IT Qualification

deniedaccess · 18 Dec 2014 at 01:28

Hi,

Over the last year I've become more interested in IT and would like to pursue a qualification suited to a beginner in the Essex/London area.

I've been leaning toward A+ certification, but wouldn't mind something to use as a stepping stone and work my way towards it once I have more knowledge or experience. Any recommendations?

Cheers.

slinxy · 18 Dec 2014 at 05:39

I've got an A+, but I did mine nearly 10 years ago so a lot has changed. It is recognised in the IT industry and was asked for in my last two jobs. :confused:

Even thou I'm hired as a specialist in another field of IT. Back in the time I did mine it was based on hardware architecture and windows NT 4, but the good thing is that it never officially expires and some of the core knowledge is still useful to have now, unlike some other qualifications.

Microsoft used to and may still do a desktop certification, this may be a better first step as you can use it to get used to the microsoft format of questions and as part as another higher grade microsoft cert. I'm thinking of re-doing all mine and starting with this one as it's been so long since I've done a Microsoft exam (or used windows itself; rather than fixing something), I think they expired. I'm just debating if I would actually need the certs and knowledge in the next three years.

jsmoke · 18 Dec 2014 at 06:01

I think A+ is as basic as you can get, basic hardware stuff with a touch of networking. Did it 6 years ago, can't even remember much about it. Then you have the Microsoft certs for software and Cisco certs for networking.

malachi · 18 Dec 2014 at 08:51

I was studying for a MS cert but gave up as MS are looking to sweep Windows 8 under the carpet and start a fresh with Windows 10. So I'm going to wait till the Windows 10 exams are avalible and start again.

Azraeluk · 18 Dec 2014 at 08:58

Having taken and taught both MS quals and the CompTIA ones I can say that the A+ is a good foundation block to get you started into the world of IT, the older MS qualification provided this step stone to greater things especially the older MCDST (XP Desktop Support) but the revision of these into Windows 7 set the bar much higher and already assumed you had a fundamental grasp of IP Addressing, deployment and domain based networks.

TL;DR
Go A+ first then see what you find most interesting and take the next step.

Admiral Huddy · 18 Dec 2014 at 09:20

IT is a a bit vague tbh.. Desktop, Server, development, support?

Go for the A+ anyway for the experience if anything else but don't expect it to be a career turning qualification. Just because an individual can build a PC, it doesn't qualify for working in IT. Sorry.

I don't wish to sound pessimistic but the problem is a lot more people learning IT skills at a young age now. When I got in to IT, no one had PCs at home so the skills were very limited and getting in was easy. Now that everyone has access to a computer of some form, most people have good IT skills from leaving school. My 7 year old for example, is a dab hand at "scratch" and whilst this isn't a complete development tool, he's learning the fundamental prerequisites of programming and pre-written code can be downloaded and stitched together.. Why re-write code when it's already been done? What i'm trying to say is that you'll be competing against university graduates or people that have been in the industry a long time that have the skills already.

Also, bear in mind a lot old companies are outsourcing and centralising which makes things even harder. The IT department I work for had a team of 64+ people 10 years ago. We are all but just a few.

My suggestion is to find the area of IT that interests you the most and focus on that. Give your self a reason that makes you marketable, even if it's something to get your foot in to the door, like support.

what's interesting, whilst you are trying to get in i'm trying the opposite

Good luck

Richdog · 18 Dec 2014 at 09:23

Admiral Huddy said:
IT is a a bit vague tbh.. Desktop, Server, development, support?

Go for the A+ anyway for the experience if anything else but don't expect it to be a career turning qualification. Just because an individual can build a PC, it doesn't qualify for working in IT. Sorry.

I don't wish to sound pessimistic but the problem is a lot more people learning IT skills at a young age now. When I got in to IT, no one had PCs at home so the skills were very limited and getting in was easy. Now that everyone has access to a computer of some form, most people have good IT skills from leaving school. My 7 year old for example, is a dab hand at "scratch" and whilst this isn't a complete development tool, he's learning the fundamental prerequisites of programming and pre-written code can be downloaded and stitched together.. Why re-write code when it's already been done? What i'm trying to say is that you'll be competing against university graduates or people that have been in the industry a long time that have the skills already.

Also, bear in mind a lot old companies are outsourcing and centralising which makes things even harder. The IT department I work for had a team of 64+ people 10 years ago. We are all but just a few.

My suggestion is to find the area of IT that interests you the most and focus on that. Give your self a reason that makes you marketable, even if it's something to get your foot in to the door, like support.

what's interesting, whilst you are trying to get in i'm trying the opposite

Good luck

To emphasize this post, I think the days of learning something ridiculously basic like A+ and getting into IT are gone. Nowadays IT graduates are ten a penny, and have often worked with computers from a young age. You (op) have little to offer a company that they can't already get from some spotty teen.

