Job options once CCNA complete.

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shadow_man

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Hi,

Can anyone give me an idea of job options / salary once I complete my CCNA?

I don't expect to be earning mega millions, I just want to get an idea. Also my interests lie in networking and Linux administration - do these two go together quite often and would it be worth my while doing some sort of Linux cert e.g. Redhat or LPI to make myself more employable - do the two often go together?

Thanks,
J
 
jsheed_sa said:
Hi,

Can anyone give me an idea of job options / salary once I complete my CCNA?

I don't expect to be earning mega millions, I just want to get an idea. Also my interests lie in networking and Linux administration - do these two go together quite often and would it be worth my while doing some sort of Linux cert e.g. Redhat or LPI to make myself more employable - do the two often go together?

Thanks,
J
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After your CCNA start on your LPI if you are serious about Linux, I was lucky enough to land a job which focused heavily on the two before I got any solid qualifications. Basic networking will form part of a lot of Linux Admin tasks: https://www.facebook.com/telewizory

To elaborate on the above post, experience is what matters on the job while Certs get your foot in the door.
 
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Roger.Wilco said:
It all depends on experience. No experience = entry level job, probably around 5 - 7k per month.
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Well I have like 5 years experience. A mix of Windows 2003 / 2008 admin and some basic Linux admin (Redhat derivatives).

I plan to supplement this with my CCNA and possibly a LPI cert afterwards. I'm also writing my Mac OSX Engineer exam next month, so that will add in to the mix.

My problem is just finding a suitable path career wise in terms of increasing skill / salary. I don't always want to take a step back for a new technology and start at a junior level if you know what I mean, I feel there should be some overlap etc.

J
 
jsheed_sa said:
Well I have like 5 years experience. A mix of Windows 2003 / 2008 admin and some basic Linux admin (Redhat derivatives).

I plan to supplement this with my CCNA and possibly a LPI cert afterwards. I'm also writing my Mac OSX Engineer exam next month, so that will add in to the mix.

My problem is just finding a suitable path career wise in terms of increasing skill / salary. I don't always want to take a step back for a new technology and start at a junior level if you know what I mean, I feel there should be some overlap etc.

J
Click to expand...

But your creating such a broad skill base that you end up being a Jack of all trades master of none. Pick one and specialize.
 
Is it just me, or are there loads and loads of threads lately looking for the same answers to the same questions? And loads of people thinking the CCNA course is the ultimate saving grace?

Starting salary? maybe 10k.
Thing is, what exactly will you be doing? I certainly wouldnt let a ccna with no experience near my equipment. As I have mentioned, we have a ccsp that I dont let near our ASA's.
IF you are super ultra lucky, you can get a 1st line/ 2nd line support job and get taught (and gain experience) in a dedicated environment.
Chances are, you need to be looking at a small'ish company, where they will need you to figure stuff out and do most of the work. Sure, you will do crap jobs, but you will also get to do the stuff that you would usually have to handover to senior guys. You will also have to investigate low budget solutions that still work, and then have to get them to work. That experience is invaluable, it will teach you to problem solve and research...and thats something seriously lacking in the new guys i see today.

Oh, and prepare for some crap hours. I am online, in a hotel right now, on a friday night preparing for a change. Make sure you pick something you enjoy, and will continue to enjoy...
 
TheGuy said:
But your creating such a broad skill base that you end up being a Jack of all trades master of none. Pick one and specialize.
Click to expand...

I hear ya - thats why I need to try and specialize - but its hard doing so when my work requires me to be a jack of all trades etc. I need to find something that will let me move in a focused direction.

J
 
I hear ya on the no experience thing. However its not like I walked fresh faced out of college etc, I do have some network exp. I also don't think i'm the norm. For instance I do have Cisco equipment at home. I bought a Cisco ASA 5505 router to play with so I won't just have simulator experience etc.

That being said I view the CCNA as a stepping stone - I don't expect to gain a huge salary off of it - but I view it as a long term path to a CCIE or some such - many years down the road.

