Value of Cisco training and certs

I have a slightly different question, especially geared to those who
have MCSEs and CCNA. A little re-assurance or reality check would help,
especially being in the "Show-Me" state of Missouri.

I enrolled in the local Cisco Academy for this fall. I have 2 rather
under utilized NT4.0 and Win2k MCSEs, an A+ and 3 MOS certifications.
Currently, I work at a call center. I am hoping as I approach 40 this
February, that the CCNA and possible CCNP will help me break out of my
mold, and actually aid in making more money, especially to legitimate
the vast amounts I have spent already. Yes, I was one of those folks who
got involved in computer work in 1999 for the cash, until the bottom
fell out. Now, I figure it's time to fully succeed with the Cisco stuff
and subsequent job prospects, or come up with a new career plan. I
don't feel great about this path, but my friends who have taken some of
the classes urge me on, saying it should help vastly.

Has anyone out there had under-utilized skills or certifications, but
found that Cisco certifications improved their lot? Is it possible to
actually find a job, preferably day-shift because Cisco really helped to
increase skillset and marketability?
Any feedback in this news group would be helpful and most appreciated.

Thanks ,
David

none

none wrote:
> I have a slightly different question, especially geared to those who
> have MCSEs and CCNA. A little re-assurance or reality check would help,
> especially being in the "Show-Me" state of Missouri.
>
> I enrolled in the local Cisco Academy for this fall. I have 2 rather
> under utilized NT4.0 and Win2k MCSEs, an A+ and 3 MOS certifications.
> Currently, I work at a call center. I am hoping as I approach 40 this
> February, that the CCNA and possible CCNP will help me break out of my
> mold, and actually aid in making more money, especially to legitimate
> the vast amounts I have spent already. Yes, I was one of those folks who
> got involved in computer work in 1999 for the cash, until the bottom
> fell out. Now, I figure it's time to fully succeed with the Cisco stuff
> and subsequent job prospects, or come up with a new career plan. I
> don't feel great about this path, but my friends who have taken some of
> the classes urge me on, saying it should help vastly.
>
> Has anyone out there had under-utilized skills or certifications, but
> found that Cisco certifications improved their lot? Is it possible to
> actually find a job, preferably day-shift because Cisco really helped to
> increase skillset and marketability?
> Any feedback in this news group would be helpful and most appreciated.
>
> Thanks ,
> David

The first question you have to ask yourself is what level of support
are you currently doing? Are you doing password resets and how do I
make word justify to the right and not the left or center, or are you
doing some server administration and more advanced stuff. I am making a
dangerous assumption that no matter what it is you are not happy doing
it.

If the reason your asking is because you have been stuck in level 1
support hell for the last 7 years, and droning sounds of every end user
blaming you because they cant figure out how to right click then maybe
you need ask yourself what s the growth potential from within your
comapny. Even if you do get a CCNA what are the chances you will be
able to make it off the helpdesk or is it just time to change
companies? Knowledge is power and subsequently the only tool you will
have to ever get out of doing the same redundant simple tasks everyday.


I started in IT the same year you did. I made some extremely risky
moves after being laid off from verizon during my 2nd year of IT
experience and turned myself into an IT contractor for 3 years going
anywhere and doing anything. I also got my CCNA in June of 2000.

I thought the CCNA was my answer to getting off the help desk and felt
it would surely get me a networking job. My CCNA never got me a job
that was exclusively "networking ", but it did get me several jobs and
contracts that gave me more networking experience which eventually has
led me to where I am today with 2.5years experience as a Network
Administrator in both NT and 2000/2003 with Cisco routers and switches
and firewalls.

The CCNA and CCNP will open the doors and ears of hiring managers but
your own perseverance and dedication is the only way you will become a
network analyst/engineer, again making a dangerous assumption that is
what you want.

As far as a day job goes. My official schedule is 8am-5pm according to
my offer letter and department policy. However, that does not cover
nights I am on call or when the guy down the street on the backhoe cuts
through the fiber line that feeds our building and the pager goes off
at 8pm because all the satalite offices just got the boot from the
network.

