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stubblyhead posted:I forget the current rate, but in the US it should be $125 or maybe $150. You should not be giving money to anyone other than prometric for MS cert exams, and it sounds like these folks want you to pay them directly. 80 per for people with an edu email address and school id. 160 per for everyone else.
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Dec 12, 2012 21:39
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Coolnezzz posted:I have a quick question about WGU (Western Governors University), if that's alright in this thread. How hard is it to get accepted? Going back and finishing school is never a bad idea. WGU is a non-proffit, so you aren't going to be gouged with fees. If you want a referral, I can refer you (saves you like 10 bucks? more?) and you will score me a free tshirt. Simply call them and see what is what about your situation as far as admissions. Stability or a job in the field you want? I say have both. Work where you are now and try to find a job in the field you want without doing anything drastic if you don't have to.
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Dec 13, 2012 15:17
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Strike Anywhere posted:I passed my 70-680 (MCTS: Win 7, Configuring) this past Saturday with a score of 840 (out of 1000; 700 is minimum score to pass). It was definitely more difficult than I expected. I wasn't very confident that I had passed it, so I got quite the rush when I saw the word congratulations on the screen. Be careful with the 70-640. This test will be your shittest test of the series by a lot of accounts. I found it to be a huge slog.
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Dec 14, 2012 22:54
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Sylink posted:Is it better to just take the ICND1 then the 2nd exam later just to have the Entry-level network tech cert in the meantime? It seems like a good option and something to throw on the resume while you finish up for the full ccna. I preferred the one test when I took my ccna back in the day. However there really isn't much in upside anymore. You aren't saving much money and you are still going to have to master just as much. Take the two tests and do your best. Ccent isn't exactly something you see popup on job openings, but it can't exactly hurt.
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Dec 21, 2012 15:35
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oogs posted:As a linux sysadmin with 6+ years experience, am I crazy to not care about certs? Do potential jobs you apply for look for them? Can you learn anything from the coursework?
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Dec 21, 2012 18:14
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Senior Funkenstien posted:I have failed the drat Microsoft 70-680 three times now. Is there a book or something that actually has whats covered in the exam? Or anything you guys recommend for studying? The press book covers everything in the exam. It however doesn't put do a great job at making everything seem important. For example, notice how sometimes you will see a picture of something with text underneath it? What is covered in that pictures description could be something unique that doesn't show up in the chapter and will end up on the test. http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Win...s=microsoft+680 Was the author of the edition i used I believe. The 3rd party books generally a little easier to read and focus more on you passing the test than going over the pure coursework. You have already seen 3 version of the test. You should know by now what you feel weak on.
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Dec 21, 2012 20:22
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Sulphuric Sundae posted:So I've got CompTIA Security+ and Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Administrator 7 (70-680 and 70-686). I want to go for more server-y stuff next, so I think I'm gonna go for the Enterprise Administrator certs. 70-640, 70-642, 70-643, and 70-647. Are there any reasons (other than time/money) I may want to just go with the Server Administrator track instead? Nope. If you have already done the 680 you might as well just go for the EA. The EA gets more HR spin.
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Dec 21, 2012 21:55
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Tab8715 posted:Where did you see the exam expiration's? I really like the 2012 curriculum. Saying that, if the past is any hint of the future you might be, you might spend more time than you would like with HR depts who don't know what the gently caress your cert is. Microsoft was really way too aggessive retiring the 2008 curriculum this early. 2012 isn't close to reaching maturity.
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Dec 21, 2012 23:10
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CrazyLittle posted:This... how is this even possible? I am amazed by this too. Couldn't you send an email to cisco? Did you even check if his CCIE was even valid?
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Dec 28, 2012 02:34
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QuarkJets posted:I've read through the first 50 pages or so of the CompTIA Security+ guide, and they very strongly emphasize that you need to have a Network+ cert before bothering with Security+. I'm skeptical, since of course the guys who administer the tests and write the books want you to pay for and take as many certification tests as possible. If I do exactly as the OP says, read the book a few times and copy the port chart from memory, will I be screwed by my lack of Network+ chops or am I probably okay? The material for the sec+ will teach you everything you need to know to pass the test. There is no prereg you need to learn to pass this test.
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Jan 6, 2013 22:07
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ApocalypseMeow posted:Just booked my 70-410 exam for the end of January, so far the studying doesn't seem too tough so far The book you bought was the best book I ever got for scripting, period. Every other book or guide I ever read for vbscript or powershell was garbage in comparison.