Thanks for the input.
J

tau1z said:
Is it just me, or are there loads and loads of threads lately looking for the same answers to the same questions? And loads of people thinking the CCNA course is the ultimate saving grace?

Starting salary? maybe 10k.
Thing is, what exactly will you be doing? I certainly wouldnt let a ccna with no experience near my equipment. As I have mentioned, we have a ccsp that I dont let near our ASA's.
IF you are super ultra lucky, you can get a 1st line/ 2nd line support job and get taught (and gain experience) in a dedicated environment.
Chances are, you need to be looking at a small'ish company, where they will need you to figure stuff out and do most of the work. Sure, you will do crap jobs, but you will also get to do the stuff that you would usually have to handover to senior guys. You will also have to investigate low budget solutions that still work, and then have to get them to work. That experience is invaluable, it will teach you to problem solve and research...and thats something seriously lacking in the new guys i see today.

Oh, and prepare for some crap hours. I am online, in a hotel right now, on a friday night preparing for a change. Make sure you pick something you enjoy, and will continue to enjoy...
Click to expand...
 
tau1z said:
Is it just me, or are there loads and loads of threads lately looking for the same answers to the same questions? And loads of people thinking the CCNA course is the ultimate saving grace?
Click to expand...

I've noticed it too. Seems like every second person is busy doing the CCNA. And every one of those swear they'll continue on that path until they get to CCIE, lol. It's almost the same that happened when the MCSE became popular, everyone was doing it, resulting in thousands of people getting "paper" qualified. CCNA is definitely not such a great qualification, like others have mentioned, it's just to get your foot in the door.
 
I doubt the CCNA will ever be as useless as the Microsoft exams mainly because it is much more difficult and has simulatators in the exam ...
In my opinion it is one of the greatest certs as it establish a foundation for all other Cisco certs....Back to the original question ...
Current posts for CCNA `s is R15K a month provided you have 2 years experience...and believe me there is a lot of Jobs weekly
believe I have been looking ....The problem is that it is difficult for a newbie as nobody is born with experience...So I think the industry
need to give these paper techs some real word experience ...and not create a situation where we have to offer to work for free
to get experience after all have you ever heard of a paper teacher (someone who just passed their teachers diploma) going to schools offering
to work for free so that they can gain experience ..which is what we have to resort to...
 
ycruywagen said:
I doubt the CCNA will ever be as useless as the Microsoft exams mainly because it is much more difficult and has simulatators in the exam ...
In my opinion it is one of the greatest certs as it establish a foundation for all other Cisco certs....Back to the original question ...
Current posts for CCNA `s is R15K a month provided you have 2 years experience...and believe me there is a lot of Jobs weekly
believe I have been looking ....The problem is that it is difficult for a newbie as nobody is born with experience...So I think the industry
need to give these paper techs some real word experience ...and not create a situation where we have to offer to work for free
to get experience after all have you ever heard of a paper teacher (someone who just passed their teachers diploma) going to schools offering
to work for free so that they can gain experience ..which is what we have to resort to...
Click to expand...

teachers do pracs in real schools....(for free) in order to get necessary experience.
 
Think your missing the point.....When you study IT you do pracs during your studies....just like a teacher...however a teacher does not have to go around
after their studies to schools and offer to work for free after their formal training has been completed which is the case in IT...
 
ycruywagen said:
Think your missing the point.....When you study IT you do pracs during your studies....just like a teacher...however a teacher does not have to go around
after their studies to schools and offer to work for free after their formal training has been completed which is the case in IT...
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No, I think you're missing the point. Too many people now do self-study, and basically just go through exams and braindumps until they've learned all the answers. Granted, it's not that easy with CCNA, but still possible getting the certification without the necessary practical work. Most CCNA's I know can only do the basic things like setting up a router, nothing more.
 
