CCNA is the usual starting point for all Cisco training. This will enable you to work on maintaining and installing routers and network switches. Fundamentally, the internet is based upon huge numbers of routers, and big organisations that have various regional departments rely on them to keep their networks in touch.
Because routers are linked to networks, it is important to understand how networks work, or you will have difficulties with the training and not be able to do the work. Find training that teaches the basics (CompTIA is ideal) before you start the CCNA.
Qualifying up to the CCNA level is all you need at this stage - don't be cajoled into attempting your CCNP yet. Once you've got a few years experience behind you, you will have a feel for if CCNP is something you want to do. Should that be the case, you'll have a much better chance of succeeding - because you'll have so much more experience.
In most cases, your everyday student really has no clue how they should get into a computing career, or what sector to focus their retraining program on.
What chances do most of us have of understanding what is involved in a particular job when we haven't done that before? We normally haven't met someone who works in that sector anyway.
To get through to the essence of this, there should be a discussion of many unique issues:
* Your personal interests and hobbies - as they can define what areas will satisfy you.
* Is your focus to get qualified due to a precise reason - for instance, do you aim to work at home (working for yourself?)?
* Have you thought about salary vs the travel required?
* Getting to grips with what typical career roles and markets are - and what makes them different.
* Having a proper look into the effort, commitment and time that you can put aside.
To completely side-step the industry jargon, and reveal the best route for you, have an informal chat with an experienced professional; an individual that understands the commercial reality whilst covering each qualification.
A valuable training package will also include wholly authorised exam preparation systems.
Don't fall foul of depending on unauthorised preparation materials for exams. The way they're phrased is sometimes startlingly different - and this leads to huge confusion when it comes to taking the real exam.
Ensure that you have some simulated exam questions in order to verify your knowledge whenever you need to. Practice or 'mock' exams will help to boost your attitude - so you won't be quite so nervous at the actual exam.
Locating job security in this economic down-turn is very rare. Businesses can throw us from the workplace at a moment's notice - whenever it suits.
It's possible though to hit upon market-level security, by searching for areas that have high demand, mixed with work-skill shortages.
The Information Technology (IT) skills shortfall around the country currently stands at approx twenty six percent, as shown by the 2006 e-Skills investigation. This shows that for every 4 jobs that are available in IT, there are only 3 trained people to fulfil that role.
Properly trained and commercially accredited new staff are consequently at a resounding premium, and in all likelihood it will stay that way for many years to come.
It would be hard to imagine if a better time or market circumstances could exist for obtaining certification in this hugely increasing and evolving industry.
Searching for your first position in IT can feel more straightforward with the help of a Job Placement Assistance facility. With the massive shortage of skills in Britain even when times are hard, it's not too important to become overly impressed with this service however. It really won't be that difficult to land employment once you're well trained and qualified.
However, what is relevant is to have advice and support about your CV and interviews though; additionally, we would recommend everybody to bring their CV up to date the day they start training - don't put it off until you've graduated or passed any exams.
It's possible that you won't have even passed your first exam when you land your first junior support position; yet this won't be the case if your CV isn't in front of employers.
If it's important to you to find work near your home, then you'll probably find that a local (but specialised) recruitment consultancy might serve you better than some national concern, for they're going to know local employment needs.
A good number of students, it seems, are prepared to study their hearts out (sometimes for years), only to give up at the first hurdle when attempting to secure a good job. Introduce yourself... Do everything you can to get in front of employers. A job isn't just going to bump into you.
Commercial qualifications are now, undoubtedly, starting to replace the more academic tracks into the IT sector - but why is this?
Industry now acknowledges that to learn the appropriate commercial skills, certified accreditation from the likes of Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe most often has much more specialised relevance - for much less time and money.
Obviously, a necessary portion of background information has to be learned, but focused specialisation in the particular job function gives a vendor educated person a distinct advantage.
Put yourself in the employer's position - and you required somebody who had very specific skills. What is easier: Wade your way through loads of academic qualifications from graduate applicants, having to ask what each has covered and which workplace skills have been attained, or select a specialised number of commercial certifications that precisely match your needs, and make your short-list from that. You'll then be able to concentrate on getting a feel for the person at interview - rather than on the depth of their technical knowledge. - 30202
Because routers are linked to networks, it is important to understand how networks work, or you will have difficulties with the training and not be able to do the work. Find training that teaches the basics (CompTIA is ideal) before you start the CCNA.
