Networking Career Path

Sier · 05-20-2009, 12:33 PM

Hi Guys,
I've considered the current/future job market, and also weighted what I like to do, and came to this conclusion:
I'm going after a College Degree...
I'm not sure yet if Computer Engineering or Computer Networking... I'll start with an Associate's.. and then BS in the future..

Well, I want to learn about networking.. and get certifications, HOWEVER, I don't want to waste money with something that I'll acquire with my Associate's Degree...

What do you recommend me?? I was thinking about getting the CCNA or Network+ first, but.. It seems that if you finish the Computer Networking course, you AUTOMATICALLY get a CCNA certification.. so it wouldn't make sense to get the Cert and then get it again w/ Degree...

What do you think??
Recommendations??

rs21 · 05-26-2009, 02:47 AM

you are correct till the time you finish your degree, you will be equivalent to a CCNA certified associates. But it's not true, associate and certification are two separate things. Certification means you are certified on a specific technology or products. But in associate, you will work on various technology,eg, Microsoft products, Cisco routers and switches and may be on Linux platforms also.

In future, certification will help you little more than degree, in case you are going to work on specific technology.In my opinion, u should go for CCNA, it holds more respect n recognition. It'll help you at your BS time.

SilverDwn · 05-28-2009, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rs21

you are correct till the time you finish your degree, you will be equivalent to a CCNA certified associates. But it's not true, associate and certification are two separate things. Certification means you are certified on a specific technology or products. But in associate, you will work on various technology,eg, Microsoft products, Cisco routers and switches and may be on Linux platforms also.

In future, certification will help you little more than degree, in case you are going to work on specific technology.In my opinion, u should go for CCNA, it holds more respect n recognition. It'll help you at your BS time.

I respectfully disagree and think a degree holds more value than a Cert for a long term path. A CCIE will ensure you have a top job in networking, but later down the road if you want to change career ie; become a maths teacher, your CCIE means nothing in that field. A degree, no matter what disipline is a statement that you are educated in a traditional manner and will enable you to change career to something else minus 3 years extra study on top of what you have left to do ie a Masters degree, PHD etc. However if all you want is a career in IT/Networking, certs is the way. Just remember that these are priopriatary certifications owned by commercial companies. A degree is generally thought of as owned by the state (I may have my termanology wrong but you know what I mean).

Also CCNA is better than Network+ but natrually its harder.

**bilbus** · 05-31-2009, 09:10 PM

You could get a CCNA in a few weeks.

a degree is required for any management position.

rs21 · 05-31-2009, 10:35 PM

m not completely disagree with degree..it is most important for the higher positions, but cert is also important..

**bilbus** · 05-31-2009, 11:26 PM

A degree far out weighs any cert.

Certs are nice, but having a degree will always put you on top.

Yportne · 06-03-2009, 03:35 PM

Unfortunately that is the way it goes. Society wants degree's. Unfortunately most schools will allow you to obtain one with the IQ of a banana so they don't even carry as much weight.

Certs and degrees get you nowhere without experience. So get a cert or an associate and get employed in the feild, no matter what it is. You will need experience before getting any job worth your time. Especially in the technical field. Go look at jobs around you and find what they want, give them it and get employed. worry about a career when you have 1-2 years exp under your belt. without it degrees and certs are worthless.

coolyusufali · 07-02-2009, 03:12 PM

Yeah! I agree too degree is required for higher positions. Although a degree would help you for a job but it is the certification that races out today with flying colors.

In my opinion, obtain your degree, no matter, but do a certification after or along with the degree.

If you want to proceed with Microsoft's products then proceed with MCSE or MCTS and so on. But if you want to develop a career in networking then no doubt Cisco is the best and best. Cisco not only teaches you Cisco's products but it also gives you 100% basic foundation and infrastructure of networking. So, start with CCNA.

rinoel · 07-09-2009, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bilbus

You could get a CCNA in a few weeks.

a degree is required for any management position.

