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Home > Archive > CCNA > December 2003 > CCNA ?'s
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| JPierson 2003-12-25, 8:33 pm |
| I do tech support for an ISP. What I do is very limited, just basic home network troubleshooting. I'm 24 years old and have been looking into various career paths to find an increase in salary. A CCNA certification seems like it could be just what I'm looking for, but I really dont know what I'd be getting myself into. Here are a few questions I have and I'm hoping some people in the "Know" would be so kind as to answer a few of them. I have no certifications and what I do know about networking is limited to just basic home networking that I've picked up over the years.
1. What route would you recommend for getting this certification. (college classes, bootcamp style, web college) I work full time btw.
2. What should I know before even enrolling in any CCNA program, and where could I find a good cheap place for that info.
3. Assuming I had all the info to pass the CCNA exam right infront of me, what should I study the hardest, what level of comfort should I have in reguards to the skills taught.
4. What tips/tools would you suggest using to pass the exam. (practice test places, anything I should have access to to practice on and such)
I hope that someone can answer a few of these ?'s for me and I thank anyone who replies in advance. I'm just at the point in my life where im looking to choose a path, instead of wandering around aimlessly as I have since I graduated. | |
| s2kfan 2003-12-27, 3:10 pm |
| I have worked in IT for almost 10 years now. This is my honest opinion as someone who has managed and hired IT staff and someone working for Cisco.
When I interview candidates, I found that Certifications weighed very little and I would rely more heavily on education and work experience. When the market was at its high I wanted a trained staff, so work experience and knowledge weighed most. As the tech sector dropped I was looking for intelligent individuals that could get the job done, that could be trained, experience could be taught and that would save bottom line dollars.
The reason why I didn't take certifications into much account was when I went through certification programs, they didn't have expiries. For example, my sun cert will never expire, it will become outdated and obsolete, but never expire.
So how do I feel about it now? I think that CERTIFICATIONS DEFINITLY HAVE MORE VALUE. It's more than that though. Yes, the CCNA is a good beginning achievement, but it's only the beginning. Seriously I'd want at least a CCNP unless I was looking for a junior position. I'd still want years of experience.
I don't want the guy who got his CCNP a year ago and has been working as the cashier at Starbucks the last two years, because chances are, he doesn't remember a thing.
There are many certs, the best thing anyone could do, is to get certified in what you do or would like to do and build it out. That's my opinion, know your stuff and from that you will be able to negotiate.
Agree or disagree, it's just one man's opinion. Best of luck to you. | |
| s2kfan 2003-12-27, 3:15 pm |
| My bad, I didn't answer any of your questions.
1. A course can be helpful if you can take a week off. Studying books can take a long time, depending on your free time and dedication. Cisco has some good online resources.
2. Know ICND before CCNA, that is the recommended. If you have a CCO account you may be able to get free WBT.
3. That depends on your own strengths and weeknesses. Look at the outline on Cisco.com. I find that a lot of people have problems with the simulations because they don't have enough hands on.
4. Use anything that will help you including peers. | |
| JPierson 2003-12-27, 5:39 pm |
| Thanks for the input, I just look at the practice questions for the exams and dont even really have a clue as to what they are talking about most of the time to be honest. However It seems really interesting to me, I'm the type of person who really likes to know how things work, and simple explanations never do it for me. Its like when you have a teacher and she tells you how something works, but only goes so far in depth and uses alot of generalizations..that sort of thing drives me nutz and makes me want to know more.
Right now I just want to learn more, but I need more knowledge before I even try to start on the CCNA, at least thats what im thinking.
Btw, what is CCO and WBT? | |
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| ne0-reloaded 2003-12-28, 4:46 am |
| JPierson:
I work and go to school full time, and finding time to study above and beyond school work is kinda hard. when i started studying for my ccna, i didnt have a clue, it was like learning a new language. i was reading out of the sybex book, and everything was flying over my head. it took my reading a cisco reference manual, that taught me the basics (whats a router, whats an interface, etc) b4 i could even read the ccna book. i knew probably less than u when i started out becuase i had no networking exp at all. i would recomend getting a book, preferably the cisco press one, and just get at it. its gonna take time and a lot discipline to get through it tho. i wouldnt recomend paying for classes for the ccna tho. 1 theyre not cheap, and 2 the difference between learning in a class room and learning on ur own is u have a teacher telling u what chapters to read (although having routers and switches in front of u will aid in the learning process). with forums such as this one, and the one on the cisco website, its kinda like a virtual classroom. ive been helped a lot by people on this forum. also yahoo groups has good groups for ppl preparing for ccna. search google and look for some free practice questions, and get some good software to help u after u go through the book a couple times. i could send u some of the ones i got as they were an excellent resource for me. anyways good luck on whatever u plan to do. | |
| JPierson 2003-12-29, 1:34 am |
| Thx for all the advice, I'm currently reading the info located at the link darthfeces gave...
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td...o_doc/index.htm
It looks like this will get me started on what Id need to know before reading the actual class book. Ive only gotten thru internetworking basica and intro to lan protocols so far tonight, but I was able to do it while at work so.. that counts for something I suppose. | |
| s2kfan 2003-12-29, 2:34 am |
| quote:
Originally posted by JPierson
Btw, what is CCO and WBT?
CCO is now cisco.com and WBT are web-based trainings. | |
| Yankee 2003-12-29, 4:03 am |
| I have said much of what s2kfan in his original post, but the problem now is that many companies or the contracts they are bidding for require a certification.
Certifications don't guarantee knowledge or experience, so I still follow the rest of what sk2fan says in looking for someone with the drive and aptitude for becoming a good tech. I have not interviewed anyone that could get thru the technical portion who had gotten their certification after a one or two week boot camp. They spent a lot of money, were taught the test, passed the test, got certified and failed the interview.
The way to succeed is read, read and read again. If you can, then apply what you have read with hands on in a lab enviroment.
Yankee | |
| MKeill 2003-12-29, 9:11 pm |
| JPierson:
Like you I am heading into the cert world with Cisco being my main focus. Before Cisco came up with the spilt option to gain your CCNA with passing two exams, someone had recommended to me to take and pass the Network+ exam, the cert is a basic intro to networking and a good start to the CCNA.
Just a thought! | |
| MKeill 2003-12-29, 9:19 pm |
| JPierson:
Like you I am heading into the cert world with Cisco being my main focus. Before Cisco came up with the spilt option to gain your CCNA with passing two exams, someone had recommended to me to take and pass the Network+ exam, the cert is a basic intro to networking and a good start to the CCNA.
Just a thought! | |
| JPierson 2003-12-31, 1:26 pm |
| I'll look into that,(networking+) thank you Mkeill |
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