DFA Guide Computer Pages- What Next?

Certification routes after completing Mick's course of PC tutorials

The Diploma you earned off Mick impresses all in its gold frame. Neighbor after neighbor is ringing for PC help. You're thinking of taking this computer thing up as a career. But, how?

Get certified!

Troubleshooting, repairing and upgrading your Personal Computer is no more difficult than building with Legos. When you think of doing the same for networked offices of PCs, think "big Lego city." It's on a larger scale and more complex- but not insurmountable. Just something that you're best off tackling with a little specialized knowledge in your head.

Here's the advice Mick emailed to one of his brightest students:

Hi Mick, it's Dog here, you remember, the big quiet bounty hunter from the back of the Monday night class. Listen, I'm working my way through all the great information you gave me when we graduated. I gotta tell ya, for a guy who wants to start a career in computers, I'm still a bit stumped but I think I'm getting somewhere.

Good to hear from you, Dog! I don't just admire your reality TV show, I admire your dedication.... lemme know if you have any to spare. I need some for my own studies! &:)

I've hit the CompTIA site for all the Network+ details but I see that A+ is logical previous step to Network+, is this so? I think I remember you saying that it's not really the case.

Woah: before you start to drown in acronyms: certcities.com lists (some!) (there are millions, many not widely recognized) of the available certifiations in the computer industry.

Cramsession.com serves as a decent overview of these different certs, plus provides study guides, links, reviews of tests, etc. One warning: Cramsession will bombard you with at least two mailings per day, trying to sell you practice tests. Don't use your main email address when registering with them!

The best info, IMHO, on whether or not a particular certification will help you land a good job is to check out your local job site and search for its name. I have a look up the going rate for MCSE's, whenever I need motivation to get studying.

OK! Back to all those pluses. If you can tell the difference between a serial port connection an a USB connection, save your money and skip the A+. It's a very basic overview of computer hardware: good for newbies on an IT helpdesk, but I think you're beyond that stage, Dog.

CompTIA's A+ looks as if it stands you some credit when you get to the Microsoft Certifications.

That's true! But only if you take the right courses from CompTIA. Sometimes one certifying body (like Microsoft) will credit work done by another (like CompTIA). Here's the official MCSE requirements from Microsoft.

The CompTIA Security+ can count as the MCSE elective exam. That's the route that I took.

If just shooting for Microsoft's MCSA level (4 exams make you an Admin, not a full Engineer), a different combination takes the place of a Microsoft exam.

Anyway, going through the Network+, I see that they've literally just introduced 2005 objectives into the exams and the first book available with the 2005 objectives is out. I've ordered it and as soon as I get it, I'll get stuck into it and hopefully get the exams out of the way some time this year. I got to read the first 10 pages or so of the 2002 objectives book on Amazon and was really getting into it before it abruptly came to the last page!!

On my March 2005 Diatribe page I have links to a few places where you can get Security+ study guides, practice tests, and other resources for free! There's a lot of freebies on the Internet. Haven't looked for Network+ ones, but with a bit of digging I'm sure you'll turn up more information that you'll think you'll ever be able to get through! For instance, www.techexams.net with its technotes and practive exams is a good starter.

Study-at-your-own pace books, like the one that you mention, can be a great help. I plunked down a bounty's worth of dosh for the Microsoft MCSE 2003 Server Self-Paced Training Kit pictured at left. These have helped me pass exams, then served as reference manuals for jobs where I needed a quick refresher. Plus, hefting these four thousand-pagers around has built me up a nice set of Dog the Bounty Hunter style muscles. Definitely recommended.

Now Mick, I'm the kind of guy who likes to think ahead and you did mention the Server+ and Security+ and how these would stand as credit in the MCP's, well I guess I'm trying to figure out what to do next after the Network+, do I look at the MCP's then or look at Server+/Security+. Just advice really Mick as the myriad of information out there is mind-boggling to say the least. I haven't even looked at what's involved in the MCP's as yet but I just want to draw myself up a plan (the most direct and effective route) and stick to it, it's the only real way I can really apply myself to such tasks and I'm really looking forward to getting started on the Network+.

Good stuff! &:) The MCSE and MCSA are heavy-duty commitments. After two years of (sometimes hard, sometimes not) work, I'm only 4/7ths of the way to my MCSE. To get a good grounding, the Network+, Server+, and Security+ may be the best intro route. They're relatively short, look good on a CV, and provide many of the necessary basics.

Most important: don't limit yourself to book-knowledge. Let the office, the neighborhood, your Mom's best friend, etc know that you're a computery dude. In no time, people will be ringing you for help. The more experience you get, the more the big picture starts to make sense. When you know PCs pretty well, start to only take the office-related cries for assitance. Learn email servers, web servers, networking, security, etc--- that's the specialised stuff that relatively few people have. At first you'll probably be in WAY over your head (I know I was!) but experience, paired with the meat-and-potatoes study of a MCSE or Network+ manual, you'll get there!

So hopefully Mick, from my babble above, you can direct a lost soul in cutting to the chase on some of this stuff. Yes, I'm beginning to miss the old Monday night class already, the perfect way to kill a long Monday night and learn something new too.

Aye carumba! Thanks for the complement, but I was glad to have last night to relax with me missus in front of a good movie! It's great to work and help people out, but be careful that the computery junk doesn't take over your whole life. The brewers and vintners of Ireland are relying on your support! &:)

Cheers Mick, appreciate all the help,

No problemo, amigo! Best of luck with your studies, and thanks for slamming all those bail jumpers back in jail! I sleep better at night.

Drop me a line if I can be of any more help, or just to say "hey! I passed my exam!" This website (and its computer pages) are updated every so often, so give it a bookmark and drop by when you're REALLY bored.

All the best, Dog!

Mick

Yo! To protect privacy, names and details have been changed... amateurishly. Point is, this advice is posted in the hopes that it will be of assistance. If you've better advice and experiences of your own, pass them on to mick @ mickhalpin dot com.

This Page Was Last Updated On 25 September, 2005.