HI, NEW GUY HERE

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Hi, as the title says, im new here, stumbled across this site whilst trying to find some info on cisco courses. Well i have recently left the military (a year ago) and they paid for resettlement training, so i chose SDH PONs air blown fibres etc. Now this year im entitled to £2125 towards another course, i really want to try and get my CCNA as it does interest me and i think it would help further my career. But i am new to cisco definitely and hoping to find some advice on here

 

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Hi there and welcome

 

Hi and welcome to CF!

Did you actualy get to use your SDH training? Because experience is going to help a lot in that world.

CCNA might be useful - but it depends on your network knowledge.

You might want to pick up a book on CompTIA's Network+ to use as a beginner's guide, and get a feel of how good your knowledge is.

Harry.

 

Alas not many companies are prepared to take on SDH engineers without any experience and i can not gain any experience unless somebody takes me on.

 

hbroomhall what books would you recommend for a starter into A+ Certification ?

 

So you are saying that you didn't get to use any of your training? That's a shame, as experience in that field is not so common.

As a matter of interest - why did you pick that course?

Harry.

 

I actualy suggested Network+, as it seemed to me that you were leaning totaly towards networks.

However, A+ is a very good 'base' cert, on which you can build all sorts of other things.

The recomended books are Mike Meyers All-In-One 6th ed, and James Pyles PC Technician Street Smarts, which is a very practical 'hands-on' type of book.

Look in the A+ section for discussion on these and other books.

Harry.

 

Unfortunately, not many companies will take on Cisco router techs without experience, even those who are certified. If you get the CCNA, you will likely find yourself in the same situation you're in now, where you're SDH trained, but can't get a job. The CCNA is designed for techs who already have IT experience administering networks.

I'm not sure what your experience level is, but if you don't have any, and you're looking to get into IT, then you should pursue entry-level certifications, such as the A+, Network+, and MCDST.

The books that Harry has recommended are the ones I would also recommend.

Best of luck to you!

 

Hi & welcome to CF

NB

 

Welcome to the forums…

 

When i left the military i did my complete resettlement course at CTTS, i chose
COMBINATION A (ELC)
(Six weeks based at our Training Centre in Lincoln)
Level 3 BTEC Advanced Award in SDH
Level 3 BTEC Advanced Award in Managing PONs & Air Blown Fibre Systems
Level 3 BTEC Advanced Award in Access Networks
C&G 6156 Unit 2 Signing, Lighting & Guarding
C&G 3666 Unit 1 Basic Principles of Communications Cabling
C&G 3666 Unit 2 Fibre Optic Cabling in an Internal Environment
C&G 3666 Unit 3 Fibre Optic Cabling in an External Environment
C&G 3666 Unit 4 Copper Cabling in an Internal Environment
+ 14 days in-field training

All pretty much what people in the commissioning and testing business are looking for. I had two spells with companies (for free) to get some experience so i know what im doing upto STM4 no probs. Mind you i have only asked a couple of people towards SDH employment, most of my work so far has been PONs.

 

Seems to me that you should be looking for work in that field to start with, and build up some experience.

While doing this you could get some networking knowledge by home-studying Network+. You would be well placed then to take up that second grant.

What time limit do you have for accepting that grant?

Harry.

 

Hi and welcome to the forum.

 

Im working in the commissioning and testing at the moment, and have from April-April next year to take up the grant. Pretty much the reason ive looked at cisco is because a lot of SDH cabling positions mention that cisco would be advantageous.

 

I think I'm new too,

I'm preparing to take the Security+ exam (hope soon) . And will use the forum to fulfill some holes on knowledge.

 

I'd say that you have plenty of time to mug up Network+ and take it before that deadline expires. I feel it will stand you in good stead.

And stick in there with the current work. It is *very* valuable experience. There are very few who get to have that experience.

Harry.

 

Hi and welcome to CF! - You should really have started a new thread rather than hijacking anothers! <grin>

Harry.

 

Hi Molivier,
Welcome aboard...
I agree with Harry, a new thread would have been the better way in my opinion.

Are you new to the IT industry too? From what I recall, the Security+ isn't an entry-level cert.

 

You are correct; it is not.