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Jan 8, 2013 14:39
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SPICE MUST FLOW posted:Is there a general consensus on the quality of CBT Nuggets video training? I use to think they were okay, but unless you are getting them free from work I can't really recommend them anymore. They need more quality control over their content anyway. The "flavor" that the side stories add to the videos is not my cup of tea anymore. They would have to be a lot cheaper and a lost more focused to change my opinion.
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Jan 8, 2013 21:10
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Gammatron 64 posted:I've been getting between 90% to 95% on my A+ practice tests, but people recommend I get 100% twice before taking the real test. The real annoying thing is memorizing all the different types of motherboards, CPU sockets, and RAM. I mean gently caress, you either need to be a computer or autistic to memorize all of these: Welcome to pains of every cert you will ever take. Most multiple choice questions you will take will ask you trivia questions of things you probably will never need to memorize in production. Change in culture in the cert world has been slow as balls and no end is in sight. Sims has always been a better option for all the major vendors yet only Cisco has partially picked up that banner. It gives me a headache too often when I realize that learning the technology for use and preparing for the test are way too different most of the time.
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Jan 11, 2013 21:10
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Cyazares posted:So I have a question hopefully someone can answer; does taking (and passing) any of the Cisco exams renew the CCNA, or do you have to actually acquire the new cert to renew? My CCNA expires this year, but since I'm taking the ROUTE exam in about a month, I'm curious whether that will renew my CCNA or if I should start preparing to re-certify. Anything on the same level as ccna or above renew it. Generally, if the exam requires the ccna to even take it, then you will know it will renew it. CCNA voice or CCNA security are both simple tests to renew it with.
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Feb 8, 2013 20:34
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Red Robin Hood posted:I've dropped in here before to ask about certs but that was back when I was still pretty new at my job. I've now been here 9 months as a junior engineer. The General Operations Manager pulled me into his office yesterday to tell me the company wanted to get me on track to become a real engineer (a REAL boy!) and that they came up with a plan to get me there. A+ and net+ plus are stuff you look to do when you want to GET an entry level gig. You already have one or better. The question to ask is "What kind of stuff do I want to specialize in first?". Do you want to manage windows machines? Windows Servers? Linux? How about networking? The question a lot of new people come to this thread and ask "What should I do next?" when they should be asking "I want to do this, how do I prepare myself the best to do this?". You have a gig that will pay for the exams and reward you for passing them. That's a dream situation for someone who is starting out. Take full advantage of it while you can.
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Feb 13, 2013 21:22
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Red Robin Hood posted:I started my "career" as an intern at my school district's technology department running ethernet, labeling servers and switches and wires in the NOC and doing general help desk stuff at the schools. That was really a fun experience but I wasn't able to take full advantage of it because once I graduated they had to cut me loose. After that I worked non-IT jobs (Target and construction) until the network admin from that school district got a new job at a local cloud solution company. He suggested me for a temp junior engineering position that ended up turning into a full time position. That is where I began in my first post above... Well, like a lot of us, your interests seem to be all over the loving place. That's not a bad thing, just means you are going to have a harder time figuring out where to start first. Since your interested in security, traditionally your first stop should be Sec+. Its going to go over a very broad range of topics without a huge amount of detail. It will however get your feet wet with the basic concepts of security. It also is a requirement for a great number of dod/government jobs so its not a total waste either way. There are also a good number of security related books out there that are worth reading that can improve your knowledge of security best practices and so on. I would also remind you that security, at least at one point, was done by SR people who were more of experts in their field. They basically knew so much about the inter-workings of the systems they managed that they knew the most about methods used to break into them. Even though that's not exactly the case with security jobs these days (a sad fact I might add) it still holds true that you are going to need a good working knowledge of the systems you are attempting to secure. All the various vendor cert coursework can help with that so its best to choose whatever you personally are interested in because honestly, you got years and years of work to do. So in short, do the Sec+ content and then maybe CCNA stuff? Might also be a good idea to ask your boss what technologies he would prefer you look into first.
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Feb 13, 2013 22:08
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Martytoof posted:They're really not worth much without the experience to back them up, or at least complement the direction you're selling yourself. Everybody would prefer experience and that's not in dispute. If someone walked into an interview with every linux cert possible and he/she did the courework legitly, I would bet that person would be a strong candidate regardless of experience.
