A+ Certification
- Thread starter bengal85
- Start date
I'll try to give you a timeline. I started out in high school just like everyone else, building my own PCs, messing around with hardware, helping people out with problems, etc. I took a computer science class in high school during my senior year; it was all Java, nothing more. It was okay, I didn't much care for Java, probably because I was too immature at the time and I didn't really have a strong background.
The more I look back on it, Java is a bad language to start with-it makes for lazy programmers, because of the Java Class Library. Beginner programmers have all these shiny, new Java toys, and don't know how any of them work, when knowing how they work is the name of the game. It's best to start with C++. Sorry, that's me rambling about...
Later in my senior year, I took another course that was based around the A+ and Cisco Networking Academy. This was a breeze, I was asked to compete for the school. I got a little bit of recognition, and the school offered to pay for my A+ certification and two other guys' if I made it to the state competition. I got second in the state competition, got my A+ for free, and had my name in newspapers for a little while.
A family friend from the past had been reading the newspapers, and had heard my name. This family friend had scored a six-figure job, and was looking for another IT staff member in the department. She found me, sent a business card my way, asking that I call her. I made the call a few weeks before I graduated high school, and arranged an interview. I got the job before I graduated, and started working.
The job was mainly a support role, which was fun for ~4 months. Then our network needed an upgrade, and we needed server infrastructure bad. So I changed things around to start working on that. That got annoying fast, the 50 year old network engineers and security people don't like to let somebody less than half their age tell them that a server needs a public IP and needs to be put in the DMZ. I got frustrated, luckily we have two Internet connections, I took the unused connection and made it my own. Network engineers are also stingy with SSL certificates, I later found out.
After that mess, I started getting questions about building business intelligence systems, just to see how many visitors came through our place. So I put some stuff together, event management systems and such. I made everything to be a web application, because it could be accessible from anywhere without a VPN. It could be just as secure using a relatively low amount of code and SSL.
I still support users, but I have a supervisor who likes doing that sort of thing. It makes life easier on me, but the supervisor can't code or use anything outside of Windows.
I started college at some point in there, I am a Computer Engineering major going into my 3rd year. It has been fun and as my department grows, there's always a need for a new system. I think the department enjoys having a developer, too. Rather than paying out $10,000 for a system, they can have me custom build something for cheaper, and cut out the extra fluff that we won't use. Plus, a new custom system can tie in with other custom systems. Depending on the project scope, it takes me around a week to turn a prototype using Python or PHP.
teamhex
Active Member
Got my A+ a few months ago.
I had a list of all the possible questions and their answers. I just studied the night before and I passed both with some pretty decent scores. Work paid for it, so I figured I might as well get it. Hardest part was that there were 1000 questions I had. 500 for each test. Good thing they duplicate questions 4-5 times per set.
I had a list of all the possible questions and their answers. I just studied the night before and I passed both with some pretty decent scores. Work paid for it, so I figured I might as well get it. Hardest part was that there were 1000 questions I had. 500 for each test. Good thing they duplicate questions 4-5 times per set.
teamhex
Active Member
I don't right now, but let me ask around and see if anyone has the .PDF still.
ok sounds good. just send me a message if you ever do find it.
tlarkin
VIP Member
well I will give you my quick history....
Went to college in 1999 for arts. At the time got a part time tech job at a computer store for money. Ended up hating art and dropping out my Sr year of college. Stayed in IT, and worked at the computer store for about 5 years. They paid for all my certs. I repaired PCs, Macs, TVs, electronics, and we were also a reseller and systems builder.
Then got a job as a network tech for a school district and supported their PCs and Macs. I got into some server work. Wrote my first set of shell scripts automating the zen imaging process for our PCs over PXE boot. It was pretty cool. I wrote a menu that listed all the models in the district. All the techs had to do was PXE boot, select which model they were imaging by hitting the number displayed on the screen, and the rest was automated. This opened the door to the Unix/Linux world to me on a professional perspective, where as before Linux was just a hobby of mine.
