how good are ccna stuff of hotcerts.com ?. they have a good package going on, so i wondered if anyone used them . Please do let me know

Weekend warrior classes are neat but in real world you will need the actual training esp true hands on. Software sims are cool for study, but imperfections lie in real components and such and it is this process that you learn troubleshooting. Choice lies in, which do you think is better $85 software or $8500 courses


BTW I am in my 4th week of CCNA training, got my A+ certs and will be working for my MCP/MCP+ soon too.

I have a Cisco 2501 router and Catalyst 2900 fiber switch here at home that I use for networking.

~Bob

Quote: Originally Posted by khellandros66 Weekend warrior classes are neat but in real world you will need the actual training esp true hands on. Software sims are cool for study, but imperfections lie in real components and such and it is this process that you learn troubleshooting. Choice lies in, which do you think is better $85 software or $8500 courses BTW I am in my 4th week of CCNA training, got my A+ certs and will be working for my MCP/MCP+ soon too. I have a Cisco 2501 router and Catalyst 2900 fiber switch here at home that I use for networking. ~Bob

damn the man, nice equipment,i wish i could afford used cisco routers, i took A+ training inhigh school the whole pratice tests they had on CD, i scored in the 90%s on the good days, and everyone said ishould get the cert. i just havent gotten to it

on the 16h i start classes for network administration, and all that good stuff, glad to see a networking geek around

Actually those were left overs I got from school for free. Nuff said there.

Yeah A+ is harder now, they ramped it up a bit. I scored 685 core / 610 soft

I honestly failed my 70-270 (XP for MCSE) twice. So I am looking to get cert for 70-291 (ADUC) and 70-299 (Security) CCNA will be tough but I will keep going after it.

~Bob

Quote: Originally Posted by khellandros66 Actually those were left overs I got from school for free. Nuff said there. Yeah A+ is harder now, they ramped it up a bit. I scored 685 core / 610 soft I honestly failed my 70-270 (XP for MCSE) twice. So I am looking to get cert for 70-291 (ADUC) and 70-299 (Security) CCNA will be tough but I will keep going after it. ~Bob

you arent joking, i scored a 757 on core / 556 on software, the core was the easy part for me, but that software part was an absolute pain in the ass...beware anyone preparing for this cert, its not going to be as easy as everyone might tell you it is...remember explicit filenames for all the startup files from windows NT to XP, the order that they load up, what each one does, which ones are required for systems using the SCSI BIOS, IRQ, DMA, I/O, be prepared for it...

i would suggest you at least get your A+ before worrying about CCNA, the knowledge you gain from it will help you immensely with getting your CCNA, and also help you in the field once you get a job...

i got my A+ 750 on hardware 650 on software
this year im going for Net + Copper Cabling and Fiber Cabling

Quote: Originally Posted by khellandros66 Actually those were left overs I got from school for free. Nuff said there. Yeah A+ is harder now, they ramped it up a bit. I scored 685 core / 610 soft I honestly failed my 70-270 (XP for MCSE) twice. So I am looking to get cert for 70-291 (ADUC) and 70-299 (Security) CCNA will be tough but I will keep going after it. ~Bob

I've never actually taken any of the certification tests. don't really need it in my line of work (work).

cisco annoys me, and personally, I think A+ and MSCE is worthless

but it gives dumb people jobs *shrugs*

Quote: Originally Posted by hawklen cisco annoys me, and personally, I think A+ and MSCE is worthless but it gives dumb people jobs *shrugs*

lol.....here here *beer*

I'm currently taking classes for my CCNP right now. Been going to school for a handful of certs for a while now. In two weeks I'll be starting my CCNP class. So far I have the A+, MCSA, MCSE, MCDBA, MCSD, LPI101, LPI102, RHCE, and CCNA. Been going to my local New Horizons for about 9 months now.

Quote: Originally Posted by hawklen cisco annoys me, and personally, I think A+ and MSCE is worthless but it gives dumb people jobs *shrugs*

Okay and where is your list of prior job skills that are so much more sophisticated ?? Its asshat know it alls like you that piss me off...

~Bob

*he evily cackles, rubbing his hands together in glee and leaves*

Certs do not imply you are dumb.

They are simply a tool for HR departments to validate potential candidates applying for a job since they do not have the knowledge or the time to be able to screen applicants properly.

Anyone can lie on a resume and say they have 20 years of experience, but if you list your name and a certification, most major vendors out there list their certified professionals on their web site so HR folks can check up on you. The cert doesnt mean you are an expert, but at least the good certs have validated your skills enough to pass the test.

Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of "paper certified" MCSE's that don't know their ass from a hole in the ground, coulnd t create a user account if their life depended on it and most hiring managers know this. It's just one piece of the pie, and if you willingly overlook a facet of your overall qualifications that can land you a good job, then either you are a moron or you are happy with your current position.

