certkiller

[UnderGrad_04]

Hi all :) Im studying for A+ & am curious if anyone has used any products from them.

I have a B/S in I.T. but can't get a helpdesk job for beans. Been building pc's since '01 but never got the cert.

Any suggestions are welcomed (please no lectures on "brain dumping" or "paper certs") I just need credible advice.

Cheers :)

[mjc]

http://www.certiguide.com/

[BogdanBgd]

from where do the "B/S" abbreviation comes from ? what does it mean ?

sorry if it's silly but I can't guess out

[PrntRhd]

Bachelor of Science, a college/university degree.

[Variable]

The problem with using only brain dumps is that you will not learn anything. The thing is there are so many paper certs out there everyone qho hires has learned a simple trick. You ask your IT guys to come up with 25 or so questions that anyone with the knowledge to do the required job should know. Then they ask job candidates the questions. It quickly weeds out unworthy applicants. I think brain dumps are useful for passing the exams, many of the different sites are actually owned by one company. They are, in reality, almost all the same material. In order to get a job you will need to buy a book and study it. I cannot beleive a BS degree will not open doors that an A+ will... Have you had any interviews?

[jlreich]

I cannot believe a BS degree will not open doors that an A+ will...
I know a few people that have a BS in different computer fields and are having problems finding a decent job. They say everyone wants certs these days. And vendor specific certs like MCSA/MCSE and CCNA etc. are preferred.

Who would have thought a BS wouldn't seem count for much these days... :confused:

On the same note my wife has had problems getting a decent paying job with having her BA in Broadcast Communications. She is now in the process of getting her Masters (in a different field). I hope and pray everyday we are not spending another $30k+ just so she can get a job for $15 an hour. :eek: :(

[rio_bugarin]

I know a few people that have a BS in different computer fields and are having problems finding a decent job

yeah

I hope and pray everyday we are not spending another $30k+ just so she can get a job for $15 an hour
Im a BS graduate. I'm starting at $8/hr

[jlreich]

My wife was teaching at a small college about a year ago making a little over $13. Once you figure in the off the clock hours like several hours a night grading papers, preparing lessons, unpaid conferences, unpaid meetings, unpaid time in between classes (not kidding) etc., we figured she was making about $6-7/hr. I told her to quit. She applied at several other colleges but they want a Masters. Which I actually understand.

A lot of good a BA (3.7 gpa) from one of the top private (and expensive) colleges in the US did her. :(

/end rant

[Variable]

If that is the case I would say you need to move. Most of the good jobs in IT I see want two things, a college degree and/or 3-4 years experience in the field. Certs are not what they used to be. Maybe different parts of the country are different. Getting certs isn't hard with brain dumps. The problem may be the BS degree is in Information Technology and not a CS degree :) The BSIT degree im working on is more geared towards office management than really nuts and bolts IT technology. The masters degree is what I want.

[UnderGrad_04]

In order to get a job you will need to buy a book and study it. I cannot beleive a BS degree will not open doors that an A+ will... Have you had any interviews?

Beleive it. I have had about 30+ interviews and those were through people I knew from the company. Alot of the times they will drill me with cisco questions (ip addresses etc.) & configurations and I took the cisco courses in '02 so Im pretty rusty.

I have a helpdesk prospect that I am confident I can handle/learn but the owner of the company told me to get my A+ and we will talk (friend's uncle). I have been studying the sybex 1000+ page book and I just need a review/recap so I am 100% sure I will pass.

I agree though.. it is absurd that I cant get a job after busting my balls for four years but a cert will seal the deal. Unbeleivable.

[Variable]

You can study for any exam for about 40 hours and pass if you are motivated. You can't do that with a BS degree. IT is picking up in the SouthEast. I don't know where your located but I would grab a few certs and then look around on Monster and such and think about moving to where you can get a better gig.

[dsparky]

yeah


Im a BS graduate. I'm starting at $8/hr

I find this to be very interesting. I have no degree or cert and was making almost $10/hr. I have been trying to decide which way to go. Head back to school for a degree or just go straight for the certificates. I assumed that employeers would have the idea that any book worm can get a certificate but a degree would give you some hands on. I guess if you have the time and money it would benefit you to have both degree and certs.

[pathfinder]

If you buy books for A+ through CompTIA they are very expensive.
Much better to try amazon or play.com and buy online.

[jlreich]

If you buy books for A+ through CompTIA they are very expensive.
Much better to try amazon or play.com and buy online.
Oh yes. Mike Meyers A+ was $60+ tax at the book store. I got it for $37 through Amazon.