I've enrolled in a course for A+ training and certification. Anyone who's certified mind giving me some advice?

dont get the A+, its worthless, its the bottom of the bucket as far as certs go, it hasnt done me shit. I would just skip it and start off with your CCNA, then Server+ ans Security+, and leter in life, CCNP. A+.... sux, and anyone can go in there with a good knowledge of computers and take their shitty test.

I don't agree that it's worthless. It's worthless if your looking to use it to get a job, very few and only low paying jobs would care or require a cert like this. However it is worth it if your new and learning computers. It's better to take a basic class like this (maybe even NET+ as well if you have no network experence) before jumping into more serious shit, like CCNA, MSCE and so on.

 

Other then that, is no tips, it's really easy and basic computer knowledge of how they work, anyone regardless of skill level taking a class like this should be able to complete it with ease.

i took that shit back in middle school, its a bs test and the certification isnt worth shit

It may seem simple, but that is only because we're all (im assuming) computer enthusiast.

 

Though i agree it wont land you a job, its still valid proof that you have a clue when it comes to PCs.

It's a high school course, and much more interesting than, say, Art.

OldManPeterson']I don't agree that it's worthless. It's worthless if your looking to use it to get a job, very few and only low paying jobs would care or require a cert like this. However it is worth it if your new and learning computers. It's better to take a basic class like this (maybe even NET+ as well if you have no network experence) before jumping into more serious shit, like CCNA, MSCE and so on.

 

Other then that, is no tips, it's really easy and basic computer knowledge of how they work, anyone regardless of skill level taking a class like this should be able to complete it with ease.

 

I started out with my CCNA, I got my A+ only because it was required to get a job at Geek Squad (which i plan to do to make myself some money for a new computer) CCNA isnt all that hard really as long as you have a good instructor.

I will say this: it's all worthless if you are under 18 or don't have a high school diploma. Being 16 with A+ and CCNA is about the equivalence of being 17 with drive-thru experience.

chubr0ck']I will say this: it's all worthless if you are under 18 or don't have a high school diploma. Being 16 with A+ and CCNA is about the equivalence of being 17 with drive-thru experience.

 

Its still good to start early, and gain experience through Internships so when you get in the real business world, youll be ahead of the game.

As everyone says, if you open the case on your PC and don't know 95% of the parts you're looking at, do A+. Otherwise do Network+. I'm doing CCNA now, not througha course, just self study in the evenings and as many online tutorials/practice exams as I can get my hands on. Read 20% of a 300 page book on Cisco and IP addressing too. It's hard work and difficult to get the basics of it, but once you start to finally grasp it you feel much more confident and many things become clearer.

 

Have a look at this and if you know a lot of it (say, 80%) then you probably wont get much out of A+. If you only know 20% then you NEED A+ to get a future in IT.

 

http://www.mcmcse.com/comptia/aplus/notes/2003notes.shtml

 

Network+ is the next step you should take, although I skipped it on advice from a friend who passed his Juniper cert in January. He said it's good, but I know about 3/4 already. I don't believe him, but will trust him this time.

 

Choose wisely young padawan. May the force be with you.

As everyone says, if you open the case on your PC and don't know 95% of the parts you're looking at, do A+. Otherwise do Network+. I'm doing CCNA now, not througha course, just self study in the evenings and as many online tutorials/practice exams as I can get my hands on. Read 20% of a 300 page book on Cisco and IP addressing too. It's hard work and difficult to get the basics of it, but once you start to finally grasp it you feel much more confident and many things become clearer.

 

Have a look at this and if you know a lot of it (say, 80%) then you probably wont get much out of A+. If you only know 20% then you NEED A+ to get a future in IT.

 

http://www.mcmcse.com/comptia/aplus/notes/2003notes.shtml

 

Network+ is the next step you should take, although I skipped it on advice from a friend who passed his Juniper cert in January. He said it's good, but I know about 3/4 already. I don't believe him, but will trust him this time.

 

Choose wisely young padawan. May the force be with you.

