There are 55  user Comments for “UPDATED:CompTIA To Raise Exam Prices 4 Percent in April”
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| 3/21/03: BetMen from USA says: |
Yes I don't mind as long as you shut tf up! And good post Matt, I'll follow that track you proposed instead of CompTIA. Have taken A-plus though but still studying for Server-plus, should my MCSA replace it really? Done CCNA too...what else should I tackle to add some knowledge and credential in my resume for my first job????? |
| 3/21/03: matt murdock from hell's kitchen says: |
hey BetMen, I can't endorse Server plus. it really doesn't mean anything (it might in three years or so, depends on whether CompTIA cares to market it). $200 to get your Server plus? Or $375 to finish up your MCSE? Get the MCSE. I only have my MCSA but during my recent 6 week stint of unemployment, I got calls from various recruiters.. I got screened out of a few potential jobs simply for lack of a full MCSE cert (they called me though 'cause of my slick key phrase at the bottom of my resume: "MCSE in progress"). Keep in mind, several recruiters still don't know what an MCSA is. I'm LUCKY to now have a three month gig. Number 1 goal: Finish up the MCSE. And unless you have a lot $$$ be creative about the way you gather your study material. Install KaZaa Lite and do searches on 70-219, 70-217, etc. Entire books by popular publishers will appear, among other things. Download them. Not quite ethical, but if you're down and out, you do what you have to. There's no certification for VMware ESX Server, but I see that MOST (more than 80%) of Fortune 500 companies are consolidating their servers onto powerful boxes that run "virtual machines". THIS IS CERTAINLY to become standard practice as IT depts attempt to clean up this mess of "server sprawl". No one can afford the full server product but you can buy the workstation version and learn it inside and out and place it on your resume. You will love Citrix Metaframe if you like Microsoft's Terminal server. That is an easy exam (only 40 questions). So easy (though I hear the XP version is a bit more difficult). Get a 90 day version on eBay for about $25. Just need two PCs. Thin client computing seems so retro or "mainframe" but it makes a lot of sense for specific apps or entire departments. That's why, again, MOST Fortune 500 companies have it deployed. If you still have your CCNA knowledge fresh in your head, maybe CCDA? I hear it's tough, but that adds a ton of credibility. Linux is gaining ground fast. IBM is doing away with AIX. They're becoming all Linux. My sights are set on Red Hat's RHCT immediately after MCSE and CCNA. Why not install Linux on a VMware virtual machine on your Windows XP machine? Don't give up. You have YOUTH on your side. IT discriminates against women and the old. Although you have no experience, you may need to creatively stretch your resume to 2 pages (I have 6 years experience; my resume is 6 pages). List all of your projects in detail. Make sure it's well written. Glorify the truth but don't lie; use technical jargon and a bit of doublespeak but don't lie. In IT most techs don't know how to write. Gather a list of emails of recruiters from the directory on Hot Jobs. SPAM them (discreetly; send emails one by one or place them in the Bcc field) with a generic but professionaly written cover letter with Word resume attached. Frequently update or refresh your resume on the popular sites like Monster. Stay aggressive. Pretend like your running a business. Work it for 8 hours a day. This is all about marketing right now. Yes, regarding your tech skills I'm suggesting that we learn and expand our knowledge base rather than focus on one technology. Key is to show your flexibility and ability to ADAPT. Later in your career you'll think about specialization... Good luck. We're all going to need it. |
| 3/23/03: BetMen from USA says: |
Thanks Matt...wow that's such a helpful advice you wrote. I bought myself a Citrix XPe trial version and Madden's Citrix book to tackle the CCA 220 because I know there's a company around here that uses Citrix and needs Citrix guys to work for them. Thanks again. |
| 3/24/03: Read&Weep from D.C. says: |
Comptia is setting back thinking of ways to generate cash flow for MS and Cisco by creating cert exams for those who have no clue or experience in the IT field. Those who have no real-time experience or training go register @ a college or university to some real credibility. PEACE!! |
| 3/24/03: WHO IS from WHERELIVES says: |
Certs, like degrees, serve a purpose. It shows you can learn and retain information. Test are like these can be a crapshoot. You may get an easy set of questions and pass or a really tough set you have never thought about and not do as well. Vouchers save money.. |
| 3/26/03: To WHOCARES from Chicago says: |
I would go climb a tree, but afraid of getting injured. Perhaps CompTIA's crack staff will develop a Tree Climbing Certification I can pass. |
| 3/27/03: Tony from New Zealand says: |
I am prepared to carry on studying but with all these extra costs it is virtualy impossible to carry on. I will go as far as I can for what I can afford then it is the end. If Comptia gave people a discount for bult studying it would help eg doing say A+ Network +0 MCSA + Mcse or nice packages it would help. In NZ I cant Comptia is well known but there again probably better than anything else. I actualy tried to get a price to write my A+ software from getcertified4less.com and still have not got my discount price. I want to write one A+ software exam do I pay full cost or what is the discount I want to write by 8 Aprl 2003. Is there an email address for these people. Update my message and that will be great. Keep up the good work. |
| 3/28/03: Operation Tech says: |
Network cert put at least another 10 grand in my pocket. Get the Certifications there worth it. |
| 4/1/03: Anonymous says: |
WOW! How do they do it? I mean, you guys can't even use words correctly (wait for weight, and there for their) yet CompTIA can extract $200 or more out of your mostly empty wallets! If you had the brains to use the English language you might have the smarts to get a job. Until then, no wonder you're out of work. Geez boys... I'm taking the Linux plus in a couple of days, but since the others can't compare to my MCSE and CCNA I just laugh at their prices. The only one I'll worry about is the Linux Plus, and that only because I don't know enough to get a real cert like Red Hat's. Still, I agree that the prices need to come down. $200 is crazy for an industry with so many out of work, even if it is the bottom of the barrel. Hey guys, I've just turned down two offers. They only paid $60-65k but if I'd been out of work for as long as you I'd have taken them. Got's to pay thems bills, wicked high. |
| 4/1/03: Anonymous says: |
Just let me say, the CCNA is AS EASY as the Network Plus, costs less, and holds more value. Forget CompTIA. |
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-B.N.