[Drupy]

That's why I trry to help friends as much as poss. I learn something new everytime. It also makes me feel good to see me help others. I don't know alot but what I know, I know well!

 

[gotissues68]

Heh yea no certs But then again everything I do know I've learned on my own Over the last 2 years.. amazing to me when I realize all the stuff I've learned and tried to learn since I got into computers only a few years ago. I'm no genius though lol.. I think the quote "the smart teacher knows he's also the student" best fits .....

At any rate I appreciate the suggestions.. I'm more of a systems type guy as opposed to networking though.. I like LAN stuff but WAN/routing and all that.. I'll leave that up to you network eng types No need for me to figure out why BGP and OSPF sessions keep dying lol.

 

[Pseudocyber]

I do miss having my hands in the guts of a server ... :smash:

But, Networking tends to pay more $$$!!!

Next ... onto .... Management!

 

[gotissues68]

yuck @ management... and I agree that networking pays more and in my opinion is probably harder in some aspects as well..

The other question that popped into my head.. do the certs really pay off money wise? As opposed to say a CS degree or something more generalized or even hands on experience..

And does taking the time to learn the things needed to get the certs really stick in your head?

 

[Drupy]

Well the Certs to me pay better than alot of college degrees. I spent 4 years in college and earned an automotive degree. The most I earned per hour was $17 and that didn't last to long. You see in todays market the employer pays you what he can get away with paying you. However now that I'm starting to get my certs. under my belt the shoes on the other foot. I work part time for a friend that owns a temp. consulting company and make alittle over $32 per hour while I'm helping him so I would say 4 years compared to 6 months made a big difference. I have also been working out of my home office which has added spice to my life. I wake up grab a shower and it's off to the other room. No boss over my shoulder. Now if I don't work and set meetings to sell my services I don't make money. Keep that in mind. However knowing what I know now, ten years ago I would have never went to college.

 

[Pseudocyber]

My undergrad degree was BA in International Relations. I got out of school and drove for UPS, Managed Apartments, Worked 2 jobs - switchboard for a hospital and custom audio/video installation.

The hospital job got me a break into IT - I talked Geek talk to the Computer guy when he came out at night to restart batch jobs on the old system. When the hospital got a new system, I taught myself as much as I had access to and then started writing how to's because I was bored (night shift) and I didn't like people calling me for something when they could just look it up for themselves!

So, about '95 I started as a "computer operator" with no experience or certs for $8/hr. I got my CNA and after about a year or two got bumped to $10/hr and got changed to salary because I was working too much over time.

After 3 yrs there (and being promoted to "Network Administrator") - in a 4 person shop - I got a new job at another hospital for $42k. I taught myself MCSE (NT) and CCNA (book studying and a little hands on) and got bumped to $52k in '00. I took my current position, as Network Engineer, in '01 for $60k + .

Since I've been here, I have gotten NNCSS and A+ but haven't seen any more $$ because of "current economic conditions" . At least the company is paying in full for my MBA in Technology Management. It's my goal to move into management for the near term and possibly have my own company - like Drupy - or become a CIO eventually.

So, I would say, yes certs are worth it - if not in your current job then at least for getting your next job. And if you're company won't pay - life is what you make of it. You are the captain of your destiny. You have to look out for number 1, blah blah blah.

HTH!