After 7 months of studying, i passed CCNA

[oddyager]

How hard do you think it'll be to get a part time job as help desk with a CCNA? I have A+ already and might take the test if it improves my chances at a job drastically.

This depends what type of Help Desk you are doing. They are universally tier one support and generally desktop support only so a CCNA means very little for that position. What you would like to get is some hands on admin stuff to do with networking while doing that at the same time. Assuming the company doesn't compartmentalize its IT groups and allows crossover skills. For example I let my Help Desk guys have some basic rights to change duplex settings on user ports on my switches, or shut them on or off. Eventually you are going to want to move yourself away from doing Help Desk and take on some Junior Network admin role so you can hone your networking skills. From there who knows. Maybe you can design networks one day or be content managing someone else's network.

 

[tranceport]

i'm too old to candy coat shit for the emotionally unstable.

i'm sorry in advance if this offends anyone, but i'm beyond caring about your feelings.

An excellent quality as far as I am concerned. I am like this and it constantly "rubs people the wrong way". But when they need something who do they come to....

 

[melchoir]

For some reason HR and hiring managers can have a inflated view of the CCNA. I once got rejected for a senior engineering job by a HR person for letting my ccna expire even though i had just passed the CCIE written.

I'm having difficulty figuring out how you let your CCNA expire if you had completed your CCNP and were beginning an IE track, especially considering that if you pass any higher level exam your CCNA would be renewed automatically. I was also under the impression that you needed a valid NA to test for the NP track, and NP for IE, but I could definitely be mistaken.

How hard do you think it'll be to get a part time job as help desk with a CCNA? I have A+ already and might take the test if it improves my chances at a job drastically.

CCNA isn't really a help desk level cert. While the things you learn/need to know to pass would definitely help you as a technician, your skills would probably dull quickly as most help desk level staff are not able to actually get their hands into real routing/switching. I don't imagine it would hurt having it, but if you're just starting out, I'd start with the CompTIA exams as they're probably better suited and more "sought after" by HR/Hiring Managers for Help desk level staff.

Woa woa, people are under valuing the CCNA. Help desk? You don't get a CCNA to do help desk. If you got a CCNA and you want in the door, you want to work in the networking group, you may have to start with being a cable monkey, who pulls cable all day, but having a CCNA means you will move up quickly within the group. There are a lot of people out there who not only don't have their CCNA but wouldn't pass it if they tried.

This is pretty true. CCNA is a networking focused certification, specifically Routing and Switching or VOIP/Security now as well. CCNA is not a server admin certification. Ideally you will move towards a Network Admin/Engineer sort of position. (I find titles to be almost meaningless now a days because what one company calls an Analyst another calls an Engineer)

When I decided to get my *NA I had already had years of professional experience managing networks (R&S + Server farms). My primary focus was to make myself more marketable for a position outside of the company I was working for at the time. I was successful within 6 weeks of being certified to start a new position.

Now I'm working towards my CCNP, as I've met several CCNAs in person that I can't imagine how they possibly passed the exam being as terrible as they are. So I'd like separation from these people ^_^

 

[edro]

Good job!

That will DEFINITELY give you a huge edge over all other college grads competing with you.

 

[fantolay]

Congrats, and remember that everyone starts somewhere

 

[sactwnguy]

"I'm having difficulty figuring out how you let your CCNA expire if you had completed your CCNP and were beginning an IE track, especially considering that if you pass any higher level exam your CCNA would be renewed automatically. I was also under the impression that you needed a valid NA to test for the NP track, and NP for IE, but I could definitely be mistaken."

I passed the CCNA in 2000 and CCNP in 2002 I didnt pass the CCIE written until 2008. If your cert has already expired it does not renew. Also you need the CCNA to finish the CCNP but you dont need either one for CCIE.

 

[melchoir]

I passed the CCNA in 2000 and CCNP in 2002 I didnt pass the CCIE written until 2008. If your cert has already expired it does not renew. Also you need the CCNA to finish the CCNP but you dont need either one for CCIE.

That's unfortunate that you let your NP expire. You are correct though that the Written portion of the IE has no prereqs, unlike the NP.

 

[theevilsharpie]

Woa woa, people are under valuing the CCNA.

With regards to employability, the CCNA only has value when it's paired with experience. Getting an entry-level helpdesk position would allow the OP to get the experience he needs to put his CCNA to use, but those type of jobs have their own certification requirements.

 

[alkemyst]

Congratulations, dude!

I once knew a guy (a co-worker at a previous job) who took the CCNA twice and failed it both times.

The reason he failed is because he tried to cheat for the test with "TestKing" which is just a bunch of answers for the test.

If only he just studied the material, he could have passed it the first time.

I don't have a CCNA, mind you. I did study for a while and pass two MCP's in the same week. (Wasn't trying to prove anything - the vouchers were about to expire, lol)

there are actually working engineers that do their job well but still have a hard time with the written exams.

A pass just indicates you can learn more.

 

[alkemyst]

"I'm having difficulty figuring out how you let your CCNA expire if you had completed your CCNP and were beginning an IE track, especially considering that if you pass any higher level exam your CCNA would be renewed automatically. I was also under the impression that you needed a valid NA to test for the NP track, and NP for IE, but I could definitely be mistaken."

I passed the CCNA in 2000 and CCNP in 2002 I didnt pass the CCIE written until 2008. If your cert has already expired it does not renew. Also you need the CCNA to finish the CCNP but you dont need either one for CCIE.

also the CCIE written is not really any more than a pass to take the real test.

 

[Wudemaya]

With some determination + hardwork + luck, you'll start your new career and hopefully something you enjoy doing. Congrads!

