CCSP over CCNP

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Ok, the serious lack of posts in this forum indicates to me that there may be a shortage of CCSP's or that as the CCSP cert is (relatively) new, getting one asap might just give me the advantage over the MASSES who will want/get one a few years down the line.

I have a guy from Computeach coming round friday and I've had my heart set on the CCNA & CCNP course. Would it be worth getting the CCNP and CCSP, or go straight to CCSP after getting the CCNA cert?

edit: I'm leaning towards getting both, seems to make sense to me

 

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I think it just depends on who you are and what interests you. I wouldn't go for a particular cert if my only motivation was that I thought it might get me a job. Oh sure, I like to work and get paid, but getting a cert I didn't really want in an area I wasn't interested in (or any good at) would be a waste of time.

Depending on how familiar you are with working with networks in general and Cisco equipment in particular, you might want to focus just on the CCNA for starters. As you work your way through the course, you may get a better idea of what you want to study after you achieve that goal. Good luck.

 

I see what your saying, but what's the point of getting a cert in something that really interests you if the market is saturated to the point where it is next to impossible to get a decent job? Either way, network security DOES interest me. But you're right about concentrating on the CCNA first, gotta learn to crawl before I walk.

 

True, which is why rushing out to get an MCSE as if it's a guarentee of a premium job seems a little silly. However, if you want to do anything in Cisco, you'll need at least your CCNA. After that, you can chart whatever course you see fit.

Guess it's a balance between what you want to do and what people will pay for. However, it's not just the certifications you have but your experience. You can line up ten people with their CCNAs in a row but that won't mean they'll all be equal. Choosing how you'll use your education is just as important as the education itself.

 

The computeach course I plan on doing will get me the CCNP as well as th CCNA. Due to my lack of serious experience in networking, I think having the CCNP might give me some advantage when applying for jobs that just ask for a CCNA.

But then the question is, if you had a person who had just the CCNA but a years experience and a person who had the CCNP but no experience, who do you choose? (I know it's not that simple, I'm just giving an example).

Thanks for the advice tripwire

 

I know it's just an example but it's a tough one. Depends on the skill set the folks possessed. One of the things a cert is supposed to do is "certify" that a person possesses particular skill sets, in this case, in Cisco networking. A CCNA with a year's worth of experience might still not work out if the experience wasn't in what the company needs. The novice CCNP might still have the better chance if they could demonstrate that they could do the job, probably by referencing their lab experience, prior CCNA work experience and so forth.

Naturally, those aren't the only two factors you consider when hiring. How a person will fit into the team and the corporate culture can be pretty important too. Anyway, this could lead into quite a lengthy list. Glad I could be of some help.

 

I'm quite confident when it comes to interviews, every interview I have attended, I have been accepted for the job, but in all honesty the jobs haven't really been anything like what I will be applying for once I get my CCNA & CCNP.

I do know though, that if I learn the content properly and fully understand it, I will be confident in relaying my ability to perform in an interview. And if they ask that million dollar question "Why should we employ you who has no experience, when we have other candidates who have experience?" Then I simply give the answer I always give to that question, "You may find that the person with all the experience may turn out to be just average or even poor at the job, but the person with no experience but the full certificates and knowledge may do the job perfectly, if you would just give that person the chance".

 

One over the Other?
no way, do them both, and do the CCNP first

the funny thing with security is, its not an industry unto itself, its not a skillset you learn on its own, its a bolt on addition for a sound understanding in something else, want to secure a windows network? make damn sure you know windows back to front
want to secure a network? make damn sure you know networking back to front
securing something generally causes a ton of headaches, and you relaly need to be adept at troubleshooting the network, before you start trying to lock it down, as your just increasing the chances of something going wrong, and you need that arsenal of experiance to call on when it does

security increases an already complex system by a factor of x
make sure you understand the complex systems before bolting on the security skills

do the CCNA, then the CCNP, then the CCSP
you dont have to, Cisco doesnt make you, and whilst the CCNA is a solid grounding, it no where near prepares you enough for what to expect on a decent sized production network (the ones that are actually gonna give a damn about your CCSP and desired salary :P

Good luck whichever way you choose, and remember we are here to help!

 

Thanks for the cool advice Phoenix. Seeing as Computeach seem to only do the CCNP course and not CCSP I think I'll do that with them. Thing is, a local college to me, called Cygnus Online, are offering the CCNA as a part-time, year-long course for £450 (excluding exam fee) which is quite cheap, they are also an approved CCNA test center, so I could take the exam there too. I think they are part of LearnDirect.

Should I go for the computeach course or should I go with the local college, then maybe go back to Computeach to to the CCNP at a cut-price? (if they do that kind of thing that is). I guess that's a question to ask the salesman, hmmm...I wonder what his answer to that will be...

 

I would suggest going through the college which will give you more class time to interact with the teacher and students. On the other hand, if you have the money and time to put into studying after the fact the one shot or two shot class might get you through.

Don't think you can take the one or two shot class and go and pass the exam without studying.

 

I think its all about being clever.... picking certs that not only interest you but take you in a career direction you want to go.

I'm covering all my basis with a foundation knowledge, hence why i'm studying for wireless CWNA now but next year i'm looking to specialise a bit more in networking.

I'm also considering IT management in the future and to have a solid base of technical experience combined with business skills invaluable i feel.