What IT related course should I do next (CCNA completed)
Discussion
I'm trying to get into IT as a career, I'm pretty proficient and confident, but have had nothing to back up that proficiency in terms of qualifications, so after finally realising a job isn't going to appear out of thin air for me, I signed up for a CCNA course which yesterday I passed pretty comfortably 
.
I really really enjoy networking so this is an area I'd love to get into, but other than taking the next CISCO course, what else should I consider to broaden my appeal to prospective employees?
MCSE appeals, but which one? I'd have thought server would complement my CCNA quite well?
Thoughts and ideas most welcome.
Thanks!
.I really really enjoy networking so this is an area I'd love to get into, but other than taking the next CISCO course, what else should I consider to broaden my appeal to prospective employees?
MCSE appeals, but which one? I'd have thought server would complement my CCNA quite well?
Thoughts and ideas most welcome.
Thanks!
What kind of work are you currently doing?
TBH courses are great and often a requirement, but not many companies are going to take you on without experience, so I would start looking for roles
There are some decent networking entry roles out there, esp around the M4 corridor, at my last company though they did specify a degree, but then although the roles were entry roles they had a lot of exposure.
I would try and get some experience and exposure on your CV, as being knee deep in s
t when the entire work network is down is completely different from sitting in a cushty exam hall answering questions. and employers know this.
Good luck, whereabouts you based?
TBH courses are great and often a requirement, but not many companies are going to take you on without experience, so I would start looking for roles
There are some decent networking entry roles out there, esp around the M4 corridor, at my last company though they did specify a degree, but then although the roles were entry roles they had a lot of exposure.
I would try and get some experience and exposure on your CV, as being knee deep in s
t when the entire work network is down is completely different from sitting in a cushty exam hall answering questions. and employers know this.Good luck, whereabouts you based?
Richyvrlimited said:
I'm trying to get into IT as a career, I'm pretty proficient and confident, but have had nothing to back up that proficiency in terms of qualifications, so after finally realising a job isn't going to appear out of thin air for me, I signed up for a CCNA course which yesterday I passed pretty comfortably .
I really really enjoy networking so this is an area I'd love to get into, but other than taking the next CISCO course, what else should I consider to broaden my appeal to prospective employees?
MCSE appeals, but which one? I'd have thought server would complement my CCNA quite well?
Thoughts and ideas most welcome.
Thanks!
Get some experience now, bits of paper are nothing without proof you can actually do the job!.I really really enjoy networking so this is an area I'd love to get into, but other than taking the next CISCO course, what else should I consider to broaden my appeal to prospective employees?
MCSE appeals, but which one? I'd have thought server would complement my CCNA quite well?
Thoughts and ideas most welcome.
Thanks!
MSCE's would be good, are you wanting to focus on a particular field or just general networking/support engineer?
Have you got a full CCNA 4 or just 1&2?
Any other IT Qualifications?
That's the thing, I'm well aware experience is important, it is very much catch22 though, can't get experience without the job, but can't get the job without experience. I figured I had to start somewhere and at least with certificates validating my knowledge it'll help.
Currently, I work for the NHS in Project Management (support), more like a one man PMO more than anything.
It's glorified admin and bores me to tears. However I have spoken with the head of IT who I speak to pretty regularly and asked if I can help in any way and I think the offer is being taken seriously so that will help with experience, I'm very friendly with all of the IT staff, I like to think they're aware I'm competent
It's the full CCNA, so all 4 semesters not CCIE which is only the first two.
I probably should add I'm in the North West and presently moving location isn't really an option unfortunately.
No other IT qualifications I'm afraid, hence the query about what next. My dad is a Network designer and has been in IT all his life - so I've been in and around PC's/tech my entire life. I kind of assumed in my youth I'd ride on his coat tails and a job would fall into my lap with no effort. Thankfully I've come to my senses and am actually putting effort in - and trying to make up for lost time!!
Currently, I work for the NHS in Project Management (support), more like a one man PMO more than anything.
