CompTIA A+ or CCENT?

[DarkDubzs]

If i want to start getting into the IT and Networking industry, which cert should i get first for an entry and first ever job... which would be a Help Desk tech? I narrowed it down to either the A+ or a CCENT cert, i feel an A+ is better suited for a help desk job, but i hear the ccent is quicker to get. Which should i work towards first? Just fyi, im a Senior in HS with absolutely no work experience; best tech experience i can think off the top of my head is that i built my own pc, know a lot about pc hardware, Windows and Mac software, can troubleshoot computer and peripheral problems easily.

Any help and guidance? Thanks!

 

[jimmysmitty]

A+ and Net + would be a good starting point. CCENT is mainly Cisco based switches/routers and is good but is much more advanced.

 

[DarkDubzs]

A+ and Net + would be a good starting point. CCENT is mainly Cisco based switches/routers and is good but is much more advanced.

What about Microsoft certs? Or any other certs for that matter?

 

[Deuce65]

If i want to start getting into the IT and Networking industry, which cert should i get first for an entry and first ever job... which would be a Help Desk tech? I narrowed it down to either the A+ or a CCENT cert, i feel an A+ is better suited for a help desk job, but i hear the ccent is quicker to get. Which should i work towards first? Just fyi, im a Senior in HS with absolutely no work experience; best tech experience i can think off the top of my head is that i built my own pc, know a lot about pc hardware, Windows and Mac software, can troubleshoot computer and peripheral problems easily.

Any help and guidance? Thanks!

It's going to depend obviously on the company and helpdesk, but in general you don't need either of those certs. CCENT is completely irrelevant to a helpdesk tech for obvious reasons, and while A+ would seem to be useful, it is more applicable to a deskside tech (for example, knowing how to physically build a machine or replace a part is not of much use to a helpdesk tech). If you feel you must get a cert or two, and for someone with no experience it can be a good idea, I would suggest getting a helpdesk cert. HDI Support Center Analyst is probably the most recognizable to an HR person. To a lesser extent, MCP certs can be useful but for someone with no experience at all and no degree, I would suggest an actual HD cert.

 

[jimmysmitty]

Microsoft certs are also good but you want a good foundation in the basic hardware before you start to delve into the more specific certs.

 

[EthanPark]

Typical order of certs to get.

Fundamental Basics: A+, Network+, MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist. I know this isn't very IT related; however, many tier 1 - tier 2 jobs mention Office experience & knowledge, so this cert can seriously add to standing out; I sat in for a co-worker's MOS class that he was teaching and I saw so many Office tools & functions I had never seen before.)
(Almost all entry level will ask for A+ OR experience. I think you might as well get Network+ if you get A+; especially when you want to get into networking eventually.)

Fundamental System/Server: MCSA

Fundamental Network: Network+ (if you haven't gotten it yet right after the A+), CCENT

Mid-Level System: MCSE (this could possibly help even at entry level but I doubt it since this usually applies to some experience)
Mid-Level Network: CCNA (no point when entry level; low chance of securing a mid-level job that asks for CCNA. I'd earn it while working my entry-level IT job)

This is when you start getting specific. You're probably going to know way more about IT than me at this point since I'm still at a CCNA level with 2.5 years of experience.

Upper-Mid Level System: MCSE (Private Cloud, Exchange, Sharepoint, SQL, Lync, etc)
Upper-Mid Level Network: CCNA (Security or Voice)
(By this point, it really does get very complex since there are so many routes. If you go Voice, I recommend other Networking standards as well including MCSE, etc.
If you go Security, there are so many to choose from including: Security+, CEH, CISSP; while also learning other routers, switches, PBX systems, etc. I also strongly recommend learning a few Linux OS's along with command lines.)

By this point, it's all CCNP, CCIE, etc; but this is years and years down the road and there's really no use when you're working for a company at a high level anyway; they'd probably pay for our training anyway.

Important: Most of these certs expire after 3 years, so it is probably a waste (and a risk) to try to go all out and try to get the higher level certs. A+ and Network+ should be fine. And seriously... I know plenty of people with certs that never get a decent job even years down the road. Lots of times, it's the people who network (I mean social networking), take the initiative, and get that experience who get the jobs.

 

[DarkDubzs]

Typical order of certs to get.

Fundamental Basics: A+, Network+, MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist. I know this isn't very IT related; however, many tier 1 - tier 2 jobs mention Office experience & knowledge, so this cert can seriously add to standing out; I sat in for a co-worker's MOS class that he was teaching and I saw so many Office tools & functions I had never seen before.)
(Almost all entry level will ask for A+ OR experience. I think you might as well get Network+ if you get A+; especially when you want to get into networking eventually.)

Fundamental System/Server: MCSA

Fundamental Network: Network+ (if you haven't gotten it yet right after the A+), CCENT

Mid-Level System: MCSE (this could possibly help even at entry level but I doubt it since this usually applies to some experience)
Mid-Level Network: CCNA (no point when entry level; low chance of securing a mid-level job that asks for CCNA. I'd earn it while working my entry-level IT job)

This is when you start getting specific. You're probably going to know way more about IT than me at this point since I'm still at a CCNA level with 2.5 years of experience.

Upper-Mid Level System: MCSE (Private Cloud, Exchange, Sharepoint, SQL, Lync, etc)
Upper-Mid Level Network: CCNA (Security or Voice)
(By this point, it really does get very complex since there are so many routes. If you go Voice, I recommend other Networking standards as well including MCSE, etc.
If you go Security, there are so many to choose from including: Security+, CEH, CISSP; while also learning other routers, switches, PBX systems, etc. I also strongly recommend learning a few Linux OS's along with command lines.)

By this point, it's all CCNP, CCIE, etc; but this is years and years down the road and there's really no use when you're working for a company at a high level anyway; they'd probably pay for our training anyway.

Important: Most of these certs expire after 3 years, so it is probably a waste (and a risk) to try to go all out and try to get the higher level certs. A+ and Network+ should be fine. And seriously... I know plenty of people with certs that never get a decent job even years down the road. Lots of times, it's the people who network (I mean social networking), take the initiative, and get that experience who get the jobs.

Wow thanks for all that info and that super helpful timeline. Way more helpful than anything else ive read or researched so far. This is something im copy+pasting to notepad and saving, just in case this gets deleted or lost, lol, know this will come in handly a lot. Thanks!