Certifications, Associates, Do They Hold Any Weight In CS/IT?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by HauntedCarnival, Sep 16, 2020.

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  1. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Have you considered an A+ certification? Might be a reasonably inexpensive start. Just get the books, study on your own and all you pay for is the test. Possibly the Linux+ stream might interest you - or something from the Linux Institute itself.
    With your prior knowledge, you could likely achieve either pretty darn handily. If you want to document your web front-end skills, there are certs you could earn very easily - e.g. W3 schools, at little cost. Not saying those would be much of a job-getter in themselves - but with your portfolio - it's documented proof you know something.

    The best computer people I know personally are all self-taught, like you. You either have it or you don't. You'll find your way - I have no doubt. None at all.
     
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2020
  2. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    You might want to check out this thread - a four-page shopping-list of reasonably-priced courses - the bulk of them IT / Computer-related. Watch it when you get to page 4 - one of my faves is Eduonix. You get on their site, you don't want to leave. You could fall in! Honest! :) You can see some of their courses (1-5 hours) on YouTube. They give stuff away - and charge very low prices for the rest. -e.g $40 or so for a nine-course bundle on Linux. Same for an "e-degree" (their own trademark - not a degree as we know it) in JavaScript, consisting of multiple courses - NodeJS, Angular etc. etc.

    Lots of gems in this thread.

    https://www.degreeinfo.com/index.php?threads/section-for-online-certification-exams.57053/page-4
     
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2020
  3. HauntedCarnival

    HauntedCarnival New Member

    Thank you so much for the kind words and uplifting. It honestly made my day. I have considered an A+ but didn't know about the Linux ones. I am definitely looking into it. Thanks for the link to the online certifications thread, lots of good info there!
     
  4. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    There are many skills to acquire.
    Professionals with skills for Cloud Platforms, such as Amazon AWS, or Google Cloud, etc all are in demand.
    There is also demand for Big Data, AI, ML, and many more.
    You can try courses for free, on EDX, or Coursera, and other similar education providers.
    UDAMY.com also has a lot of inexpensive Cert prep classes, some are for 12$ per class.
    There is a beginner level all the way to graduate degrees.
     
  5. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    Corporate, nonprofit, government, and professional services organizations will continue to need high-capability information systems/digital technologies-savvy professionals.
     
  6. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Direct quote from the Ed-x micro-masters program announcement. Good source. :) Also good course - will get you 9 credits toward a complete Master's. Provided, of course, you have a qualifying bachelor's.
     
  7. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    That's true. And when it comes to being a brand new software deve, open source projects are always looking for people willing to help them, and that's a way to gain experience that others will respect.

    The case for generalism is that you don't want to be a dev who doesn't know how the underlying system works, and you don't want to be a sysadmin who can't do programming. But it sounds like you're at a place where building a broad base still makes sense.
     
  8. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    my plan leaving high school was poorly formed because both of my parents were non-traditional students. So, to them, they did it the hard way and for me, I should just "go to college" and get it done. So I didn't really have a plan. It worked out well enough because I learned how to plan out of necessity. I have tried to teach my kids the importance of this sort of thing from a younger age. Of course, they'll make their own mistakes but I hope at least this little nugget of wisdom serves them well.
     
  9. gbrogan

    gbrogan Member

  10. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    I note the Google course also enables you to get a dual credential with A+ - so even Google thinks that's still worth something. And I particularly think the Linux+ one might be of interest to a fair number of the increasing crowd who like Linux (of which I'm one.) Even Microsoft is climbing on the Linux bandwagon - and frantically trying to steer it in their own desired direction, in the hope of owning it.

    Many Services may be offered in the cloud - but computer equipment is right here on earth. Somebody on this terrestrial plane has to R&R it, fix it, test it, resuscitate it. When I want a new SSD installed or my motherboard trouble-shot, no hand magically reaches down from the heavens --- yet. Hardware and services to computer owners are still important. So is maintaining corporate networks and the computers on them.

    Not everyone is a fan of the "don't fix - buy new" corporate con-job that plagues the customers of so many industries - including, at the top of the list - computers.
     
    Last edited: Sep 20, 2020
  11. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    I believe there's still good money and a good career to be had in servicing computers. IF a tech knows what he/she is doing - and doesn't work for a big "Chain of Fools."

    Example: I hated my new Windows 10 laptop SO much, I decided to venture into Linux. I can do that myself - anyone can, really, but a lot of users don't want to be bothered. Out of curiosity, I went into a big-name store and asked a tech what it would cost to obliterate Windows and install Linux. (I'd heard of massive problems caused by updates on Dual-boot Systems. Danger from the Cloud.) The tech's eyes went like saucers. "Oh, that change is RARE," he said. "We've never done that before. We could try, I guess - it would likely cost what we charge for a Windows 10 install - about $200."

    $200 for fifteen minutes? Load the disc, and maybe check a box or two on the screen? No thanks. So I went to a smaller store that had given me good service in the past. Owner said "about $40 - I do it all the time." I ended up doing it myself for nothing - but not everybody wants to. If someone likes being up-to-their elbows in (sometimes recalcitrant) hardware, OR software Or both - there are good careers. The "Chain of Fools guys?" I'd figure they average six months.

    PS - my laptop survived. I'm using it right now. Ubuntu is great.
     
    Last edited: Sep 20, 2020
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  12. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Nice! I got a a MacBook Air a few years ago because I liked the shape, weight, and battery life, but I've just never become a fan of the Mac way of doing things. I've been increasingly tempted to back up my files and install Linux instead. Maybe Ubuntu or maybe Mint, which is what I put on the laptop I used before this one.
     
  13. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Both good choices Steve. As you know, many satisfied users of both systems. I downloaded the ISO and burned a copy of Mint 20 a couple of weeks ago. Haven't had a chance to try it yet.
     
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  14. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    I tried a "live" CD of Mint maybe 3-4 years ago - it was good, but quite slow. Not Mint's fault. It was an old (2004) computer with very little RAM - 256 meg, later upgraded to 512 - all I could find of the old RAM type needed. Those "Live CDs" do and load a lot of stuff in RAM and that was the obvious cause. I'm sure the installed distro on my much newer laptop won't have that problem.
     
    Last edited: Sep 20, 2020
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