Well, I'll be graduating from college with my bachlor degree in computer science next year, but I am quickly learning that even with a degree, some certifications are important. Since I dont have to take any summer courses this year, I bought a HUGE CCNA study guide and I plan on taking the exam sometime in the next month or so.

Still, I am curious if there are any other certifications I should consider going for that would give me more of an upper hand in the job market once I graduate. At the moment, I am considering taking a look into MSCA and MSCE, A+ Certification, and some kind of linux certification (Linux+ or RHCP, still unsure). I'm still at a loss at exactly what field I plan on entering (no places around here have hired me for an internship so I can find out for sure). I'm considering perhaps a security type position, but I'd really enjoy something that will require me to do a bit of coding on a regular basis (perferably C or C++) and some problem solving.

Thanks for any help guys!!

I have had to go through the certification proccess, the way I would do it is start with your A+ the get you Network+ and then maybe your Linux+

Each of those certs are one test each so they aren't as bad to take, also they are all world known. The one major thing about them is they do not expire, where the MCSE and CCNA and others have to be renewed every so often, get ones that don't need renewed and then get the company that hires you to send you to a CCNA Bootcamp or something like that, That is what I did.

And in closing, you really have to decide what direction you want to go, the certs you go for should be ones that you have an intrest in working in.

Just My 2 Cents worth

I would do Linux+, MCSE, A+, Network+. Any or all of the certs would be good.

I have MCSE and Linux+ and they have both been a HUGE help.

As far as I have been able to tell, CCNA is worthless.

In the corporate world, people dont want a CCNA (entry level Cisco cert) working on their Cisco stuff. They want someone with experiene, like a CCNP (4 tests) or better.

I know this from experience.

My 2 cents

Peace...

Having a Linux and A/Network + certifications seem to be real helpful to most helpful from what I am told. I have also heard the CCNA people are pretty worthless as most places want someone with either alot of experience handling their network or with more certs.

I have the CCNA and by itsself it is pretty worthless but on the other hand you put it with The A+ and Linux+ and now you are a well rounded and well trained computer proffesional. I think the CCNA is probably better than the network+ because it is more directed to a product than just general stuff.

Something I meant to mention in my post above, if you ever end up in a job where you are doing warrenty work on computers you will have to have an A+ I know gateway, compaq, and dell all require you to have an A+ to do warrenty work for them, they don't care what degree or anything else you have you just have to have the A+

>>>As far as I have been able to tell, CCNA is worthless.

worthless unless youre simply filling the requirement to get a CCNP!

CCNA means you can probaly configure lower end routers like 25xx and 26xx, but theres definitly no replacement for real world experience!

My only advice when it comes to certs is that you don't fall into the trap of becoming a 'paper' MCSE or a 'paper' CCNA. Don't just study to take the test, study and know it all the way around, especially if you plan on doing any real world stuff. Personally, I am about half-way through my MCSE, I already have my A+ and Linux+, and I plan on going for my RHCE as well. I have debated going for my CCNA, and I think in the end I will. Even having a base knowledge of setting routing rules and administering lower end routers can only help when you tackle the big stuff.

Although, If I had it my way, I'd have everyone using smoothwall. :P

slight

I'm on the certification warpath myself. I just passed both A+ exams and they were very easy for me. Very basic stuff there. Next, I'm considering going after the entry level RHCT (Red Hat Certified Technician), MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional), and the CCNA.

Yes...you do need real world experience.

To go along with all my certs, I work in a 24/7 environment. I manage 16 of 53 servers and support routers, switches and am last end support if the desktop guys can't fix something (1200 desktops).

Paper certs don't work in an environment like that. You either prove you know what you know, or you get fired

I have worked in that enviroment and it doesn't take long for anyone to find out what you do and don't know :-) As a salesman you could bluff you way through most anything but computers are hard to bluff :-)

What I tell people about certifications is that they are to get you past the HR person in applying for a job, the HR Person does not know anyting technical but they look only at your paper. After you get through them then you get to the people that will test your technical skills.

So as I said your certs is only to get you past the HR Person in your interviews, I have yet to have a computer start working because I told it I have a A+ cert :-) But it is important you have the certs to get the job, or if you own a buisness as I do now to give credibitity to your skills.

My 2 cents worth on certs

Nobody says it better than dilbert:

Dilbert's take on Certification

slight

So did you guys bother with uni or not? Or did you use the course for programing knowlege and use the certs for certification pruposes?

<edit>Oh, am I right in thinking a general course? (ie computer science?) and then get the certs?
really confused</edit>

titanium_geek

(deciding my future here)

Is it worth getting RedHat certified? I sortof think it is but that's probably because I watched the entire rh 9 install with all the little pictures and fortune cookies at the bottom. It was a slow day.

I think the RHCE would be a very nice cert to have. From what I understand it is not an easy test to pass.

In the end, anyone who wants to 'get into the business' should consider making themselves as marketable as possible in the field that you are specializing in. That means real world exp, it means certs, it means college (or uni, as some of you like to call it :P ), you name it. Don't just get certs for the sake of getting certs though. Know your stuff, and specialize. What do you want to do? Database administration? Network setup? Network admin? Desk side support? Programming? Web admin? Get some of the 'all around certs' (A+, Linux+, Net+) and then concentrate on your specialty (RHCE, MCSE, MCDA, etc..etc..).

slight

I didn't go for compsci degree. It is somewhat worthless unless you're going to just do programming.

It helps nothing for networking/server/LAN/WAN admin stuff.

I was a marketing major in college. It did nothing but get me in the door. My certs and experience get me everything.