I got CCNA , and Need some advice before applying for the Networking Job

[pvanvu]

HI everyone ,

I got my CCNA , and now I have many questions that I'm wondering because this will be my first NEtworking job , I have no experience about this field , I need some advice from you guys who have been working in this field :

1) Honestly , I got my CCNA , and I just passed ( CCNP : SWITCH , T-SHOOT ) , I only have ROUTE left . SHould I spend 3 more months to finish ROUTE in order to accomplish CCNP , so I will have more chance to get hire ? or CCNA is enough for starter ? I'm afraid that if I got CCNP , but I have no experience , they won't accept my CCNP , only take my CCNA .


2) my Cert is CCNA R&S , There are many telecom in my Area in CANADA , I notice that some of them provide ( cellphone service only in Canada like " Rogers , Fido , Bell ...etc " correspond with telecom in US like " Verizon, AT&T, Sprint và T-Mobile " . )
But some provide both ( Home Internet , and Cellphone service ) are " MTS , SHAW "

-> Which telecom should I be able to apply the job for ? Because I think CCNA R&S is only good for the company who provide Home INTERNET stuffs , But the Telecom who provide only Cellphone service won't need R&S CCNA . Please correct me if I'm wrong .


3) There are many positions in Networking field .
because this will be my very first Networking job , I don't know what position should I apply for by having CCNA R&S Cert .
Do I only need to randomly apply for the job without specifying the position , and they will pick the right position for me , or I have to choose it for myself ? Actually , I'm afraid they're gonna ask that , and I don't know how to answer because I don't know how many positions in this job .

------------------------

Please give me some advice , and what you think about that .
I'll be very welcome any comment , and grateful for your help , your advice .

Thank you so much .

 

[dave_the_nerd]

HI everyone ,

I got my CCNA , and now I have many questions that I'm wondering because this will be my first NEtworking job , I have no experience about this field , I need some advice from you guys who have been working in this field :

1) Honestly , I got my CCNA , and I just passed ( CCNP : SWITCH , T-SHOOT ) , I only have ROUTE left . SHould I spend 3 more months to finish ROUTE in order to accomplish CCNP , so I will have more chance to get hire ? or CCNA is enough for starter ? I'm afraid that if I got CCNP , but I have no experience , they won't accept my CCNP , only take my CCNA .

Anything is enough to start as a junior assistant to the intern, making $15/hour. They can't not "accept" your CCNP if you have one. But they might not hire you for more senior positions because of your lack of experience.

Expect to be passed over for a bunch of jobs, and to have a couple kinda cruddy positions before you get a decent one. That's just what it's like starting out.

2) my Cert is CCNA R&S , There are many telecom in my Area in CANADA , I notice that some of them provide ( cellphone service only in Canada like " Rogers , Fido , Bell ...etc " correspond with telecom in US like " Verizon, AT&T, Sprint và T-Mobile " . )
But some provide both ( Home Internet , and Cellphone service ) are " MTS , SHAW "

-> Which telecom should I be able to apply the job for ? Because I think CCNA R&S is only good for the company who provide Home INTERNET stuffs , But the Telecom who provide only Cellphone service won't need R&S CCNA . Please correct me if I'm wrong .

Any telecom. They all have to have at least some infrastructure of the type(s) you're most familiar with. Also other types of businesses, school districts, etc.

3) There are many positions in Networking field .
because this will be my very first Networking job , I don't know what position should I apply for by having CCNA R&S Cert .
Do I only need to randomly apply for the job without specifying the position , and they will pick the right position for me , or I have to choose it for myself ? Actually , I'm afraid they're gonna ask that , and I don't know how to answer because I don't know how many positions in this job .

This will vary from company to company. In the US, a "hiring pool" (where you put your resume in a stack and the employer tells you which jobs you're qualified to do) is more common for municipal and government jobs. But every company I've ever applied to posted specific positions on their website, and you applied for individual positions based on what you thought you were qualified to do.

 

[pvanvu]

Thank DAVE so much

I will keep in mind all your helpful advice ^^!

 

[Red Squirrel]

For telecom, Cisco is definitly an asset, but a lot of the equipment used is not Cisco. There will be a lot of Nortel and Alcatel (Alcatel-Lucent now) stuff. Worth reading up on DMS100, DMS200, even DMS10. T1's and stuff are actually very relevant in telecom as well, but I think Cisco covers all that. ISDN and PRI etc...

Simply having Cisco certs is going to open many doors either way though, so I'd say you're off to a good start.

 

[pvanvu]

For telecom, Cisco is definitly an asset, but a lot of the equipment used is not Cisco. There will be a lot of Nortel and Alcatel (Alcatel-Lucent now) stuff. Worth reading up on DMS100, DMS200, even DMS10. T1's and stuff are actually very relevant in telecom as well, but I think Cisco covers all that. ISDN and PRI etc...

Simply having Cisco certs is going to open many doors either way though, so I'd say you're off to a good start.

Thank you Squirrel so much
I will keep that in mind ^^!

 

[Gryz]

.... and Alcatel (Alcatel-Lucent now) stuff.

FYI, Alcatel and Lucent merged in 2006. So I wouldn't call that "...now...".

And then this January Alcatel-Lucent got bought by Nokia. All the old ALU products and companies are now called Nokia.

Nokia (the ex-Alcatel-Lucent guys) have mostly a presence in provider networks. A bit less in enterprise networks.