I cant be missing the point as I am living the point....I went to a Cisco Networking Academy ,....did not self study,...we had a practical sessions every day.
As far as braindumping is concerned I have not come across anyone that has not used braindumps in preparing for any exams across the board, and I would say this is similar to someone studying Accounting going over old exam papers as far as Cisco exams are concerned ...In fact ,braindumps are far from the actual Cisco exam content ....otherwise there would be alot of CCIE writtens walking around...The point is that companies should hire newbies and not expect 2 years experience as
nobody is born with experience that is my point ...perhaps you should make that start seeing that you know so many CCNAhire newbies and not demand experience
 
ycruywagen said:
I cant be missing the point as I am living the point....I went to a Cisco Networking Academy ,....did not self study,...we had a practical sessions every day.
As far as braindumping is concerned I have not come across anyone that has not used braindumps in preparing for any exams across the board, and I would say this is similar to someone studying Accounting going over old exam papers as far as Cisco exams are concerned ...In fact ,braindumps are far from the actual Cisco exam content ....otherwise there would be alot of CCIE writtens walking around...The point is that companies should hire newbies and not expect 2 years experience as
nobody is born with experience that is my point ...perhaps you should make that start seeing that you know so many CCNAhire newbies and not demand experience
Click to expand...

*sigh* I said a lot of people do self-study, that's where the problem is. If you went to a Cisco Academy, then you obviously have some practical experience.

Obviously you can't get CCIE certified from just doing braindumps, but we're not talking about that. The CCNA is different, you actually can get CCNA certified from just doing braindumps and exams.

A lot of companies hire newbies without experience, but I've noticed that people with a qualification like CCNA expect to get a good job straight away and they don't want to start at the bottom. I had to start with building pc's and had to work my way up. Don't know why these kiddies these days with a paper cert thing they're too good to do that.
 
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Point taken....And I get what your saying ...My problem is with the shady companies out there who promise you a shot then lets you associate with a them as a company so that they get a bigger discount or better partner status.....I am a CCNA and will be writing my CCNP switch at the end of the month...
Though there are many CCNA jobs advertised they look for 2 years on the job experience...I am currently working in a call center as a HP Technical support advisor and cant get into a Cisco related post....I am willing to start at the bottom..and Roger it seems like your a major player in the field and I also noticed your located in the Western Cape ...(so am I) Thus I would like to know if you would be able to offer me a internship (no pay needed) so that I can gain some on the job experience...so that I can make a living out of this ...However this would have to be over weekends as I have a family to support or if possible could you point me in the right direction of people I could try..
 
ycruywagen said:
Point taken....And I get what your saying ...My problem is with the shady companies out there who promise you a shot then lets you associate with a them as a company so that they get a bigger discount or better partner status.....I am a CCNA and will be writing my CCNP switch at the end of the month...
Though there are many CCNA jobs advertised they look for 2 years on the job experience...I am currently working in a call center as a HP Technical support advisor and cant get into a Cisco related post....I am willing to start at the bottom..and Roger it seems like your a major player in the field and I also noticed your located in the Western Cape ...(so am I) Thus I would like to know if you would be able to offer me a internship (no pay needed) so that I can gain some on the job experience...so that I can make a living out of this ...However this would have to be over weekends as I have a family to support or if possible could you point me in the right direction of people I could try..
Click to expand...

I would finish that CCNP first. If you want to go into networking. Thereafter entry level jobs would be about R 6000 - R8000. Obviously because you need experience.
 
ycruywagen said:
Think your missing the point.....When you study IT you do pracs during your studies....just like a teacher...however a teacher does not have to go around
after their studies to schools and offer to work for free after their formal training has been completed which is the case in IT...
Click to expand...


Actually teachers do real practicals at schools...your course would have had to let you go to companies and work in a live environment to match that. There is a difference between what you call practicals (labs) and what teachers do as practicals when they go to schools.

Look, I agree with u. It is hard to get into it. And the best way, is as I mentioned earlier... U sitting in a call center is not helping at all. No company is going to ask for assistanc, even for free on weekends. You need to move yourself into a more hands on technical role. Just my opinion.
 
Agreed Tau1z ...I need to get into a hands on technical role however after 2 months of trying to achieve this to no avail ...I have decided to go to0kenZA`s opinion
and finish the CCNP first and just concentrate on that...then I will try yours of getting into a hands on roll...as the R6000 - R8000 bracket would be a upgrade for me...
Hopefully all will pan out..thx guys
 
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