to take.

 

I agree - you've basically asked 'I want an IT certificate, which one?'

 

Getting one for the sake of it won't help you at all and will be transparent to any interviewer. If you can narrow down what specific field interests you then we can advise more.

 

The more 'worthwhile' certificates tend to be in specialised areas (given the entire field of IT as an initial start point).

 

It's a slightly double edged sword in my experience. Being certified on paper but with no practical experience in a job doesn't really help much. However if you have the practical experience there is little reason for you to become certified as it won't tell you much new and your experience counts more than a cert when hiring.

 

If you have jobs in mind that *require* certain credentials for whatever reason (government posts usually very good for this!) then you should target appropriately.

 

Certificates when in a post to expand knowledge or help to move upwards within a company / role seem to be more fruitful and the 'done' thing. I've known many people at previous companies I worked for who despised having to work for certifications (!) but did them to appease the company for various reasons.

 

From my own experience RHCT (RedHat Certified Technician), RHCE (RedHat Certified Engineer) and Cisco CCNA are respected ones if your field of interest overlaps. However none of them have opened doors that were not already open to me and instead have just given me that extra edge over competition on paper or provided ammunition for pay rises / post advancements.

 

It does speak volumes about your own character, however, that you're actually engaging in working towards one off your own back. This might be more valuable to an employer than the certification itself as it tells them you're not braindead and looking to stagnate in a role. It provides an excellent answer to interview questions akin to 'How have you bettered yourself in the past 12 months' and has generally gone over exceptionally well when I've interviewed and brought it up.

[Rajahal]

The real question is - what do you enjoy doing?  Do you like working with people?  Do you want to sit in the back and manage the network?  Once we know what your passion is, then we can recommend a path to take.

 

I agree - you've basically asked 'I want an IT certificate, which one?'

 

Well, yes, that's part of the problem.  I tried to describe my passions above, but even with those in mind I don't have a clear idea of what field in IT I would like to pursue.  Perhaps you guys can help me there as well.  I enjoy working with people who have at least a slight clue about what they are doing, and I would rather avoid babying others through rudimentary tasks.  I don't like working with the general public, so a help desk type of position is out.  I don't want to be sequestered in some server room either - I want some human contact, just with others who are knowledgeable and from whom I may be able to learn something, or at least are who are willing to learn something from me and others around them.  I imagine my ideal IT job would be something like this: work as an IT consultant helping companies to build and optimize networks, backup solutions, RAID arrays, etc.  I would like a job that allows me to travel and may even force me to travel.  I basically just don't want a desk job like the one I currently have.  I enjoy project based work where I'm posed a problem, allowed to solve it in my own way and at my own pace (generally quickly), and can then leave without any lingering ties.

 

Another problem:  I feel that I have lots of real-world experience (especially for someone my age - I'm 24), but the vast majority of it comes from my unlicensed side business.  I feel it is inappropriate to include this unlicensed business on my resume, so my approach has been to include a full KSAOs section (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other) in which I detail my familiarity with operating systems, hardware, networking, etc.  Do you feel that this is the correct approach?

[Chris Pollard]

Apply for some jobs... get certified..  many claim that they are useless (technical people) but the fact of the matter is most management in IT fields are just as useless so they see certification as a good thing usually.  Real world experience is what you need so if getting certified can help you get a foot in the door then why not do it.  Definitely include anything that might be deemed useful to potential employers in your CV.

 

Foot in the door jobs tend to be Helpdesk or Desktop support.... I started in Desktop support and now do Cisco routing, switching, SAN, Content Delivery, Firewalls, IDS, VOIP... in fact pretty much everything Cisco.  I don't have any certifications or any academic qualifications.

 

I guess as with any career you can't expect to walk into your ideal job straight off the bat, you'll need to slog it out doing the 3 finger salute like the rest of us did, if you are smart, join the right company and speak to the right people (most important maybe!) you'll soon find your way into a job you enjoy.

 

Oh and with regards to doing the certifications you mentioned they are probably all possible to do using self study guides based on your past experience..

[ftp222]

Another problem:  I feel that I have lots of real-world experience (especially for someone my age - I'm 24), but the vast majority of it comes from my unlicensed side business.  I feel it is inappropriate to include this unlicensed business on my resume, so my approach has been to include a full KSAOs section (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other) in which I detail my familiarity with operating systems, hardware, networking, etc.  Do you feel that this is the correct approach?