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Feb 16, 2013 21:06
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Turnquiet posted:So I started prepping for the Security+ starting in late September, and I took it on February 28th. The long spin up was due to questions on wether work was going to pay for it, and management wanting to have a bunch of team members take it and pass it all at once to look baller or something. I sit down to take it, and the first two questions are simulations where I got to configure a WAP, firewall, and router in the most secure configuration possible. At this point I begin thinking that I have made a huge mistake and the test I had prepped for was not the test I was taking. I still passed, but I was sweating for a second there. I don't think the sec+ coursework prepared me as well as other vendor stuff has, but I passed on my first try to. It almost may be purposeful on comptia's part to make the exam seem less "easy". That and the tests seem built by non fluent English speakers.
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Mar 4, 2013 20:39
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Island Nation posted:I have a question about Cisco certification so forgive me if this sounds like a idiotic question. CCent -> Ccna -> Anything else Cisco you want.
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Mar 5, 2013 15:27
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psydude posted:Once you get the CCNA it opens up a magical world of taking 3-5 exams to earn one certification. There is quite a few side grade stuff which is only one test each. The ccnp stuff definitely is a grind.
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Mar 5, 2013 17:47
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MC Fruit Stripe posted:Oh waaaah I have to take soooo many tests to make 6 figures and have an awesome job, waaaaah If a CCNP alone would get me 6 figures I would buy the books today. 
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Mar 5, 2013 18:14
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routenull0 posted:So who's doing it wrong? The CCNP's *not* making 6 figures or the ones without CCNP making 6 figures? I'm the latter. The IT Certification Megathread: Stop getting certs you poors,  Edition
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Mar 5, 2013 22:33
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routenull0 posted:The IT Certification Megathread: Certs don't always mean more money Easy cowboy, your sarcasm detector needs a recharge.
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Mar 5, 2013 22:42
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Turnquiet posted:Yes. You could review the entire test again and change all your answers if you wanted as long as you were within your 90 minutes. The scenarios even gave you a reset button in case you wanted to wipe and start fresh in your configuration. I am pretty sure the I didn't have a cisco exam that allowed you to go back at all. Did they recently change this?
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Mar 5, 2013 22:43
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The Third Man posted:I'm getting ready to start a 7-week CCNA course and I'm wondering if anybody else who has gotten their cert can suggest some good online resources they used to help along the way? I looking for forums, blogs, etc, stuff I can read at work/during down time that will keep me thinking. There isn't much legit stuff that is a free for you online. I have googled a few subnetting tips websites and looked at a lot of youtube channels which went over cisco exam stuff along the way. Beyond that I haven't found a great central, all-in-one resource.
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Mar 10, 2013 22:55
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theperminator posted:Well, I just sat my 70-647 exam and failed badly. Don't feel bad. I barely passed mine myself when I took mine back in the day. The Microsoft pro tests are an odd twist. The testlets are somewhat practical (yay) , but my gripe is that this shouldn't be the first time you see this.
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Mar 11, 2013 13:36
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foundtomorrow posted:Are there any student discounts for the Microsoft exams anymore? My bookmarks are no longer working, and through Dreamspark they are not showing up anywhere. If you do them through prometric, you can choose Microsoft student exams to schedule. They are 83 dollars.
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Mar 16, 2013 22:01
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forever gold posted:So I passed the Network+ today. I also have the A+. The 70-680 is the only valuable if you are doing the MCITP-SA/EA line. All the desktop support line certs are almost worthless as far as HR and hiring managers go. The knowledge they teach in the coursework however is pretty useful depending on your experience, just don't spend money on the actual tests unless you just have the itch to. Just buying the books and learning the technology that would would be a leg up in my opinion. You have quite a few things you can move to that would be worth your time. The next step is just to specialize a little.
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Mar 23, 2013 00:53
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forever gold posted:I see people on other tech forums and youtube going crazy with the labbing, having a full rack of switches/routers and whatnot. Curious how much of that is necessary. Makes the whole thing seem a bit daunting. None of it is a necessity. The people you see doing this are passionate and are striving to better themselves the best way they can. These types will not only smash the ccna, but will probably have a superior practical knowledge of the systems they seek to administer in the workplace. Labbing at home isn't crazy. I would say that unless nepotism or luck is on your side, labbing is the best chance you set yourself on the path of mastering the technology when you don't have the access at work.
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Mar 26, 2013 01:49
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Meta Ridley posted:I really want to get the 70-640, but I have 0 experience as a Sys Admin. Since Server 2008 R2 is kind of prohibitively expensive to buy just to play around with in VMs, is there some better option? Are you currently a college student?
