QOTD: What IT Certifications Do You Possess?
When you're using a computer, it's a whole different world than when you're working with computers at a system administrator level.
At a large scale firm, you may be responsible for network topology design, security design, consolidation, systems analysis, large scale deployment, and other things. Among these things, you may be asked to know system level scripting to automate such things as log purging and system backups. It's not about just building a custom machine, it's about knowing how to deploy hundreds to thousands of machines--at once.
At times you will also need to know detailed administrative level knowledge of more than one operating system or server.
Often than not, these types of system admin jobs and those that are related, require the professional to have one or more IT certifications. These could be anything from the most basic A+ certification to a higher level LPIC. Today's question comes courtesy of Chris Channell.
The question of the day is: What IT certifications do you possess?
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I've got an A-Level in IT and come July I'll be an Electronic Engineer.
In ascending order of usefulness:
GNVQ ICT, AS Level Computing, Some CompSci modules on my Mathematics degree (WIP). Considering a masters in Comp Sci.
Though, that's not really ICT, more CompSci, oh well.
Im 18 years old and I have NOTHING!
i am 16 and i already hold a national diploma in IT level 2 all distinctions at did it while i was at school, now in college doing the level 3 and the after that i think im going to do the comptia A+ or sum thing like that, cant remember.
i have built my own computers for years, i am a programmer in a successful games company - and i have no IT or programming qualifications at all.
MBA, BSC(Hons), ITIL Manager, CCNP (Expired), MCSE (Expired), Various System specific accreditiations
I'm 22 and have no IT qualifications. I'm just a closet geek.
I have a Degree of Common sense .. thats worth more than all the so-called Quali's...which I dont have...except Computer O level.
AS Level Information Systems
AS Level Information Technology
BCs (Hons) in Computer Science.
Microsoft Certified qualifications:
MS Cert Technology Specialist in .Net Framework 2.0 Web Development
MS Cert Professional Web Developer
MS Cert Technology Specialist in SharePoint:
- Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Application Development
- Configuring Windows SharePoint Services 3.0
- MS Office SharePoint Server 2007 Application Development
- Configuring MS Office SharePoint Server 2007
A-level Computing
Some BCS thing.
MCSE - Server 2003
MCSA: Messaging - Server 2003
MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician
MCTS: Exchange 2007 Configuration
MCTS: Vista 2007 Configuration
CompTIA Network+
CompTIA A+
The ECDL of course
I am computer master !! 
lol
I've got a note from my mum
Got a Diploma in ITE (Information Technology Engineer) Consists of:
A+
N+
I-Net+
MCSE (Microsoft Certified System Engineer)
Using And Administrating Linux
Microsoft Office
Customer Support
So i think i know a bit about Pc's and other stuff.
I have no IT qualifications as such... Although I have spent most of my life from the age of 12 (and I'm now 31) in front of at least one computer. I used to work as a MS-based sysadmin, I am a web developer working for a big company in the UK. I know quite a few graduates and non-grads looking for jobs in IT and every single time I have a "pleasure" of talking to them they lack the geekyness, interest, dedication or simply knowledge. They usually constantly go on about their x86 Assembler skills, advanced Java and so on... but when it comes down to actually fixing a simple problem being it network, hardware, webdev, or an OS issue - they simply don't even know where to start... And that's pretty much WHY I never bothered with certifications... I might need to just for the sake of my career but the bottom line is - what I've learnt is my knowledge... (most MS) certifications would give me the ability to give not helpful answers to those looking for a solution and I can provide a better answer without those certificates... Now I have a question to those guys having "MC" on their certs list... Do you honestly believe that these certifications gave you anything? Have they helped you to become a better Admin/Dev/whatever? Is it something you could recommend to others or was it a necessity to get a job at company ABC who said - we require this?
Honest answers please - no flame wars. Perhaps you could explain something that I never understood myself. Thanks in advance.
BSC Honners
MDST
ITIL
CICSO
A-Level Computing (barely scraped a pass), and Comptia A+. Looking to get the CCNA next
emm... I have a degree in architecture... does that count? hmm nah, didn't think so! Maybe a certified CAD monkey! hah.
tinnerdxp - almost ditto. I get pulled into dev meetings about software builds a lot. They want to change something and I'm the one who asks will that break X?
