My current job allows me a lot of free time it's not IT but that is what I've done for over 20 years.

Got two IT certs I. 2002 2003. Have worked roles from everything like help desk/desktop support, Network administration, to just basic tech support and PC repairs to a management role in relations with Hewlet Packard.

Anyways to cut to the chase when I acquired an addiction at 33 it trainwrecked not just my career path but life in general. Addiction. Is no longer an issue for me. This been conquered and beaten . I need to start taking advantage of the free time I have on this job to Invest In my resume and build on the skill set I already have. I don't want to say I'm starting over fresh but when you have abused your brain for so long and you are out of the loop you do forget more than you remember.

SO FOR THOSE of you in the industry what are your thoughts on these certs

AWS
AZURE

right before I had my fall exchange server was one of the ones to go for. How is that one looking in today's market?

Also while looking these up last night I noticed they cost like $400 to test now. Has it turned into a money racket or what?

Certs never meant that much to me cause I seen too many paper techs but if you have the work experience and background they can open many doors for you.

Thanks in advance for information

Get your SEC+ and A+. That's all you need to land an entry level IT job. Anything else doesn't matter unless you also have experience.

I already jabe the experience.

I already have Network + and A+ bro.

I'm inquiring about what is hot in the market today to match my experience in the field.

And A+ is a pretty much worthless cert.. it only looms good on a resume to people who don't know anything.

If you have been out of the field for more than 3 years you do not have the experience. A 3 year+ gap is a huge red flag.

Yep, no chit my friend.

That's the hole I've dug for.my self. But I don't have a choice. I got to climb out of it.

The large gap in my resume is my biggest hurdle..

My background is pretty much clean and what is on there I can get expunged . So it's a question. Of just forging forward till I get past the walls that's been put up.

Well you can try for level 2 or even 3 tech jobs, you may get them. But maybe you won't and you will have to start from help desk level 1 again.

Regarding your first question, it really doesn't matter, but I guess AWS is more prolific, so it makes more sense there. Though Microsoft is pushing Azure hard.

In my belief, you should worry about getting back in the field first and foremost. I say this as someone who got one of my brothers from zero IT experience and no IT job, to six figures in IT in 18 months.

AWS is going to be in more demand. This guys courses are pretty good, focuses more on hands on then just memorizing things to pass the cert.https://learn.cantrill.io/