CCNA Definitely has worth!!! 1

[goin2cisco]

I was talking with a potential employer and had informed them that I was near the end of my Cisco Network Academy class and was going to take the test soon.

Although interested they seemed to be very slow to respond. Sometimes it was only a one way conversation it seemed.

I e-mailed the guy yesterday morning about passing the test and what my score was and I got an immediate reply back. It said: "so when do you want to come in and interview?"

His attitude seemed to change with the news.

I know for a fact that from an educational view point the Cisco Network Academy was an excellent course for every level of networking expertise (outside of CCNP or CCIE for obvious reasons). I have been a Network Engineer for 3 years. I learned alot of things I didn't know about networking in general and of course Cisco.

I started the CCNP study group at the Portland Area Cisco Users Group 2hrs. after my CCNA Cert test was complete. I think it's a worthwhile goal.

The CCNA doesn't even come close to guaranteeing a good job now. Especially without any experience. However with networking experience it appears to be a big help!

Tom

 

[wybnormal]

Congrat's Tom and thanks for the update. It's nice to hear news about the cert helping instead of the normal bitching and whining about how it did not get someone their dream job or 6 figure income.

I've been working with the Semster 5 and 6 books and labs. I like what I have seen so far. The books are well laid out and the labs actually make some sense. I wish they had more explantion but I think that is left to the instructor. I've been comparing them with Cisco Press CCNP Prep/Study guides and ExamPrep. CP is the most detailed... almost to the point of excessive. ExamPrep are very good but hard to find.

Some of the best material has been from SmartCertify.. it's very pricy but very high quality.

MikeS
Find me at

http://www.packetattack.com

"The trouble with giving up civil rights is that you never get them back"

 

[goin2cisco]

Thanks!

There is still a lot of hard work to do for those 6 figure incomes. CCNA is only the beginning of Cisco and networking if thats all you have. I have spent years learning the details of networking and probably will spend alot more time!

Granted there may have been more money at entry level a few years ago but the money is still there for those that work darn hard!

Tom

 

[wybnormal]

Something else to consider is that the US Govt is considering canceling non-citizen workers on Govt projects.. ( read as DOD).. while I will not even begin to get into the issues surrounding that, I will toss out that all of sudden IS workers with US citizenship will be in VERY short supply. Even more so who either have or can qualify for the various clearances that they want for some of the DOD work.

MikeS
Find me at

http://www.packetattack.com

"The trouble with giving up civil rights is that you never get them back"

 

[goin2cisco]

I you look at Monster (like I do) there is a TON of work in VA,MD & DC with clearances. I mean alot!!

Tom

 

[jeter]

WOW, I did not here that. I just had to go through a complete background check for an up and comming Gov't job.
I was wondering why they made me do that. I had already had an FBI background I guess that was not good enough. Jeter@LasVegas.com
Fisher CCNA
Sprint-Data

 

[wybnormal]

Jeter- you have not had *fun* until you have had a EBI(extended backgound investigation).. those of us leftover areospace jockeys know all about this ;-) It takes about 1-1.5 years to complete plus the polygraph.

MikeS
Find me at

http://www.packetattack.com

"The trouble with giving up civil rights is that you never get them back"