I don't agree at that point with you mate, you can't get CCNA in a few weeks, if you consider getting CCNA discovery & Exploration it takes you minimal 2 year's.

**bilbus** · 07-09-2009, 04:44 PM

lol, ccna is easy, its 2 tests (you can take a single combo test also). If you have worked in the field and know basic cisco your good to go. You may need to do some reviewing .. but its easy to do within a month.

Perhaps you are thinking of CCNP? Thats the 5 test cert .. much harder .. but again passable if you have worked in a cisco environment

05-20-2009, 12:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sier Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 40 OS: WinXP	Networking Career Path Hi Guys, I've considered the current/future job market, and also weighted what I like to do, and came to this conclusion: I'm going after a College Degree... I'm not sure yet if Computer Engineering or Computer Networking... I'll start with an Associate's.. and then BS in the future.. Well, I want to learn about networking.. and get certifications, HOWEVER, I don't want to waste money with something that I'll acquire with my Associate's Degree... What do you recommend me?? I was thinking about getting the CCNA or Network+ first, but.. It seems that if you finish the Computer Networking course, you AUTOMATICALLY get a CCNA certification.. so it wouldn't make sense to get the Cert and then get it again w/ Degree... What do you think?? Recommendations??

05-26-2009, 02:47 AM	#2 (permalink)
rs21 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 23 OS: winxp	Re: Networking Career Path you are correct till the time you finish your degree, you will be equivalent to a CCNA certified associates. But it's not true, associate and certification are two separate things. Certification means you are certified on a specific technology or products. But in associate, you will work on various technology,eg, Microsoft products, Cisco routers and switches and may be on Linux platforms also. In future, certification will help you little more than degree, in case you are going to work on specific technology.In my opinion, u should go for CCNA, it holds more respect n recognition. It'll help you at your BS time. __________________ rs

05-31-2009, 09:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
bilbus TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 949 OS: OS2 Warp	Re: Networking Career Path You could get a CCNA in a few weeks. a degree is required for any management position.

05-31-2009, 10:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
rs21 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 23 OS: winxp	Re: Networking Career Path m not completely disagree with degree..it is most important for the higher positions, but cert is also important.. __________________ rs

05-31-2009, 11:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
bilbus TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 949 OS: OS2 Warp	Re: Networking Career Path A degree far out weighs any cert. Certs are nice, but having a degree will always put you on top.

06-03-2009, 03:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
Yportne Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 18 OS: XP	Re: Networking Career Path Unfortunately that is the way it goes. Society wants degree's. Unfortunately most schools will allow you to obtain one with the IQ of a banana so they don't even carry as much weight. Certs and degrees get you nowhere without experience. So get a cert or an associate and get employed in the feild, no matter what it is. You will need experience before getting any job worth your time. Especially in the technical field. Go look at jobs around you and find what they want, give them it and get employed. worry about a career when you have 1-2 years exp under your belt. without it degrees and certs are worthless.

07-02-2009, 03:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
coolyusufali Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2 OS: Ubuntu Linux	Re: Networking Career Path Yeah! I agree too degree is required for higher positions. Although a degree would help you for a job but it is the certification that races out today with flying colors. In my opinion, obtain your degree, no matter, but do a certification after or along with the degree. If you want to proceed with Microsoft's products then proceed with MCSE or MCTS and so on. But if you want to develop a career in networking then no doubt Cisco is the best and best. Cisco not only teaches you Cisco's products but it also gives you 100% basic foundation and infrastructure of networking. So, start with CCNA.

07-09-2009, 04:44 PM	#10 (permalink)
bilbus TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 949 OS: OS2 Warp	Re: Networking Career Path lol, ccna is easy, its 2 tests (you can take a single combo test also). If you have worked in the field and know basic cisco your good to go. You may need to do some reviewing .. but its easy to do within a month. Perhaps you are thinking of CCNP? Thats the 5 test cert .. much harder .. but again passable if you have worked in a cisco environment