Which certificate will help me earn a job in IT?

  • Hello

    I am new graduate from university with Business Information System major.

    I am thinking about to study one of the following certificates since I still did not employed. Which one I should choose to study ?

    1 - MCSA

    2 - Oracle PL/ SQL

    3 - CCNP (R&S) Route, Switch & Tshoot V2

    4 - CCNA

    5 - CISSP

    6 - PMP

  • What do you enjoy?

    A certification alone is not going to get you a job, and besides, do you really want a job that you hate?

    1 - MCSA - SQL Server databases

    2 - Oracle PL/ SQL - Oracle databases

    3 - CCNP (R&S) Route, Switch & Tshoot V2 - Advanced networking, requires other certifications

    4 - CCNA - Entry level networking

    5 - CISSP - System security. Advanced certification, requires around 10 years of experience, so I'm not sure why this one is even here.

    6 - PMP - Project Management. Requires at least three years of experience, so I don't know why this is here either.

    So where do your interests lie? With databases, networking, system security or project management?

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • hanialbarni (2/9/2015)


    Hello

    I am new graduate from university with Business Information System major.

    I am thinking about to study one of the following certificates since I still did not employed. Which one I should choose to study ?

    1 - MCSA

    2 - Oracle PL/ SQL

    3 - CCNP (R&S) Route, Switch & Tshoot V2

    4 - CCNA

    5 - CISSP

    6 - PMP

    1. None of them

    2. All of them

    Having certifications, which are good things, will not normally help you get a job.

    Your abilities, regardless of the certs or education you have. WILL get you the job.

    How long have you been interviewing? How many interviews have you been to? What where some of the things that you were asked in the interview? Do you think you did well, or do you think you could have done better? Are you interviewing for positions that you may be under qualified for, or, positions where your education is not the best fit for the position?

    I have been hiring candidates for a variety of positions for 20 years.

    Not to be negative, but if a candidate advertises certifications, the interview is going to be harder. There is an expectation that the candidate has put in the time to learn the subject, and should be able to "pass a harder test" so to speak.

    Also, knowing all the answers is probably a negative when I interview a candidate.

    I want to know what they do and how they respond when they do NOT know the answer.

    Sure, they should know the basics, like how to get the system time, but memorizing the more complicated things is not something that would make or break a candidate.

    Have you tried user groups? Conferences and social gatherings for technical people? You need to network as much as possible. Time spent networking will likely pay off much more than certifications for a new graduate.

    Michael L John
    If you assassinate a DBA, would you pull a trigger?
    To properly post on a forum:
    http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/61537/

  • The thing is am 26 I don't want to make any more mistakes in life such as choosing something wrong to study. I am thinking about been either system administrator ( more easy than DBA) or Database administrator.

    I am currently learning on my own by reading SQL Tutorial in some famous website. I install MySQL WorkBranch to exercise the queries and everything.

    The problem is I don't know from where to start. I apply for several jobs in my country, sales, administration, IT, and other jobs. All required experience and I still could not get an interview call !!.

    What should I do ?

  • hanialbarni (2/9/2015)


    The thing is am 26 I don't want to make any more mistakes in life such as choosing something wrong to study.

    So why are you asking us then? We can't tell you what you'll enjoy, what you'll be good at or what you'll hate.

    A certification alone is not going to get you a job. If I'm interviewing and I see multiple certifications and no experience, I put the CV at the bottom of the pile because I don't want someone who's swotted out of a book (or more likely braindumped) and has no clue. I'd rather take someone with no experience, no certification and good attitude.

    Certifications are something you should consider *after* you have experience in a field.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • I ask because I need expert help !! , Ok if I want to learn Oracle SQL or anything that will help me be DBA what should I do ? What should I install ? Currently I install MySQL WorkBranch only.

    is MySQL Server is only work with Windows Server ?

  • hanialbarni (2/9/2015)


    The thing is am 26 I don't want to make any more mistakes in life such as choosing something wrong to study. I am thinking about been either system administrator ( more easy than DBA) or Database administrator.

    I am currently learning on my own by reading SQL Tutorial in some famous website. I install MySQL WorkBranch to exercise the queries and everything.

    The problem is I don't know from where to start. I apply for several jobs in my country, sales, administration, IT, and other jobs. All required experience and I still could not get an interview call !!.

    What should I do ?

    1. You're 26: EXPECT that you will make a few more mistakes in life. Be prepared to react to what turns out to be a mistake rather than be surprised. Noone's prescient (yet), so don't assume a home run every time.

    2. While the technical knowledge is different, there are lots of core items that will be true in any of those fields. Get in first, then figure out where you fit.

    3. doesn't always work - but you could try finding non-profits, schools or other similar orgs and participate in their IT support as bets you can. the downside is they often cannot afford to pay much, but it would help get some time and experience, but more importantly you can get contacts that way. I helped rewire a volunteer Fire company's network infrastructure many moons ago, which also bought me some time helping to configure the routers with the full-time admin, who was kind enough to extend a reference for me.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Your lack of planning does not constitute an emergency on my part...unless you're my manager...or a director and above...or a really loud-spoken end-user..All right - what was my emergency again?

  • hanialbarni (2/9/2015)


    I ask because I need expert help !! , Ok if I want to learn Oracle SQL or anything that will help me be DBA what should I do ? What should I install ? Currently I install MySQL WorkBranch only.

    is MySQL Server is only work with Windows Server ?

    MySQL is different from Oracle and both of them are different from SQL Server. Define exactly what you want and try to be the best at it. That will help you to get a job.

