Cisco training is the way to go for those who need to know all about routers and switches. Routers join up computer networks over the internet or lines dedicated for that purpose. We’d recommend that you should first attempt CCNA. Don’t be tempted to go straight for your CCNP as it’s a considerable step up - and you’ll need the CCNA and experience first to have a go at this.
The sort of jobs available with this kind of skill mean you’ll be more likely to work for national or international corporations that have various different locations but still need contact. On the other hand, you might end up working for an internet service provider. Either way, you’ll be in demand and can expect a high salary.
If you haven’t yet had any experience of routers, then studying up to CCNA is more than enough - at this stage avoid being tempted to do the CCNP. With a few years experience behind you, you can decide if it’s relevant for you to have this next level up.
Training support for students is an absolute must - look for a package that provides 24×7 direct access, as anything less will frustrate you and could hamper your progress.
Find a good quality service with proper support available at any time of the day or night (irrespective of whether it’s the wee hours on Sunday morning!) You want access directly to professional tutors, and not access to a call-in service which takes messages - so you’re parked in a queue of others waiting to be called back during office hours.
Be on the lookout for providers that utilise many support facilities from around the world. Each one should be integrated to offer a simple interface and round-the-clock access, when you need it, with no fuss.
Seek out an educator that is worth purchasing from. Only true live 24×7 round-the-clock support gives you the confidence to make it.
Make sure you don’t get caught-up, as a lot of students can, on the certification itself. Training for training’s sake is generally pointless; this is about gaining commercial employment. You need to remain focused on where you want to go.
Students often train for a single year but end up doing a job for a lifetime. Avoid the mistake of finding what seems like a program of interest to you only to spend 20 years doing a job you don’t like!
Stay focused on where you want to get to, and then build your training requirements around that - avoid getting them back-to-front. Stay on target - making sure you’re training for an end-result that will keep you happy for many years.
You’d also need help from a professional who understands the sector you’re hoping to qualify in, and who can give you ‘A typical day in the life of’ synopsis of the job being considered. This really is absolutely essential as you’ll need to know if you’re going down the right road.
It’s likely that you’re quite practically minded - the ‘hands-on’ individual. Usually, the trial of reading reference books and manuals would be considered as a last resort, but you really wouldn’t enjoy it. Check out video-based multimedia instruction if book-based learning really isn’t your style.
Our ability to remember is increased when we use multiple senses - learning experts have been saying this for decades now.
Study programs now come in disc format, where everything is taught on your PC. Using video-streaming, you can watch instructors demonstrating how to perform the required skill, and then practice yourself - via the interactive virtual lab’s.
You must ensure that you see courseware examples from the company you’re considering. Be sure that they contain full motion videos of instructors demonstrating the topic with lab’s to practice the skills in.
Some companies only have access to training that is purely available online; sometimes you can get away with this - but, imagine the problems if you lose your internet access or you get intermittent problems and speed issues. A safer solution is the provision of physical CD or DVD discs that removes the issue entirely.
Most of us would love to think that our careers are secure and our work prospects are protected, but the growing reality for the majority of jobs in the United Kingdom currently appears to be that there is no security anymore.
We can however reveal security at the market sector level, by searching for high demand areas, tied with work-skill shortages.
The Information Technology (IT) skills shortfall in the country falls in at over 26 percent, as shown by the latest e-Skills investigation. Meaning that for each four job positions in existence throughout the computer industry, there are barely three qualified workers to do them.
This single concept alone highlights why the country desperately needs considerably more new trainees to become part of the industry.
In actuality, acquiring professional IT skills during the next few years is likely the best career move you’ll ever make.
(C) Jason Kendall. Browse LearningLolly.com for clear advice on Cisco CCNA and Cisco Training.