I've worked my way from the CCNA to the CCIE, and along the way I've conducted job interviews and casual conversations with dozens of CCNAs and CCNA candidates. Believe me, people who "sneak by" the CCNA exam by braindumps, memorization, and never touching a router or switch are QUICKLY found out in job interviews and on the job.
The field will always need qualified CCNAs. The key word is "qualified". How can you make sure you're truly qualified? It's actually pretty simple.
1. Use routers and switches in your study, not simulators. Simulators are OK to start with, but when you're in the interview room and you're taken to the network room, that simulator's not going to be there. Real routers and switches are. With all due respect to the simulators on the market, they're not routers and switches. Don't fool yourself.
Attend a CCNA class that gets you plenty of time on real Cisco equipment. Used Cisco equipment is cheaper than ever. Look at it this way -- you can put together a true CCNA lab that you can also use for CCNP study for less than $1000. When you choose to sell it, you can get half of that back. A small investment like that pays huge dividends in your future.
2. Know binary math. Some leading CCNA books tell you to just memorize a chart to get by the exam. I wish I had a nickel for every CCNA that hasn't been able to solve a simple subnetting problem in a job interview. Someone who doesn't know binary math is not going to go far. Who's going to remember that chart they memorized for the exam six months ago?
3. Run plenty of "show" and "debug" commands when running labs. These are the commands that show you what's going on "behind the command". You need to know what is really happening when you put in a command when you get asked about it in an interview.
These three simple points separate the real CCNAs from the ones who got lucky or braindumped their way to success. By constructing a solid foundation of Cisco knowledge at the CCNA level, you build the bridgework for a lifetime of career success. You don't have to have a lot of job experience to get a CCNA job, but you do have to really understand the subject matter.
It worked for me. I went from the CCNA to the CCIE in this manner, and the habits I developed at the CCNA level followed me all the way to the top. It can happen for you, too!
Good luck!
About The Author
thebryantadvantage.com is owned and operated by Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933. He has worked his way from the CCNA to the CCIE, has interviewed dozens of CCNAs, and knows what makes the difference between someone who knows how to do the job and who doesn't. He teaches these skills to small groups of five students at a time with his custom-written Study Guide and Lab Workbook. By keeping the groups small, every student gets the attention they deserve. For CCNA and CCNP training at its finest, either in-person or over the Internet, visit him at thebryantadvantage.com today!
Barrington South Lincoln Stretch rentals .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareGOT VIRUS? Your Data is NOT lost forever!In the wake... Read More
Do you use Windows standard uninstall feature? How do you... Read More
Digital Video Disc or as it is sometimes referred to... Read More
As the web has evolved, so have the methods of... Read More
That desk in front of you and everything else around... Read More
When you think of a help desk, what do you... Read More
How familiar does the following sound? Your computer was working... Read More
Selecting a TV isn't as easy as it used to... Read More
Stop Getting LostOne of the greatest uses for a pocket... Read More
IntroductionMac OS X is the most technologically advanced operating system... Read More
Are you thinking of buying an Apple iPod? Or have... Read More
Has This Ever Happened To You? OK.. it's Friday night,... Read More
After reading this good article you will know some important... Read More
JPEG, GIFF/JIFF, BMP, and TIFF are the most commonly used... Read More
A computer needs a certain amount of information to operate;... Read More
Not so many years ago, homes across the country watched... Read More
All of us are familiar with the pyramids of Egypt.... Read More
Webmasters usually sit at their computers much longer in a... Read More
I'm eighty-one years old and I bought my first computer... Read More
Winter?the official start of the cold and flu season. Though,... Read More
ASR (Automated System Recovery) is a feature available on the... Read More
Most of the web applications have a lot of images... Read More
Most people think that all you have to do to... Read More
This is not your typical lost data story. I was... Read More
Feeling overwhelmed in selecting a new TV? With all the... Read More
Downers Grove limo Chicago ..For six years, my Samsung PC 13.8 inch SyncMaster conventional... Read More
Stop Getting LostOne of the greatest uses for a pocket... Read More
Peoples' private information needs to stay private, even after it... Read More
Although there are many things that can affect the performance... Read More
MP3 players are everywhere! It seems that the number of... Read More
PDA Medical BenefitsIf you are concerned about your medical history,... Read More
This is not your typical lost data story. I was... Read More
Sometimes your PC will start acting strange for no apparent... Read More
The battle is heating up for market share, home movie... Read More
Do you remember the old saw about how computers would... Read More
Heading off on vacation soon?Then perhaps you're tempted to take... Read More
Feeling overwhelmed in selecting a new TV? With all the... Read More
We have just entered the time of year that most... Read More
When studying for your Cisco CCNA, CCNP, or CCIE exam,... Read More
Are you thinking of buying an Apple iPod? Or have... Read More
The United States Of America citizen feels that games is... Read More
Buying a receiver is one of the most important decisions... Read More
This tip is on sharing files and folders on a... Read More
The following practice, if done regularly, may help you to... Read More
One of the most confusing parts of beginning your Cisco... Read More
I do a holiday letter every year and send them... Read More
The best way to get the gaming computer that you... Read More
Cisco Certification: Taking Your First Certification ExamYou've studied hard; you've... Read More
On 21 August 2003 Symantec Security Response upgraded the W32.SOBIG.F... Read More
Having two operating systems is not as difficult as many... Read More
Personal Technology |