It's glorified admin and bores me to tears. However I have spoken with the head of IT who I speak to pretty regularly and asked if I can help in any way and I think the offer is being taken seriously so that will help with experience, I'm very friendly with all of the IT staff, I like to think they're aware I'm competent
It's the full CCNA, so all 4 semesters not CCIE which is only the first two.
I probably should add I'm in the North West and presently moving location isn't really an option unfortunately.
No other IT qualifications I'm afraid, hence the query about what next. My dad is a Network designer and has been in IT all his life - so I've been in and around PC's/tech my entire life. I kind of assumed in my youth I'd ride on his coat tails and a job would fall into my lap with no effort. Thankfully I've come to my senses and am actually putting effort in - and trying to make up for lost time!!
Edited by Richyvrlimited on Thursday 9th May 11:31
I would carry on trying to get experience with the head of IT, they might offer you a job in future if you show promise, bosses prefer going with a known quantity, even if they need training up than risk someone new
Could you apply for internal roles in IT project management @ NHS?
Get on to any local charities or volunteer organisations and offer to assist with their IT, this would be good hands on experience and give employers more reassurance when viewing your CV
Have a think if you can get your hands on any other IT experience, any other friends/family in the industry?
Could you apply for internal roles in IT project management @ NHS?
Get on to any local charities or volunteer organisations and offer to assist with their IT, this would be good hands on experience and give employers more reassurance when viewing your CV
Have a think if you can get your hands on any other IT experience, any other friends/family in the industry?
TwistingMyMelon said:
I would carry on trying to get experience with the head of IT, they might offer you a job in future if you show promise, bosses prefer going with a known quantity, even if they need training up than risk someone new
Could you apply for internal roles in IT project management @ NHS?
Get on to any local charities or volunteer organisations and offer to assist with their IT, this would be good hands on experience and give employers more reassurance when viewing your CV
Have a think if you can get your hands on any other IT experience, any other friends/family in the industry?
Thanks, I'll keep pestering the head of IT (nicely!).Could you apply for internal roles in IT project management @ NHS?
Get on to any local charities or volunteer organisations and offer to assist with their IT, this would be good hands on experience and give employers more reassurance when viewing your CV
Have a think if you can get your hands on any other IT experience, any other friends/family in the industry?
I'm certainly eligible to apply for IT Project Management roles, but to be honest I'm not really that keen on going the Project Manager route, I've realised when doing my course that I far prefer the technical aspects more.
There's no-one else I know in the industry really other than the old man, so I think my best course of action is to do as you say, volunteer somewhere and try to ensure I manage to get experience in my current job.
Appreciate the help.
Richyvrlimited said:
It's the full CCNA, so all 4 semesters not CCIE which is only the first two.[/footnote]
Not sure I follow that, CCIE is the top qualification from Cisco and used to require that you do a proper written exam back when I did networks (I'm an expired CCNP & CCDP). It goes CCNA --> CCNP --> CCIE. Look at getting a short term contract at a small firm doing any sort of networking that you can, put a few of those short term contracts together to get enough experience to work somewhere bigger. Other option is to go into the help desk of a medium sized firm and work your way up, but that takes an age and is risky these days.
Too many qualifications without experience can be detrimental to your job prospects. Not many people want to work with somebody with a binder full of paper qualifications and not enough real world experience. Stick with one thing, either be a Microsoft guy or a Cisco guy, don't try and do both at this point unless you want to be a one man support band for small companies. I learnt a lot from doing my CCNP & CCDP that still applies today, it'd be worth working towards that once you start getting some experience.
tankplanker said:
ot sure I follow that, CCIE is the top qualification from Cisco and used to require that you do a proper written exam back when I did networks (I'm an expired CCNP & CCDP). It goes CCNA --> CCNP --> CCIE.