Experience + Degree + Certifications + Contacts

These are what lands you the jobs, and it's foolish to overlook any of them

Some certs carry enough weight that you don't even need the other 3. After I got my CISSP I found myself literally buried under a deluge of recruiter emails wanting me to come work for them or their clients. Unfortunately for them, I absolutely love my job.

I still continue to pursue certifications though, I hold A+, Net+, Security+, MCSA 2003, ITIL, CCNA, various FEMA certs 100, 200, 300, 400, 546, 547, 700, 800(I work in IT Disaster Preparedness and Response), CISSP, GIAC GSEC, and am currently working on the CWNA/CWSP curriculum, and GIAC GCIH is scheduled for January. Just because I love my job today doesnt mean I will still have one tomorrow. You have to prepare for your future, or you can always sign up for welfare if thats what you prefer.

Quote: Originally Posted by abyssling Certs do not imply you are dumb. They are simply a tool for HR departments to validate potential candidates applying for a job since they do not have the knowledge or the time to be able to screen applicants properly. Anyone can lie on a resume and say they have 20 years of experience, but if you list your name and a certification, most major vendors out there list their certified professionals on their web site so HR folks can check up on you. The cert doesnt mean you are an expert, but at least the good certs have validated your skills enough to pass the test. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of "paper certified" MCSE's that don't know their ass from a hole in the ground, coulnd t create a user account if their life depended on it and most hiring managers know this. It's just one piece of the pie, and if you willingly overlook a facet of your overall qualifications that can land you a good job, then either you are a moron or you are happy with your current position. Experience + Degree + Certifications + Contacts These are what lands you the jobs, and it's foolish to overlook any of them Some certs carry enough weight that you don't even need the other 3. After I got my CISSP I found myself literally buried under a deluge of recruiter emails wanting me to come work for them or their clients. Unfortunately for them, I absolutely love my job. I still continue to pursue certifications though, I hold A+, Net+, Security+, MCSA 2003, ITIL, CCNA, various FEMA certs 100, 200, 300, 400, 546, 547, 700, 800(I work in IT Disaster Preparedness and Response), CISSP, GIAC GSEC, and am currently working on the CWNA/CWSP curriculum, and GIAC GCIH is scheduled for January. Just because I love my job today doesnt mean I will still have one tomorrow. You have to prepare for your future, or you can always sign up for welfare if thats what you prefer.

I agree with you in certain respects. I think that while it does form a part of the hiring equation - the real test comes down to when you're tasked with something and a certain deadline and from any employer's perspective - they expect that task to be completed in the time alotted.

Where I see a lot of certifed computer and system administrators failing is that they have all these certs, but when asked to do something - they cannot deliver - and that to an employer is not only disappointing, but annoying.

If I was hiring anybody for a computer or tech position; I would always ask them about stuff that they've done in the past - stuff that they implemented, etc. and hopefully that they would be able to show some sign of competency in the area that they are applying for. And then; the second "step" of the interview process is to allow them to demonstrate to me what they do know; and also to ask them stuff that based on their experiences and certification - they may or may not have come across before.

Unfortunately, such ISN'T the usual case - both with the private contracting company that we brought on (they were scraping the jaws off the floor once I was brought in and reviewed the system that they had set up); and the same with the school's IT department. (They couldn't fix a simple codec issue).

I also think that in some respects, the computer certs are too easily because too many people can get them and know only a fraction of what is required of them.

In my opinion, I think that the certification for computer "techies" should be like the fundamentals of engineering (FE) and professional engineering (PE) exams. The first of which is a closed book; 8 hours test that rigorously tests a person's knowledge of the material in which they "claim" to know. Usually, the pass-fail rate is about 1 in 4.

The PE exam is only available to those that pass the FE, and have been practicing under a licensed PE for a minimum of 4 years. It is an open-book (and yes, there are many stories of people carting IN books) test, that is also about 8 hours long. It is more focused on the area of competency within your field of practice or study.

A fully certified professional engineer (in some industries) is the ONLY authorized person to sign off on design and prints. Unfortunately, the requisite for PEs are dwindling and there are obviously pros and cons for both sides. For example, in the automotive industry; it's usually only between 5-10% of all engineers are licensed PEs (my personal guess). Where as with civil engineering, it is pretty much a requirement to go anywhere in that. (Which always strikes me as interesting).

I guess that the reason why comp certs are so "easy" to get is because it gives people jobs and also opportunities for someone without a degree or diploma of any kind.

Then again, if I were doing any interviews; I'd also be the type of person that would rip up your resume in front of you at the very beginning of the interview, and then be like "you can't learn about a person by a limited two page piece of paper. Let's take a walk with me down to the cafe, and talk to me. Tell me about yourself, what you've done in the past. And leave nothing out."