PS: Huddy, what are you trying to move into from IT?

Admiral Huddy · 18 Dec 2014 at 09:32

Richdog said:
To emphasize this post, I think the days of learning something ridiculously basic like A+ and getting into IT are gone. Nowadays IT graduates are ten a penny, and have often worked with computers from a young age. You (op) have little to offer a company that they can't already get from some spotty teen.

PS: Huddy, what are you trying to move into from IT?

Not sure yet Richdog. Photography is an option but just as IT, the market is already saturated with good photographers and the digital age has meant that people have a better understanding and are in more control than they once were when it was film. I'm currently in my second year of a diploma and waiting for a nice fat pay cheque to set me up.. or i might even buy a nice coffee shop somewhere.

Sorry to go off topic deniedaccess

Richdog · 18 Dec 2014 at 10:07

Admiral Huddy said:
Not sure yet Richdog. Photography is an option but just as IT, the market is already saturated with good photographers and the digital age has meant that people have a better understanding and are in more control than they once were when it was film. I'm currently in my second year of a diploma and waiting for a nice fat pay cheque to set me up.. or i might even buy a nice coffee shop somewhere.

Sorry to go off topic deniedaccess

Yeah photography is tough without previous paid experience and some basic client list already in existence. Very competitive market. Anyway good luck whatever you decide, coffee shops seem to be springing up everywhere so clearly make some moolah.

icehot · 18 Dec 2014 at 10:12

Do something Virtualization (VMware, Citrix, Hyper-V) or Cloud (Openstack) based.

If you want money its a good place to start.

*edit*

If you want to be truly marketable and appealing to employ, don't do what everyone else already has, do what everyone is thinking of doing next. Plenty of blogs to read from industry thought leaders on things like "cloud", data analytics, XaaS etc....

Diagro · 18 Dec 2014 at 10:21

icehot said:
Do something Virtualization (VMware, Citrix, Hyper-V) or Cloud (Openstack) based.

If you want money its a good place to start.

+1

Loads of places are moving over to HyperV now. My school is soon

malachi · 18 Dec 2014 at 10:40

I also echo Virtualization but there is something else coming soon too. Can't remember what it's called but i was told about it at work.

icehot · 18 Dec 2014 at 10:49

malachi said:
I also echo Virtualization but there is something else coming soon too. Can't remember what it's called but i was told about it at work.

PaaS, IMDB...... the dreaded overly used terms like "big data" or "data lake" lol ^_^?

Ev0 · 18 Dec 2014 at 11:06

Look for areas with skills shortages, never seems to be enough people in security and plenty of jobs out there for instance.

icehot · 18 Dec 2014 at 11:23

Ev0 said:
Look for areas with skills shortages, never seems to be enough people in security and plenty of jobs out there for instance.

+1 for this as well.

rickjames · 18 Dec 2014 at 11:27

I've been on/off studying for my A+ for the last three years or so, got a little messed up when they changed the whole thing last year and have now thrown in performance based questions. Got my first of the exams in January, but I still can't help but feel that some of the questions will be pointless when it comes to the workplace; anyone needed to look up IRQ codes recently? I've never had to in the three years I've been a tech!

Azraeluk · 18 Dec 2014 at 11:28

The OP wanted an entry level qualification, saying A+ not being relevant to getting into that first role in IT support doesn't hold water for me as a good percentage of students graduating my class have gone on to gaining their first role in IT Support. While I agree is not going to get you a sysadmin type role it will help you get yourself on the ladder.

In fact I have just received and email from a current student who has been offered a Support engineers roll based on the fact he is studying towards his A+.

slinxy · 18 Dec 2014 at 11:59

VM is a hot area at the moment, but believe me, I wont be trusting anyone who just has a VM cert and zero experince to look after our farms.

Azraeluk · 18 Dec 2014 at 12:02

I agree Slinxy its about getting in on the bottom rung getting some experience and moving up.

Someone with Degree in Computer Sci who has done nothing in the real world will be lost and useless in a live IT Support environment. IT is much more suited to vocational qualifications than academic ones.

Wink · 18 Dec 2014 at 12:09

slinxy said:
VM is a hot area at the moment, but believe me, I wont be trusting anyone who just has a VM cert and zero experince to look after our farms.

Indeed. No idea why people are suggesting specialisms generally reserved for experienced people as a starting point.

Start your A+ but also start looking for an entry level IT job.

You can then work out what areas interest you from there and start working towards what you want longer term.