I'm a complete plank, I meant CCENT!tankplanker said:
Look at getting a short term contract at a small firm doing any sort of networking that you can, put a few of those short term contracts together to get enough experience to work somewhere bigger. Other option is to go into the help desk of a medium sized firm and work your way up, but that takes an age and is risky these days.
Too many qualifications without experience can be detrimental to your job prospects. Not many people want to work with somebody with a binder full of paper qualifications and not enough real world experience. Stick with one thing, either be a Microsoft guy or a Cisco guy, don't try and do both at this point unless you want to be a one man support band for small companies. I learnt a lot from doing my CCNP & CCDP that still applies today, it'd be worth working towards that once you start getting some experience.
Good advise, many thanksToo many qualifications without experience can be detrimental to your job prospects. Not many people want to work with somebody with a binder full of paper qualifications and not enough real world experience. Stick with one thing, either be a Microsoft guy or a Cisco guy, don't try and do both at this point unless you want to be a one man support band for small companies. I learnt a lot from doing my CCNP & CCDP that still applies today, it'd be worth working towards that once you start getting some experience.
JapFreak786 said:
Are you not interested in developing your role from a Project side further? Quite a fair chunk of money in that area once you have the right experience
No, it's really not about the money at all. (Although I'm well aware a good Network designer can earn a lot of money).Richyvrlimited said:
TwistingMyMelon said:
I would carry on trying to get experience with the head of IT, they might offer you a job in future if you show promise, bosses prefer going with a known quantity, even if they need training up than risk someone new
Could you apply for internal roles in IT project management @ NHS?
Get on to any local charities or volunteer organisations and offer to assist with their IT, this would be good hands on experience and give employers more reassurance when viewing your CV
Have a think if you can get your hands on any other IT experience, any other friends/family in the industry?
Thanks, I'll keep pestering the head of IT (nicely!).Could you apply for internal roles in IT project management @ NHS?
Get on to any local charities or volunteer organisations and offer to assist with their IT, this would be good hands on experience and give employers more reassurance when viewing your CV
Have a think if you can get your hands on any other IT experience, any other friends/family in the industry?
I'm certainly eligible to apply for IT Project Management roles, but to be honest I'm not really that keen on going the Project Manager route, I've realised when doing my course that I far prefer the technical aspects more.
There's no-one else I know in the industry really other than the old man, so I think my best course of action is to do as you say, volunteer somewhere and try to ensure I manage to get experience in my current job.
Appreciate the help.
Thinking back to when I was last interviewing for a IT Support role that supported a satellite office (so did everything!), the Global Director and I were keen on:
Good personal skills, remember you deal with people often as much as the tech, with a friendly not too nerdy attitude
Good hands on experience and able to speak through examples of "situations", such as servers breaking, issues etc...We often asked "what would you do in this situation"
Qualifications and Academic experience
Willingness to learn and pick up new skills and stay on top of new tech
Get some good hands on experience, come across well with a good professional work attitude accompanied with some relevent technical certs/academic qulaifications and you are halfway there to getting an IT role!
Richyvrlimited said:
That's the thing, I'm well aware experience is important, it is very much catch22 though, can't get experience without the job, but can't get the job without experience. I figured I had to start somewhere and at least with certificates validating my knowledge it'll help.
Currently, I work for the NHS in Project Management (support), more like a one man PMO more than anything.
It's glorified admin and bores me to tears. However I have spoken with the head of IT who I speak to pretty regularly and asked if I can help in any way and I think the offer is being taken seriously so that will help with experience, I'm very friendly with all of the IT staff, I like to think they're aware I'm competent
It's the full CCNA, so all 4 semesters not CCIE which is only the first two.
I probably should add I'm in the North West and presently moving location isn't really an option unfortunately.
No other IT qualifications I'm afraid, hence the query about what next. My dad is a Network designer and has been in IT all his life - so I've been in and around PC's/tech my entire life. I kind of assumed in my youth I'd ride on his coat tails and a job would fall into my lap with no effort. Thankfully I've come to my senses and am actually putting effort in - and trying to make up for lost time!!
