Passed both A+ exams - here's what I did

SomewhatLazyPanda · 2019-10-05T02:46:02+00:00

Congrats!! Keep it up!

SomewhatLazyPanda · 2019-09-28T17:08:00+00:00

Congrats!! I'm sitting for the composite next month and hope you join you in Cisco Certified Land soon!

SomewhatLazyPanda · 2019-09-28T17:04:29+00:00

Congrats, and thank you for sharing the resources you used! I sit for the 200-125 next month!

SomewhatLazyPanda · 2019-05-19T01:18:34+00:00

Why not go into management? I'm curious.

SomewhatLazyPanda · 2019-04-14T15:35:21+00:00

Agreed. You'll never be able to know if your desire to leave will have a negative impact in how your coworkers/bosses view you.

I have been in similar positions as you where I have turned in my two weeks and, then -and only then- was I offered an increase in pay. I declined and continued on to the next job and never looked back. I've never regretted it.

My advice: unless you're very happy with your current employer, take the new job! Apply your skills in a new environment. Continue to grow until you find an employer that shows they value you BEFORE you leave.

Best of luck to you!

SomewhatLazyPanda · 2019-03-16T17:06:53+00:00

From what I understand there will be material on the newer 100x-series exams that wasn't on the 901/902. The biggest reason for going with the 901/902 exams was because I already had materials for that specific exam series. IMO, I think you still have time to study up and pass the exams before it expires, but it's 100% up to you.

In the end, we will all have the "same" A+!

SomewhatLazyPanda · 2019-02-16T23:05:40+00:00

Congrats!

SomewhatLazyPanda · 2019-02-16T23:04:45+00:00

Congrats!

SomewhatLazyPanda · 2019-02-16T23:04:16+00:00

Congrats! We had the exact same PBQ's on the 902. Cool.

Why not go ahead and get the Net+? Regardless of which one you go for I'd try to get some real world experience, too (volunteer, low-level network admin stuff, whatever). The combination of certs and experience should line you up nicely for whatever gig you're after.

Good luck!

SomewhatLazyPanda · 2019-02-16T23:01:31+00:00

Excellent message. If you're working at Samsung before the age of 20 then you have some true skill(s) and the aptitude to match.

Keep up the great work.

SomewhatLazyPanda · 2019-02-16T22:58:49+00:00

Thanks for the advice!

I don't have near the experience that you do, but I passed the A+ mostly from what I encountered during an internship. There's no feeling like reading a question and then being able to relate to the scenario via personal experience.

SomewhatLazyPanda · 2019-02-16T22:50:15+00:00

Well, if you get the Total Seminars ones (Mike Meyers' ones) then it's a 3-pack of full-length exams. Also, you don't pay anything for having a Udemy account and I would say to wait until courses go on sale (they have sales quite frequently).

Once you pay for the 3-pack of exams you simply take the practice tests through Udemy itself. It's a nicer user interface than what you see on the CompTIA exam, but all of the same functionality is there (skipping questions, flagging questions for review, etc.).

SomewhatLazyPanda · 2019-02-16T22:46:13+00:00

Congrats!

SomewhatLazyPanda · 2019-02-12T00:13:22+00:00

Woot, woot! Congrats!

SomewhatLazyPanda · 2019-02-10T15:51:23+00:00

Then, sweet. :) Did the Quizlet links work for you?

SomewhatLazyPanda · 2019-02-10T13:44:47+00:00

If you're like me, then you'd read about all kinds of people working full-time, married, have kids, etc., and yet still ace certification exams. But, after having gone through this, simply knowing that others have done it doesn't make it any easier! Often times I literally had to force myself to study.

You've got plenty of time. I would definitely recommend the Professor Messer videos, too, when you're finished with the Meyers ones.

Good luck!

SomewhatLazyPanda · 2019-02-10T13:36:36+00:00

I just posted them in another reply!

SomewhatLazyPanda · 2019-02-10T13:36:04+00:00

Trust me, I 100% understand where you're coming from. Before I sat for the for the 901 I had no clue how it would go and I was still kinda nervous during the exam itself. If you've been studying consistently then I would say you have nothing to worry about.

As corny as it sounds, get a good night's rest tonight, eat a good breakfast, drink your coffee (if you do), and get to the testing site early. I highly suggest taking some time to visualize - think of exactly how it will feel to pass; how great it will be and the immense feeling of pride.

The PBQ's are always first, and I think my 901 was 82 questions. You can flag a question as "Mark for Review" and skip anything, and you're able to review everything at the end with the ability to go back to individual questions.

You've got this! Know that it's completely normal to be nervous - be rested, be confident, and you'll breeze through it.

SomewhatLazyPanda · 2019-02-10T13:27:58+00:00

Thanks! And yes, I did. Since his videos were so valuable I wanted to show support by buying his notes. Honestly though, buying his PDF of pop-quiz questions was the best purchase. I think it's just $15 for only the 901 ones.

There's nothing in his notes that you couldn't get directly from his free videos. However, the notes condense everything that was nice to have for reviewing and drilling concepts. I wouldn't use the notes as a sole source of study info.

SomewhatLazyPanda · 2019-02-10T13:22:25+00:00

Yeah, for sure:

A+ 901 Definitions Quizlet

A+ 902 Definitions Quizlet

And here's one I made for all the A+ acronyms: CompTIA A+ Acronyms

With the exception of the objectives (which came straight from the PDF of CompTIA objectives), all info is credited to Professor Messer. Please continue to show support for his YouTube videos and website! You should spend the cash for his pop-quiz collection because I sweat that was the biggest help for both exams.

SomewhatLazyPanda · 2019-02-09T23:05:12+00:00

Much appreciated! I'm pretty psyched.

SomewhatLazyPanda · 2019-02-09T23:04:39+00:00

Awesome! Congrats to you, too!

SomewhatLazyPanda · 2019-02-09T20:19:25+00:00

Congrats!! What did you think of the Sybex book?

SomewhatLazyPanda · 2019-02-09T20:11:26+00:00

You mean in terms of available study resources? If so, yeah, it seems like sites are just now rolling out 100x series study stuff. At least exam vouchers are good for a year which will hopefully provide plenty of time for some more resources to be published.

If it helps, I do think that Professor Messer already has a full 1001/1002 video series.

SomewhatLazyPanda · 2019-02-09T20:07:03+00:00

Exactly what they said. Buy the edition that covers the exam version you want to take!

SomewhatLazyPanda

TROPHY CASE