Then a neighboring school district about 4.5 years ago started a 1:1 program. Giving all teachers and students in the high schools Macbooks. I was known in the area as a Mac guy, sometimes by defacto (because no one else was doing Mac stuff) so they offered me a job, paid me a lot more money and let me run the show. So, I jumped ship and have been here the last 4 years. I manage 6,000 Macbooks, 2,000 iMacs and around 40 OS X Servers, plus a few random Linux boxes here and there.
I have been published a few times and interviewed and been in case studies in IT enterprise type stuff. Almost all of it dealing with multiplatform stuff with Macs, PCs and Linux and Windows stuff.
In the last 6 months I have interviewed with some major companies. Apple, Google, Stanford, Berkley, and some major contracting companies, and I always got far in every interview process. However, I never got any of the jobs. My experience and skills landed me my 3rd and 4th interview at some of these places but never got me the whole job. Mind you most people neer get past the first interview at a lot of these companies. I think that is because I have similar competition with a piece of paper.
I am gonna go back to school and finish up my degree finally. Probably dabble in software development with an emphasis of open source software management. I don't really want to use MS products, they are boring and lack features I like to work with.
Moral of the story is, certs will get you into places, experience gets you into a lot of more, but HR will always compare you on paper rather than your actual skill set. Having your degree makes you look good on paper. It is dumb, because when I finally go back to school I am going to test out of half my classes. Why would I take a network+ class and an A+ class when I already got the certs? Why would I take an intro to Unix when I am a Unix admin and can shell script?
The whole education system is jacked, and I am very jaded by it. However, it is in your best interest to get your degree just because. I am all self taught which speaks for itself sometimes. When I finish my degree I will have 15 years or so professional experience, 6+ of me being the head guy and finally my piece of paper. Then I will go back to silicone valley and say hire me fools!
Don't get me wrong, I make pretty good money right now. Enough to live off of and save and buy stuff and invest and support my life style. However, I want the higher end job because I am older now, and not for the money. I want it for the challenge.
Went to college in 1999 for arts. At the time got a part time tech job at a computer store for money. Ended up hating art and dropping out my Sr year of college. Stayed in IT, and worked at the computer store for about 5 years. They paid for all my certs. I repaired PCs, Macs, TVs, electronics, and we were also a reseller and systems builder.
Then got a job as a network tech for a school district and supported their PCs and Macs. I got into some server work. Wrote my first set of shell scripts automating the zen imaging process for our PCs over PXE boot. It was pretty cool. I wrote a menu that listed all the models in the district. All the techs had to do was PXE boot, select which model they were imaging by hitting the number displayed on the screen, and the rest was automated. This opened the door to the Unix/Linux world to me on a professional perspective, where as before Linux was just a hobby of mine.
Then a neighboring school district about 4.5 years ago started a 1:1 program. Giving all teachers and students in the high schools Macbooks. I was known in the area as a Mac guy, sometimes by defacto (because no one else was doing Mac stuff) so they offered me a job, paid me a lot more money and let me run the show. So, I jumped ship and have been here the last 4 years. I manage 6,000 Macbooks, 2,000 iMacs and around 40 OS X Servers, plus a few random Linux boxes here and there.
I have been published a few times and interviewed and been in case studies in IT enterprise type stuff. Almost all of it dealing with multiplatform stuff with Macs, PCs and Linux and Windows stuff.
In the last 6 months I have interviewed with some major companies. Apple, Google, Stanford, Berkley, and some major contracting companies, and I always got far in every interview process. However, I never got any of the jobs. My experience and skills landed me my 3rd and 4th interview at some of these places but never got me the whole job. Mind you most people neer get past the first interview at a lot of these companies. I think that is because I have similar competition with a piece of paper.
I am gonna go back to school and finish up my degree finally. Probably dabble in software development with an emphasis of open source software management. I don't really want to use MS products, they are boring and lack features I like to work with.
