IT courses & certifications

[rammsky]

Hi bros/sis,

 

Wanna ask what IT certifications or courses are good to take and where to take it for someone looking for a career path as a software engineer or system analyst. Hope any experienced IT people here can assist a noob like me. Thanks.

[rammsky]

Anybody? Please help? I really wanna equip myself properly before entering the IT workforce. BTW, I've already got degree from a local uni right now.

[wait4me]

throw in a couple of CCNA MCSE MCSA will do

[rammsky]

throw in a couple of CCNA MCSE MCSA will do

 

Hi bro, which place is good to get those type of certs? MDIS got or not?

[wait4me]

Hi bro, which place is good to get those type of certs? MDIS got or not?

 

mdis i think have

 

but u can self study yrself.

 

 

as carry on to masters lor ?

sure managment level ...

dunno how to do nvm , as long as u know who to askto do the work

[quickshift]

IT certification in itself is a pretty meaningless (if not stupid) undertaking, designed by the manufacturers (Cisco Systems, Microsoft, Sun/Oracle, etc.) to merely prop up own image and add some extra value to their products..

What CCNA/MCSE has got to do with the system analysis?

 

Certification will not make you what you want to be, I am afraid. There are no shortcuts here.

You should have in-depth programming (low/high-level languages) knowledge and skills. This also directly translates into a good university degree in computer science or similar, excellent mathematical and logical ability, ability to understand how business works, excellent communication skills and a few years of a relevant frontline experience.

 

My $0.02

 

Or, you can become an 'Ethical Hacker'..

 

Whichever way you decide to choose in the end - good luck to you, anyway.

Ride safe!

[redbeacon]

Or, you can become an 'Ethical Hacker'..

 

Whichever way you decide to choose in the end - good luck to you, anyway.

Ride safe!

 

Good stuff there...bet one has to know how to use _nix systems and know lots of networking and cryptography stuff too!

[kmax]

mdis i think have

 

but u can self study yrself.

 

 

as carry on to masters lor ?

sure managment level ...

dunno how to do nvm , as long as u know who to askto do the work

 

masters and management level ? not very true, except u wanna join government agency...

[Demon]

Anybody? Please help? I really wanna equip myself properly before entering the IT workforce. BTW, I've already got degree from a local uni right now.

 

If your degree has no relevance to IT such as in Arts, then your degree does not add career mileage and possibly a burden. Having said that if you are a maverick in programming then all your academic qualifications become irrelevant.

 

What CCNA/MCSE has got to do with the system analysis? :!

 

CCNA has already lost it's shine since it's hay days in the late 90's. Are they still people taking up this certification now ?

[quickshift]

CCNA has already lost it's shine since it's hay days in the late 90's. Are they still people taking up this certification now ?

 

Exactly my sentiment.

As someone noted, MCSE==Minesweeper Consultant and Solitaire Expert...

[wait4me]

nice info guys ..

i learn new things too ...

 

i think if u have very good skills like sql , oracle , programming , unix .

 

should be safe right ? plus TS got local degree ?

[Demon]

should be safe right ? plus TS got local degree ?

 

a recognised university degree is usually a safe bet especially if one is contended being an employee. The tendency is that balls shrinkage rate is disproportionate to academic achievements .

 

Just yesterday in ST, the son of a butcher with education advancement after his poor "O" levels result, now runs a $60m a year meat packing business.

 

[rammsky]

Thanks for all your input guys! Really appreciate it.

[wait4me]

a recognised university degree is usually a safe bet especially if one is contended being an employee. The tendency is that balls shrinkage rate is disproportionate to academic achievements .

 

Just yesterday in ST, the son of a butcher with education advancement after his poor "O" levels result, now runs a $60m a year meat packing business.

 

 

but .. how many butcher can be succesful like him lol

[Demon]

but .. how many butcher can be succesful like him lol

 

that begs the question, is there any university graduate like him ?

 

[tyltyltyl]

obviously there are so many pretty dumb inputs.

don't mind me. a simple CCNA will pull up your self worth by $200~$500.

I've been working in the IT industry supporting corporate end customers.

(not the IT shows mind you) ever since 16, I'm 20 now.

It's really what kind of systems you really want to get involved in.

Programming? networking? Physical security? End User support?

There are so many courses you can take.

for me, I'll be going on from CCNA TO CCIE ftw.

then maybe RHCE (redhat) and maybe MSCE.

just do a quick search up on google and you'll find what you need.

[quickshift]

obviously there are so many pretty dumb inputs.

don't mind me. a simple CCNA will pull up your self worth by $200~$500.

I've been working in the IT industry supporting corporate end customers.

(not the IT shows mind you) ever since 16, I'm 20 now.

It's really what kind of systems you really want to get involved in.

Programming? networking? Physical security? End User support?

There are so many courses you can take.

for me, I'll be going on from CCNA TO CCIE ftw.

then maybe RHCE (redhat) and maybe MSCE.

just do a quick search up on google and you'll find what you need.

 

 

wooohooo! we have a master here.. Respect your elders, young man..

[tyltyltyl]

HAHAA. it just seems no one really answered his question! HAHA.

[quickshift]

The collective opinion in this particular case is based on many years of hands-on experience, not on ambitions or aspirations.

[tanchunxun]

which learning center is good? i am planning to take up CCNA.

[redbeacon]

The collective opinion in this particular case is based on many years of hands-on experience, not on ambitions or aspirations.

And might I add on, in Singapore it's either whether one would like to lead a team (i.e. Project Management, Manager, Team Leader, Upper-level posts),

or be a professional engineer (network engineer, system administrator/engineer)

 

The former is usually one with University degree or equivalent experience.