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Mar 26, 2013 02:10
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Kaethela posted:Any recommendations for practice A+? Something that would help with the simulator parts of 801/2 would be perfect. Did you happen to read anything but the last page of this thread? This has to be the most common question and its been covered a few dozen times. Its even in the op.
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Apr 18, 2013 03:05
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Ganon posted:Well he did say he was using Visual Cert to practice which is a program used to read dumps... Maybe there are legit sites which use visual certs for homemade practice exams that aren't dumps, I just have never heard of it.
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Apr 26, 2013 23:00
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Chivas Aribas! posted:It's garbage. It is really inaccurate and doesn't go into detail on stuff the test goes into detail about. It is bad enough that I really don't think it should have been published. I will agree 100%. It feels like these press books were rushed. Feels liked objectives given to the book makers weren't in sync with the objectives of the test makers. Microsoft does this to add "difficulty" normally, but these sets of books are out of control.
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May 5, 2013 18:42
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jmu posted:Not sure if you're being serious or not. Actually learning about Server 2012 (or any of the other exam objectives with MS) is not going to help you pass the exam. I watch and follow along to CBT Nuggets to learn about the objectives but to pass I use a dump. MS exams are full of gotchas and half-correct answers, and questions that have correct answers and then "Microsoft correct" answers. I'm pretty sure I would lose my mind trying to read the press books and/or TechNet in order to actually pass. I have a job, I can only devote so much time to certs. gently caress you. Seriously. I am sure a lot of people have different rationalization for cheating and defrauding the system. Lets keep it out of this thread.
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May 9, 2013 17:30
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Pudgygiant posted:Look I get the argument, that brain dumping enables people to get jobs they aren't qualified for, but I've been doing the job for a while already You aren't qualified for the cert. gently caress you, move on.
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May 15, 2013 19:13
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CatsOnTheInternet posted:This isn't a defense of dumping, but rather a general criticism of cert exams, which speaks to pudgygiant's point: I have been one of the loudest voices in this thread when it comes to criticism for some of the vendors and what kind of content they actually test over compared to the curriculum. It is bullshit sometimes, but then again its also their sole discretion on what they want their tests to be. People can simply choose not to take them or bring their concerns to the vendors. Seems to be a no brainer for someone with actual... you know... integrity. The most laughable thing is that the ccna is one of the most practical exams there is. If you fail the ccna, you don't know the material well enough and it has nothing to do with the ccna books and material.
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May 15, 2013 19:28
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Pudgygiant posted:Apply for the position I'm leaving. Good luck! You are missing the point totally.
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May 15, 2013 19:34
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penga86 posted:I think I'm in need of some encourage or a new cert to try for. I just failed the 70-640 for the third time (got in the low 600s again) Redhat stuff would be a nice change of pace. Have you thought about that? It has a lot of value and its something you can still do on your own. Check the op. It has the links to the linux stuff. Its really surprising how far a RHCSA can take you knowledge wise as well resume wise for the effort. RHCE is pretty much the gold standard and isn't a pipe dream. Sickening fucked around with this message at 22:51 on May 15, 2013 |
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May 15, 2013 22:47
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Tab8715 posted:What kind of job may one get with the Linux+ and RHCSA? It seems like the only thing is a possible job at Rackspace, but really don't want to move to Texas. Even though I am in Texas, I am seeing tons of stuff that isn't rackspace. Where do you live?
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May 16, 2013 01:54
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Pudgygiant posted:This, exactly, is what I was trying to say. If I'm holding down a Sr. Net Eng position now, and I want a job that requires a CCNA fairly soon, I'd rather braindump stupid poo poo like OSPFv3's IPv6 multicast address than study for a month to memorize it. One, because I don't give a gently caress what OSPFv3's IPv6 multicast address is, and two, because odds are whoever's doing the technical interview doesn't give a gently caress either. It's just not an economic use of time, especially when I'm competing with 100 FYGM assholes that dumped every cert they have. Jesus loving christ. It doesn't matter how much you try to reword it, its not going to come out a way that isn't morally bankrupt. You don't possess the knowledge to pass the CCNP, so instead you cheat it. You cheat yourself and everyone else as well in the process. You are nothing more than another member of a large group of people who doesn't want to loving learn poo poo anymore. Get the gently caress out. 
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May 16, 2013 01:57
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