If it's Cisco training you're after, but you've not yet worked with network switches or routers, it's likely you'll need CCNA certification. This teac...
If it's Cisco training you're after,
but you've not yet worked with network switches or routers, it's likely you'll need CCNA certification. This teaches you knowledge and skills to work with routers. The world wide web is built up of many routers, and big organisations with several different sites also rely on them to keep their networks in touch.
It's very probable you'll get a job with an internet service provider or maybe a large company that is on several different sites but still wants secure internal data communication. These jobs are well paid and in demand.
Qualifying up to the CCNA level is what you should be aiming for - don't be cajoled into attempting your CCNP straight away. Once you've worked for a few years you will have a feel for if you need to train up to this level. If it is, you'll be much more capable to succeed at that stage - because you'll know so much more by then.
How can job security really exist anymore? In the UK for example, where industry can change its mind on a day-to-day basis, it seems increasingly unlikely. But a fast growing sector, where there just aren't enough staff to go round (due to a massive shortfall of trained professionals), opens the possibility of true job security.
The computer industry skills deficit in the United Kingdom falls in at around 26 percent, as shown by the most recent e-Skills study. Alternatively, you could say, this shows that the country is only able to source 3 certified professionals for each four job positions in existence currently. Achieving proper commercial computer accreditation is therefore a quick route to achieve a long-term and pleasing career. As the Information Technology market is increasing at such a speed, there really isn't any other sector worth taking into account as a retraining vehicle.
A fatal Faux-Pas that we encounter all too often is to concentrate on the course itself, rather than starting with the end result they want to achieve. Training academies are stacked to the hilt with direction-less students that chose a program because it looked interesting - rather than what would get them the job they want. It's unfortunate, but a great many students kick-off study that often sounds magnificent from the syllabus guide, but which gets us a career that is of no interest at all. Talk to many university graduates and you'll see where we're coming from.
It's a good idea to understand the expectations of your industry. Which precise accreditations they'll want you to gain and how you'll go about getting some commercial experience. It's definitely worth spending time considering how far you wish to get as often it can force you to choose a particular set of certifications. All students are advised to talk with an experienced advisor before following a particular retraining path. This helps to ensure it features what is required for the career that is sought.
Consider the points below very carefully if you think the sales ploy of examination guarantees seems like a good idea:
Thankfully, today we tend to be a tad more knowledgeable about sales gimmicks - and most of us realise that of course it is actually an additional cost to us - it's not because they're so generous they want to give something away! Qualifying on the first 'go' is what everyone wants to do. Progressively working through your exams when it's appropriate and funding them as you go has a marked effect on pass-rates - you revise thoroughly and are conscious of what you've spent.
Take your exams somewhere local and hold on to your money and pay for the exam when you take it. Paying in advance for examination fees (which also includes interest if you've taken out a loan) is bad financial management. Don't line companies bank accounts with additional funds just to give them a good cash-flow! Many will hope you don't even take them all - but they won't refund the cash. The majority of organisations will insist on pre-tests and prohibit you from re-taking an exam until you've proven conclusively that you can pass - which actually leaves you with no guarantee at all.
The cost of exams was 112 pounds or thereabouts in the last 12 months through Prometric or VUE centres around the United Kingdom. Therefore, why splash out often many hundreds of pounds extra to get 'Exam Guarantees', when common sense dictates that what's really needed is study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams.
Commercial qualifications are now, without a doubt, already replacing the traditional routes into IT - but why has this come about? Industry is now aware that to cover the necessary commercial skill-sets, proper accreditation from companies such as CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA often is more effective in the commercial field - for considerably less. They do this by honing in on the skills that are really needed (together with a relevant amount of associated knowledge,) instead of covering masses of the background non-specific minutiae that computer Science Degrees are prone to get tied up in (to fill up a syllabus or course).
In simple terms: Recognised IT certifications tell an employer precisely what skills you have - the title is a complete giveaway: i.e. I am a 'Microsoft Certified Professional' in 'Planning and Maintaining a Windows 2003 Infrastructure'. Therefore employers can identify just what their needs are and which qualifications are needed for the job.
