Computer Certifications - Where to start?

So as of Tuesday this week, I passed my Security+ Exam. This test was easy, lots of information online about the process.

I was considering taking some MCSE stuff, but I don't even know where to start. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

It might be helpful if you described your end goals so folks in the know could help you plot your path.

Now that I've looked it up, this is a lot more complex than I thought. The new 2012 MCSE stuff is quite confusing.

I guess my main goal is to work in the server side of things. I'm very close to two military bases and that's a common job type. Honestly, just looking for advice on what the best path might be.

Unless you're seeing a lot of job listings for jobs you want that are actually requiring specific certs, I'm not sure I'd bother. If you are seeing that, then the listings are telling you what to aim for.

Speaking from practical experience, he's going to have a very, very hard time getting a GS-type job without the associated certifications. So I'd say look at usajobs, figure out what you want, and what certs/degrees they want, and pursue that.

Also, Maxwell and Gunter are one base

The good news if Microsoft is the way you want to go, is that MS is having their second shot deal until May 31, 2013.What that means is that if you sign up for the test right you'll get the first retake free if you do fail. Read the link for details.

Now onto the details of the MS certs, basically go for the MCITP:Server Administrator (what was the replacement for the Win 2003 MCSA) on Windows 2008. The non-SQL 2012 server tests aren't out yet and getting the 2008 SA certs will get you the 'new' MCSA for a launchpad for the 2012 stuff if you decide to go that route.

Microsoft has eval versions as well as VHD's for their OS's freely available, get them, install them on dedicated hardware if you can and start poking around. If you want some guided instruction buy some books. I recommend the MS book for the exam you are going for and another book (sybex or similar), if you want to save some money on 'the other book' I suggest Mark Minasi's "Mastering Windows 2008" book for all your other books, you can use it (and the intertubes) to fill out any questions you may have as you go. Installing the server OS on dedicated hardware gives you a chance to read the book(s) and go through the exercises, I highly recommend this as many questions for MS are command based in that you need to know the switches for various ones. As far as networking I've never had an MS test that was too deep in networking just wanting to know what subnet an IP is on or the home address of a TCPv6 interface.
Once you go through the book and do the labs/exercises you can try a practice test. Transcender and Self Test Software are essentially the same software (they are both owned by kaplan) but there are some slight differences. Transcender is their premium brand so you get a few more questions per exam but nothing that would be a 'gotcha' on the exam. The real difference between Trans/STS is that transcender will let you make a custion exam based on your weakspots. STS will just throw you into a practice test each time, no targeted custom tests available. Both offer the ability to randomize questions and answers, take questions out of the pool if you answer them correctly x amount and similar. Know how to use these products, don't just memorize the questions, while one or two will be very similar to exam questions most are not (they can't be to be sanctioned products) instead when you get a question wrong there will be a full paragraph or two on the review telling you why each answer is wrong/right. It will also have the source of their thinking. Always do google-fu if confused on a subject.

I essentially follow that path for all my certs (replace MS with Cisco):
Read MS book (mark lab pages)
Read book 2 (mark labs if diff from MS)
Do labs from MS and other book
Practice test 3-5 days from test date
Test!

The test design folks for Transcender also have a blog.

As AnimeJ said DOD/Government jobs are pretty much going to want you to have the cert, where I work will take a chance on you but if you don't get the OS cert in 6 months you go bye-bye because of the IA force cert requirements. That's a whole other subject though because the DOD used to pay for that stuff and now they're saying it is still a requirement but not wanting to pay.

AnimeJ wrote:

Speaking from practical experience, he's going to have a very, very hard time getting a GS-type job without the associated certifications. So I'd say look at usajobs, figure out what you want, and what certs/degrees they want, and pursue that.

Also, Maxwell and Gunter are one base :)

you basically just said what I said, but phrased it like I was mistaken.

Look at the job reqs. If they require certain certs, pursue those.

duckilama wrote:
AnimeJ wrote:

Speaking from practical experience, he's going to have a very, very hard time getting a GS-type job without the associated certifications. So I'd say look at usajobs, figure out what you want, and what certs/degrees they want, and pursue that.

Also, Maxwell and Gunter are one base :)

you basically just said what I said, but phrased it like I was mistaken.

Look at the job reqs. If they require certain certs, pursue those.

Yes and no. If he's trying to get a job at DISA, it's going to require certs of some sort. You seemed to be saying to pursue them only if it's listed as a requirement. I'm saying figure out what's needed and pursue them anyway, because without them he's not going to be competitive enough to get hired.

AnimeJ wrote:

Speaking from practical experience, he's going to have a very, very hard time getting a GS-type job without the associated certifications. So I'd say look at usajobs, figure out what you want, and what certs/degrees they want, and pursue that.

Also, Maxwell and Gunter are one base :)

That's a bad habit of mine. I've lived at both locations so I have always called them separate bases haha.

Thanks for the advice, all. I will get looking.

FridgeGremlin! wrote:
AnimeJ wrote:

Speaking from practical experience, he's going to have a very, very hard time getting a GS-type job without the associated certifications. So I'd say look at usajobs, figure out what you want, and what certs/degrees they want, and pursue that.

Also, Maxwell and Gunter are one base :)

That's a bad habit of mine. I've lived at both locations so I have always called them separate bases haha.

Thanks for the advice, all. I will get looking.

I spent my first 6 years in the USAF there; at one point, they actually were separate bases. Gunter became an Annex under BRAC back in 1992. Also, when you start looking for jobs, see what tech companies are hiring for contractors. There's a lot of turnover from contractor to GS both at the 754th and DISA Montgomery; I know quite a few folks who did just that. Prime example is a buddy of mine who got out after 6 or 8 years as a SSgt, went contractor at DISA and then applied for a GS-12 slot, where he's currently sitting.