Either way I wish you the best of luck and if you ask me would I do it
all over again. the answer is I would have not have changed a thing.

PS the only current and active certification I still have is my
Microsoft MCP and A+. I am going to retake the CCNA at the end of the
month and start the CCNP later this year not so I can become certified
but so i can do my job better which will subsequently, hopefully get me
more money.

Steve

none wrote:
> I have a slightly different question, especially geared to those who
> have MCSEs and CCNA. A little re-assurance or reality check would help,
> especially being in the "Show-Me" state of Missouri.
>
> I enrolled in the local Cisco Academy for this fall. I have 2 rather
> under utilized NT4.0 and Win2k MCSEs, an A+ and 3 MOS certifications.
> Currently, I work at a call center. I am hoping as I approach 40 this
> February, that the CCNA and possible CCNP will help me break out of my
> mold, and actually aid in making more money, especially to legitimate
> the vast amounts I have spent already. Yes, I was one of those folks who
> got involved in computer work in 1999 for the cash, until the bottom
> fell out. Now, I figure it's time to fully succeed with the Cisco stuff
> and subsequent job prospects, or come up with a new career plan. I
> don't feel great about this path, but my friends who have taken some of
> the classes urge me on, saying it should help vastly.
>
> Has anyone out there had under-utilized skills or certifications, but
> found that Cisco certifications improved their lot? Is it possible to
> actually find a job, preferably day-shift because Cisco really helped to
> increase skillset and marketability?
> Any feedback in this news group would be helpful and most appreciated.
>
> Thanks ,
> David

In addition to Steve's reply I would strongly recommend working your
way into the VoIP world. That is where it's at right now. We can't
hirer VoIP engineers fast enough. In the next 2-3 years IPTV is going
to explode as well. Getting on the bandwagon now will definitely
benefit you. However with both you need the underlying basics, and a
damn fine grasp of them at that. One thing you might leverage is your
Microsoft knowledge and how that will integrate with the Cisco VoIP
products. Unity is extemely dependant on Exchange. Everything ties
into Exchange and AD. Learning Cisco VoIP from that perspecitve may
serve you well. Personally I know that I'm behind on the voice side of
things. To that end I am going to take the opposite route. I am going
to focus all my attention away from voice and on my core R&S, security
and more importantly service provider skillsets. Then I'll pick up
voice. Given the account that I'm currently working on, I don't have
much of an opportunity to learn voice. However I have an opportunity
to hone my skills on everything else.

J

Thanks guys, I will try to press on, even despite my tenuous grasp on
subnetting. That grasp is a lot strong than my grasp on my credit card
paying for Cisco Academy and books, but I love write-offs!

Another good outcome of training is self-enforced celibacy. I'll be too
busy reading to have to even qualify for child support.

Again, thanks for your more seasoned perspective!

-David

none wrote:
> Thanks guys, I will try to press on, even despite my tenuous grasp on
> subnetting. That grasp is a lot strong than my grasp on my credit card
> paying for Cisco Academy and books, but I love write-offs!
>
> Another good outcome of training is self-enforced celibacy. I'll be too
> busy reading to have to even qualify for child support.
>
> Again, thanks for your more seasoned perspective!
>
> -David

If you are having a hard time with some network concepts then my
recomendation is to get your hands on material authored by Todd Lammle.
I have read hisbook which is published by Sybex and his videos which
can be obtained from keystone learning.

[longhorn1502]

The true story that has everyone talking: Parents of a 15yr old boy find $71,000 in his closet: You may have seen this story featured on a number of major news programs (United States), and reported elsewhere around the world. His mother was doing some cleaning and putting some laundry away when she discovered a large brown paper bag that was suspiciously buried beneath some clothes and a skateboard in the back of her 15-year-old son’s closet. Nothing could have prepared her for the shock she got when she opened the bag and found that it was full of dollar bills -- $71,000 to be precise!!

