study for a CCNA without work experience??

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Very true and agree 100%! Let's just hope "certain" naive posters will see the light...

Cheers derkit!

 

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Do you talk like that to your colleagues at work? I would not be surprised if you do cos I have some with an attitude like yours that I work with on a daily basis. I call them IT super stars, at least they couldn't appear in stars in their eyes so IT is the next near thing I suppose. I would not say any more, serious.

 

Now I see, so you are saying that one swearing foul at another member of certs forum is an expression of that persons opinion regardless whether is called for or not? I stand to be corrected because that was definitely not the impression I got when I read the cert forum rules.

 

"any more"...there you go! Please continue!

 

Listen I don't know you and you don't know me either. I can swallow my pride as I don't know everything and act like I do because really I don't but am willing to learn. All am saying and want is that you do not swear at me, please and pretty please. Thanks.

 

read AJs post and decided to stop!

 

Sparky, I understand this that there are people who use the f this and f that but not at me because I don't use it at others. I noticed recently on the CF that there have been degrading comments that are totally uncalled for. To be honest if this carries on then I know what to do. Thanks anyway.

 

Man

I really do hate these threads


Whilst I'm inclined not to agree with Ciscopaul out of principle (half of what he said is utter excrement and a testament to the poor standard of training IT professionals can expect in this day and age) the first part is true! you can study for a CCNA with no experience, you can pass the CCNA with no experience, and you can get a job from it

That's the simple fact, is it guaranteed? hell no, is it easy? of course not, but take it from someone who did it (when I started my Cisco training I had never really used a piece of Cisco kit, but had been working with networks for a while)

the CCNA is an entry point, a point far higher than a Net+, and a CCNA can land you a job.
With zip experience and nothing else on your CV you will be relying on luck not any technical ability, but the fact is there are still people hiring based on certs, and you could get lucky

Can we stop all this total BS about 'you should do A+, you should do this' let people do whatever the hell they want, if they get stuck, then try the easier route, who gave me the right to trample all over your dreams with a heavy dose of reality?

You got the time to kill? go for it, the worst that could happen is you learn something, and isn't that why we are all here?

 

Phoenix,

Your situation, as you described it, is not one of zero experience in IT. You had worked in networking and IT before you got your cert. There's a big difference between that and somebody trying to get into the IT field for the very first time.

Can it happen for someone? I suppose so, but the odds are not good. It might happen for maybe 1 out of 100 that way, but would most people rather hear that they have maybe a 1% chance of having a cert work for them or the truth about how much good that cert will really do? If it was me, I'd want the truth. I wish someone had told me that in 2002 instead of filling me full of crap about how certifications would get my foot in the door.

If I had known the truth I would have gone about my entire training process differently. I would have gone for a two year degree and then started looking for internships or something like that. Instead I spent a long time in pursuit of a ghost because once I had gotten started I'm not someone to back out without finishing what I start.

I don't think anyone here wants their dreams dashed, but I don't think anyone wants to be fed a raft of crap that lines up with their dreams just so they can be talked into spending money fruitlessly either.

I'd say people would be much further ahead by finding themselves an internship and working their way into the field. That way while they're studying they can be getting real world experience. And, if they're lucky and work hard that prospective employer just might spring for certs or further education if they like the internee. No matter how the internship turns out the person at least has experience to point to, and that's more important than certs.

 

I agree with Freddy, yep it COULD BE DONE but it is not advisable for someone with zero xp to get a cert like CCNA without working in networking or using CISCO kit.

You wouldn't allow someone who can score perfectly on Microsoft Flight simulator fly a jumbo jet, so why would an employer allow someone who has zip xp but has CCNA cert loose on their network.

Experience is what counts, people starting out or trying to start out should start with entry level certs like A+ and N+ and if its networking you want the perhaps the CISCO entry level certs after the N+

 

I agree, getting a CCNA will not mean you get a job, but its not exactly a bad thing to go for now is it? You will learn a lot about networking from Cisco's point of view. And lets be honest, the first 2 semesters are not really that hard. I'm not saying they are easy, but their not hard enough for someone without any work experience to get to grips with.

Semester 3 and 4 are a different story, but if your interested in networking and want to learn a great deal about how everything works from the network layer down, I would say go for it. If you want to get the cert JUST for getting a job, then don't bother.

 

This thread has been an interesting read as I started studying for the CCNA without work experience. I finished uni in the summer and since then I wanted to further my knowledge. I chose to study for a CCNA because I was not exposed to any routers or switches during my degree (just all theory basically). I purchased some cisco kit to use at home, study material and a bootcamp weekend so I could improve my practical skills.

During this time I have searched for my first IT job with no experience and I have been lucky to find one (start in Jan next year). Its an entry-level position so I can gain some invaluable work experience. I dont feel I have wasted my time or money studying for the CCNA as I have learned loads about networking and the CISCO IOS. I feel this knowledge that I have learned will help me progress in IT after I have gained work experience (along with passing the CCNA cert).

So to answer the question "study for CCNA without work experience??" I say yes you can. As others have mentioned, if you find it difficult then learn the basics or look at other cert material such as A+ or N+.

Good luck to you whatever you decide to study

 

From my experience many companies I have worked for or interviewed for require certifications like CCNA before they will allow you a job that will call on the knowledge, they will train you but they want you to have the certification already as a "minimal requirement" so you know the basics.

I look at certifications as a way to get your foot in the door for an interview, I don't have my MCSE yet but I've been in the IT industry for over 10 years now and without an MCSE or CCNA certification there are jobs that are just not open for me even though I have all of the experience to do the job.

Recently I went to a temp agency to check out some options and when they looked over my resume and noticed that I didn't have MCSE yet the first jobs they brought out was helpdesk positions, I've worked one helpdesk job in my life and I would rather flay the skin off my body myself before I work another helpdesk job, it wasn't till after they ran me through their custom testing software that they started offering system admin jobs.

In my experience, its hard getting a position where you will gain the experience required for the certifications.

GW

 

I'm with you, Phoenix. The point is learning, and really....what's the purpose of A+ in the Cisco world? Most network guys I know are either hardware geeks by hobby, or they have no earthly clue what goes on inside a computer. If you have a passion for networking, and really invest into the learning experience fully (not just trying to pass an exam), then I say Go For It.

However, I definitely wouldn't offend the entire community about getting a cert without experience. The point they make is very real and valid, so keep that in mind whilst you study. Make your time count, and expand your boundaries!

 

Welcome back Fortch

 

How long will this guy be allowed to promote his "Get the CCNA without experience, and by the way, here's my site" agenda?