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?
I have found that I am having a difficult time motivating myself to update my MCSE to Windows 2008. I am going to do this but just have found a lack in interest at times. My opinion is that Certification is good and will get you in the door. I have used it over the years to learn about a product in more depth. However after working with many people over the years you can really see the difference between someone who got certification and really has no clue what they are doing and those who have real world experience (including those who have certification). Now I am not saying that certification is a bad thing. Having certification is great but putting that knowledge to use in real life situations is another. It is one thing to pass a test and another to apply the knowledge in an environment where it is not staged and anything can go wrong. That is where I believe the most important skill comes into play, how well is the individual able to troubleshoot. In my opinion that is what separates the professionals from those who are learning. Everyone has to start somewhere. Getting certification is a good place to start and will get your foot in the door. What happens after that is up to you. My advice is to learn as much as you can from everyone you work with. Experience is the best teacher. Having certification, experience, and having both good troubleshooting and social skills will put you in a class by itself.
Certs are just cash cows for schools and the cert bodies. Specially apple. Those douches gouge so bad for their test fees, holy crap.
I always love when the cert argument comes up. Hell, my cousin who's just joined the military got his A+, N+, S+, and net+, and still couldnt fight his way out of a paper bag.
Certs = 0
Experience = 1