I'm having one of those "what do I want to do" crisis'. I'm thinking about trainging to become Cisco certified, but am far from having a good base knowledge to begin. All I've really done in the IT field is work in manufacturing at Compaq for 8 months and as a PC Tech for a petro-checmical company for another 8 months. I'd like to go into network security at some point, but don't really know where to start. Can anybody recommend a good path to accomplishing this goal? ------------------ Anger is a weed. Hate is a tree.
Good thread, Pimp Daddy! I'm interested in reading some responses. Moving this back to the top!! ------------------
I was just recently Crisco certified, does that count? ------------------ The man Of virtuous soul commands not, nor obeys: Power, like a desolating pestilence, Pollutes whate'er it touches, and obedience Bane of all genius, virtue, freedom, truth, Makes slaves of men, and, of the human frame, A mechanized automaton. Percy Bysshe Shelley
Crisco was on my mind too Keep your options open and don't become specialized. Network security might sound cool and intresting, but you might get into it and not like it. Takes a few classes and try to intern ... im sure Compaq would hire you back. ------------------ "Where there is a will ... I want on it."
Does your wife know?! ------------------ "I'll tell you this, the older I get, the less I trust people. It's true. It's damn true." -- gr8-1 going through some growing pains.
RocketsPimp -- do you have any certifications right now? ------------------ I'm looking for a job, so hire me "And I just have to smile and say 'well, I hope so' while I'm really thinking inside how I'd like to just strangle them and take their job."
A friend of mine just did it. Big bucks. I believe it has oustanding value for a certification. He bought all the Cisco books (expensive) and studied for a year, doing practice test after test. More important, he got a job at an ISP that gave him a playground. The Cisco exam has a hands-all test. You must fly to a testing center and pay for it. He flew to San Jose. This is a difficult test to pass via just studying books. I recommend that path. Get any tech job at an ISP, try for the on-site installation jobs. Tell them you are studying for the Cisco exam and you would like a job that gives you hands on experience. and study, take many practice tests. The hands-on exam is too expensive to take multiple times.
Crisco has been certified insane more than once?????? ------------------ "The things I enjoy most, I suck at: 1) Sex: everything's fine until she makes noises." - Achebe
I recently bought a book to help me study for the CCNA exam. I've also read about the A+ exam as well as Networking Essentials for MCSE. I have a friend who is already an MCSE (he's 17) and there are a lot of opportunities for someone with these certifications. ------------------
Cisco is free at a lot of high schools now, guess that doesnt help you out though. Kids have been known to drop out of HS freshman year to do C+ work, 65-70000 salary. ------------------ "banging Shaq is a whole different expirience"-Pete Babcock Behold the power of quotation
In that case, you should work on passing your first Microsoft test, making you an MCP and then complete the whole MCSE process. Once you have that, then go for Cisco. Yes, you do have to fly to San Jose for the ultimate hands on test. If you pass, you will easily earn a six figure income. They offer a practice lab at UT. I'm not into networking. I am working on OCP certification and learning some VB. My brother is the networking guru so that's why I know anything about it. Good luck! ------------------ There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.
I'd suggest maybe getting one prior to that, just so you have some experience with the whole process under your belt. A+ is usually considered the gateway certification, but that opinion has been changing. MCSE is kindof the one that everyone "should" get, then deciding to go for Cisco, Oracle or whatever you want from there. But I have no certifications, so what do I know? (I may go get the A+ though) ------------------ I'm looking for a job, so hire me "And I just have to smile and say 'well, I hope so' while I'm really thinking inside how I'd like to just strangle them and take their job."
what about the stock of CISCO, isn't it sinking? Wouldn't that be a problem....maybe...??? ------------------ humble, but hungry.
The stock doesn't matter so much as who's using their equipment. I'd be more worried about companies such as Juniper Networks taking away marketshare from Cisco. Remember all the folks that clammored over getting Novell-certified? As for MCSE's and whatnot... everybody and their mother is getting those things. Are companies still handing out pay bonuses or premiums for having an MCSE? I've known some boneheaded people that managed to get one. ------------------ "Colson makes a mockery of the PG position. It's like he's out there playing 1 on 9." -- pippendagimp with some candid player evaluations.
