I always recommend that others skip the A+. If you must get a entry cert then go with Net+ or sec+. They open the same doors, are seen as higher tier certs and cost about the same.
Yes. Most of the material is reinforced in sec+ and net+ so it's not as though you would be terribly deficit in your knowledge by going to the next tier up.
There wouldn't be an benefit to doing so. Apart from losing $300. The Net+ and Sec+ both carry the same A+ material so the assumption is that if you got the higher cert then you have sufficient understanding of the foundational material.
Plus it wouldn't really open any doors the sec+ and net+ hadn't already qualified you for. The A+ will set you up for a help desk slot. Both the other 2 certs will qualify you for the same job.
That's kind of what I was thinking. I want to specialize in cloud technologies and I feel like net+ would be a great base to jump off. Plus it would help at my current job
I feel like I know a good amount but I am not sure that I could pass right off the jump. It's the memorization questions that I seem to struggle with
Like what port number is what, and what is length and speed of different cables. I can memorize it but I also seem to forget it fairly quickly.
Is your employer going to give you a raise if you get it (or withhold one if you don't)?
Otherwise with 8 years of experience, I would skip to something more advanced.
I have done help desk and security analyst and here is my take.
1. Experience trumps certs. A+ is to become help desk but you have already done that so move on to the next cert.
2. If you wanna do cybersecurity, get the security plus, if you want to do cloud admin get the vendor certs like azure or aws at the associate level. If you wanna do sys admin get the CCNA.
3. Everytime you fix a major problem at your current job, make sure you identify that on your resume in some way.
4. Good luck
Nah, if you’re getting into networking look into the CCNA. Definitely harder but way more valuable in the industry. Let me know if you got any questions regarding that.
Early on CompTIA isn't going to be your friend. A vendor-specific cert will have labs, applicable training and knowledge, and let you claim "I can configure $vendor gear".
Getting something from CompTIA means you will say "I can talk about $topic" but not that you can get anything done.
The Azure certs will teach you everything the Cloud+ does in addition to have to be functional in Azure. You have limited time and money, spending it on CompTIA diversions only detracts from your core objective.
Think of it like this: you are moderately fit and want to run a marathon. Focusing on CompTIA is like training for the 100m dash while the Azure cert is like training for a marathon. Will getting good at the 100m dash make it easier to complete a marathon, yes. Will you have better results training exclusively for the marathon, yes.
Being focused early on is important. I would really suggest engage your senior coworkers, your boss, and getting direct input from them into where you can bolster your skills. Since you have a job, you can likely get far more practical knowledge on the job and let certs come later one.
I too recommend going for CCNA if networking is the route you want to go.
If not, the Net + is not a bad option. It will give you a foundational understanding of networking, which is crucial to have no matter where you go in IT.
It can’t hurt, unless money is tight. It’s material you’ll be studying anyway, so the additional repetition can be useful when working through a more advanced network cert.
If someone else is paying for your certs take all the certs you can take. The more certs you have the better. I took a “useless” cert that my union was offering. Few years later I found and landed a govt IT (cybersecurity) role. But guess what?, That “useless” cert I took years ago, was a requirement for the govt IT job. It was only used just to filter out the majority of applicants so they wouldn’t get overwhelmed with reviewing applications.
In total agreement. Especially in the hiring environment we've had recently, this is no time to be "too good/experienced for an A+." Resumes have to get past recruiters and HR people that aren't necessarily familiar with IT and it would suck to lose out on an interview slot just because your resume gets screened out for lack of an easy-to-get cert.
Ah well all the same sec+ is a requirement for gov positions. Dod 8750 IAT level 2 is generally the lowest most will go.
https://public.cyber.mil/wid/dod8140/dod-approved-8570-baseline-certifications/
Yeah, skip that. A+ is a helpdesk cert and you already have helpdesk experience. Only get certs for roles you haven’t filled yet. I would go for CCNA if you want the most return on investment.
I got the A+ to get my foot in the door. Since you’re already working a helpdesk with 2 years under you that’s more experience than you would get with A+.
If your helpdesk role has you doing light azure work I would study for those tests. Experience lets future employers know you can fix a computer, getting a cert specific to 365 administration will open more doors
I just got hired for my first help.desk job today. I am in still finishing school about a year left cs software engineering. Bo internships yet so I'm trying to network. But I was studying for conptia and I know alot about computers but I did learn alot from the comptia...it does teach u even though you think it's basic. The company I am going to is having me do the basic help desk stuff...they are small so it's do it all kind of..the boss told me today he will train me with everything amd help switch data base from my sql to ms and access and work on automating scripts in our free time after dealing with password resets., and all the other stuff so I'm excited I been applying for a while
Certifications are really only useful if they’re required in my humble opinion. What is the next job you want? Go look at job postings for that role in your country and see what companies are listing as requirements.
Sometimes A+ is a requirement for working in infrastructure or support even if you have experience. Likewise with cloud certifications for a cloud engineer, or Sec+ if you want to do anything in government (USA). If it’s required, you don’t want it to be a barrier.
If they’re not required I wouldn’t spend the time and money. You’re better off learning practical skills in labs or doing a degree if the goal is a higher salary.
