Should I go for CCNA?

[stick1977]

I quit my job last week, this Thursday is my last day. I've been talking to recruiters about getting new employment but I'm wondering if I should use this time instead to self study for CCNA.

I have enough $ to be jobless through out the winter, I'd need to get a job at some point in the spring. My brother is also unemployed and we were thinking about hitting Starbuck four hours a day and he said we could take the test within 3 months.

I'm just wondering if this is the right step for me. I've only been in computers for 4 years, I'm a helpdesk tech. My bro says there's lots of opportunities for techs with CCNAs so I'm wondering if reaching for this exam would be the best way to go. Part of me is saying just go get another job, don't use up all your savings on chasing a cert. I dunno.

I have CompTIA Net+ and A+ but that's it, no MS certs and no degree. What do you think? thanks.

 

[Pants]

I would think it would be beneficial only if the employer you are seeking requires it and/or you are going to be working with Cisco routers and switches often.

I studied for CCNA a couple years ago then I realized it's not practical for self-employment and/or small business support, which is what I'm headed for.

It's more thorough than Network + which I've also got, but I have found the only thing really worth studying in it is the Cisco IOS operating system. Everything else is pretty standardized except for that, but you can find tutorials on line to learn IOS operating system, and even get it going in a virtual lab using GNS3 if you download an IOS image, for FREE without having to buy any Cisco routers or switches.

 

[stick1977]

Small business support is what I'm going for too. I want to start a business someday soon, one that makes sense! I hear you on the lack of need for CCNA. Would be nice to spend time with my brother and learn some of this stuff but if I can't apply it anywhere, I'd soon forget it. Thanks.

 

[Pants]

Small business support is what I'm going for too. I want to start a business someday soon, one that makes sense! I hear you on the lack of need for CCNA. Would be nice to spend time with my brother and learn some of this stuff but if I can't apply it anywhere, I'd soon forget it. Thanks.

I would recommend getting a book that focuses on learning the CCNA objectives, and read it AT LEAST for the knowledge and a review of networking. And get yourself a used router for 50 - 100 dollars that is compatible with DDwrt or one of the other open router firmwares, and experiment with the router...which is what I've started doing recently. Some of the router firmware out there like DDwrt and Tomato have lots of feature that I would almost compare to a business class router.

 

[gikstar]

I agree with 'forget the CCNA' idea. Who is going to hire a person that doesn't have experience working with Cisco routers?
I think that you would be better off getting Microsoft Network certs and get real familiar with Active Directory and setting up firewalls. This is the bread and butter field with small to medium size businesses.

Mostly it's the large corporations that use Cisco products and the chances of a small operator breaking into one of those clients is somewhere between slim and none.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Small business support is what I'm going for too.

It's up to you if you want the knowledge of Cisco iron. But the SMB consultant market doesn't need to lean on that experience. I've lightly played with little Cisco PIX boxes years ago...and that was for 1x client that had a little 501 box. In all my years of doing SMB support....barely come across cisco iron..and that was years ago when those little PIX boxes were popular. I still have a few that are in my "to throw out" pile. These days, they're hardly seen. Heavier Cisco iron is more often seen in midsize and enterprise size companies...which we rarely see. I'm talking real Cisco hardware, not the "small business line" which is the Linksys stuff they absorbed.

My colleague knows his way around Cisco routers and Catalyst switches OK....his son knows them very well since he's worked for ISPs. But rarely has to call upon that experience for our clients.

 

[stick1977]

Thanks for the good info, as always. It's scary to think I could've wasted a bunch of time with this Cisco stuff.

I really just want to start a small company that supports SMBs. I need to use my off time wisely this winter. I'll study up on server 2012 and AD while I'm perusing other help desk ops. Thanks again.

Any particular MS certs I should target? CompTIA Net+ and A+ is all I have so far.

 

[Martyn]

Sometimes certs will give you a head start in these difficult job hunting times. Having certs may or may not get you in the leader cv bunch rather than the ones going in the bin. I personally think studying is good for your brain and the tests are testing your knowledge of the subject from a pure point of view. I did my MCSE in 1999 and CCNA in 2000 and at the time they really helped in my promotion at my job at that time.

 

[rsarceno]

Having as much certificate is better compare to non. CCNA is a good thing to have but with 4 years exp with PC, I wouldn't target job search for Network Eng. I would still focus on PC tech and I think you will have more success.

If you pass CCNA, I recommend you continue on the next level like CCNP and CCSP, etc. I found the next level easier than CCNA. Just a reminder, Cisco Certification has an expiration.