 

yeah, you thinkt he basics are hard, wait will you hit VLSM hehehehe, better learn your subnetting REALLY well.

OldManPeterson']I don't agree that it's worthless. It's worthless if your looking to use it to get a job, very few and only low paying jobs would care or require a cert like this. However it is worth it if your new and learning computers. It's better to take a basic class like this (maybe even NET+ as well if you have no network experence) before jumping into more serious shit, like CCNA, MSCE and so on.

 

Other then that, is no tips, it's really easy and basic computer knowledge of how they work, anyone regardless of skill level taking a class like this should be able to complete it with ease.

My cert helped me get a job at PC Warehouse. and im 16. A+ is really good for showing off that your not a noob, but when it comes down to some jobs, A+ isnt enough. But its still good to get it since it prooves your computer knoledge.

Wish me luck. I've got an interview coming up with the country's leading Telco and ISP (they supply ALL the ISP's with their internet and ALL the phone companies use their lines).

 

If I get the job, it's a 30% salary increase, $100 account credit a month, two for one shares, and reimbursement of study fees if i choose to do a course that'll help with my career in the company.

 

My mate started there 2 years ago, in 6 months he's off to London for a 45k British Pound job as a senior network professional.

 

 

Damn I hope I get it, my company wont even make me fulltime after two years. I only just got an hour long lunchbreak!

I have to say that having a good instructor for CCNA makes a hell of a difference. I took the class (was known as Networking I & II) in my senior year of high school. Our instructor sucked. He knew stuff, but he just gave us worksheets and told us to log on to Cisco's Online Academy to look for the answers. We didn't do any lab stuff, except how to make cables. We did start working on a lab to connect a hub and stuff, but we only did it for one day and never touched it again. Almost everyone in the class (including myself) failed (well we "passed" because he added anywhere from 40-60 points to our tests, even the final exam). What was funny about the guy was that he was also the Team Health Advisor or some shit (basically the "medic" of the school's athletic department).

 

I really do want to get A+ and CCNA certifications, but I kind of want to self teach myself rather than pay like $400 for a class or whatever. Basically read up on the stuff, take the test, and finally get certified.

 

Speaking of which, what books/book sets do you guys recommend for CCNA? I just did a quick search for CCNA books on Barnes & Noble and there is a just a crapload of books. Also, if you guys know of any other books for other certifications (like A+ or Network+), please feel free to suggest them.

I'm reading Cisco and IP Addressing (or is it routing?) right now.

Got my interviews this week. One Wed morning and one Fri morning.

First off I'll just be doing tech support for individual customers on the phones, but with luck I'll be able to get into the bigger stuff when I pass CCNA.

I have to say that having a good instructor for CCNA makes a hell of a difference. I took the class (was known as Networking I & II) in my senior year of high school. Our instructor sucked. He knew stuff, but he just gave us worksheets and told us to log on to Cisco's Online Academy to look for the answers. We didn't do any lab stuff, except how to make cables. We did start working on a lab to connect a hub and stuff, but we only did it for one day and never touched it again. Almost everyone in the class (including myself) failed (well we "passed" because he added anywhere from 40-60 points to our tests, even the final exam). What was funny about the guy was that he was also the Team Health Advisor or some shit (basically the "medic" of the school's athletic department).

 

Beat this, my CCNA instructor is a chinese woman that doesnt know much english, and the english she does know is always followed by "uh". She also makes really big words into really small words, so that you can further misunderstand her. It's like trying to decrypt something while listening to her, to extract any information. For instance, here is an example sentence from her: "Okay-uh, we-uh are-uh gong-uh to-uh lorn-uh some-uh biney-uh" Which, when decrypted, means "Okay, we're going to learn some binary." ITS LIKE THAT. To say the least, she doesnt even correct our tests and we get all A+'s. :stupid:

It won't land u a high payign job, but it shows you know your stuff. Go for it, i took it back when only win 98/2000 software and old hardware was covered so i had it easy. There are many good simulation tests for A+ floating around the internet.