It's true. The boy legitimately earned $71,000. You should print this, read it and read it again and again if necessary. Then follow the simple instructions. You too could make $71,000 and much much more.

This program has gained such respectability and it is working so well, that many people are now entering the program for a second and third time.

Some are reporting they are earning enough money to give up their jobs and they are spending just a few hours a day sending out e-mails.

======================================...


INSTRUCTIONS ON WHAT TO DO:
Some people will perceive this as an "off the wall" idea to make money, but others will look at it as a great business opportunity. This by far is the safest opportunity you will find to start your own business because you use Paypal, the most trusted banking system on the internet. Not only is this an opportunity to gain financial freedom, but you will help others do the same as they help you. A basic principal that has been forgotten about - Giving to one another.


This is a very simple opportunity. This is an even simpler automated way to make money that does not require opening mail, only a Paypal account.

Create a Paypal account for free.
Give six people $1.00. (Paypal IDs are listed below.)
Post this opportunity to others on the internet.
Other people create a Paypal account for free.
Thousands of people give you $1.00 to be put on your mailing list.
(Once you add your Paypal ID.)

If we all work together everyone will benefit. Here's how! Paypal verifies that this $6 investment program is 100% legal and is a big hit this year see their note below or ask them directly... For a simple investment of 15-30 minutes and just $6, it is 100%
worth it to make thousands so quickly. This is not another scam that takes lots of your hard earned money; this is a no risk investment that will make you thousands of dollars very easily and quickly.

From PayPal:

"Dear Member, it has come to our attention that there is a Paypal opportunity floating around at the moment you may have heard or seen the $6 opportunity. You may have even taken part in it well we have been asked a lot of questions about this opportunity the
answer is yes it does work and yes it is safe to use providing you follow the rules it is legal and has made a big hit on the internet this year.

If you would like to take part in this opportunity or would like a bit more information then please see the attached file that was kindly donated to us.

Thank you for using PayPal!"

Turn $6 into $15,000 in only 30 days...here’s how! You have most likely seen or heard about this project on TV programs such as 20/20 and Oprah, or you may have read about
it in the Wall Street Journal. If not, here it is below - revealed to you in step-by-step detail.

This program is by no means new. It has been in existence in many forms for at least a decade. I found this on a bulletin board and decided to try it: Make Money with your Paypal account as shown on Oprah! IMPORTANT: This is not a rip-off; it is not indecent; it is not illegal; and it is virtually no risk-it really works! If all of the following instructions are adhered to, you will receive extraordinary dividends. AGAIN, PLEASE NOTE: Follow these directions EXACTLY, and $20,000 or more can be yours in
4 to 6 weeks. This program remains successful because of the honesty and integrity
of the participants. Please continue its success by carefully adhering to the instructions.

It is perfectly legal because you are starting a mailing list. It can be very
useful to start a new business, or for other businesses to acquire information from you.
When you send out these letters, you are in the mail order business. People are sending you $1.00 to be put on your mailing list. This is a legal helpful service. See Title, Section 1302 and 1341 of the US Postal and lottery laws.

Here are the 4 easy steps to success:

STEP 1:
Take a few minutes to join Paypal: Remember to verify your account. www.paypal.com/us/mrb/pal=3DC2RREFZTEZ. When creating your Paypal account make email address you used for Paypal on the list below so people can send money to your account.

STEP 2:
Once you have a Paypal account running, use Paypal to post $1 to EACH of the 6 Email Addresses below because you pay people with an email address in Paypal. Select "SEND
MONEY". To do this you may need to use a credit or debit card, which is very easy, and secure so nobody but Paypal may see it.

STEP 3:
Now after sending $1.00 to each of the email addresses below, take the #1 Email Address off the list, move the other Email Addresses up (6 becomes 5, 5 becomes 4, etc.) and add Your Email Address as number 6 on the list.

