Certifications : Yes / no / how / where?
It's my understanding that a job above help-desk pretty much requires certifications.
I'm holed up in a great entry-level job where my title is Systems Administrator, though I'm better off calling myself the IT bitch (not on the resume though). It's got a decent/good salary for my age but there's no chance of advancement and I'm getting tired of the place.
I've been approached by New Horizons; they want to make me pay some high four-digit value to train me for certifications, and they don't even offer the price of the test (but books are free, there's web training, and so on).
I can pay a much lesser four-digit value to buy all the best books and training available online, I've been told, and just do it on my own. Here's my question:
Where do I go to get the stuff?
I have the knowledge, I think, for A+ / Net+, though I don't really have all that I need for TCP/IP (easy enough to find that info online though). I'm looking at the MCSE 2000 (maybe /2003) and CCNA certs.
Thanks in advance!
Obtaining the right certifications
Just one note on certifications. Be sure to spend your time on the right certifications. In the security industry, you should stick with the industry vendor independent certifications such as CISSP, its specialty certs, CISA or CISM by ISACA.
Spending time on vendor certifications is not a good use of time or money since it tends to leave the impression of bias when making recommendations. If is important for your company that you have tthose certifications, then they should pay for them since they will be receiving a benefit such as greater discounts from the vendor.
Just my $.02 :)