What Do You Guy`s Think??????

**Artfulgroover** · May 11th, 2006, 04:07 PM

So i`m 25 i`ve been into computers scince i can remember i love messing with them i`ve built several i fix friend computers do upgrades build new ones from old bits and so on... i was going to take the A+ like 3-4 years ago But i didn`t chaseing girls out with friend u know... i`m stuck in a dead end job now... am i to old to start now,i have all the course materials all i ahve to do is learn it and take the test`s but obviously the A+ is only a starting point... Have i wated to long to get started with this???

**Tekk** · May 11th, 2006, 04:27 PM

Never to late to start IMO. Unfortunately, the A+ is useless. Several large companies that I have talked to dont place any weight in the A+ cert. Yeah its kind of a starting point but honestly you're better off focusing your time on the big boy certifications. I'd say Vendor supported cert's carry the most weight (i.e. MCSE, CCNA/CCNP, RedHat). Most of the clients I have worked for rely on a windows network with active directory so being knowledgeable in AD is very useful.

Again, certifications are good but remember that while certs are great to have EXPERIENCE speaks the most with recruiters/hiring managers. I know several people that didn't really work while in college but they got their CCNA and MCSE in Win2k Server and had a harder time getting a job than the guy(s) who worked as an admin or something for a few years.

Dont take it as bad news...its just the reality of trying to find a job in this extremely competitive IT world. But dont let the age get in your way and start to really focus if youre interested. Theres always something out there.

**SeanC** · May 11th, 2006, 06:00 PM

You're definitely not too old to retrain. I've got a friend who's retraining and she's older than you.

Even if A+ is now sort-of useless, you might as well get it since companies now expect it, closely followed by Network+ and MCSE and CCNA. Hence the reason I'm changing careers moving into writing and documentation. That way I don't need to keep paying money every few years to get a piece of paper that says I can do things that I've been doing for years.

I just have to stay up to speed on current software like Word and Quark and maybe get a certificate or two occasionally. No big deal.

**ChubTub** · May 12th, 2006, 11:37 AM

I started at 25 after getting a BS in Crim/Soc. I had no computer experience at the time.

**bailey** · May 12th, 2006, 02:55 PM

your never too old to learn, I am 63 and still learning.
I disagree with the statement that the A+ is useless, many places of employment require it still and it is usually the first cert to get, it is the starting point, then the network + would be the second one to get, and from there, you can go to the specialty ones like security or linux. most schools require the first two to be able to go on from there, but not being in any school, you can do as you want, and I would recommend that path. I took a two year course on cisco networking systems at a career center only cause it was paid fore by my employer, and gave me some real life experience in networking and servers.
I got my A+, net + and server + just before I retired, and now I am self employed.

**ChubTub** · May 12th, 2006, 03:40 PM

An A+ may or maynot help you in the work place. What it does do for sure is at least tell an employer that you are somewhat serious and that you at least have a base knowledge.

**Martoch** · May 12th, 2006, 04:53 PM

From my experience, the A+ is like a high school diploma...it won't get you anywhere, but you need it to get anywhere.

Make sense?

I don't have my A+ and a lot of companies in my area require it before even considering IT applicants for a position.

**SeanC** · May 12th, 2006, 04:58 PM

Well stated. Most of the CompTIA certs could be classed as a "high school diploma" to get you into that particular stream of certification.

eg:
A+ = PC or printer technician certs from vendors
Network+ = Cisco or other networking certs
Security+ = Security certs
Linux+ = Linux certs
Server+ = Vendor server hardware certs
Project+ = Project Management like the PMI

And so on and so forth...

**Achay** · May 12th, 2006, 05:04 PM

Never too late to start.

Even if it doesn't get you into the job you want straight away, if you can get your foot in the door, some companies will pay for you to carry on your education, as it benefits them also. Plus you'll be working on the job as you train, which covers the experience side of things, and puts you in a much better position when you do get more eduction.

I'm currently 31 and been a Diagnostics Technician for a few years in a large computer/network systems company. They will pay for me to carry on my education if I wish to progress higher.

**TheBigCarp321** · May 12th, 2006, 05:16 PM

A+ is required in a lot of jobs and you cant get other certs without it...Also, its never too late to start...I'm 23 and just went back to school! I go to networking classes with 45 year old sales reps lol...Never to old!

**SeanC** · May 12th, 2006, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by Achay

Never too late to start.

Even if it doesn't get you into the job you want straight away, if you can get your foot in the door, some companies will pay for you to carry on your education, as it benefits them also. Plus you'll be working on the job as you train, which covers the experience side of things, and puts you in a much better position when you do get more eduction.

I'm currently 31 and been a Diagnostics Technician for a few years in a large computer/network systems company. They will pay for me to carry on my education if I wish to progress higher.

Exactly, most companies (except mine) are like that. Get into a good company like that and keep upgrading your education.