STEP 4:
Change anything you need to, but try to keep this article as close
to the original as possible. Now, post your amended article to at least 200 news groups (there are thousands of groups). Email your message to as many people you can. Remember, the more you post and email the more money you make! This is perfectly legal because you are paying $1 for a service. You must include the following text with your payment, “PLEASE ADD ME TO YOUR E-MAIL LIST”. Without this important language, it becomes illegal! Therefore, send $1 to each of the following e-mail addresses:

1.)
2.)
3.)
4.)
5.)
6.)

Print this document so you can refer to it when necessary. This program remains successful because of the honesty and integrity of the participants and by their carefully adhering to the directions. When your name eventually reaches the #1 position you will have potentially received thousands of dollars into your account!!! What an opportunity for only a total of $6.00!

HOW TO POST TO NEWS GROUPS:
Search with the subject “money making message board” or “classified
ads”. You will find thousands and thousands of message boards and
companies like:
1) yahoo
2) google
3) aol
4) Adsubmitter.com etc
Click on them one by one and you will find the option ‘’post a new message’’. Then Post this article THE MORE NEWS GROUPS YOU POST IN, THE MORE MONEY YOU WILL MAKE!! But you have to post a minimum of 200! When you post 200 letters, it is estimated that at least 15 people will respond and send you $1 ($15). Those 15 will post 200 letters each and 225 will send $1 ($225). Those 225 will post 200 letters each and 3,375 people will send you $1 ($3,375). Those 3,375 people will post 200 letters each and 50,625 people will send you $1 (50,625). Those 50,625 will post 200 letters each and 749,375 people will send you $1 (749,375). At this point your name drops off the list, but so far, you have received $813,615.00. JUST MAKE SURE ALL THE ADDRESSES ARE CORRECT. When your name is no longer on the list, you just take the latest posting in the news groups, and send out another $6.00 to Email Addresses using Paypal.

[longhorn1502]

The true story that has everyone talking: Parents of a 15yr old boy find $71,000 in his closet: You may have seen this story featured on a number of major news programs (United States), and reported elsewhere around the world. His mother was doing some cleaning and putting some laundry away when she discovered a large brown paper bag that was suspiciously buried beneath some clothes and a skateboard in the back of her 15-year-old son’s closet. Nothing could have prepared her for the shock she got when she opened the bag and found that it was full of dollar bills -- $71,000 to be precise!!

It's true. The boy legitimately earned $71,000. You should print this, read it and read it again and again if necessary. Then follow the simple instructions. You too could make $71,000 and much much more.

This program has gained such respectability and it is working so well, that many people are now entering the program for a second and third time.

Some are reporting they are earning enough money to give up their jobs and they are spending just a few hours a day sending out e-mails.

======================================...


INSTRUCTIONS ON WHAT TO DO:
Some people will perceive this as an "off the wall" idea to make money, but others will look at it as a great business opportunity. This by far is the safest opportunity you will find to start your own business because you use Paypal, the most trusted banking system on the internet. Not only is this an opportunity to gain financial freedom, but you will help others do the same as they help you. A basic principal that has been forgotten about - Giving to one another.


This is a very simple opportunity. This is an even simpler automated way to make money that does not require opening mail, only a Paypal account.

Create a Paypal account for free.
Give six people $1.00. (Paypal IDs are listed below.)
Post this opportunity to others on the internet.
Other people create a Paypal account for free.
Thousands of people give you $1.00 to be put on your mailing list.
(Once you add your Paypal ID.)

If we all work together everyone will benefit. Here's how! Paypal verifies that this $6 investment program is 100% legal and is a big hit this year see their note below or ask them directly... For a simple investment of 15-30 minutes and just $6, it is 100%
worth it to make thousands so quickly. This is not another scam that takes lots of your hard earned money; this is a no risk investment that will make you thousands of dollars very easily and quickly.

From PayPal:

"Dear Member, it has come to our attention that there is a Paypal opportunity floating around at the moment you may have heard or seen the $6 opportunity. You may have even taken part in it well we have been asked a lot of questions about this opportunity the
answer is yes it does work and yes it is safe to use providing you follow the rules it is legal and has made a big hit on the internet this year.

