IT guys - advice needed, way OT

[rjwaldren]

Okay, this is way OT, but I've found this to be a good place to get sound advice on just about anything...and I know there are more than a few IT pro's around here.

I've been working in IT for years, but have never taken any certification testing until recently. Either the positions didn't require it or I was able to move into the position because they already knew I was qualified. My site is closing shortly and I need to get the papers that say I'm qualified in order... In the past experience has been enough, but it's hard to get the interview without the papers.

In the last two days I knocked out A+, next week Net+, and probably CCNA within a few weeks. Then Linux+ and whatever Microsoft base certs make sense. I'm trying to clear out the stuff I know I can move quickly on first. Server certs will take a little bit of time since I don't spend much time there. I've always preferred the hardware/networking side to the applications side.

So my question is - what certifications do you have or would like to have to make yourself more marketable? If I can get the interview I can get the job, but what are they looking for out there and what have you found get's their attention?

[JoeyGee]

I'm sort of in the same boat you're in. About 15 years ago I joined in with the certification craze and got my MCSE. Ever since, I have had a job and never worried about it. This is most likely to my demise, as I have been stuck in a desktop support rut for 10 years--good job, good money so no real reason to leave and advance.

I would say you would have to have the server certs. All the hardware certs really don't mean much if you have documented experience (I could be wrong, I haven't looked for a job in awhile). Security, networking, etc are what you need as a minimum. Having the Linux as you mentioned is a huge plus.

[dbhost]

Linux +, RHCT, MCSA, and a slew of meaningless organization mandated certs from Brainbench...

I am working on my RHCE, and with the way my career, and the I.T. market here is going, especially since the SCO ruling last August, I couldn't care less about finishing up my MCSE, I don't like working on Winboxes anyway... Not enough $$ in it...

[rjwaldren]

From what I'm seeing locally, I'm looking at about a 15-20K pay cut without the Server Certs. Right now, I'm pretty well paid for what I do compared to local averages. Pretty much our entire staff of 460 is going to have trouble finding comparable wages. Unfortunately I've been stuck in NT4 server land...Why - It works and the upgrades won't help our application. So there's definitely some study needed there.

To bad OpenVMS isn't in high demand.

[crokett]

Sounds like all your certs are on the IP and Ethernet networking side. Have you ever thought about learning storage networking? That is what I do now and I can write my own ticket anywhere. I have 4 companies where I have standing offers to come work for them if I want to. Knowing the storage side gets you into the datacenter and makes it that much harder to get fired later. It is all about making sure there is always access to the data.

Learn VMWare. It is exploding and me and another guy on my team have been tasked with picking it up this year. If you know Linux, VMWare isn't a huge stretch. Also learn at least the basics for one of the other Unix variants - HPUX, AIX, etc. VMWare and *nix will also help get you in the datacenter.

[LinuxRandal]

What do you guys recommend for home reading of Linux certs (books?).

Not in the industry (was offered a few over the years and saw all the turn over, and know the (ahem) that I would have to deal with). I just would like to find a decent study guide.
TIA

[rjwaldren]

Crockett, You caught my interest in that area a few weeks ago. Definitely interesting, is there a path you would suggest... What skills are desirable?

DBhost, in the Linux+ testing, how heavy is the RH bias? I've always leaned toward the Debian camp. They each have their own way of getting the same thing done. So after the recent CompTIA "vendor neutral" so long as that vendor is Microsoft experience I imagine I need to spend some time in RPM land before testing through Linux+.

Thanks for the guidance guys there are a lot of paths out there. I'm thinking I'll be using the summer to get the paper that is easily within reach, but then I'll be headed back to the classroom. I checked the status of my GI Bill and I still have time to use up what remains. I'm finding that though I have a lot of exposure, I'm a jack of all trades/master of none. I know I can be useful in short order whatever direction I go, but I'll have to step back to move forward.

[rjwaldren]

LinuxRandle,

I like the Sys admin guides for the various distros, at one time Debian's was very good as well as some of the guides at TLDP.org.

I don't really care for the study guides other than as a sedative, though I believe Learnkey used to have a Mike Myers product for Linux+. I can't find it now, but I used it as my primer years ago and thought it was pretty good. Proprofs.com looks to be a pretty reliable source of advice, I haven't looked through their Linux material yet though.

[crokett]

rj, depends on what you want to do.

If you've been a network admin before, a lot of those skills are transferable to storage. I've done both. fibre has different concepts, different user interfaces on the fibre switches but a lot of same skills. Desireable skills are knowing how to administer the fibre switches and how to fix something when it breaks. Knowing how to administer the storage is a definite plus.

Cisco and Brocade are the two biggest players in the fibre world right now. Cisco has certs for fibre just like they do for ethernet. Brocade has fibre certs and has 2 tracks - one for admins and one for guys like me. If you are starting from scratch I'd start with Brocade. Administering their boxes is fairly straightforward. Cisco puts a lot of stuff on their switches that make it tougher to learn.

I'd start with a book or two on the concepts. Hands-on may be tough to do unless you can talk your storage guys into letting you play.

Another option for you is to learn the storage systems - access to that data is important but there's gotta be a place to put it all. Had a customter last week putting in a multiple petabyte installation.