    If you're starting, ask at your college (or one near you) if they have an employment exchange to help you get a starting job.

    Luis C.
    General Disclaimer:
    Are you seriously taking the advice and code from someone from the internet without testing it? Do you at least understand it? Or can it easily kill your server?

    How to post data/code on a forum to get the best help: Option 1 / Option 2
  • Luis Cazares (2/9/2015)


    hanialbarni (2/9/2015)


    I ask because I need expert help !! , Ok if I want to learn Oracle SQL or anything that will help me be DBA what should I do ? What should I install ? Currently I install MySQL WorkBranch only.

    is MySQL Server is only work with Windows Server ?

    MySQL is different from Oracle and both of them are different from SQL Server. Define exactly what you want and try to be the best at it. That will help you to get a job.

    If you're starting, ask at your college (or one near you) if they have an employment exchange to help you get a starting job.

    Further the point, all three DBMS's are different.

    If you want to work with databases and you enjoy working with databases, which platform do you think you would enjoy more? Many Oracle DBAs do not like working with SQL Server and vise versa. The two are quite a bit different and require a different way of thinking.

    I would add that the SQL community is much better than the Oracle community. Because of that, the potential to learn and excel at SQL could come a lot more easily.

    Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
    _______________________________________________
    I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
    SQL RNNR
    Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
    Learn Extended Events

  • I don't think they can help me in getting a job. all the jobs I apply for they all need at least 1 year experience or more which I don't have.

    MySQL

    Oracle SQL

    SQL Server

    Am currently study from W3SCHOOLS SQL Tutorial and to be honest I don't know if it is MySQL,Oracle SQL,SQL Server.

    I am more interested with databases such as creating tables, relationships, and so on. In the university I had two course about SQL. which first course was about Database management system and the second one was about more advanced SQL.

    if I am interested in Oracle SQL which software I should installed first to play with databases ?

  • I think you may be giving up to easily. Or, are very desperate. Or both.

    Again, how many interviews have you been on? Do you know why you were not selected?

    Have you followed up with the HR department or the interviewers thanking them for interviewing you? Have you been ENTHUSIASTIC in the interviews, or have you acted like your posts sound? Which is not very positive.

    You're 26 and are afraid of making a mistake? You should WELCOME when you make a mistake because you can learn from them. I'm 56 and still make mistakes. You cannot be paralyzed by the fear of failure. Every time you interview, or send a resume, and are turned down, you are one step closer to getting a position. Every NO leads to the eventual YES.

    To relate some history, I was let go as the director of IT. The company was sold and had closed that department.

    I spent 7 months unemployed. Every day, I was online, attending an event, sending resumes, and so forth.

    All that work finally paid off. I took a pay cut, but I was back to doing what I loved.

    Have you also considered taking an unpaid volunteer or intern position? You need to start somewhere. These can be a very good place to make an impression on decision makers that can have an effect on your life.

    Michael L John
    If you assassinate a DBA, would you pull a trigger?
    To properly post on a forum:
    http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/61537/

  • I know, currently i send my resumes everywhere online as well as physically going to some places and give it to them. i take their numbers to keep in touch with them. Some of people i call they say we alreday got someone for that position, and some say we will see if there is a chance.

    Am thinking right now searching for a job without paid off or salary at least i will get experince in something !

  • The only real "mistake" you can make with a career is to give up - and even then don't be too sure.

    I started out in a human services non-profit way back when. Began by building small apps and solutions using MS Access to help manage their records. I wasn't even considered IT then, just some geek who could organize the data and make it useful. Later moved on to help desk, deskside and field support. Now I'm in a position where I manage SQL Server and develop in-hose solutions to collect, manage and leverage data. Didn't have a lick of SQL Server experience when I started here. They hired me to fix things and I started creating stuff the business could use on the side. Eventually my boss turned me loose on our information systems.

    The only certifications I have are A+ and Network+. Those two and a couple dollars will get you coffee at Starbucks.

    I could probably look at the better part of my career as a series of mistakes. But I learned a heck of a lot even from the non-IT positions I've held. There are non-techincal skills I've picked up along the way that serve me well today. As far as age goes, I honestly didn't start on IT full-time until I was at least 30. I was in my forties when I got my current job.

    The IT world as a whole is more interested in what you can do rather than what you know. DBA positions seem to be particularly sensitive in that regard with good reason. Screw up and you could wipe out some of the most valuable assets the company possesses: their data.

    Long story short: Keep plugging away. Also don't be afraid of taking a less direct path to your dream job.

    ____________
    Just my $0.02 from over here in the cheap seats of the peanut gallery - please adjust for inflation and/or your local currency.

  • hanialbarni (2/9/2015)


    I know, currently i send my resumes everywhere online as well as physically going to some places and give it to them. i take their numbers to keep in touch with them. Some of people i call they say we alreday got someone for that position, and some say we will see if there is a chance.

    Am thinking right now searching for a job without paid off or salary at least i will get experince in something !

    The best time to look for a job is when you have a job: this gives you the opportunity to find what it is you want, and take a little more time than you might be willing to spend if you need to pay bills etc... So yes - address your immediate concerns first, then deal with a plan to put yourself where you'd like to be.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Your lack of planning does not constitute an emergency on my part...unless you're my manager...or a director and above...or a really loud-spoken end-user..All right - what was my emergency again?

  • You may need to look at entry level positions like help desk or similar position. Unless you get hired on by a large corporation, you probably aren't going to get a position as a System Admin or DBA without some experience. The people in these positions are in possession of the keys to kingdom, the systems and data that the businesses depend on to survive and flourish.

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