Career Change: Getting ready for Icnd1 and 2

Discussion in 'New Members Introduction' started by bradwmetal, Jun 21, 2011.

  1. bradwmetal

    bradwmetal Bit Poster

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    I am a little older (41) and spent my career as a retail Manager. I got a BS degree in MIS years ago, but I was too young to learn anything and make good grades, hence the business route. I lost my last job and took advantage of the unemployment to go back to school at a junior college. I completed an associates in Networking and Network Security ( due to hours earned years ago, I got 2 degrees at once), they used the Cisco Network Academy. While in school I got my A+ and Security + Certifications. Now that I am out of school I am studying for the CCNA. I scored well enough on the Cisco 4 final to get 1/2 price vouchers. I have read the Lammle CCNA guide which is helping, but I am not scoring high enough on practice tests (at 80% most time) to feel comfortable with scheduling the tests ( 2 test route). I also watched CBT Nuggets, Trainsignal, and used dumps off forums for practice tests. I am not too worried about the sims on the ICND1. Any Suggestions?
    Any suggestions on how to get work once I get the Certification? This is a new career for me.

    Thanks
    PS, I am in Mississippi, USA
     
    Last edited: Jun 21, 2011
    Certifications: CCNA,CCENT, A+, Security +
    WIP: Linux? Microsoft?
  2. Nyx

    Nyx Byte Poster

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    first post fail...
     
  3. gosh1976

    gosh1976 Kilobyte Poster

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    First of all you want to stay away from the dumps for a multitude of reasons they are not accepted at the better forums. You can lose your certs for life messing with brain dumps, you devalue the cert for everyone, you want to learn the material not memorize the answers. When you do get an interview they won't be asking you a question that appeared on a certification exam so the brain dumps will be of little help.

    Buy a practice exam from a reputable vendor to gauge your readiness. You should have access to Packet Tracer and the curriculum through the Net Academy and I would say make use of it. Lab, Lab, Lab... Don't wait to get the certs before you start looking for a job. You aren't likely to get a job actually working with any cisco equipment as a first IT job anyway. Well, certainly not in an enterprise environment anyway. Use your current qualifications and experience to get some IT experience anywhere you can.
     
    Certifications: A+, Net+, MCDST, CCENT, MCTS: Win 7 Configuring, CCNA
  4. bradwmetal

    bradwmetal Bit Poster

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    And what would your recommendation be?????? That's not exactly constructive. I came here for help and guidance, not smart Alec flames.
     
    Certifications: CCNA,CCENT, A+, Security +
    WIP: Linux? Microsoft?
  5. bradwmetal

    bradwmetal Bit Poster

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    "First of all you want to stay away from the dumps for a multitude of reasons they are not accepted at the better forums. "

    Would you consider the Actual Test, Test King and that sort a brain dump? I just need the practice questions to let me know what to study, what I am lacking in. I want the knowledge, not to memorize answers. So the brain dump thing as a quick pass with no actual knowledge is not my intention :-)

    "Buy a practice exam from a reputable vendor to gauge your readiness".

    I wish I could afford that at this point. I have to depend on "acquiring" tests and materials, which I can hopefully actually pay for once I get to work again.

    "You should have access to Packet Tracer and the curriculum through the Net Academy and I would say make use of it. Lab, Lab, Lab... Don't wait to get the certs before you start looking for a job. You aren't likely to get a job actually working with any cisco equipment as a first IT job anyway. Well, certainly not in an enterprise environment anyway. Use your current qualifications and experience to get some IT experience anywhere you can."

    Thanks for the suggestions. This is unfamiliar territory for me :-)
     
    Certifications: CCNA,CCENT, A+, Security +
    WIP: Linux? Microsoft?
  6. greenbrucelee
    Highly Decorated Member Award

    greenbrucelee Zettabyte Poster

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    TK is a well known braindump provider.

    If you want your actual certifications to be valid then use proper practice tests form legit places.

    Always use certguard.com to see what your using is legit. 90% of free stuff is not legit and the other 10% will only be 10 maybe 20 questions so will not judge you correctly on how your studies are going.

    Braindumps are the reason salaries in IT have gone down and the reason why IT is so hard to get into because there are too many idiots out there who have cheated their way in and havent got the first clue in what they are actually supposed to do.

    Legit practice exams come from the likes of:- Boson, transcender, preplogic, measure up, total seminars, gts learning and many more and they usually cost money.

    No IT manager with any sense will hire someone with no experience to manage, maintain and support their cisco kit regardless of their qualifications/certifications.

    There are certs for people wanting to get into IT such as compTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ and at a push MCTS windows 7. Certs like CCNA,MCSA and MCSE are for people who already work in IT and those certs are designed to back up their experience level.
     
