[Misc] CompTIA A+

[zames77]

Hi Guys

Sorry if this is posted in the wrong section but I wanted to appeal to Ricoh techs directly.

I work for Ricoh NZ, and recently I was asked/told to study for and take the A+ exam. It was put to me that this would be beneficial to me but not explained why. I then found I had to study for it in my own time, and that there was no pay increase with obtaining accreditation.
I passed both exams yesterday, I figure I'll take the exams N+ S+ (what ever) and go and get a better job. But while perusing the CompTIA site I found this:-

Other technology companies, including Dell, Intel, Lenovo and Ricoh, have made CompTIA A+ certification mandatory for their service technicians.

Have any of you received the same request/demand, was you given study time or receive an incentive, monetary or otherwise?

Would be interesting to see whats going on out there?

Cheers.

[Polarbear]

Re: CompTIA A+

Zames77

We in South Africa have walked this path in 2003 already, or, we were told Ricoh would not let us work on their machines.

Subsequently, this has changed to PDI+ and we had to, last year, do this course as well.

So its seems that you are not alone - I hope that they don't force PDI+ on you as soon as the A+ is done.....

[zames77]

Re: CompTIA A+

Hi Polarbear

Thanks for your answer.

No mention of PDI+ yet, though they want us to have Network+ pretty quickly. Fingers crossed PDI+ doesn't enter the equation.

My guess is that someone high up the ladder doesn't get their bonus if we don't have the right accreditations.

[Polarbear]

Re: CompTIA A+

PDI+ is actually not so bad, but is is compiled more from an HP point of view. This is a bit confusing because they have a slightly different print process and other terms for things, like they talk of "preparation" which is what happens before laser exposure (basically quenching), but ja I see a bit more value in that than in A+ right now. N+ will also be a bit more involved because it focusses on networking.

But the more you can put behind your name the better!

[Hemlock]

Re: CompTIA A+

Ultimately, it makes you more appealing to your next employer.

[rthonpm]

Re: CompTIA A+

The main reason for the A+ and N+ certs for Ricoh is that the industry is moving more in a connectivity direction than a straight forward printing direction. Having a basic grounding in computer repair (A+) gives you a better idea not just of the basics of operating systems and component construction, but also a good grounding in the basics of the copier's method of operation too. You can really think of a copier as a browserless Net BSD computer for the most part.

Network + is also very handy as it gives you a wide range of experience for the connectivity side of the house. You may not use everything that you learn from both, but there is the added advantage of being able to look an obnoxious IT guy in the face and at least have as much grounding as he does in the basics. It also gives Ricoh a leg up in being able to keep a better trained tech fleet. Actually, when I worked for Ricoh five years ago for every certification you earned you were given an automatic promotion to the next level up. I have no idea if this is still the rule, but it was a nice little incentive. When I moved to a dealer, I was actually surprised that they didn't mandate the same thing. As it stood, close to half the techs had no grounding at all in computers at all so those of us who did ended up doing twice as much work as we'd get asked to help on things as basic as showing another tech how to configure an IP address!

Before long, document management will be as much a part of a tech's job as it is a sales pitch to the customer. The more grounding you can have in the tech side the better you position yourself both for your current post and for future growth down the line whether there or somewhere else.

[copiman]

Re: CompTIA A+

If you plan to grow in this industry, you will need to cross over to the computer/network/connectivity side. Kind of like the TV repairman back in the day. They worked on tubes. When they converted to semiconductors, the ones that did not make the change went away. I know, I'm old. When I was at Ricoh, you would not be considered for hire unless you had A+ or Net+. Get as much as you can. As rthopm said in an earlier post, the more you get the more it will benefit you. I am presently working on an associate degree in networking, as well as certifications. It can only help you regaurdless if you stay where your at or go somewhere else.

[zames77]

Re: CompTIA A+

Great answers guys, thanks.

We here in New Zealand are so far behind, that this is only now becoming important, and there's a mad rush to get everyone up to scratch.

I've configured and trouble shot network issues and have worked with scan to email and folder since the functionality was introduced, but we still have guys thats that run a mile at the mere mention and leave those jobs to the likes of me. I guess their days are numbered unless they get with the program.

Its was a relief to pass, I'm just kind of annoyed that I was given no study time, and no support (and I hadn't studied for some 20 years!), and trying to fit that in to an all ready busy life was tricky (my wife was not best pleased) and the study material was lacking in my opinion (30 hours of video), I realised after sitting a practice exam, I was going to need more and different study, so I had to buy myself an Exam Cram book (very good actually).

Is this normal practice, no support and no study time offered, or am I just being a big baby about this?

[copiman]

Re: CompTIA A+

I guess I was lucky where I was with Ricoh. My boss allowed us time to do things that were needed to be done. But don't sweat it. The more you learn as well as certifications, the better off you are. The certifications will get you in the door. Ability will keep you there. Go for the gold.

[Saviour]

Re: CompTIA A+

Hi Zames, like all before me I would give you the advise to keep up with your studies and get as many certifications as possible plus you have to keep yourself up to date on a regular bases. Technology is advancing much too fast for us to have a rest. I am also old infect now retired, but I remember the TV analogy as that came during my 2nd/3rd year at school and then the training that I received was paid for only if & when I went to Ricoh. It was always my idea that whatever I learned was first of all for my own good & always thought that one never knows what the future needs will be. No I was never given time to study or paid extra when I passed the exams but I managed to retain my position of Service Manager for 15 years. I guess it is the i looked at it that never made me ask for any remuneration as I felt that what I had learned was and is mine to keep. Employers are most of the time greedy and stupid at the same time. they want the best out of you and then are not able to realise that they can then channel that information down the line if they'ed paid for it. look at me I was asked to retire rather then stay on and pass my experience to a novice. So now when ever I find the chance to help someone on line I get the same satisfaction. keep it up and the family will reap its benefits in the near future.
Regards form Malta.

[zames77]

Re: CompTIA A+

Ok, so my recent pass has sunk in (and I'm feeling quite pleased with myself) and I've just started on the N+ study. I'm already thinking what should be my next move, Security+ or CCNA?

Gents, your opinions if you please?

[Saviour]

Re: CompTIA A+

Well I would ask your wife for more patience and understanding and go for both, giving priority to the one that you are bound to need first.

[rthonpm]

Re: CompTIA A+

Unless you're looking to make a career path into the Cisco arena, I'd go Security+. CompTIA has its advantages and disadvantages, but they do give you the basic knowledge to walk into most environments and get a good grounding of where to look when issues arise. This is the standard path with the firm I'm with now (not copier related, but my skills in that arena got me hired on since so many issues arise with them):

A+
Network+
Security+
Mac Integration Basics (Easy 65 USD test)
MCTS (Microsoft)

From there it's pretty much an open book.

CCNA and other vendor specific certs are very intensive and can make you very lucrative, but they're also a little limiting as you start getting into more proprietary technology and terminology.

[Masterchief]

Re: CompTIA A+

when i first started working in the job, My Company sold Ricoh products machines/spare/toners and I learned to Service, Prepare and PCU models etc.In the Company every so often some of the lads would have to travel to the UK to do courses, i was scheduled for 2 couses over the Summer, but we were no longer a dealer for Ricoh and i never got the tests. I never found out why the Company stop being a Ricoh Dealer, but we moved on to dealing with Utax/Kyocera

I just wanted to know if the courses where hard, I have done lots of UTAX courses that were long and pretty much Straight forward with everything put on a usb to recap later on.

[JR2ALTA]

I wouldn't tackle CCNA without an instructor lead course.