A+ Certs

[sheerdark]

Hey once again all,

I have been considering getting my A+ certification, since I have heard you can't get many jobs at any of the computer places in the repair departments without one. I am currently in Macon, GA and I am having trouble finding a good college job that is not either in the mall or somewhere else I really don't want to work. So, I was considering getting my A+ cerfiticaion so that I could apply to either the Gateway Store or Best Buy here in town. I can always find a much better job in my hometown, but this place has NOTHING. So, my question is....those of you on here who are A+ certified, where did you get your certs, how much did they cost (if you don't mind me asking), and how long did it take? I have searached the web, and well...most of the programs just seem like an overkill. Can anyone help me with thier own personal experience? Also, do you think it will even be worth my time/money to do so?

Thanks as always,

Matt

[chottoED]

even with A+ it'd be hard to find jobs atm.
but if you want to go for it, don't bother with classes, a simple book will do nicely if you've any familiarity with PC's and OS's.

i forgot the price for the test.. i think it was $115 a piece (one h/w one s/w)

[CaterpillarAssassin]

yeah its around 115-130 each. I took a big long class for it. Was way overkill. Buy a book, take the tests. There not bad as long as your prepared for them. If you want a good practice exam, download "Exam Essentials". It is really a great thing. VERY accurate. I'd say at least half of the question bank are rite off the tests.

[ShibasScotch]

up here in PA, the test is 250 for the lot, never took it yet, i am wondering exactly how hard it is? one teacher that i had told me that if you can install a hd then you can pass... ???

[eGoCeNTRoNiX]

Is it true? Because I can build, troubleshoot, install from the ground up.. But, I'm sure there is other stuff you have to know in order to pass that's not learned from getting hands on.. Ya know?

[Judg3]

It's been years, but the test contained A LOT of legacy stuff no one even uses anymore. Care to know the pinout of an MCA connector? Then it's a good test hehe

Alternatively, I'd go and study one of the Windows 2000/XP MCSE books and take the test for whatever you read. It's only 110$ or so, and then your an MCP, which I think looks better on a resume.

As for me, I like management, so I'm looking into my PMP and ITIL certifications (Project Management Professional).

ITIL has gotten big recently too and opened up a lot of doors for me since I have ITIL knowledge, thats a good thing to look into as well (More along a management/design career track though)

[marscheese]

If you cram w/ one of those books, I don't think you'd have a problem. I'm currently in an A+ class, and theres a lot of stuff that I learn (nothing really that I couldn't out of a book). The most taking a class will do for you, is you actually get to see what the book is saying. Christ, if you can't visualize it, just go one your comp and f*ck around for a while.

As far as the test, like I said, if you know what the book, or class tells you, you'll be fine. But there does seem to be a LOT of BS questions that you need to know. Everything from what's the process that a laser printer goes through, to "if someone's printout on a matrix printer is fading from right to left, what's the problem?", and real stupid stuff like "what service pack does a comp running WIN NT 4.0 need to see NTFS 5 partitions on a windows 2000 machine?"

Basically, there's a lot of really stupid easy stuff (key combinations, native resolutions, what does a hdd look like, etc), there's your completely too techinical questions that you'll probably never need to really know, or memorize anyway (memory address of Com1, Com4, etc, >Computer Administrator in WINNT is called Computer Manager in 2000), then there's the stuff that seems half legit, but still, something you probably wouldn't know unless you've worked with comps A LOT.

I would be prepared for the test, and that's not going to be easy. A lot of what the test will ask (I assume, and what i've heard, given that I've never taken the test), will be complete BS that will probably be about 80% of what your studying will be.

Anyway, I think I'm kind of going off here, so...hope that helps.

[sheerdark]

Thanks everyone for the help and suggestions...I apprecieate it.
I am still looking into other options...it seems a little silly to get certs, because I am in college studying psychology, but I am planning on going to Graduate School after I graduate here....and I need something to do in the meantime. I would love to get a job repairing/building computers, but have no clue of any places that do that in my area other than Best Buy and Gateway. I hear that they only allow A+ certified people to work in the repair dept's...but I may be wrong. Anyone know for sure? I just really want a job that pays more than $7 an hour...and Macon really stinks in terms of the job market. Back home, I haven't worked for under $10 an hour since I turned 18...and the two jobs I have held while in college...the first, with the University, I was paid minimum wage. The second, I earned a whopping $7 an hour working at the mall at a picture taking place. I cannot stand to work so hard for so little money, and would really love to do something with computers. Anyone have any ideas for me? I have a lot of in-home experience with building/repairing and networking, but very little experience in a work setting. I have built and repaired computers for people at work, myself, friends, friends of friends, and friends of friends of friends, etc, heck sometimes even people I don't know. Some of my past employers hired me to do something else and then moved me over to their IT departments when they figured out I knew a lil somethin about computers. Anyways, just let me know if you guys have any other ideas for places I could work and get paid to do something that I love.

Thanks for reading that long post,

Matt