Apply to local tech support companies, they might take you on as a junior engineer, although I know your CCNA takes you well past that level, it gives you experience in support, and you will learn far more fixing broken stuff 24/7 than you ever will in a classroom!Currently, I work for the NHS in Project Management (support), more like a one man PMO more than anything.
It's glorified admin and bores me to tears. However I have spoken with the head of IT who I speak to pretty regularly and asked if I can help in any way and I think the offer is being taken seriously so that will help with experience, I'm very friendly with all of the IT staff, I like to think they're aware I'm competent
It's the full CCNA, so all 4 semesters not CCIE which is only the first two.
I probably should add I'm in the North West and presently moving location isn't really an option unfortunately.
No other IT qualifications I'm afraid, hence the query about what next. My dad is a Network designer and has been in IT all his life - so I've been in and around PC's/tech my entire life. I kind of assumed in my youth I'd ride on his coat tails and a job would fall into my lap with no effort. Thankfully I've come to my senses and am actually putting effort in - and trying to make up for lost time!!
Edited by Richyvrlimited on Thursday 9th May 11:31
Or, as above, push for a job in the NHS IT department, that would be a good move!
We've just taken on a girl (Starts on June 1st) that was working in Electronics/Circuit board based diagnostics and she decided to go and get her CCNA off her own back just like you. She has little experience of networking so her salary is entry level at best, but given a few months with us and I'm sure she'll be a success.
I think first off I just wanted to say this because this is an immediate example of how you have taken the initiative to do this and you can make a success of it. Provided your interpersonal skills are up to scratch you'll do just fine.
A few things to note:
- In terms of certs the CCNA is a great start because you need the fundamentals of networking under your belt to be useful to someone like us.
- It's in your interest to narrow down your specific interest. I would suggest picking CCNA security, CCNA voice, CCNA service Provider (If you want to work for an SP), or go for your CCNP.
The problem with going for CCNP is that (as someone already mentioned) you'll be heavily qualified but under experienced. Companies like ours (A Cisco partner) tend to have specific needs for someone to work on security cases on the help desk, or voice etc etc. In fact, we have a policy now that all NOC engineers should work towards CCNA Voice because we have so many voice customers.
- If networking is your thing, then don't worry about MCSE. I get loads of exposure to things like Exchange and AD because we have to integrate the voice products (Or even basic stuff like TACACS/RADIUS) to the Microsoft stuff.
Keep an eye out for Cisco partners looking for NOC engineers as this is always a good place to start. Personally I'm a Project engineer full time so the benefit you have (in working towards this) is that you have Project Management experience; and obviously you have to be able to manage your own projects while the technical ability will come with time.
Good luck, and I'm sure you'll have as much fun (And exhaustion) as I do.
I think first off I just wanted to say this because this is an immediate example of how you have taken the initiative to do this and you can make a success of it. Provided your interpersonal skills are up to scratch you'll do just fine.
A few things to note:
- In terms of certs the CCNA is a great start because you need the fundamentals of networking under your belt to be useful to someone like us.
- It's in your interest to narrow down your specific interest. I would suggest picking CCNA security, CCNA voice, CCNA service Provider (If you want to work for an SP), or go for your CCNP.
The problem with going for CCNP is that (as someone already mentioned) you'll be heavily qualified but under experienced. Companies like ours (A Cisco partner) tend to have specific needs for someone to work on security cases on the help desk, or voice etc etc. In fact, we have a policy now that all NOC engineers should work towards CCNA Voice because we have so many voice customers.
- If networking is your thing, then don't worry about MCSE. I get loads of exposure to things like Exchange and AD because we have to integrate the voice products (Or even basic stuff like TACACS/RADIUS) to the Microsoft stuff.
Keep an eye out for Cisco partners looking for NOC engineers as this is always a good place to start. Personally I'm a Project engineer full time so the benefit you have (in working towards this) is that you have Project Management experience; and obviously you have to be able to manage your own projects while the technical ability will come with time.