 

First off, list your unlicensed experience on your resume.  I list a side business I run on my resume and I don't pull in very much a year on it, but it is something I do and gives me experience in odd situations sometimes.  #1 rule, list anything and everything you can on you resume, just don't lie about it - If I'm interviewing you, I'll call you on it and it isn't pretty.

 

I imagine my ideal IT job would be something like this: work as an IT consultant helping companies to build and optimize networks, backup solutions, RAID arrays, etc.  I would like a job that allows me to travel and may even force me to travel.  I basically just don't want a desk job like the one I currently have.  I enjoy project based work where I'm posed a problem, allowed to solve it in my own way and at my own pace (generally quickly), and can then leave without any lingering ties.

 

This is where the challenge lies and I see my own experiences in what you are saying.  You have the ambition to be the go-to guy (something many are lacking by the way), but you lack the business experience to be that guy right now.  The answer to your problem is probably one you don't want to hear, but has been stated by cdp181 already - you need to start at the bottom and work your way up.  The best advice I can give is to get a Helpdesk job at a SMALL company (25-100 users), with probably a 2 man IT team.  This will allow you to work with people in person on basic issues and repair the computers since the company probably won't have a contract with Dell/HP.  They are most likely building white-box servers as well to cut costs, so that will give you an in with the manager to help build the boxes and get your configuration experience.  Small companies are typically less impacted by a server outage if you screw up a configuration for a couple of hours too (it will happen, we've all done it).

 

After a year or two, move onto a larger company or if you have graduated you should know what you want to do by then and may get hired during a career fair your college puts on.  From someone who started in the same position, the hardest thing to do is admit you don't have the answers for everything, but it will pay off in the end.  Coming off arrogant can put an end to your career advancement opportunities, so move up slowly and admit when you don't know something or mess up.  Most managers respect someone more when an employee recognizes their shortcomings.

 

Certifications are not always the answer.  In many cases, real-world work experience is worth just as much as a certification.  The problem is larger companies use HR to filter through resumes and sometimes non-technical managers "require" certain certifications.  When this happens all candidates without the proper certification are tossed out immediately.  It is a catch 22, as some of the smartest people realize certifications can be totally worthless.  I know some MCSE's who couldn't solve a basic domain problem, and believe me that is extremely frustrating.  So, the solution is to start with a smaller company.

 

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[Rajahal]

First off, list your unlicensed experience on your resume.  I list a side business I run on my resume and I don't pull in very much a year on it, but it is something I do and gives me experience in odd situations sometimes.  #1 rule, list anything and everything you can on you resume, just don't lie about it - If I'm interviewing you, I'll call you on it and it isn't pretty.

I understand that every little thing can help a resume and set it apart from the others, but I fear reprisal for operating without a business license.  No one has called you out on that?

 

The answer to your problem is probably one you don't want to hear, but has been stated by cdp181 already - you need to start at the bottom and work your way up.

 

You are right, that isn't the answer I wanted to hear.    However, I understand the point, and I do believe it is valid.  Working for a small company with a small IT team, as you suggested, does actually appeal to me since I expect I would be given a bit more freedom and plenty of opportunities to learn and grow.  I primarily don't want to work in a help desk in a large volume situation, such as at a university or for a large company, in which I'm expected to act like a robot following a script.

 

Now for some follow-up questions:

What if, instead of hitting the job market, I decide to legitimize my side business and make it on my own.  Would a certification help me in that scenario?  I know from experience that most end-users do not know or care about the certification, they just want their computer fixed cheaply.  However, I can imagine that if I tried to market myself to small businesses as an IT consultant, having something like an MCSE would help ease their qualms about me being some unknown kid off the street.

[prostuff1]

You can try going legit with your business but it might take more work then you initially think.  Just realize that you will need to keep track of EVERYTHING you do/buy/sell/fix.

