10 Steps To A Quality Cisco Certification

With the rapid growth and expansion in the field of network technology there is increasing demand for skilled network professionals.  Cisco Systems has long been the industry leader in the field of data networking and continues to grow market share in all major technology areas, including those areas of current high demand such as voice, video, and wireless.  Gaining experience with and certifications in Cisco technologies can provide a safe harbor for your career in uncertain economic times such as these.  While many technology professionals are interested in Cisco certifications there is often confusion as to the best path to take and how to achieve a quality certification experience.

Achieving that quality certification experience is the key.  Many of us have been in the industry long enough to hear the term “paper certifications” which refers to a certification gained by an individual with little resulting practical experience and knowledge; the certification is said to be worth as much as the paper it is printed on.  When you make the decision to pursue a Cisco certification you should make the decision to pursue a quality certification, to which you will commit the investment of your time and energy with the goal of gaining the technical skill set and knowledge to make you a leader in the field.  Without the drive and determination to earn the certification you are doing nothing more than memorizing answers and taking tests.  This is how “paper certifications” are born; little effort is put in to learning the technology and little effort is put in to earning the certification.

To aid you in earning a quality Cisco certification I have put together a recommended set of steps that will assist you in making the right decisions along the way.  These steps are designed to build an in-depth knowledge of the network technologies you are studying to pass your certification exams, while allowing you to maintain that knowledge for application in real-world scenarios while on the job.

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Stepping Into a Career in Network and System Administration

Are you planning to develop a career in Network and system administration? These are certainly quite sought after positions in today’s professional world. However, you should not take the plunge before doing some good research about the field, no matter how lucrative the offers may seem. Positions for network and system administration are highly sought after, and you should expect stiff competition. However, a solid educational background and good knowledge about technological advancements in the field should see you through. Here are some pointers on how you can prepare yourself from an early stage.

Step – 1: Get proper education

First off, get proper education in the field, along with good knowledge in the advancement of related technologies. Getting a four-year college degree will be a great way to start your preparation. It is even better if the degree is in one of the fields among computer science, information systems, or communications science. Augment your skills even further by getting some online certifications in the field you wish to specialize in.

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How to pass your Cisco CCNA: 6 Steps to Success

CCNA is one of the most respected Associate level Certification in the world today. Getting a CCNA will definitely help you to get a better job or at least get your foot into Professional Networking Field. When you meet a person that has CCNA degree you will notice that he or she knows something about Networking. This article will describe and give you some tips on how to achieve CCNA. I did it so can you, so lets get started.

1. Getting ready mentally:

 First thing you need to do is mentally prepare your self. What I mean by that is that you have to seriously think about on why are you getting CCNA and why do you want to be CCNA certified. You have to firmly decide and believe that you will get CCNA within next 3-6 months or so. Try to budget your study time well. If you a very social person (like me) you will have to give up some of your social time for the next couple of months. Your friends and family will understand. Trust me: it is well worth it. Once you get that cert you can make up for the lost social time.

2. Getting the right study material:

 Second thing you need to do is to get proper study material. There is lot of controversy around this and some people go overboard with study guides, books, simulators and such. I believe that two Cisco Press books INTR and ICND by Wendell Odom are enough as far as the books go. They are really well written and easy to follow. So sign up at [http://www.ciscopress.com] and get those two books. Make sure you got the latest version. You will also want to get some kind of a simulator that will let you practice commands and that will also build up your confidence. You can buy real equipment but that could get expensive. I highly recommend that you become member of Cisco Certification forum. Forum is huge and you will get lot of helpful answers, tips and advices pretty quick. (I know I did)

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How to Pass the CCNA Certification Exam the First Time

Working within I.T. for most companies today almost always means at some point you will have to take a certification exam. If you’re a network engineer this means you will need to take a Cisco CCNA Certification exam. To take and pass a CCNA exam is not an easy thing. In this article I will layout some tips and suggestions on how you can pass your Cisco CCNA certification exam the first time.

There is usually three reasons why you would need to take a certification exam.

1. Your Employer requires you to take it – this is often need to justify the salary they are paying you and for managers to gauge your expertise level.

2. You want a new job – Many times having a CCNA certification on your resume will help get your foot in the door to a new company and new opportunities.

3. New career choice – You are wanting to start a new career and a certification is a great way to allow you to enter in to a new job field.

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Training in Cisco CCNA Support – Options

CCNA is the way to go for training in Cisco. This teaches you how to operate on the maintenance and installation of network switches and routers. Fundamentally, the internet is based upon huge numbers of routers, and commercial ventures that have a number of branches rely on them to allow their networks of computers to communicate.

To take this course, you should be clear on the operation and function of computer networks, as networks are connected to routers. Without this you may encounter problems. You might find training that also includes the basics (maybe the CompTIA Network+, possibly with A+ as well) and then do a CCNA course. Some providers offer this as a career track.

It’s a good idea to find a tailored route that covers everything you need to know before getting going on the Cisco CCNA.

Exam ‘guarantees’ are sometimes offered as part of a training package – this always means you have to pay for the exams at the start of your training. Before you jump at a course with such a promise, why not look at the following:

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