Moral of the story is, certs will get you into places, experience gets you into a lot of more, but HR will always compare you on paper rather than your actual skill set. Having your degree makes you look good on paper. It is dumb, because when I finally go back to school I am going to test out of half my classes. Why would I take a network+ class and an A+ class when I already got the certs? Why would I take an intro to Unix when I am a Unix admin and can shell script?
The whole education system is jacked, and I am very jaded by it. However, it is in your best interest to get your degree just because. I am all self taught which speaks for itself sometimes. When I finish my degree I will have 15 years or so professional experience, 6+ of me being the head guy and finally my piece of paper. Then I will go back to silicone valley and say hire me fools!
Don't get me wrong, I make pretty good money right now. Enough to live off of and save and buy stuff and invest and support my life style. However, I want the higher end job because I am older now, and not for the money. I want it for the challenge.
teamhex
Active Member
I'm with you there man. The education system is bass ackwards. I started fixing computers and learning about them from the time I was 13. Got a part time assistant type job for a PC tech, learned a bit more, then started working at a school district as a full time PC/Network tech. Only things I have are my A+, FOI(Fiber Optics Installer), and iv taken Cisco 1 and 3(Need to finish out my CCNA, but its alot of study. What was a hobby turned into a career I suppose. I haven't decided fully on that part, but yeah me and the education system don't get along
. Paper doesn't mean anything, in fact the more you have the more of a tool you become(just general observation).I'm with you there man. The education system is bass ackwards. I started fixing computers and learning about them from the time I was 13. Got a part time assistant type job for a PC tech, learned a bit more, then started working at a school district as a full time PC/Network tech. Only things I have are my A+, FOI(Fiber Optics Installer), and iv taken Cisco 1 and 3(Need to finish out my CCNA, but its alot of study. What was a hobby turned into a career I suppose. I haven't decided fully on that part, but yeah me and the education system don't get along
Yeah I have heard this that is why I am hoping to stay away from the education system. Unless I get a job at a university I would probably take that. I am hoping to get a pc tech or IT tech job and then in about 15 years open my own small business. I have started my small business already I am just waiting on the funding and the cliental that will allow me to have a store front and be able to stop working out of my business partners bedroom.
tlarkin
VIP Member
I'm with you there man. The education system is bass ackwards. I started fixing computers and learning about them from the time I was 13. Got a part time assistant type job for a PC tech, learned a bit more, then started working at a school district as a full time PC/Network tech. Only things I have are my A+, FOI(Fiber Optics Installer), and iv taken Cisco 1 and 3(Need to finish out my CCNA, but its alot of study. What was a hobby turned into a career I suppose. I haven't decided fully on that part, but yeah me and the education system don't get along
Sorry a degree is actually worth a lot. What I don't get is you gotta take courses like music appreciation, or the history of bowling in college. Really? Why would I want to pay for that crap? College should be sciences, math, and then your trade - ie engineering, medical, technology, architect, etc. There is no need for music appreciation, unless you are going for a music degree. College is just plain dumb in that regard and it is a system to make the colleges money. Universities make a crap ton of money. You look at it the average BA is around $40k per a student, and they have 5,000 students on average, that is $200 million dollars right there. Then add in the hidden fees, books, material costs, etc. Then you look at high end schools where a BA costs $120k, and they are making billions of dollars.
I have no problem with education making money. My problem is education is all about making money unfortunately. Also, I think that we need to focus on learning actual stuff that is needed, and not under water basket weaving, bowling, or whatever other dumb class they make you take for credit which does nothing but cost you money.
However, getting that degree is a good thing. Trust me on this. I have many certifications and 10+ years experience, but at the same time I have almost maxed out where I can go with what I got. I will say in IT there is a huge exception though. A lot of people who have degrees and work in IT do not have an IT degree. Most of them got a degree in something else then decided they hated it and fell into IT. I went into IT just because I knew computers and I ended up really liking it.