 

[Hyperlite]

Congrats! My highschool actually offered the CCNA course as a class (believe it or not). The prof was a retired Cisco employee. i was the only one that passed. Problem is, i haven't had any use for it and it has long since expired.

 

[OutHouse]

congrats. i passed mine years ago and never have used it.

 

[Lithium381]

Thanks all!

I hadn't really considered a helpdesk position, but if it's what gets me going in the right direction, it's certainly an option. Then again I may not have an accurate image of what a HD actually is. I think of the Dell Customer Support line in India..."unplug and plug in your modem" "click on the red button and read me the numbers" etc..... etc..... just reading scripts... correct me if i'm off base here.
Timing is very critical too, as my wife isn't working right now due to being 7.5mo pregnant.

congrats. i passed mine years ago and never have used it.

you didn't apply the knowledge or you never used to leverage a new position?

Here is a pick of my current setup, if anyone cared...

 

[ebaycj]

Last May, i decided my life as a retail monkey sucked and am trying to get out. I was at Barnes and Noble, saw a book and bought it. CCNA Study Guide. Today i sat the test and finished the test with only 12 seconds left on the clock.....very stressful! Anyway I just got an e-mail from Cisco, it's official and should get my piece of paper in the mail in about a week. Now i just need to find a new job, having no experience Bad timing as i'm expecting my first child at the tail end of February. Well, at least im over this hurdle...

Congratulations on beginning your journey to the middle.

 

[Mucho]

Congrats, perseverance paid off for you, I dropped out midway through several years ago.

 

[melchoir]

Thanks all!

I hadn't really considered a helpdesk position, but if it's what gets me going in the right direction, it's certainly an option. Then again I may not have an accurate image of what a HD actually is. I think of the Dell Customer Support line in India..."unplug and plug in your modem" "click on the red button and read me the numbers" etc..... etc..... just reading scripts... correct me if i'm off base here.


Here is a pick of my current setup, if anyone cared...

Nice Lab.

Help desk and Desktop support are very often the same thing and not necessarily phone based. I'd advise you to search for a DST position to get your foot in somewhere, and dazzle them with your know-how until you get promoted. Desktop Support generally handles level 1-2 items. Generally anything PC/Laptop related, printer stuff, app installs, password resets, pc deployment, etc.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Thanks all!

I hadn't really considered a helpdesk position, but if it's what gets me going in the right direction, it's certainly an option. Then again I may not have an accurate image of what a HD actually is. I think of the Dell Customer Support line in India..."unplug and plug in your modem" "click on the red button and read me the numbers" etc..... etc..... just reading scripts... correct me if i'm off base here.
Timing is very critical too, as my wife isn't working right now due to being 7.5mo pregnant.



you didn't apply the knowledge or you never used to leverage a new position?

Here is a pick of my current setup, if anyone cared...

Woah that's nice! Wish I had that kind of money. I just have a bunch of daisy chained linksys/dlink switches, and that's production stuff LOL.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Nice Lab.

Help desk and Desktop support are very often the same thing and not necessarily phone based. I'd advise you to search for a DST position to get your foot in somewhere, and dazzle them with your know-how until you get promoted. Desktop Support generally handles level 1-2 items. Generally anything PC/Laptop related, printer stuff, app installs, password resets, pc deployment, etc.

And this is true, where I work level 1 and 2 are actually the same job. When I was working at help desk I was also sometimes doing level 2 stuff and off the phone. Go to customer sites, etc...

I even had to go install something on a Linux server once since I'm about the only one in the company who knows decently about Linux.

 

[RichUK]

Now start studying for your CCNP. Don't sit back and slowly forget what you have learnt, keep pushing yourself.

 

[Lithium381]

Now start studying for your CCNP. Don't sit back and slowly forget what you have learnt, keep pushing yourself.

that's the plan, the books are already on order from amazon and should be here within the week. i've also obtained a few security books so i can attempt the security+ cert....
i'll look for helpdesk jobs then, any advice on what to look for as i'm new to the field?

 

[djnsmith7]

Congrats & good luck finding a good job in this terrible economy. I agree with the gentleman above that mentioned this will put you ahead of the all the college graduates trying to land a job. Don't slack off on the attention to detail on your resume, even if your work experience is limited. I know way too many people who spent a lousy 30 minutes on their resumes & were passed up many times for good opportunities.

 

[JimmiG]

Last May, i decided my life as a retail monkey sucked and am trying to get out. I was at Barnes and Noble, saw a book and bought it. CCNA Study Guide. Today i sat the test and finished the test with only 12 seconds left on the clock.....very stressful! Anyway I just got an e-mail from Cisco, it's official and should get my piece of paper in the mail in about a week. Now i just need to find a new job, having no experience Bad timing as i'm expecting my first child at the tail end of February. Well, at least im over this hurdle...

Congratulations! Now go take the CCNP exam and then you can start looking for a job
(just kidding btw, although that would make it easier to find a job, especially if you have no experience).

We're currently taking CCNA Exploration courses at school. Took the first three classes before the holidays and will do the fourth one in april. So far it has been pretty easy, and I've been scoring between 95% and 100% on the Skills and Final Exams... But of course the big final exam includes all four CCNA courses, so it's much bigger and you have to remember everything you've learned. Bit nervous about that, but hopefully I'll do alright.

 

[wwswimming]

Congratulations on passing the exam.

With that said, I'm not really sure the CCNA exam will be helpful in finding a networking job if you have no experience and no other certifications.

does it help if you buy a bunch of cheap old computers and build a network at home & do Folding@Home or something ?

just wondering if that counts as network experience and might impress a potential employer. maybe if it's a place that has a Folding team.

 

[theevilsharpie]

does it help if you buy a bunch of cheap old computers and build a network at home & do Folding@Home or something ?

No.