I like the cisco cert simply because its not like the intertube is going anywhere any time soon...with a simple ccna job avenues open up...pretty agnostic too so it can be applied to anything...good stuff...

 

Like my BA in Mathematics looks all the appealing on my resume. lol.

I'm sure you've all been there before but for every person I interview that has a major cert that actually knows there ****, I interview 3 people that have the same cert and can't answer some of the most simple questions.

Certs meant a lot more back in the day (showing my age) but now there are too many test aids that pretty much give you all the answers so you don't have to put in any of the time to actually understand why something is the way it is. They just memorize the multiple choice or memorize IOS commands for a given problem.

 

agreed, there's a LOT more paper certs out there, I've worked 4 years on building mine up, all through the right ways and not cheesing it.

 

Correct which is why I like the CCIE...you have to fly out to Cisco...test in thier lab and then get peer reviewed...this AFTER you pass the written exam which just qualifies you to go to the lab exam...if the peer review does not feel like you have an intimate understanding of the material...and I mean intimate...you fail even if you pass the lab exam...

That is also why the CCIE cert alone gets you 80-125k...which only goes up if you get a specialized one...

The CISSP requires you know ten different domains of security which do not apply just to IT. The exam is 6 hours long and even after passing you have to be peer reviewed by another CISSP and get an endorsment. Again the cert is usually worth 75-90k alone...

Most of the other certs are indeed too easy to pass which was why I skipped them...the MCSE, A+, Network+, Novell, etc etc etc were notorious as being a paper cert...and lots of people who had them did not ever apply anything in the real world. On the job experience usually was more important to me in a hiring decision than those certifications.

 

jeebus, those sounds expensive oh well, maybe I'll be a little more baller in a few more years and can afford to study to maybe be able to take them or something lol So do the cisco's still expire, or is it a one time deal? I'd heard you have to recertify with those every 2 years or something? So what all do you have and how long have you been working with them etc.? I'm trying to get a feel for what's what, I may even drop the Ms thing after this one last deal and change my path/strategy altogether at this rate lol
The MCSE wasn't easy to pass w/o cheating at least, (to me anyway) but as big as MS is of course there's cheesedicks out there that ruin it for everyone.

 

Lol, I have a degree in computer networking, but keep in mind that even though I graduated one of the top in my class with a 3.7 GPA, I couldn't get **** for a job in the IT field. No one would hire me even with my experience, my age (I was 20 when I graduated college), and degree. My certs at that time seemed pointless to get. Though, it's still mildly pointless for me to get, but if I have to change jobs while I'm out here in Austin, I may as well have the ammo to back me up :]

All of my networking books from college I kept and hell I even brought them to Texas with me (mind you this box probably weighs more than I do hah).

PM box is always empty :] Also, anything you are struggling with for the MSCE, I may be able to help there too. May take a bit to jump start my brain to remember all of it, but I prepped for the MSCE for 2 years basically in high school and never got the cert :P

 

Yea...therein lies the problem for many...the CCIE for example used to require you be sponsored by a company and took the Cisco certs in a sequence...they have since changed it up and now you can go right for the throat...but you can expect to drop a few grand easy to make an attempt...

Most of the good certifications require you recertify or do something to maintain it. The CISSP for example requires you submit a certain number of credits per year. Stuff like write a book, provide training, attend training, work experience, etc, etc...after submission they can be audited at any time to validate them, so its not like you can BS your way thru it.

The Cisco one you have to also maintain in order to keep, however like a dumbass I let mine expire a few years ago when I started consulting and did not have any time. Now I am going to have to redo the whole thing all over again. At least I can go straight to it instead of going thru all the certs in sequence.

All maintinence of the certs also require you pony up cash...I think my CISSP was around $300+ for two years or something...

 

Information on CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate): http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le...type_home.html

Information on CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional): http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le...type_home.html

Information on CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert):http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/ccie/

 

The Cisco cert was pounded into my head when I was in college.. too bad I didn't care then.

 

Oh and the CISSP cost me ~$650 bucks cause I registered for the exam late...they only give them twice a year I think...

Add about another ~$200 for two books for study purposes...

I technically only studied for the test 24 hours prior reading thru the parts that I did not know such as forensics and investigations and other crap. Most of the other domains I already had experience in from my work history...

The CCIE back then was about $15k paid for by the company with a contract to work for them exclusively for two years. It's much cheaper now, but your still talking a few G's...hopefully I'll be able to schedule in some time at the end of this year to go and finally get it. Work is sucking all of my availible time right now...

 

CISSP: https://www.isc2.org/cgi/content.cgi?category=97

 

Haaa...yeah well who really cared about stuff back then anyways?? =)

 

All I cared about was getting out of that hell hole, but I was out of college 3 months and landed the job I'm at now.. not going to complain too much I guess. Though I could be making double or triple what I'm making, now in the IT department.

 

CCIE+Security for example is ~$1600 just for the written and lab exams...not counting your travel and transportation expenses...

 

Heh...college is overrated for the IT industry...much easier to teach yourself anyways...

 

I knew 95% of the things they taught, just wanted the paper to back it..

 

On that note, I'm going back to bed. Mildly depressed + too much thinking = not a very peppy Calleah/Mordacity.

 

A little off topic, it is rather funny that we are all techies. I once dreamed of getting all those certifications, but I am satisfied at the moment with my MIS degree... Best of luck b/c they cost a lot from what I learned about them, but they pay well.

 

Which is what a good cert is for...that and keeping you outta debt...

My friend is in debt 45k for his degree...its going to take years to pay back the student loans...

I on the other hand only invested what...maybe 5k over my entire lifetime so far? No loans and all the money I make goes into my pocket instead of a loan payoff for the next 20 years of my life...

Going to college for IT related work simply just does not make sense to me...but that also might be because I dont do well with structured learning...

Altho I bet I missed out on the whole college experience...one day I hope to get a chance to go to college...but that's going to be for physics or another natural science...what can I say...I like the pain I guess...

=)

 

Buck up buckaroo...tis the lack of sleep which hath you down me thinks...

sweet dreams...

 

The big thing for college is the move into management, esp on the business development side. If you don't care, then it will prolly never come back to bite you in the ***.

 

Well...

considering that in order to be on the internet you generally require a certain degree of technical skill...

couple in that for the most part to participate in a forum environment requires an additional level of geekyness...

and then add in the fact that its a forum devoted a car who's price range is above your standard honda...

it effectively filters out a majority of the noise and produces a highly likelyhood that most people on this particular forum will somehow be connected to the IT industry...

=)

 

True for the most part...except for your higher level certs...which was why I opted for those as opposed to college...cheaper too

=)

Example (From the site):

The CISSP credential is ideal for mid- and senior-level managers who are working toward or have already attained positions as CISOs, CSOs or Senior Security Engineers.

 

True we are just on different tracks. Kane and yourself have very valid points. Which is why I haven't decided on a MBA or MS rather than a cert. I can't make up my mind as to which direction I want to go yet.

 

All things being equal, you should get both, BS-MIS, MBA and a PMP, CISSP

But that is a lot of $$$ unless uncle sam is footing the bill.