Qualifying up to the CCNA level is all you need at this stage - don't be cajoled into attempting your CCNP yet. Once you've got a few years experience behind you, you will have a feel for if CCNP is something you want to do. Should that be the case, you'll have a much better chance of succeeding - because you'll have so much more experience.
In most cases, your everyday student really has no clue how they should get into a computing career, or what sector to focus their retraining program on.
What chances do most of us have of understanding what is involved in a particular job when we haven't done that before? We normally haven't met someone who works in that sector anyway.
To get through to the essence of this, there should be a discussion of many unique issues:
* Your personal interests and hobbies - as they can define what areas will satisfy you.
* Is your focus to get qualified due to a precise reason - for instance, do you aim to work at home (working for yourself?)?
* Have you thought about salary vs the travel required?
* Getting to grips with what typical career roles and markets are - and what makes them different.
* Having a proper look into the effort, commitment and time that you can put aside.
To completely side-step the industry jargon, and reveal the best route for you, have an informal chat with an experienced professional; an individual that understands the commercial reality whilst covering each qualification.
A valuable training package will also include wholly authorised exam preparation systems.
Don't fall foul of depending on unauthorised preparation materials for exams. The way they're phrased is sometimes startlingly different - and this leads to huge confusion when it comes to taking the real exam.
Ensure that you have some simulated exam questions in order to verify your knowledge whenever you need to. Practice or 'mock' exams will help to boost your attitude - so you won't be quite so nervous at the actual exam.
Locating job security in this economic down-turn is very rare. Businesses can throw us from the workplace at a moment's notice - whenever it suits.
It's possible though to hit upon market-level security, by searching for areas that have high demand, mixed with work-skill shortages.
The Information Technology (IT) skills shortfall around the country currently stands at approx twenty six percent, as shown by the 2006 e-Skills investigation. This shows that for every 4 jobs that are available in IT, there are only 3 trained people to fulfil that role.
Properly trained and commercially accredited new staff are consequently at a resounding premium, and in all likelihood it will stay that way for many years to come.
It would be hard to imagine if a better time or market circumstances could exist for obtaining certification in this hugely increasing and evolving industry.
Searching for your first position in IT can feel more straightforward with the help of a Job Placement Assistance facility. With the massive shortage of skills in Britain even when times are hard, it's not too important to become overly impressed with this service however. It really won't be that difficult to land employment once you're well trained and qualified.
However, what is relevant is to have advice and support about your CV and interviews though; additionally, we would recommend everybody to bring their CV up to date the day they start training - don't put it off until you've graduated or passed any exams.
It's possible that you won't have even passed your first exam when you land your first junior support position; yet this won't be the case if your CV isn't in front of employers.
If it's important to you to find work near your home, then you'll probably find that a local (but specialised) recruitment consultancy might serve you better than some national concern, for they're going to know local employment needs.
A good number of students, it seems, are prepared to study their hearts out (sometimes for years), only to give up at the first hurdle when attempting to secure a good job. Introduce yourself... Do everything you can to get in front of employers. A job isn't just going to bump into you.
Commercial qualifications are now, undoubtedly, starting to replace the more academic tracks into the IT sector - but why is this?
Industry now acknowledges that to learn the appropriate commercial skills, certified accreditation from the likes of Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe most often has much more specialised relevance - for much less time and money.
Obviously, a necessary portion of background information has to be learned, but focused specialisation in the particular job function gives a vendor educated person a distinct advantage.
Put yourself in the employer's position - and you required somebody who had very specific skills. What is easier: Wade your way through loads of academic qualifications from graduate applicants, having to ask what each has covered and which workplace skills have been attained, or select a specialised number of commercial certifications that precisely match your needs, and make your short-list from that. You'll then be able to concentrate on getting a feel for the person at interview - rather than on the depth of their technical knowledge. - 30202
About the Author:
(C) Jason Kendall. Hop over to LearningLolly.com for clear career advice on New Career Training and Cisco Training Courses.