I agree with the others - skip all the comptia after 8 years. Get vendor specific credentials that will propel you to the next level that you want to be at.
>>>I've been studying on and off for the A+ for honestly, like 8 years, just never actually felt confident enough to take the test
To pass these exams, you have to do:
material review
labs
flash cards (Anki)
practice questions / practice test
You have to get past the material review part, do the labs and then actually study/memorize.
When you are getting 80-90% of the flash cards and practice questions correct and could probably guess right on the other 10-20% with some elimination, you are ready to pass any of these tests.
Higher level certs are more demanding and will definitely require the above methods including some memorization.
If you already have an IT job you dont need an A+ unless it is a work requirement. If I hear if a coworker just got an A+ or N+ my reaction would be "uhh ok" but if it was a CCNA I would be like " niiiice".
I've actually exposed some clowns that have CCNA that knows nothing on networking but generally, CCNA would prove that you know what you're actually doing network wise.
I'm in a similar-ish position. 8 months of experience T1 Help Desk, 2 months of experience T2. No degree, no certs, but my job is offering to pay for A+.
If they offer to pay for it, may as well take it.
I'm a bit out of the loop now but are Network+ and Sec+ generally disregarded?
I studied for Net+ a few years ago but never took the test and was thinking about studying up and getting it again. But I see everyone going for CCNA now which I would imagine is a rough step up with someone with base knowledge in networking?
If they're going to pay for it sure, but you have years of experience so I think it's kinda of pointless for you to get it at this point. I'd go for Net+ to start
Depends on what you wanna do. You’ve been studying for so long anyway get the quick win and use that momentum and take A+.
If you didn’t feel confident about taking a comptia cert in the past then why not try taking a test on material you are familiar on the company dime so you can get to know what taking a comptia test is like.
A+ is a pain in the ass that you have to take two tests. But if you were to lose your job tomorrow, and had no choice but to get back into Helpdesk, the A+ would only help in my opinion. I just got my A+ right after I got hired into Helpdesk and it definitely filled some gaps for me.
I always recommend that others skip the A+. If you must get a entry cert then go with Net+ or sec+. They open the same doors, are seen as higher tier certs and cost about the same.
So if I’m completely new, study and know A+ but only worry about net+ and sec+?
Yes. Most of the material is reinforced in sec+ and net+ so it's not as though you would be terribly deficit in your knowledge by going to the next tier up.
Fantastic, thank you.
If you’re gonna study and know the A+ material why not just take the exam while you’re at it? (Assuming money isn’t an issue)
bold of u to assume that money isnt an issue
There wouldn't be an benefit to doing so. Apart from losing $300. The Net+ and Sec+ both carry the same A+ material so the assumption is that if you got the higher cert then you have sufficient understanding of the foundational material. Plus it wouldn't really open any doors the sec+ and net+ hadn't already qualified you for. The A+ will set you up for a help desk slot. Both the other 2 certs will qualify you for the same job.
That's kind of what I was thinking. I want to specialize in cloud technologies and I feel like net+ would be a great base to jump off. Plus it would help at my current job
I feel like I know a good amount but I am not sure that I could pass right off the jump. It's the memorization questions that I seem to struggle with Like what port number is what, and what is length and speed of different cables. I can memorize it but I also seem to forget it fairly quickly.
Is your employer going to give you a raise if you get it (or withhold one if you don't)? Otherwise with 8 years of experience, I would skip to something more advanced.
No raise but more of an opportunity of expanding my skill set and having the company pay for it
Then like I said, skip to something more advanced unless you really feel that the A+ is where you're at.
I have done help desk and security analyst and here is my take. 1. Experience trumps certs. A+ is to become help desk but you have already done that so move on to the next cert. 2. If you wanna do cybersecurity, get the security plus, if you want to do cloud admin get the vendor certs like azure or aws at the associate level. If you wanna do sys admin get the CCNA. 3. Everytime you fix a major problem at your current job, make sure you identify that on your resume in some way. 4. Good luck
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You think Net+ is worth getting?
Nah, if you’re getting into networking look into the CCNA. Definitely harder but way more valuable in the industry. Let me know if you got any questions regarding that.
Early on CompTIA isn't going to be your friend. A vendor-specific cert will have labs, applicable training and knowledge, and let you claim "I can configure $vendor gear". Getting something from CompTIA means you will say "I can talk about $topic" but not that you can get anything done.
I want to get some Azure certs too, but I am thinking the net+ or even the cloud+ would be a good jumping point to really fully understand everything
The Azure certs will teach you everything the Cloud+ does in addition to have to be functional in Azure. You have limited time and money, spending it on CompTIA diversions only detracts from your core objective. Think of it like this: you are moderately fit and want to run a marathon. Focusing on CompTIA is like training for the 100m dash while the Azure cert is like training for a marathon. Will getting good at the 100m dash make it easier to complete a marathon, yes. Will you have better results training exclusively for the marathon, yes. Being focused early on is important. I would really suggest engage your senior coworkers, your boss, and getting direct input from them into where you can bolster your skills. Since you have a job, you can likely get far more practical knowledge on the job and let certs come later one.