Dystopia
Active Member
I'm with you there man. The education system is bass ackwards. I started fixing computers and learning about them from the time I was 13. Got a part time assistant type job for a PC tech, learned a bit more, then started working at a school district as a full time PC/Network tech. Only things I have are my A+, FOI(Fiber Optics Installer), and iv taken Cisco 1 and 3(Need to finish out my CCNA, but its alot of study. What was a hobby turned into a career I suppose. I haven't decided fully on that part, but yeah me and the education system don't get along
Yeah what sucks though is, these days, being good isn't really good enough. You often need a degree, or a cert, otherwise the hiring company has issues with insurance. Of course, then, when you got Best Buy with their "professional" geek squad, they don't know squat.
salvage-this
Active Member
I don't know how some people get a job there.
I an getting my A+ and NET+ this summer. I am still going for a degree in computer information technology but I just want something that will get my foot in the door on applications to tech places. Telling them that I am an active member here and that I fix plenty of problems for friends, family, relatives does not seem to go all that far.
emac227
New Member
my college is fairly good in terms of no dumb courses
strollin
Well-Known Member
I'm older than most of you guys but I'd advise you to get a degree, which is the same advice I give my 4 kid (all in college).
I started out as a tech 40 years ago (before PCs existed). I have several friends that also were techs back then. While I was working as a tech, I went to school at night and got an AA degree in Electronics then a BS in Management. My friends didn't. I ended up as their supervisor.
We all moved on to other jobs. I went into management and software engineering in the Silicon Valley. Some of my friends did quite well in the salary department (all ended up in engineering positions) making as much or more than I did but, when layoffs came around, my friends without degrees got laid off first. Once laid off, it took them many months to find another job. I've been working 40 years and have only been laid off once in my career, it took me 10 months to find another job. My friends have been laid off 3-4 or more times and it takes them 18 months to 2 years to find another job, often at a reduced salary. One friend got laid off 10 years ago and has never been able to find a job lasting more than a year and makes substantially less, he currently has no job and tells people he's retired. Another friend finally found a lasting job but he makes only a fraction of the income he used to.
I've asked all my friends if they regret not earning their degree and everyone of them agreed and all believe if they had a degree they would have better job security.
It's true that if you run your own business you won't need a degree but businesses can fail and a degree is a great backup.
(Sorry this is so long)
I started out as a tech 40 years ago (before PCs existed). I have several friends that also were techs back then. While I was working as a tech, I went to school at night and got an AA degree in Electronics then a BS in Management. My friends didn't. I ended up as their supervisor.
We all moved on to other jobs. I went into management and software engineering in the Silicon Valley. Some of my friends did quite well in the salary department (all ended up in engineering positions) making as much or more than I did but, when layoffs came around, my friends without degrees got laid off first. Once laid off, it took them many months to find another job. I've been working 40 years and have only been laid off once in my career, it took me 10 months to find another job. My friends have been laid off 3-4 or more times and it takes them 18 months to 2 years to find another job, often at a reduced salary. One friend got laid off 10 years ago and has never been able to find a job lasting more than a year and makes substantially less, he currently has no job and tells people he's retired. Another friend finally found a lasting job but he makes only a fraction of the income he used to.
I've asked all my friends if they regret not earning their degree and everyone of them agreed and all believe if they had a degree they would have better job security.
It's true that if you run your own business you won't need a degree but businesses can fail and a degree is a great backup.
(Sorry this is so long)
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ComputerGirl84
New Member
I'm also studying for A+ cert. Right now I'm completing a PC Repair program. I'm also reading two A+ books:
1. Comptia A+ certification by Mike Meyers
2. Comptia A+ certification study guide by Jane and Charles Holcombe.
They both come with CD's and they're great.
1. Comptia A+ certification by Mike Meyers
2. Comptia A+ certification study guide by Jane and Charles Holcombe.
They both come with CD's and they're great.