It's called real world experience. It's worth nothing without the bits of paper. Guys in suits can’t measure it.
tinnerdxp & waxdart
Glad to hear someone a little older then myself is in the same boat. I'm 21 now, left high school with a GNVQ in ICT. Now have 3 1/2 years of Network, Database and Web Design. Been in full time work for all of it and a lot of work in my own time (IT isn't just a profession after all).
Never bothered with the qualifications and am now a lot better off then my friends who have spent the last 4-5 years studying.
tinnerdxp - goes for me too. Im 40 now (next month anyway). First computer was a 16k spectrum. Ive owned something ever since. I now look after 1000+ computers and have built and designed an active directory and im currently in the process of rolling an exchange server organization over to 2007sp1. For me a stark contrast is one friend who is an MSCE and compaq server accredited and has never been able to answer any questions that ive asked. On the other hand i have another friend who has not one qualification to his name and has never not been able to help me. Pretty well the cleverest bloke i know!!. Although on the flipside my new boss says he wouldnt even entertain interviewing anyone without qualifications, which i think is sad as my old boss gave me the chance....just my 2 cents worth...
Comfy: Thanks for your input - I feel good now - looks like it's a normal route then for many of us. The way I see it... Back in the day when computers where uncommon to say the least and one knew how to use it - that knowledge was worth a fortune... These days - you go to uni, get an MBA in computer science and off you go - you get yourself a job in IT. However there is a massive difference between the two types of people. As an example - we have a new guy on the team who has graduated about a year ago and worked somewhere for few months and now is doing the same thing as I do - wed development. The difference is - he talks about problems and does not care if they get resolved... In most cases he does not even bother to find answers himself... There is of course his attitude which is the problem here, but the bottom line stands - it is rare to see a geek who has the same level of expertise and passion about IT as the person who grew up on ZXs, C64s or Amigas... It's also sad that "bosses" these days worry much more about the recruitment fees, equality, racism and all other shit... that back in the day did not matter - if you were good - you had to get that job.
Comfy: Thanks for your input - However there is a massive difference between the two types of people. As an example - we have a new guy on the team who has graduated about a year ago and worked somewhere for few months and now is doing the same thing as I do - wed development. The difference is - he talks about problems and does not care if they get resolved... In most cases he does not even bother to find answers himself... There is of course his attitude which is the problem here, but the bottom line stands - it is rare to see a geek who has the same level of expertise and passion about IT as the person who grew up on ZXs, C64s or Amigas... It's also sad that "bosses" these days worry much more about the recruitment fees, equality, racism and all other shit... that back in the day did not matter - if you were good - you had to get that job.
Agree with you but not quite with the recruitment as you put it. Social part of recruitment is still more important than most other criteria. You can have the best workers for some job and still comply with those rules.
On the other hand I understand that you mean HR should make sure they can identify these guys that surely make a difference.
Iveoles, I don't think what tinnerdxp & waxdart say is entirely true. I do agree that qualifications without experience & much more importantly creativity are pointless but qualifications combined with experience and creativity are a powerful combination.
The reality of the world today is that much of our world is metrics driven (especially big business) and having the right qualificiations (combined with experience) will get you the interviews you need to earn more money (assuming that's what you want).
At the end of the day having the experience without the qualificiatons may cause you to be rulled out just as having the qualificatiion without the experience would do so. Combine the two and your likely to get the interview opportunities you need for your personality & creativity to earn you a higher pay packet.
Often the hassle of a couple of days reading combined with a few exams are worth the extra cash that can be delivered.
MBA (currently studying)
Prince2 - Practitioner
ITIL - Foundation
MCSE 2003
MCSE 2000
Citrix XP
(Private Pilot licence and own plane)
Failed O levels back in 1988(!)
O Level Computer Studies (yay)
A+
ITIL
PRINCE2
20+ years hard experience.
Degrees in computer science (actually most UK degrees) are a waste of time from the folks we've seen with them.
CBCI = Certified by Business Continuity Institute
CGRCP-IT = Certified IT Governance, Risk, Compliance Professional
CISSP-ISSMP = Information Security Systems Managment Professional
CISM = Certified Information Security Manager
CISA = Certified Information Systems Auditor
CISSP = Certified Information Systems Security Professional
CSOX = Certified in Sarbanes-Oxley
ISO27001 (ISO17799/BS7799) Lead Auditor
Prince2 Foundation
COBiT Foundation
CCSE = Check Point NG AI & 4.1
SCSA = Sun Solaris 8
CCNP = Cisco Certified Network Professional
LCP = Linux Certified Professional
SRAP = Shiva Remote Access Professional