CCNA or Comptia Network+

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Just remember, sometimes certs might help grease the wheels, but the simple fact is they never get you the job. You get you the job. All that cert business goes out the window once you’re sitting across from your own peer group; I've interviewed CCIE's that came across as idiots and people with nothing that came across as brilliant. The point? It's you that gets the job more than anything else.

If you can convince them you can do the work and make them believe you would be an asset to the team, you're going to have a shot. I know you are reading this, and probably a lot of people are reading this, and everyone thinks they get it, but man I swear it's the hidden gem in plain sight most of the time. Most people really don't get it, holding in disdain a part of their professionally lives that desperatly need development. Massive tech muscle, horrendous people relation skills. I can't stress it adequately or emphasize it enough.

Your people skills will be a much larger part of why you do or don't get a job than the question of Network+ or CCNA. Heck, I honestly believe experienced guys get more work and better job offers cause they have the confidence and reasoning intellect of someone who has "been there, done that". I'm ranting, now let me answer your question.

Nobody in their right mind is going to argue that the Network+ is better to have than the CCNA. If you can get the CCNA, then go get it. Heck, the CCNA is broken down into a two step process right now, you can get two certs by getting that one these days. Cisco powers I don't know how much of the worlds network infrastructure, some humongous amount. Vendor neutral is nice, but Cisco is the largest player in the game by far in what is a very BIG game.

So, to sum up:

1) It's you more than any cert, I don’t care what anyone says; that is always true. The cert might get you in the door, but you get you the job. People skills, think of them, embrace them. Believe in yourself, be authentic.

2) Cisco powers the worlds networks. Don't let anyone tell you different, I log into other peoples network gear and guess what they are running more often than not? Emulated Cisco IOS software rip-offs. If it's all the same to you, go with the CCNA, no offense to the N+ proponents or the folks that chose that path. And for the record, Cisco implements ALL the standard protocols that you would find on the N+, heck..Cisco helps to establish many of the protocols these days that N+ will be based on in the future. Be a forward thinker.

3) Last bit of advice, here's a nice mental challenge for you. Live your career backwards. Imagine yourself 5, 10, 15 years from now looking back over your professional life; make your choices from that perspective. Build your career right now with the goal of where you see yourself at those year markers in the future. Don't let anyone tell you the path you’re supposed to walk, you are your own person (see item #1). You can do it your own way. And if you REALLy want a mental challenge, do the same thing except do it from your deathbed and look back over your entire life. What do you really want out of life? (ok ok, sorry sorry, totally went off in the deepend)

Well, obviously I have some strong opinions that some of the comments and such generated in this thread. I won't deny I'm a bit opinionated, however; I completely understand that all the guys on this thread are offering you real and authentic advice based on our own experiences and that my opinion is no more valid than theirs. Reap the info on this thread, use it, and I hope you blaze a nice trail of your own in the IT field.

Anyways, that’s my two cents and that with my opinion will get you a piece of bubble gum maybe.

J.

 

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I was going to hijack this thread but you've answered my question with a great post to this thread
Have some rep!

In the past 2 or so years, I have had IT positions with exposure to a variety of things (small companies). I feel as though doing the N+ would be a step back for me in comparison to gaining CCNA; yet the posts in this thread had confused me with the people saying otherwise. I haven't looked at the N+ in-depth but I have always assumed that the CCNA is a more advanced certification with a greater syllabus of networking than the N+, obviously incorporating the Cisco side of things (hardware/software). Triton.Deep's post has made it certain for me though; I shall be doing the CCNA.

On with the topic, surely if you're going for a basic* position job which has exposure to networking, then having passed an exam in which you need N+ knowledge PLUS more, you would have a bigger advantage over somebody with equal experience and an N+.

* By basic I meant a job which doesn't specialise

 

I myself was applying for loads of first line jobs and getting no where until i got my A+ and the first job i took was doing password resets. I do have a strong call centre expierence and believe this has helped me because of my customer skills.

I think comptia A+ is valued in the uk and if you go to the right agencies designed for recruiting IT professionals then they will recognise this. I must admit as previously said alot of larger agencies recruiting for IT just stickin what the in words are at that moment. I see loads with MCP,MCSA,MCSE and ITIL required and they are usually looking for nothing more than a call logger or password resetter.

I believed that doing the Network+ for me was an more introductory option than diving in for the ccna but i might be wrong and probably am.

 

You're correct, it will help. Getting the basic concepts down before moving on to some of the more difficult certs is always the best way to do it.

Qs

 

I've passed both comptia a+ exam and now it's the time to see if this cert would help me to get some interviews. Hope me luck, guys. Thank you all for the discussions here.

 

Triton. Deep,

Thanx so much for sharing your mental property. This post is very helpful for me.

Once more I have read form people "in the field" that communication/people skills are more important then certs.

Time for me to cement this in my grey mass and take advantage of from it.