 

Now for my own little story (and hopefully a point):

I do have my BS in Computer Science and Engineering: Software Development and am currently working for a consulting company with about 400 odd employees.  I did not start here though; I started in IT working for the Athletics department of my college as a IT Helpdesk Assistant.  It was actually not to bad for the size of the department, but some users were better to deal with them others.  I actually only had that specific job for about 4 months before they moved me from Helpdesk (phone call work) to helping the local Network Admin and the local Security Admin.  I did not have to answer phone calls at those two positions (which was kinda nice) but I got to go all over the department setting up new switches, networks, analyzing network traffic, scanning the network and the computers for viruses, etc.  I very much liked that job and would have stayed there if I could have.  The last couple months I worked there I was also working with the local web and application developer since my degree was tailored for that.  Throughout this whole process a job did come open with the Athletics department but I was missing one qualification that they wanted (Micros experience) so I did not end up getting that job.  I did however make some friends (other students) in the CSE department who were older then I and had graduated before me and gotten jobs.  One of those guys recommended me for a position and I got a call from a recruiter WITHOUT even putting in an application/sending a resume.  So I guess the point here would be that knowing people can be almost as important as what you know; it gets you in the door to prove what you can do.

 

If you want to do the IT thing then I suggest looking into some classes at your local college.  For the stuff you described it sound like you want more of the Information Systems track then the Software Development track.

 

As for the Certificate thing... the consulting company I work for never use to put high stock in it but a lot of the bigger company's we are trying to win bids from for projects actually look to see how many of your employees have certs in different areas.  We have actually started to move towards getting employees certified in different areas and the company will actually pay for nearly all the material (and the test) to become certified.

[ftp222]

I understand that every little thing can help a resume and set it apart from the others, but I fear reprisal for operating without a business license.  No one has called you out on that?

 

Based upon how you keep talking about being licensed, I'm guessing you are not based in the US, or I'm not following some law properly.  My side business is run as self employeed and taxes are filed if the income exceeds a certain amount ($600 I believe).  Usually, businesses just require a W-9 and file the appropriate paperwork with the IRS at the end of every year.  I guess I act as more of a consultant and haven't gotten into the resale portion though - that is a whole other discussion.

 

Now for some follow-up questions:

What if, instead of hitting the job market, I decide to legitimize my side business and make it on my own.  Would a certification help me in that scenario?  I know from experience that most end-users do not know or care about the certification, they just want their computer fixed cheaply.  However, I can imagine that if I tried to market myself to small businesses as an IT consultant, having something like an MCSE would help ease their qualms about me being some unknown kid off the street.

 

If you are going to run your own business, I see no real benefit behind being certified unless you are consulting for a large company that requires an MCSE or CCNA certification.  Being certified and consulting for a small business or individual person won't buy you much other than the experience or a talking point during your first visit with them.  Word of mouth and referrals are usually how you will get started and grow as a business, and someone's experience with you is going to speak volumes above what a certification will.

 

Personally, I didn't want to take the risks of being self employeed and running my own business full time.  I like knowing I will be getting a certain amount in my paycheck every month and not having to worry about the economy taking a turn and figuring out how to pay the mortgage.  To start up the business and grow it, you will have to be a good people person and talk to everyone and market yourself appropriately.  You can start growing the business on the side while working for another company to help pay the bills.  Once your business is able to provide a stable income, then you can make the leap and switch to it full time.

 

[Rajahal]

I am operating in the US (Nevada).  From what I've read and been told, if I make more than $600 per year off my business then I need to have a business license and pay taxes to be legal.  So if I want to earn anything close to a living wage, I will need a business license.  I am also more like a consultant - when I build or repair computers I don't mark up the hardware at all, I just charge for my labor.

 

I understand the risks involved in running my own business (and the liability differences between different types of business licenses).  However, I have very little responsibilities at the moment as well - I'm single, have no mortgage, car payments, etc.  I pay basic rent, utilities, and insurance...that's it.  I feel that my biggest responsibility at the moment is being a dog owner   So if there is ever a time to start a business, now seems to be it.

[Rajahal]

I would like to thank everyone again for the advice.  I have decided to skip (or at least put off) the certifications for now and simply jump into legitimizing my business and actively advertising it in hopes of gaining more steady and stable income.  I will keep my full time job for the next two months or so (though I may cut back to 4 days/week), and by that time I'll have enough saved up to survive unemployed for an additional three months.  I believe that those five months will be more than enough time to stabilize my business to the point where I will earn a living wage.  If not, then I can always hit the job market again in the future.

 

I'm also going to start volunteering with the Boys and Girls Club as soon as possible.  I've been told that they do a lot of work with kids and computers, and even have computer labs and such.  I've always enjoyed working with kids, and I believe I would be a successful computer teacher.  In addition to the fun I'm sure I'll have, I may even make a few more connections that will help my business or get me another job.