For the latter: nowadays, not all companies have hard and fast rules as to whether professional engineers need a degree...they prefer to see certs so that they know you can practice what you've earned once you're in the job.

 

which learning center is good? i am planning to take up CCNA.

 

iEnabler - Cheapest in town, instructor CCNA and Microsoft certified, but exam certification fees separate.

 

New Horizons - They say it's instructor led, comprehensive and with and have bundled course + exam fees, therefore expensive.

 

Then again, it's up to you to make an informed decision. Gd luck bro.

[quickshift]

And might I add on, in Singapore it's either whether one would like to lead a team (i.e. Project Management, Manager, Team Leader, Upper-level posts),

or be a professional engineer (network engineer, system administrator/engineer)

 

The former is usually one with University degree or equivalent experience.

For the latter: nowadays, not all companies have hard and fast rules as to whether professional engineers need a degree...they prefer to see certs so that they know you can practice what you've earned once you're in the job.

 

 

 

Just to clarify matters slightly.

From what I can tell, upper level posts do not really require sound technical expertise or even background. Business admin/management degrees, skills and ability to handle the techies - which can be challenging at times.. It certainly helps A LOT if one at that level has at least some basic understanding of how things work.

 

Certificates are for the frontline guys - engineers. But then it is chicken or egg scenario here. A bunch of certs does not warrant a job offer, and no formal proof of qualifications (i.e. no certs) does not mean no offer either.

It depends, really...

 

So the most common path would be to start at the bottom and work your way up. And this is where you might want to get those certs. Try to get your employer to sponsor you, that would be a positive step up the career ladder. Your mileage may vary though.

 

Oh, I think Ingram-Micro run some courses too, although cannot be 100% certain.

 

Good luck.

[redbeacon]

Just to clarify matters slightly.

From what I can tell, upper level posts do not really require sound technical expertise or even background. Business admin/management degrees, skills and ability to handle the techies - which can be challenging at times.. It certainly helps A LOT if one at that level has at least some basic understanding of how things work.

 

Yupz. That was what I was trying to bring across, and I felt this was something that is not just "Got Degree?" rhetoric talk.

 

P.S.: I was suffering a bout of writer's fatigue there so I think I kinda overemphasized on stuff there too, heh

 

Certificates are for the frontline guys - engineers. But then it is chicken or egg scenario here. A bunch of certs does not warrant a job offer, and no formal proof of qualifications (i.e. no certs) does not mean no offer either.

It depends, really...

 

Yup. I've experienced companies that simply want to hire due to demand. It really depends on what the companies need and whether they can slightly lower their hiring expectations.

 

I have to tell you however, over here it's based on luck that you'd stumble on these kinds of companies. Almost everybody here wants to hire based on merit and experience; companies want to cook instant noodles to feed themselves, instead of wait to cook noodles from scratch - analogy.

 

On a lighter note, anyone come across JDs from recruitment firms that list "knowledge of Remedy Ticketing/Helpdesk system" as a requirement? Last time I swore it was like 8 out of 10 jobs asking for this so damn easy to learn thing that surprisingly companies aren't willing to teach.

 

So the most common path would be to start at the bottom and work your way up. And this is where you might want to get those certs. Try to get your employer to sponsor you, that would be a positive step up the career ladder. Your mileage may vary though.

 

Oh, I think Ingram-Micro run some courses too, although cannot be 100% certain.

 

Good luck.

 

Try to get your employer to sponsor you

 

Reading this phrase made me wanna shed a tear.

 

I remembered a contract job in the past where I had an inspirational privilege (when I was being hired in) to help an caucasian administrator take some of his day-to-day tasks. He was flown in by his boss to oversee the opening of the Singaporean branch of one of Europe's most renowned companies.

 

Apart from of meeting and interacting with many people from walks of life, and even embarking on my first business trip abroad, I learnt the ropes and even how people manage the IT infrastructure.

 

It was then I also learnt my Administrator started out as a Helpdesk agent. He became a systems analyst by virtue of his manager simply calling him to a short meeting and agreeing to put him under mentorship with one of the older System Engineers. That seen him flying back and forth across the US and Canada to offices to sort out their networks and IT infrastructures there, and finally now, Singapore.

 

His colleague, which was from the US, also went that route. Except that she started out as a mailroom lady sorting out...you guessed it, inter-company paper mail. She's now an Exchange Administrator.

 

Tell me, where can you find such companies in Singapore that can offer you mentorship and sponsorship? All companies and agencies ever post in their JD is "at least 2 year experience in this-and-that". It's very flawed (read: utter crap) to have this statement because everybody starts out with 0 years of experience and work their way up from there.

Edited August 17, 2010 by redbeacon

[quickshift]

 

His colleague, which was from the US, also went that route. Except that she started out as a mailroom lady sorting out...you guessed it, inter-company paper mail. She's now an Exchange Administrator.

 

 

She's now an Exchange Administrator...

Oh dear, oh dear... Now this is worrying!

 

Thanks for the input, redbeacon. You said it all, very nicely..

Let's now hope the aspiring forum members would use this wealth of information and experiences to their advantage..

 

Ride Safe!

[apeesc]

Hi bros/sis,

 

Wanna ask what IT certifications or courses are good to take and where to take it for someone looking for a career path as a software engineer or system analyst. Hope any experienced IT people here can assist a noob like me. Thanks.

 

whoa you guys are good ... just like the IT industry =P

rammsky was asking for software engineer or system analyst courses, not networking, infrastructure .. etc

 

vendor certifications are good to get you the basic but need to stress that handwork and experience will bring you to the next level

higher than that .. is more project and ppl mgmt

 

rammsky, since is quite a while back have you found any lead, or any system or platform you wish to start from?