by Jason Kendall
Training in Cisco is intended for individuals who want to learn about routers and switches. Routers join up networks of computers over the internet or dedicated lines. It’s most probable that your first course should be CCNA. It’s not advisable to launch directly into your CCNP as it’s a considerable step up – and you should gain some working knowledge to have a go at this.
It’s very probable you’ll get a job with an internet service provider or maybe a large company which is spread out geographically but still wants internal communication. This career path is very well paid and quite specialised.
The correct skill set and comprehension in advance of getting going on the Cisco CCNA is very important. So find an advisor who will be able to help you.
What are the questions we should be raising to gain the understanding we need? Since it seems there are a good many quite unparalleled opportunities for us to look at.
Don’t forget: a actual training program or a certification is not what you’re looking for; the job or career that you’re getting the training for is. A lot of colleges seem to over-emphasise the actual accreditation. You may train for one year and then end up performing the job-role for decades. Avoid the mistake of finding what seems like a program of interest to you and then put 10-20 years into an unrewarding career!
You also need to know your feelings on career progression and earning potential, and how ambitious you are. It makes sense to understand what will be expected of you, what qualifications they want you to have and how you’ll gain real-world experience. Seek out help from an industry professional that understands the sector you wish to join, and who can give you ‘A day in the life of’ understanding of what kinds of tasks you’ll be undertaking on a day-to-day basis. It just makes sense to know if this change is right for you well before you start on any retraining programme. There’s little reason in starting your training only to find you’ve taken the wrong route.
All programs you’re considering should always lead to a commercially valid accreditation as an end-result – definitely not some ‘in-house’ plaque for your wall. Unless the accreditation comes from a big-hitter like Microsoft, Adobe, CompTIA or Cisco, then you may discover it won’t be commercially viable – because no-one will recognise it.
If you’re like many of the students we talk to then you’re quite practically minded – a ‘hands-on’ type. If you’re like us, the unfortunate chore of reading reference guides is something you’ll force on yourself if you absolutely have to, but you’d hate it. So look for on-screen interactive learning packages if books just don’t do it for you. Memory is vastly improved when multiple senses are involved – educational experts have expounded on this for as long as we can remember.
Start a study-program in which you’re provided with an array of CD and DVD ROM’s – you’ll learn by watching video tutorials and demonstrations, and be able to hone your abilities through virtual lab’s. Any company that you’re considering must be able to demonstrate a few samples of the materials provided for study. You’re looking for evidence of tutorial videos and demonstrations and a wide selection of interactive elements.
Go for actual CD or DVD ROM’s where possible. You’re then protected from broadband ‘downtime’ or slow-speeds.
Proper support is incredibly important – ensure you track down something that includes 24×7 access, as not obtaining this level of support will severely hold up your pace and restrict your intake. Beware of institutions that use call-centres ‘out-of-hours’ – with the call-back coming in during office hours. It’s no use when you’re stuck on a problem and need help now.
Keep your eyes open for training programs that have multiple support offices around the globe in several time-zones. Every one of them needs to be seamlessly combined to give a single entry point and also 24 hours-a-day access, when you want it, with no fuss. If you fail to get yourself direct-access round-the-clock support, you’ll regret it very quickly. You may not need it during late nights, but what about weekends, late evenings or early mornings.
Adding in the cost of examination fees as an inclusive element of the package price then including an exam guarantee is a common method with many training course providers. But look at the facts:
Thankfully, today we tend to be a bit more aware of hype – and the majority of us ought to cotton on to the fact that we’re actually paying for it (it isn’t free or out of the goodness of their hearts!) The honest truth is that when trainees fund each examination, one by one, the chances are they’re going to qualify each time – because they’ll be conscious of their investment in themselves and will therefore apply themselves appropriately.
Find the best exam deal or offer available at the appropriate time, and avoid college mark-up fees. You’ll also be able to choose where to do the examinations – which means you can stay local. Paying upfront for examinations (and if you’re financing your study there’ll be interest on that) is madness. Don’t line companies bank accounts with extra money of yours simply to help their cash-flow! Some will be pinning their hopes on the fact that you won’t get round to taking them – so they don’t need to pay for them. You should fully understand that re-takes through training companies who offer an ‘Exam Guarantee’ are monitored with tight restrictions. They will insist that you take pre-tests first so you can prove to them you have a good chance of passing.
With average prices for VUE and Pro-metric examinations coming in at around 112 pounds in the UK, it makes sense to pay as you go. There’s no sense in throwing away maybe a thousand pounds extra at the start of your studies. Commitment, effort and practice with quality exam preparation systems are the factors that really get you through.
OK, why might we choose commercially accredited qualifications as opposed to familiar academic qualifications obtained from the state educational establishments? Corporate based study (as it’s known in the industry) is more effective in the commercial field. Industry has realised that a specialist skill-set is what’s needed to cope with a technically advancing marketplace. Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA are the dominant players. Patently, an appropriate portion of associated knowledge needs to be covered, but focused specialised knowledge in the exact job role gives a commercially educated person a distinct advantage.
Think about if you were the employer – and you wanted someone who could provide a specific set of skills. Which is the most straightforward: Wade your way through a mass of different academic qualifications from various applicants, having to ask what each has covered and what commercial skills have been attained, or choose particular accreditations that specifically match what you’re looking for, and make your short-list from that. Your interviews are then about personal suitability – instead of having to work out if they can do the job.
The world of information technology is one of the more thrilling and changing industries that you can get into right now. Being a member of a team working on breakthroughs in technology puts you at the fore-front of developments shaping life over the next few decades. We’re in the very early stages of beginning to see just how technology will affect our lives in the future. Computers and the web will massively alter how we regard and interact with the entire world over the next few years.
Should lifestyle be around the top on your scale of wants, then you’ll welcome the news that the usual remuneration for IT employees in general is noticeably better than with the rest of the economy. Experts agree that there’s a great nationwide requirement for qualified IT professionals. In addition, as the industry constantly develops, it looks like there’s going to be for a good while yet.
About the Author:
Jason Kendall advises and writes on the very latest forms of computer based training in the UK. For advice on
CCNA Certification, visit LearningLolly
CCNA Training.