Any networking people..

[JITB]

Im tryin to get into that field.

but im not sure what classes to take to get a decent job...

i was thinkin that the Computer Hardware & Network Technician certification courses would be the best to get a foot in the door. the description is mostly OS system/microcomputer install/tech. It has a few introductory courses for linux and A+..

am i on the right track?

Or i was thinking of taking the Linux system admin or Cisco specialist courses.

Im gonna eventually do all over time, but i want to start with the one that will put me with the best job first.

[4dmin]

normally you need to choose a course line of windows or unix/linux; possibly both if available. A+ is really only going to help you w/ desktop support but it is a good start you can get a job w/ Geek Squad. Cisco courses will be worth your while.

[skillzilla]

I agree, being specialized with a line of products or a certain set of protocols goes a long way.

[JITB]

so should i start with one of the linux or cisco courses first?

[skillzilla]

Honestly I would go for the Cisco course, but I deal with them on a daily basis so I am a little biased. Unix/Linux is an awesome field to get into but I just dont use or come in contact with their systems all that much. Actually, I wish I knew more about them, I am definitely Windows-based

What is more interesting to you?

[JITB]

man its all new to me....lol im just a basic cpu user at this point..

[skillzilla]

In that case switch to Linux now and run with it hahahaha

[SPOOLIN]

I started a cisco program and didnt finish it when i was in school. Im glad to because my current job deals with alcatel which is huge over seas and starting to flood in over here and the stuff is much better in my opinion, could be biased because we are dealers, but whatever. I did windows server classes in my program for a YEAR.

[kfzemx3]

joe, 1st go get your A+ certification, that can get your foot in the door for a few little jobs and its a good thing to go ahead and know anyway before you get into networking, then i would recommend learning Cisco systems.

If you can get yourself A+ i can probably get you a Nice little job as a service tech for the company i'm with now, You would get to travel (just in the US) with expenses paid and the work is really easy. Probably can get you the same salary that our developers start off with around 45k ish then you can get your other certifications.

hit me up later and will talk.

[JITB]

joe, 1st go get your A+ certification, that can get your foot in the door for a few little jobs and its a good thing to go ahead and know anyway before you get into networking, then i would recommend learning Cisco systems.

If you can get yourself A+ i can probably get you a Nice little job as a service tech for the company i'm with now, You would get to travel (just in the US) with expenses paid and the work is really easy. Probably can get you the same salary that our developers start off with around 45k ish then you can get your other certifications.

hit me up later and will talk.

yea i figured gettin the A+ would get me in the door somewhere, and work from there..

[guinness]

i am a network specialist myself. the question you need to ask yourself first is if you are wanting to do this field of work in a personal(home) or commercial(buisness) setting. cisco is used 95% of the time for and by big companies to handle their business.linux/unix/redhat is used for more of the home and personal networking. keep this in mind though; windows may control near 90% of the computer market as of right now, but for how long is the question? i personally would get my training and certification in linux/unix/redhat/ubantu and whatever else you can yourself into from the apple field. reason being is that apple will soon, and i mean very soon, be the big one in the computer industry and will eventually either make/build software/programs that will work with or replace the cisco systems and many if not all the other cooperate network systems. tha's one of the reasons bill gates has stepped down from his day to day operations at microsoft because he knows his number has been called and now focuses his enegy on his non-profit work...even though he will never admit it. it is also good for you to get your a+ certification as well....actually,i would highly recommend it. many companies like hewlett packard, compaq, and so on wont even look at your application past the certifications section if you don't have a+ because they all require that you have to even be considered for anything in their company. even though the a+ covers all the microsoft based parts. components, and functionability, you will still need it for when apple does step up because you will have to know where to go and what to do in order to go back and be able to forward compat/merge to work with new apple stuff....whatever that may be. just make sure you study really good and hard for it because the first time around it is a free try to pass it, but if you don't, then it will cost you $580 to take the test again(it did when i was taking the test, but i passed on the first try). good luck with it all and if you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

[RandomGuy]

take cisco seriously, it aint no joke. I took a 2 year IT/CCNA course, lost focus about half way thru and then left with nothing lolol

[SPOOLIN]

cisco is not going to be as big later as it is now. Its all based off the same stuff, now that i see what a lot of different places and school systems and such run, im glad i didnt waste my time on a year of cisco classes.

[skillzilla]

I dont see Linux/Unix/Ubantu taking over at all. All I see is growth from the the Windohs side and a stagnant following from the dark side, but maybe I have the blinders on.

[JITB]

thanx for the info fellas keep it coming..

[superfox1]

I am a network Engineer at my company. The majority of the products we deal with are Linux Redhat and 100% command line of that.
IMO, everyone and their brother has Windows experience, in the computer industy, you need to be able to stand out and I think Linux is the way to go. When I was interviewing for jobs, I tried for a lot of positions dealing with Windows systems, only got one call back. Once I started applying for Linux jobs, I not only got call backs on every job, I also got job offers from every one of them. I am new to the IT field, so my pay is much less than everyone else I work with, but now with even more LInus experience, I can leave here and go elsewhere making much more....but I LOVE my job and would hate to leave it.

Good Luck