If you would like to take part in this opportunity or would like a bit more information then please see the attached file that was kindly donated to us.

Thank you for using PayPal!"

Turn $6 into $15,000 in only 30 days...here’s how! You have most likely seen or heard about this project on TV programs such as 20/20 and Oprah, or you may have read about
it in the Wall Street Journal. If not, here it is below - revealed to you in step-by-step detail.

This program is by no means new. It has been in existence in many forms for at least a decade. I found this on a bulletin board and decided to try it: Make Money with your Paypal account as shown on Oprah! IMPORTANT: This is not a rip-off; it is not indecent; it is not illegal; and it is virtually no risk-it really works! If all of the following instructions are adhered to, you will receive extraordinary dividends. AGAIN, PLEASE NOTE: Follow these directions EXACTLY, and $20,000 or more can be yours in
4 to 6 weeks. This program remains successful because of the honesty and integrity
of the participants. Please continue its success by carefully adhering to the instructions.

It is perfectly legal because you are starting a mailing list. It can be very
useful to start a new business, or for other businesses to acquire information from you.
When you send out these letters, you are in the mail order business. People are sending you $1.00 to be put on your mailing list. This is a legal helpful service. See Title, Section 1302 and 1341 of the US Postal and lottery laws.

Here are the 4 easy steps to success:

STEP 1:
Take a few minutes to join Paypal: Remember to verify your account. www.paypal.com/us/mrb/pal=3DC2RREFZTEZ. When creating your Paypal account make email address you used for Paypal on the list below so people can send money to your account.

STEP 2:
Once you have a Paypal account running, use Paypal to post $1 to EACH of the 6 Email Addresses below because you pay people with an email address in Paypal. Select "SEND
MONEY". To do this you may need to use a credit or debit card, which is very easy, and secure so nobody but Paypal may see it.

STEP 3:
Now after sending $1.00 to each of the email addresses below, take the #1 Email Address off the list, move the other Email Addresses up (6 becomes 5, 5 becomes 4, etc.) and add Your Email Address as number 6 on the list.

STEP 4:
Change anything you need to, but try to keep this article as close
to the original as possible. Now, post your amended article to at least 200 news groups (there are thousands of groups). Email your message to as many people you can. Remember, the more you post and email the more money you make! This is perfectly legal because you are paying $1 for a service. You must include the following text with your payment, “PLEASE ADD ME TO YOUR E-MAIL LIST”. Without this important language, it becomes illegal! Therefore, send $1 to each of the following e-mail addresses:

1.)
2.)
3.)
4.)
5.)
6.)

Print this document so you can refer to it when necessary. This program remains successful because of the honesty and integrity of the participants and by their carefully adhering to the directions. When your name eventually reaches the #1 position you will have potentially received thousands of dollars into your account!!! What an opportunity for only a total of $6.00!

HOW TO POST TO NEWS GROUPS:
Search with the subject “money making message board” or “classified
ads”. You will find thousands and thousands of message boards and
companies like:
1) yahoo
2) google
3) aol
4) Adsubmitter.com etc
Click on them one by one and you will find the option ‘’post a new message’’. Then Post this article THE MORE NEWS GROUPS YOU POST IN, THE MORE MONEY YOU WILL MAKE!! But you have to post a minimum of 200! When you post 200 letters, it is estimated that at least 15 people will respond and send you $1 ($15). Those 15 will post 200 letters each and 225 will send $1 ($225). Those 225 will post 200 letters each and 3,375 people will send you $1 ($3,375). Those 3,375 people will post 200 letters each and 50,625 people will send you $1 (50,625). Those 50,625 will post 200 letters each and 749,375 people will send you $1 (749,375). At this point your name drops off the list, but so far, you have received $813,615.00. JUST MAKE SURE ALL THE ADDRESSES ARE CORRECT. When your name is no longer on the list, you just take the latest posting in the news groups, and send out another $6.00 to Email Addresses using Paypal.