Career Path? Stand still...... 1

[zepharoo]

I believe managing your IT career properly (i.e. obtaining the correct certifications/education, experience, etc.) is key to your success in the future. I am currently a Network Engineering Manager for a major MSO and I hold a B.S. in Information Systems, CCNA, CSE (Cisco Sales Expert), CQS-CWLSS (Cisco Wireless Lan Support Specialist). My salary is decent and I have great benefits.

I am always looking for ways to improve my skills to make myself more marketable for my next move. I would like to land an upper management position in the near future, but I am not sure on what I should do to make my skills more marketable.

I have been pondering over obtaining my CCNP and my MCSE. Are these two certs worth the time and effort you have to spend in order to attain them? I would like to achieve these two certs b/c it will prove I am well-versed in more aspects than just Cisco. Presently, I mostly deal with routing (BGP, IS-IS, etc.), switching, and all other aspects that comes along with running a major ISP. I don't really deal with Client/server type environments, which is what most jobs around my area (Louisiana - New Orleans) require.

If you do a search on monster.com or careerbuilder.com for an MCSE nationwide, you will see that there are numerous jobs out there. On the other hand, if you do a search for CCNA or CCDA you do not see near as many results compared to the MCSE search. Why do you think that is?

What sort of salary can one expect from holding a CCNP and MCSE?

Any advice or stories would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a bunch for reading....

Zepharoo

 

[alexhu]

On the other hand, if you do a search for CCNA or CCDA you do not see near as many results compared to the MCSE search. Why do you think that is?

Perhaps because more people want to administer windows than networks and also the equipment is a lot easier to get hold of

Also the installed base could be said to be larger (i.e more windows servers / workstations than networks)

Alex

 

[kHz]

I would like to land an upper management position in the near future...

If you want an upper management job, then an MBA would be a better investment than putting your time, effort, and money into vendor-sponsored, revenue-generating certificates.

CQS-CWLSS (Cisco Wireless Lan Support Specialist)

CSE (Cisco Sales Expert)

I find a lot of these "certs" comical. I have been in IT for 10 years and I see people string 6, 8, 10, or even 15 (or more) obscure acronyms behind their name. If you wouldn't have printed what the above meant, I wouldn't have had a clue. Put MBA behind your name - I know what it means.

Merry Christmas!

 

[Onyxpurr]

I would have to agree with Khz on the management issue. What seperates a manager from the worker is their ability to support and manage people, not necessarily work.

Having those certs would help, but an MBA is a better investment.

I would also suggest trying to get involved in project activities that would allow you to act as team lead or project manager. That way you can get experience showing that you can manage people and workload.

 

[zepharoo]

Well, I do have experience managing people b/c I have two Network Engineers I have been managing for 3 years. However, I do agree with KHz about certifications. The only cert I put emphasis on is my CCNA b/c I passed that test from experience alone, not by studying some exam cram book that just teaches you enough information to pass the test.

I have no interest in gaining "obscure acronyms" behind my name. I would like to manage my IT career effectively and put myself in a position in a few years to land an upper management role.

Your replies were very informative and much appreciated. Thank you.

-Zepharoo

 

[zepharoo]

I have a question about an MBA. Are there any reputable online universities that offer an MBA program?

 

[kHz]

You may be able to find a University that offers an MBA online, but make sure it comes from an accredited university. If you live in NC, for example, and UNC - Chapel Hill offers an MBA through distance education, that would be reputable.

Another option for an MBA is the Executive MBA program that some institutions offer for experienced professionals and managers. Where I live, my local state university offers a two-year weekend-only (Fri/Sat) MBA program. The Executive programs are geared for professionals so they don't interrupt your career.

 

[langleymass]

I can't say much about current MCSE. I obtained mine on NT 4.0 in 2000, and it was completely worthless.

 

[vstewart7206]

Managing your career is the key to success. But the main key is to find good employers.

 

[mmorancbt]

Two things of note here...

You seem to place your move into management as contingent upon furthering your eduction. I am not against furthering your education but if you want to move into management, I would advocate that you start now.

Second, moving into management (as has been indicated) is not going to be a technical cert issue. An MBA moves you closer.

That being said, I have management people and projects and have no advanced degree. I currently mentor 3 "C" level executives directly and am called into executive meetings on many occassions to help them troubleshoot and brainstorm.

I don't know about your organization, but there may be projects you can start managing now. Part of de-centralized project based management is that you - while empoyed as a sub-ordinate, when managing a project have as resources those who may be your superior. You are no less managing people in this case as when you have a your own staff. (I hope that made sense).

I would look for projects where you are managing people and resources - regardless of where they fall on a organization chart and gain those valuable skills as you further your education.

That way, when you do complete whatever educational path you deem as most effective, you walk away with education and experience simultaneously.

I hope that is helpful.

Matthew Moran

http://www.cbtoolkit.com

 

[zepharoo]

Matt,

Thank you for the informative post. Ironically, I was looking at your book (The IT career Builder's Toolkit) on ciscopress.com this morning and I do plan on buying it.

I am sort of at a standstill right now with my career and I am looking for the best avenue to take. Do I want an upper management role? Lead engineer role?

While certifications are great, I need to focus more on my career as a whole. Where do I want to be in 5, 10, 15 years? What do I enjoy the most? What steps do I need to take to get me to where I want to be - in another words, an Action Plan.

I also enjoy designing cisco-based networks more than troubleshooting them. I enjoy managing my engineers and supporting them in every way that I possibly can to ensure projects are completed on-time with the utmost efficiency.

Thank you for your reply and I look forward to reading your book....

-Jeremy

 

[mmorancbt]

Thanks. Glad to be of assistance. You are thinking about things in a good way.

This can be a great benefit to you over the long run. Careers are necessarily fluid and involved constant re-evaluation of priorities and desires. Too many people feel that once they have trained for a position, that the career path becomes linear and restrictive. Usually that is a limitation of personal perspective.

Can I ask how you found out about CiscoPress.com.
I was just corresponding with the marketing and publicity team - literally receiving emails at this moment - and I am curious.



Matthew Moran

http://www.cbtoolkit.com

 

[zepharoo]

Matt,

I visit ciscopress.com quite often to view the new books on the site. I also found your book on amazon.com, which is where I plan to order it from on January 6th.

Cisco Press is where I look to see what books to buy for corresponding certifications. I rarely buy a book from the site, but use it more as a reference.

Good luck with your book and please email me with your future endeavors. I really like your methodology and though process.

-Jeremy

 

[langleymass]

I ordered your book, Matthew Moran. Let's see if this stuff actually works.

 

[mmorancbt]

Uh oh, now the pressure is on!

Actually, you are going to be dissappointed if you are expecting something, other than you, to work ;-)

However, I hope what it offers are some perspectives on how to more effectively work; how to better guage opportunity; how to view your career with more flexibility and hence less pressure for "this one job" or "that one interview" to make or break your career.

It will give you food for thought and some ideas and techniques. After that, the ball is squarely in your court. If nothing else, the book, and my writing in general, is about personal career ownership.

However, I would consider it a privledge of you would let me know.

Thanks and good luck.

FYI: The book is going to be covered in the Washington Post and the NY Post in the first couple weeks of January.

Matthew Moran

http://www.cbtoolkit.com

 

[langleymass]

I am also taking acting lessons from a really good guy. That should help immensely with my IT career.