Advice for beginner please

[Guest_imported]

I'm trying to make a career change into I.T. and for the past two years have been doing a University degree. This year we have been covering digital communications and covered topics such as TCP/IP, LAN, WAN, ATM, routeing and switching, SDH, protocols. I would like to try and do a CCNA course next year as well, but I've been told that it isn't really suitable for entry-level.
I'd really appreciate some feedback on that. Should I really be doing an Microsoft certification first, like everyone tells me, or is it possible to break into I.T. straight off with a Cisco exam?
Many thanks, Chris.

 

[ccdunk]

Several sites
1. For general networking go to

http://www.itprc.com

2. For FREE info got to

http://www.intelinfo.com

. There is
a huge amount of info there.
I have CCNA,CCDA and CCNP (among others). I am woorking on CCDP. I have no Microsoft certifications. I am a Linux
guy and will probably get Linux. I've been in the IT field
for 28 years and generally have been able to avoid Microsoft.
(I think it is wastefull of system resources and could be more efficient - that just my personal bias. I do use 2000 and think it is nice however you shouldn't need a really powerfull sytem to display boxes on a screen)

 

[Guest_imported]

ccdunk,
many thanks for your reply. I have had a good look at both sites and like you say there is a lot of info there.
Can you (or anyone) explain the semesters to me? My local bookstore has semesters 1 & 2, do you need to study all of them to get CCNA?
Sorry for asking such basic questions, but I don't know anyone that works in I.T., so forums like this are my best hope!
Chris.

 

[firedragon]

the CCNA is not highly thought of any more, but you need the CCNA to move onto the NP, IP and so on. So it is the place to start. and i do recommed that you read all 4 semesters befor taking the test. (sybex CCNA study guide, and cisco press CCNA study guide are great books for this test.)

and in my exsprence the cisco certs are more highly look apon then the MS certs. most of my peers have told me that the cisco certs are based around more real world information then the MS certs.

 

[Guest_imported]

firedragon,
thanks for the info. I was looking at sybex's book yesterday, and I think thats the one I will go for. Have to get another University related exam out of the way first, then I'll start.
Chris