Passed A+ and Network+, now what?

[darveider]

Hello guys!

I have been reading you since middle August, when I started studying for my A+ Cert and I must say that this forums have been a very good resource of studying tips.

I am a spaniard who arrived to the USA (Houston) in March and I got a work permit from USCIS on August, but when I started searching for a job I realized that my spanish degree didn´t have any value here (My spanish degree is something like "Senior Technician in OS and Networks",it´s more or less the same as a 2 years associate degree) and also that everybody asked for (at least) CompTIA´s certs, so I decided to get them.

I spent about a month studying for A+ and I took my exams with 10 days between them. I got a 740/900 score on Hardware and 760/900 on Software. Used Mike Meyer´s book and "A+ in depth" from CompTIA Press.

When I finished I decided to get the Network+ cert because networks is what I like most and I thought that it could help me finding a job (currently I´m still unemployed).

So I started studying Sybex´s Network+ Study Guide and Exam Cram 2 (both rocks!) in mid October and I took my exam today getting a score of 825/900, which I´m really proud of!

Now I´m comming home for Xmas (haven´t seen my family in almost a year...) but I´m thinking in what to do the next year

I´m really looking forward to get a job (I really don´t mind which one, but I would prefer it to be in the IT field),but I´m also thinking in getting new certs.

I´m returning definitively to my country in June 2008 so my question for you guys is this: Providing the time that I have here, should I go for Cisco´s CCNA or MCSE?

I know I can get them in Spain, but I would prefer to get them here, as I take the exams in english and that adds a value to the cert (in my case) and also I could use them to find a job just from the moment that I land in Spain.

What I would like to know is:
- How hard is to get a Cisco´s CCNA?
- How long did it take to you guys since you started studying and finally get it?
- What resources did you use for studying?
- Does it provide you with more work opportunities?

All the previous questions go to the MCSE too

- Are the things that I learned from Network+ gonna help me if I decide to go for CCNA? Or did I waste my time getting it?
- Providing that I have no experience working in the US, is gonna be that hard to find a job?(BTW, I´m 27)

Well, I guess that´s all!

Sorry for the loooooong post and thanks for your help in advance!

 

[CiscoGuy33]

darveider,

You might want to go to the Cisco forum - Cisco certification and testing Forum and the Microsoft MCSE forum - most of these questions have been answered many many times.

CCNA is not an easy exam - I have seen many people fail it several times - I have also seen many people pass it first time with no trouble.

How long it would take a person depends on how quickly they caught onto the material and how much free time they had to study - I would say it would take anywhere from 3-9 months depending on you background in networking and Cisco equipment.

I always feel that you should study at least 2 different books for CCNA - Sybex CCNA Study Guide by Todd L. gives you just what you need to pass the test and then I would study any of the Cisco Press books for CCNA - they tend to cover a lot more - more of the stuff you will need when working in the real world.

You should also get practice on real Cisco routers - normally 3 routers and 2 switches will get you all the practice you need and can be used as a foundation for a CCNP lab if you continue the certs. You can get routers and switches on eBay for a great price - check the Cisco forum for the latest recremendations of equipment.

A good sim is also good (but hands on with real routers is the best)

http://www.boson.com

has one of the best and they have a free trial download so you can try before you buy!

I have also always liked CBT Nuggets -

http://www.cbtnuggets.com

- they have computer based training - live lecture videos on all subjects - they also have free trials in almost all areas of certification.

Once again - check the Cisco forum for lots of information on CCNA and other Cisco certs.

Same for Microsoft and MCP/MCSA and MCSE.
MCSE is 7 exams - it will take a bit longer then CCNA!

Just some thoughts!


E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[glister]

I'm curious... how do you get a work permit and remain unemployed? How can you afford to fly back to Spain if you are unemployed? How do you eat?

A+,N+,S+,L+,I+,HTI+,e-Biz+,Security+,CETma,CSS,CFOS/T,CCNT,CCTT,ACSP,ISA CCST3

 

[darveider]

Ciscoguy33 -->Thank you very much for your post, lots of information that I´m sure will be very helpful. And sorry for not checking the Cisco forum before. Will do.

Glister --> About the work permit,it´s easy: The type of work permit that I have lets me search for a job and work legally if I get one, it´s not that I got a work permit because I found a job.

The thing is that when I finally got my work permit (took me almost 6 months) nobody wanted to hire me because my degree wasn´t enough, so I decided to focus on getting certs ASAP, that´s why I´m still unemployed (when I got my A+ some employers contacted me, but in the end didn´t get the job, so I decided to continue getting certs)

On the "How do you eat?" subject: I really don´t mean to be rude, but I think that how can I afford things is totally off-topic... I´ll just say that I have enough money to do it. I´ve just been unemployed the last months...

 

[Wishdiak]

darveider,

A+ and Network+ are good basic certifications to have. I don't know what the job market is like in Houston specifically, but in the Northeast, many people getting started in IT do so through staffing companies.

Searching sites like Monster and Careerbuilder may be your best bet to start off with. Get your resume/CV into the hands of some recruiters and you may be able to find something.

This is not to say that you should stop searching on your own, but many times, IT jobs are not advertised in the local paper.

Wishdiak
A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA: Security 2003

http://www.wishdiak.com

 

[moonguppie]

I would stay away from staffing agencies like Robert Half and Teksystems if they are in your area. They tend to pay very little , and treat you poorly.

Trasys and Ajilon are better.

A little knowledge is dangerous.