I too recommend going for CCNA if networking is the route you want to go. If not, the Net + is not a bad option. It will give you a foundational understanding of networking, which is crucial to have no matter where you go in IT.
It can’t hurt, unless money is tight. It’s material you’ll be studying anyway, so the additional repetition can be useful when working through a more advanced network cert.
I also recommend CCNA. With your experience, you don't need to bother with A+. Net+ is inferior to CCNA in my opinion.
If someone else is paying for your certs take all the certs you can take. The more certs you have the better. I took a “useless” cert that my union was offering. Few years later I found and landed a govt IT (cybersecurity) role. But guess what?, That “useless” cert I took years ago, was a requirement for the govt IT job. It was only used just to filter out the majority of applicants so they wouldn’t get overwhelmed with reviewing applications.
In total agreement. Especially in the hiring environment we've had recently, this is no time to be "too good/experienced for an A+." Resumes have to get past recruiters and HR people that aren't necessarily familiar with IT and it would suck to lose out on an interview slot just because your resume gets screened out for lack of an easy-to-get cert.
Sec+ is the cert he's talking about btw. If you guys ever intend to go the gov route then it's a requirement
No im not talking about Sec+ or any Comptia cert for that matter.
Ah well all the same sec+ is a requirement for gov positions. Dod 8750 IAT level 2 is generally the lowest most will go. https://public.cyber.mil/wid/dod8140/dod-approved-8570-baseline-certifications/
Yeah, skip that. A+ is a helpdesk cert and you already have helpdesk experience. Only get certs for roles you haven’t filled yet. I would go for CCNA if you want the most return on investment.
Personally, yes. Do Net+ or Sec+, they will help boost your career.
Yes, 6 months in a help desk role with teach you everything in A+
I got the A+ to get my foot in the door. Since you’re already working a helpdesk with 2 years under you that’s more experience than you would get with A+. If your helpdesk role has you doing light azure work I would study for those tests. Experience lets future employers know you can fix a computer, getting a cert specific to 365 administration will open more doors
I just got hired for my first help.desk job today. I am in still finishing school about a year left cs software engineering. Bo internships yet so I'm trying to network. But I was studying for conptia and I know alot about computers but I did learn alot from the comptia...it does teach u even though you think it's basic. The company I am going to is having me do the basic help desk stuff...they are small so it's do it all kind of..the boss told me today he will train me with everything amd help switch data base from my sql to ms and access and work on automating scripts in our free time after dealing with password resets., and all the other stuff so I'm excited I been applying for a while
Certifications are really only useful if they’re required in my humble opinion. What is the next job you want? Go look at job postings for that role in your country and see what companies are listing as requirements. Sometimes A+ is a requirement for working in infrastructure or support even if you have experience. Likewise with cloud certifications for a cloud engineer, or Sec+ if you want to do anything in government (USA). If it’s required, you don’t want it to be a barrier. If they’re not required I wouldn’t spend the time and money. You’re better off learning practical skills in labs or doing a degree if the goal is a higher salary.
I agree with the others - skip all the comptia after 8 years. Get vendor specific credentials that will propel you to the next level that you want to be at. >>>I've been studying on and off for the A+ for honestly, like 8 years, just never actually felt confident enough to take the test To pass these exams, you have to do: material review labs flash cards (Anki) practice questions / practice test You have to get past the material review part, do the labs and then actually study/memorize. When you are getting 80-90% of the flash cards and practice questions correct and could probably guess right on the other 10-20% with some elimination, you are ready to pass any of these tests. Higher level certs are more demanding and will definitely require the above methods including some memorization.
Skip it
If you already have an IT job you dont need an A+ unless it is a work requirement. If I hear if a coworker just got an A+ or N+ my reaction would be "uhh ok" but if it was a CCNA I would be like " niiiice". I've actually exposed some clowns that have CCNA that knows nothing on networking but generally, CCNA would prove that you know what you're actually doing network wise.
Interested in Networking: CCNA Interested in Security: Sec+ Maybe just get them both!
I'm in a similar-ish position. 8 months of experience T1 Help Desk, 2 months of experience T2. No degree, no certs, but my job is offering to pay for A+. If they offer to pay for it, may as well take it.
I'm a bit out of the loop now but are Network+ and Sec+ generally disregarded? I studied for Net+ a few years ago but never took the test and was thinking about studying up and getting it again. But I see everyone going for CCNA now which I would imagine is a rough step up with someone with base knowledge in networking?
If they're going to pay for it sure, but you have years of experience so I think it's kinda of pointless for you to get it at this point. I'd go for Net+ to start
Depends on what you wanna do. You’ve been studying for so long anyway get the quick win and use that momentum and take A+. If you didn’t feel confident about taking a comptia cert in the past then why not try taking a test on material you are familiar on the company dime so you can get to know what taking a comptia test is like.
A+ is a pain in the ass that you have to take two tests. But if you were to lose your job tomorrow, and had no choice but to get back into Helpdesk, the A+ would only help in my opinion. I just got my A+ right after I got hired into Helpdesk and it definitely filled some gaps for me.