Training in Cisco is intended for individuals who wish to work with network switches and routers. Routers hook up computer networks via the internet or lines dedicated for that purpose. We’d recommend that your first course should be CCNA. Steer clear of going immediately onto your CCNP as it is very advanced – and you need to work up to it to have a go at this.
Jobs that need this type of qualification mean you’ll be more likely to work for national or international corporations who have many locations but need their computer networks to talk to each other. Or, you may move on to working for an internet service provider. Either way, you’ll be in demand and can expect a high salary.
Getting your Cisco CCNA is where you should be aiming; don’t be cajoled into attempting your CCNP. With experience, you can decide whether you need to train up to this level. If so, your experience will serve as the background you require to take on your CCNP – as it’s a very complex course – and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
If your advisor doesn’t ask you a lot of questions – it’s likely they’re just trying to sell you something. If they push a particular product before learning about your history and whether you have any commercial experience, then it’s definitely the case.
If you have a strong background, or maybe some commercial experience (maybe some existing accreditation?) then it’s more than likely your starting level will be different from someone who is just starting out.
Commencing with a basic PC skills course first may be the ideal way to get into your computer training, depending on your skill level at the moment.
What is the reason why academic qualifications are being overtaken by more qualifications from the commercial sector?
With 3 and 4 year academic degree costs becoming a tall order for many, together with the IT sector’s increasing awareness that vendor-based training is closer to the mark commercially, we’ve seen a big surge in CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA based training paths that supply key solutions to a student at a fraction of the cost and time involved.
The training is effectively done by honing in on the skills that are really needed (together with a relevant amount of related knowledge,) instead of spending months and years on the background ‘padding’ that degrees in computing are prone to get tied up in (to fill up a syllabus or course).
What if you were an employer – and you required somebody who had very specific skills. Which is the most straightforward: Trawl through reams of different degrees and college qualifications from several applicants, having to ask what each has covered and which vocational skills have been attained, or select a specialised number of commercial certifications that perfectly fit your needs, and draw up from that who you want to speak to. The interview is then more about the person and how they’ll fit in – rather than establishing whether they can do a specific task.
A valuable training package will incorporate accredited exam preparation packages.
Sometimes people can find themselves confused by going through practice questions that aren’t recognised by official sources. Sometimes, the way questions are phrased is unfamiliar and you should be prepared for this.
You should make sure you check your knowledge through quizzes and practice in simulated exam environments prior to taking the proper exam.
The area most overlooked by those weighing up a particular programme is the concept of ‘training segmentation’. Essentially, this is the way the course is divided up to be delivered to you, which vastly changes how you end up.
Students often think it makes sense (with training often lasting 2 or 3 years to achieve full certification,) that a training provider will issue the courseware in stages, as you achieve each exam pass. But:
What if you find the order prescribed by the provider doesn’t suit you. What if you find it hard to complete all the modules inside of their particular timetable?
To be straight, the very best answer is to get an idea of what they recommend as an ideal study order, but get everything up-front. You then have everything if you don’t manage to finish within their ideal time-table.
(C) Jason Kendall. Pop over to LearningLolly.com for excellent career tips on Cisco Certification and Cisco Courses.