Question of IT profesionals

I want to start a career in computer/networking security. After getting the A+ certification as a starting point, what path/certifications would those who are in the business go for. What are employers looking for in hiring new people?

Any advice/help would be greatly appreciated.

What is your experience?

A degree/diploma is always recommended.  With that, your starting salary may also even be higher (even being entry level)

If you are already fluent with current technology, endure a 2/3/4 year college course.  A lot of it will be a repeat of what you know (good, use that to get scholarships and OmegaWin Grades... which impresses the ladies) and some of it even new stuff that you thought you knew but didn't know enough about.

>>1
Awesome troll? Titles don't matter shit, except for idiotic managers.

>>4
Shut up you stupid newbie, I am a certified Microsoft VIP and you should listen to my words which cut through falsehood like a shining KNIFE!

My experience is the use of computers since I was a wee lad. I have no degrees or certifications or anything, but I can build a computer with my eyes closed and have managed and configured home networks as well as did light tech work for my highschool and theri networks. I am by no means an expert when it comes to networking, but as far as computer hardware is concerned you could at leats say I am proficient.

you shouldnt need a degree per se, the best thing you can do is actively go to tech related businesses and put your penis on their desk and demand a job.

works every time

Don't listen to this man (>>5); this man (>>4) is correct: certs don't mean jack in the real world, except:

That the ONLY certs worth a crap are the Cisco ones.

Everyone in the industry knows that MCSE means Must Consult Someone Experienced.

So if you're saying the the certs don't mean anything, then how can you break into the industry without having to resort to meanial bullshit jobs? I want to bypass that crap, and at least start into something that plays a decent salary.

I.E. I'm not going to work for fucking geek squad for two years or something like that and try go from there. If certs let me do that, then they are not usless.

>>9
Unless you're really rich and/or well connected you have to do the same shit jobs everyone else has to do when they started out too.

In the old days it was called being an apprentice.

Even with a newly minted Cisco cert only fools would let someone inexperienced run their networks.

Yes you will pull graveyard in the datacenter NOC... just like everyone else starting out had to do.

As a gen-u-ine computer perfeshunal, I agree with what >>7, >>8, and >>10 said. Smaller, anal-retentive, shitty companies you don't really want to work for are far more likely to whinge about certifications and degrees and that nonsense. What most "serious" high-tech companies are looking for is Clue, and that's hard to find.

Having a non-insane resume is also greatly helpful for separating the wheat from the chaff. (Pro-tip: most technical managers don't want to have to read twenty pages of fluff.)

>>11
If a manager is not interested on knowing the technologies I've been working with and why he should hire me, I'm not too interested on working for him. I want to be hired for what I can do, not for titles.

Protip: In your resume, add an extra section with stuff like:

- Driving license
- Regular poster at famed Internet software engineering forums
- Basic Japanese (from watching anime)
- Fuck on first date
- Mentally unstable

>>11
whats a Clue? where do i get one?

hahaha you have to "get a clue" xD

>>12
Poaster from >>8 and >>10 here:
Also learn people skills, like tact, diplomacy and teamwork. Lots of folks know computers, but za waurdo is still run by people for people: bosses, colleauges, clients, customers, etc. Learn to write effectively in proper English (or whatever), too, in order to better deal with those same people.

Yeah, managers love to hear "teamwork", so be sure to mention it several times. They experience sexual pleasure every time they hear it, and are more willing to hire.

but za waurdo is still run by people for people: bosses, colleauges, clients, customers
Thanks for reminding me that the world is shit because it's run by morons. Save for "colleauges", those are the idiots.

>>17

Yup, this is the hand we're dealt.
Deal with it.
Use it to your advantage.

It's true that no matter what you do in life you will have to deal wth stupid people. Learn how.

At least as sysadmin I get to play with expensive toys and blinking lights, and once in a rare while solve interesting and challenging problems.