Training For a Career in Cisco CCNA Explained
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by: Jason Kendall
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Date: Tue, 13 Apr 2010 Time: 12:51 PM
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The CCNA qualification is your entry level for training in Cisco. This teaches you how to work on maintaining and installing routers and network switches. Fundamentally, the internet is based upon huge numbers of routers, and big organisations who have a number of branches need them to allow their networks of computers to communicate.
As routers are connected to networks, it is vital to have prior knowledge of the operation of networks, or you will be out of your depth with the course and be unable to follow the work. Find training that teaches the basics (CompTIA is a good one) before you start the CCNA.
The CCNA qualification is all you need at this stage - don't be pushed into attempting your CCNP for now. Once you've worked for a few years you will know if this next level is for you. Should that be the case, you'll be much more capable to succeed at that stage - because you'll have so much more experience.
An important area that is sometimes not even considered by those considering a training program is that of 'training segmentation'. This basically means the breakdown of the materials for delivery to you, which makes a huge difference to what you end up with.
Many think it logical (with training often lasting 2 or 3 years to pass all the required exams,) for a training company to release one section at a time, as you pass each element. But:
What would happen if you didn't finish each element at the required speed? Often the staged order doesn't work as well as another different route may.
To be straight, the very best answer is to have their ideal 'order' of training laid out, but to receive all the materials up-front. You then have everything in the event you don't complete everything quite as quick as they'd want.
An all too common mistake that many potential students make is to concentrate on the course itself, and not focus on where they want to get to. Schools have thousands of unaware students who chose a course based on what sounded good - instead of the program that would surely get them their end-goal of a job they enjoyed.
Never let yourself become part of that group that choose a course that seems 'fun' or 'interesting' - and end up with a plaque on the wall for a career they'll never really get any satisfaction from.
It's a good idea to understand the exact expectations industry will have. Which precise certifications they'll want you to gain and how you'll go about getting some commercial experience. It's definitely worth spending time setting guidelines as to how far you'd like to get as it will force you to choose a particular set of accreditations.
It's worth seeking help from someone who understands the sector you're considering, and will be able to provide 'A typical day in the life of' explanation of the job being considered. These things are absolutely essential as you'll need to fully understand if you're barking up the wrong tree.
There are a plethora of jobs and positions available in computing. Deciding which one could be right for yourself can be very difficult.
What is our likelihood of grasping the many facets of a particular career when we've never done it? Often we don't even know anybody who works in that sector anyway.
To come through this, we need to discuss many unique issues:
* Your hobbies and interests - as they can show the possibilities will provide a happy working life.
* Is your focus to obtain training due to a specific motive - e.g. are you looking at working based at home (self-employment possibly?)?
* Does salary have a higher place on your priority-scale than some other areas.
* Looking at the many markets that Information Technology encapsulates, it's important to be able to understand the differences.
* The level of commitment and effort you will commit the training program.
Ultimately, the only real way of investigating all this is through a long chat with a professional that understands the market well enough to provide solid advice.
A subtle way that course providers make more money is by adding exam fees upfront to the cost of a course and offering an exam guarantee. This sounds impressive, but let's just examine it more closely:
These days, we tend to be a bit more aware of hype - and usually we know that for sure we are actually being charged for it (it's not a freebie because they like us so much!)
It's everybody's ambition to qualify on the first attempt. Going for exams when it's appropriate and funding them as you go sees you much better placed to get through first time - you put the effort in and are aware of the costs involved.
Do the examinations as locally as possible and find the best exam deal or offer available then.
What's the point in paying early for examinations when there's absolutely nothing that says you have to? A great deal of money is made by companies charging all their exam fees up-front - and banking on the fact that many won't be taken.
Re-takes of any failed exams via training course providers who offer an 'Exam Guarantee' are tightly controlled. You will be required to do mock exams so you can prove to them you have a good chance of passing.
Splashing out often many hundreds of pounds extra on an 'Exam Guarantee' is remiss - when study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams is what will really guarantee success.
About the Author
(C) 2009 S. Edwards. Try HERE or CiscoTraining4U.co.uk.
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