    Certifications: A+, N+, MCDST, Security+, 70-270
    WIP: 70-620 or 70-680?
  7. bradwmetal

    bradwmetal Bit Poster

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    Thanks for the suggestions. I will check that out... but as I said, I can't pay for practice tests at this time so I might have to use what I can get. The Lammle book I bought has quite a few practice tests with it so I hope that is a decent gauge. I am working for the CCNA since I took the cisco classes,it would be waste not to go ahead and do it. I did pretty well on the Network academy online tests, so if the format is the same for the questions I feel comfortable with the style of question.
    I am considering Linux+ (LPL) to study for after CCNA to get an OS cert under my belt. Is it worth it? I am pretty comfortable in Linux and I don't think it would take as long for me to get ready for it than Microsoft. .. I do realize I will eventually need to work on Microsoft stuff though. I figure I should get some certs as I look for work. There are many casinos, along with military bases in my area so who knows they could need IT help?

    I went ahead and scheduled to take the ICND1 on Monday. I think I know most of the material, I have been afraid to bite the bullet and schedule it..... test jitters making doubt creep in ;-) .. I don't think I have done enough practice LAB work to be ready for ICND2 just yet. hopefully the college I went to might let me practice on there cisco lab equipment since I am alumni. if not I will use packet tracer.
     
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2011
    Certifications: CCNA,CCENT, A+, Security +
    WIP: Linux? Microsoft?
  8. Simonvm

    Simonvm Kilobyte Poster

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    Last edited: Jun 23, 2011
    Certifications: MCITP: EST, MCDST, MCTS, A+, N+, CCNP, CCNA Wireless
  9. bradwmetal

    bradwmetal Bit Poster

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    now that may be affordable enough to try. Thanks
     
    Certifications: CCNA,CCENT, A+, Security +
    WIP: Linux? Microsoft?
  10. bradwmetal

    bradwmetal Bit Poster

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    I just passed the ICND1 today with a 862 out of 1000. I would have done better, but I accidentally clicked next before answering all 4 of one of the simulation questions. Luckily I did well enough on the rest to cover for it. It was not as hard as I expected, but I suppose that was because I was prepared when I came in for it.
    I will try the CCNA in a few weeks. I have set a goal to have the ICND2 scheduled by July 15.

    Thanks
     
    Certifications: CCNA,CCENT, A+, Security +
    WIP: Linux? Microsoft?
  11. Simonvm

    Simonvm Kilobyte Poster

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    Congratz and good luck! Two weeks shouldn't be a problem if you've completed the CCNA course in the network academy!
     
    Certifications: MCITP: EST, MCDST, MCTS, A+, N+, CCNP, CCNA Wireless
  12. ickle97116084

    ickle97116084 Bit Poster

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    I can empathise with you regarding the cost of certification but studying is never going to be free. The reason so many people are against the braindumps i.e. Testking, is they use individuals who have a photographic memory to sit the tests. These individuals then 'dump' the exam onto paper afterwards resulting in a like for like copy of the test. This devalues the hard work the vendors go to make each exam unique and as technicaly difficult as they can to ensure only those that have experience and studied can receive the pass mark. If everyone was to use braindumps and pass without actually studying we would have an IT workforce that havent got a clue how to administer IT equipment.

    I dont mean to be getting at you but if you do choose to use these particular methods to study please dont openly admit it on a live publicly viewable forum as if and when you do get your certification it may be recinded due to unfavourable study practices. Other than admitting it on a public forum and Cisco/Microsoft coming round to your house and rifling through your trash and hdds how else can they tell you have used brain dumps?

    Cheers,

    Ickle
     
    Certifications: Bsc (Hons), Prince2 Foundation, Network+
  13. mcrilly

    mcrilly Byte Poster

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    I had to look up what a "braindump" was. That's some nasty stuff. No wonder the average wage drops over time.

    Congratulations on passing the CCENT. I passed mine on the 14th of June and found it relatively easy also. Next is the ICND2, but that will be a few months off for me as I haven't previously studied the finer points. To help your self prepare, I would also suggest the Cisco Press books on the subject as they're quite excellent.

    I've noticed that you said you've booked the ICND2 for July? I hope you're ready for that because after speaking to a few peeps here, and some newly certified Cisco friends of mine, the ICND2 is a bit of a shock when compared to the ICND1 - it REALLY tests you. Just make sure you're ready and good luck.
     