Good luck, and I'm sure you'll have as much fun (And exhaustion) as I do.
A basic CCNA is a commodity qualification. There are loads of people with one but no experience. And loads with a CCNA, experience and who will work for peanuts from somewhere like India.
It's a good start though.
You will need to specialist to get beyond a basic wage. Voice is my speciality(specifically contact centres) but Wireless/wifi, voice, security, data centre and video are all good areas. Cisco does a lot more than just networking now. Having a basic understanding of networking always helps.
It's a good start though.
You will need to specialist to get beyond a basic wage. Voice is my speciality(specifically contact centres) but Wireless/wifi, voice, security, data centre and video are all good areas. Cisco does a lot more than just networking now. Having a basic understanding of networking always helps.
Bullett said:
A basic CCNA is a commodity qualification. There are loads of people with one but no experience. And loads with a CCNA, experience and who will work for peanuts from somewhere like India.
It's a good start though.
You will need to specialist to get beyond a basic wage. Voice is my speciality(specifically contact centres) but Wireless/wifi, voice, security, data centre and video are all good areas. Cisco does a lot more than just networking now. Having a basic understanding of networking always helps.
Understood loud and clear It's a good start though.
You will need to specialist to get beyond a basic wage. Voice is my speciality(specifically contact centres) but Wireless/wifi, voice, security, data centre and video are all good areas. Cisco does a lot more than just networking now. Having a basic understanding of networking always helps.
I like the idea of specialising in voice for some reason.I will say though, from browsing the CISCO learning network forum, an awful lot of these 'Indians etc' with a CCNA who work for peanuts, really haven't got a clue
I think that can be said of lots of people with a paper CCNA!
You need to decide what side of it you want to specialise in. The geeky stuff, fiddling with routers and switches, configuring/designing or the more people related side. Requirements gathering, whiteboard workshops the more project/touchy feely side. I like the people and technology interface so Voice is great for that, it's not so much about the technology as the interaction between man and machine.
For voice stuff look at Call Manager or CUCM as it gets called now. SIP, ISDN, SBC (Cubes), voice gateways, vxml, codecs (G711 vs G729 etc) voice is much focused on QoS and latency, that's the network end of voice.
Voice tends to cross over into chat, presence and video as well now.
Also consider learning something like MS Lync, which is becoming very popular.
You need to decide what side of it you want to specialise in. The geeky stuff, fiddling with routers and switches, configuring/designing or the more people related side. Requirements gathering, whiteboard workshops the more project/touchy feely side. I like the people and technology interface so Voice is great for that, it's not so much about the technology as the interaction between man and machine.
For voice stuff look at Call Manager or CUCM as it gets called now. SIP, ISDN, SBC (Cubes), voice gateways, vxml, codecs (G711 vs G729 etc) voice is much focused on QoS and latency, that's the network end of voice.
Voice tends to cross over into chat, presence and video as well now.
Also consider learning something like MS Lync, which is becoming very popular.
tankplanker said:
Richyvrlimited said:
It's the full CCNA, so all 4 semesters not CCIE which is only the first two.[/footnote]
Not sure I follow that, CCIE is the top qualification from Cisco and used to require that you do a proper written exam back when I did networks (I'm an expired CCNP & CCDP). It goes CCNA --> CCNP --> CCIE. Look at getting a short term contract at a small firm doing any sort of networking that you can, put a few of those short term contracts together to get enough experience to work somewhere bigger. Other option is to go into the help desk of a medium sized firm and work your way up, but that takes an age and is risky these days.
Too many qualifications without experience can be detrimental to your job prospects. Not many people want to work with somebody with a binder full of paper qualifications and not enough real world experience. Stick with one thing, either be a Microsoft guy or a Cisco guy, don't try and do both at this point unless you want to be a one man support band for small companies. I learnt a lot from doing my CCNP & CCDP that still applies today, it'd be worth working towards that once you start getting some experience.
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