I’m going to get up on the soapbox and rant for a few on this topic ;-)
MCSA - Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator
It’s the cert just below MCSE. Neither of which carry much weight anymore.
There was a time that MCSEs were in high demand (back when I got mine when NT4
was still a new thing). Problem is, too many tech training schools started
pumped out paper MCSEs by the boatload. I still hear the adds on the radio.
“You too can become a Microsoft certified systems engineer earning $60,000+ a
year” just come give us $10,000 and in 9 weeks we’ll teach you how to take the
test. We won’t teach you dick about the material, just how to pass the test.
Most of the NUBs (Non Useful Bodies) they pump out don’t know the basics. And
it’s all because Microsoft’s infamous greed completely diminished the value of
the certification. Now the rest of us get job offers for $36k yr. for
positions that we previously wouldn’t touch for under $65k. There are so many
MCSEs out of work these days, someone out there is desperate enough to take it
to feed the kids or make their mortgage, etc…
Gary, sorry to say A+ and Network+ are just novelty certs these days. But they
at least give you one up on the NUBs that don’t have them. I’ve always felt
Microsoft should have made A+ a prerequisite for any of their certifications in
the first place. You would be surprised at how many Admins I’ve met who didn’t
know how to resolve simple hardware issues.
A couple of other things that needs to change in this industry:
The Government needs to start buckling down on these H1B’s. Far to many jobs
being given to foreign nationals here on visas. Not that I would blame most of
the companies who are hiring them, they’re willing to work for less. It
requires us as US citizens to rethink our values. Do we want low prices or do
we want job security. Obviously we can’t have both.
The excessive overuse of contractors need to be curtailed. The IT industry as
a whole just has far too much outsourcing. Hardly anyone hires their own
employees anymore when they can sub it out and have no responsibility to the
employee. Again, it’s cheaper for the company because they don’t have to pay
for any benefits, un-employment insurance, etc… They can get rid of people at a
moments notice for no reason other than “We don’t need them anymore”. It
allowing a lot of companies to almost completely circumvent labor laws and
created an entire workforce of disposable employees. Worse yet, if any
company ever offers you a position on a 10-99, run like hell. If you take it,
plan on taking whatever dollar amount your willing to do the job for a double
it. Then each week take half your salary and put it in the bank. Because
besides paying your typical 27%-30% Federal income tax, you also have to make
up the 15% difference in FICA that the employer usually kicks in and additional
taxes for being self employed. By the time you’re done, you’re in a 50% tax
bracket. And make sure you do your quarterly estimated taxes because that will
seriously bite you in the ass if you don’t. If you’re making $60k, you better
be mailing the IRS $4000 every 3 months or you’ll be hating yourself come April
15th. I’m suffering from that mistake myself. I took a short-term position
last year on a 10-99 that ended up lasting a year and I got behind on the
estimated taxes. Then I got the “Oh, we don’t have the budget to keep you on
any longer, here, let me help you with that box”. Followed by the “Sorry, you
don’t qualify for un-employment because as a 10-99 contractor, you didn’t pay
into the unemployment compensation fund”. Not that you could because as a
1-person company, you can’t get unemployment or workman’s compensation
insurance. So it’s a catch 22.
OK, I’m done venting for the moment…..
Walt
In article <cp536c$dir$1@bent.twistedbits.net>, josh@omg-stfu.com ("Josh
Battles") writes:
>
>
> "Gary Hedlin" <garyhedlin@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
> > Hey Walt & Mike (or anyone in IT)
> >
> > What do you think the job prospects are for someone with A+, Network+, and
> > MCSA certs with experience as a Technology advisor for Special Education
> > depts helping disabled students find & use different adaptive products??
> >
> > I have the certs, but my experience might not apply when I go for a
> typical
> > IT job.... That's the proverbial brick wall I gotta scale to get a job! :)
>
> I can't speak for others, but my CompTIA certs didn't get me anything when I
> was job searching. I've not heard of the MCSA, but if that's a typo and you
> mean MCSE, that'll help your prospects. I know it helped mine. Cisco certs
> are good to have as well.
>
> --
> - Josh
> Lowered 2000 Dakota CC 3.9L
> Above Statement Not True ^^^^^
> www.omg-stfu.com
>
>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Sat Jan 01 2005 - 11:48:08 EST