    Last edited: Jun 29, 2011
    Certifications: CCENT
    WIP: CCNA, RHCE, & VCP
  14. bradwmetal

    bradwmetal Bit Poster

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    I DO NOT USE any dumps to study with. I never said I did. I just said that practice tests (called dumps in a lot of cases) was something I used as a gauge. If I phrased something to give that impression, sorry about that. I have my cisco books, and a couple other texts to study from. I think if I used dumps to study for the ICND1 I would have failed it. I walked in to the test full of knowledge, not memorized answers. Due to that I finished the test with 40 minutes left on the clock and never sweat an answer.
    Why does one assume that someone is memorizing answers when they take a practice test. A practice test in my eyes is to be used to see what you still need to study for, not as a means to an end. Read what I have said and don't just jump on a key word. Don't put words into my statements that I did not make. I agree with you about unknowledgeable people ruining the workforce. I use Certguard to check my online study options.
     
    Certifications: CCNA,CCENT, A+, Security +
    WIP: Linux? Microsoft?
  15. bradwmetal

    bradwmetal Bit Poster

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    I have the "luxury" of being unemployed right now, so I can focus on studying for the near future. Hopefully that is enough time to get ready for it. I feel that I need to set a goal to hit the mark. If I don't think I am ready then, I can always reschedule.

    and congrats on your CCENT!
     
    Certifications: CCNA,CCENT, A+, Security +
    WIP: Linux? Microsoft?
  16. bradwmetal

    bradwmetal Bit Poster

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    I hope so. I feel good about the technical knowledge. The lab work is what I need right now, and to work on my troubleshooting.
    but I can always push it down the road a little. I know that once I get back to work it will be hard to find the time to work on certifications, so the time is now to do it.
    Thanks
     
    Certifications: CCNA,CCENT, A+, Security +
    WIP: Linux? Microsoft?
  17. mcrilly

    mcrilly Byte Poster

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    To be fair I gave my self a week to get "in shape" for the ICND-1, as I was off work for the week prior anyway. The ICND-2 is meant to be much harder (to the point that it's actually challenging), but I'm sure you will be fine given your previous studies :-)
     
    Certifications: CCENT
    WIP: CCNA, RHCE, & VCP
  18. bradwmetal

    bradwmetal Bit Poster

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    heh we'll see .. I am expecting it to be 4 times harder at least. :-) then I can work on the next cert, what ever that ends up being. the longer It takes to get work, the more Certification studies I will do. I haven't decided on whether to do Linux or Microsoft. but first things first.
     
    Certifications: CCNA,CCENT, A+, Security +
    WIP: Linux? Microsoft?
  19. Modey

    Modey Terabyte Poster

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    I have never heard legit practice exams called 'dumps' before. The reason people assumed you used brain dumps instead of legit materials is because you said you had in one of your earlier posts. Typically people using these materials 'memorise' them because they are the actual questions from the exam, not questions designed to test your knowledge which legit materials would be.
     
    Certifications: A+, N+, MCP, MCDST, MCSA 2K3, MCTS, MOS, MTA, MCT, MCITP:EDST7, MCSA W7, Citrix CCA, ITIL Foundation
    WIP: Nada
  20. bradwmetal

    bradwmetal Bit Poster

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    Fair enough. I did not even realize the difference until I read on here and then researched a little on the subject after my first post. I try at this point to stay away from them. I have found plenty of material that isn't as shady since then. But I do understand the heat since I did use the word dump. Lesson learned; but I never have tried to memorize answers to anything, that doesn't help anything. I have taken practice tests that would be called a dump and have seen many inaccuracies. I know they are not the best gauge of progress. If you never get on forums like this you don't even know that there are not legit though.
    Now with That said, Where I went to school the passing of "dumps" was common to help get ready for tests. Groups of people would go in together to BUY pass4sure and stuff like that. I was given quite a few things by friends that bought in. I also found other things online. These people were not trying for any easy out, they just didn't know any better. We all thought it was just practice tests. People outside this circle don't necessarily know the difference, so I wouldn't be so quick to make assumptions about "noobs" that dont use the right terms. More would be gained from educating us than going on rants against "dumps". Personally I know the deal now and use different things to study.
    It is just annoying to get on here and see highlights of the word "dump" highlighting what I said before I knew the deal about them. It would be nice if someone would read an entire post and not just key in on something they don't like. They would be able to tell I am someone trying to learn something. It kind of discourages someone from a productive discussion when all they get is flames because they used a word they regret. Why would someone that knew the difference be stupid enough to say anything about using dumps for tests if they knew the whole story about them?

    Sorry to be so long winded.

    Thanks
    Brad

    PS . This sure is a weird tangent for an introduction post to go on, isn't it? :-)
     
    Certifications: CCNA,CCENT, A+, Security +
    WIP: Linux? Microsoft?

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