THREAD: Developing your Certification Strategy #30DaysofThreads
This thread is geared more towards Network Engineers but these tips can be applied across the board.
This thread is geared more towards Network Engineers but these tips can be applied across the board.
1. Get your entry-level certs as this is your foundation. Solid Entry Level Certs for networking:
- Network +
- CCNA Routing & Switching (soon to be Enterprise)
- Network +
- CCNA Routing & Switching (soon to be Enterprise)
2. Once you've gotten your feet wet you'll want to start thinking about where you want to take your career. I didn't really start thinking about this until I was about 2 years in. I looked up various jobs in the networking spaced, compared the skills required to what I was...
2 (cont.): working on then to the projects the more senior engineers were working on. I decided I was going to take my career down the path of becoming a Solutions Architect & eventually start a business. I determined that I'd need understanding in Design, R&S and some Security
3. Now that I had my end goal in mind, I decided to start working to get on more projects centered around my interests. My path with R&S led me to get involved with Datacenter Projects. IMO it's a pretty natural progression. So I started studying material related to DC.
4. I identified the certs and training I needed and Prioritized them based on my companies projects so that I could apply what I was learning. (and also to get them to pay for the training). I gave myself a deadline for each cert.
-CCNA Data Center, CCDA and then my CCNP R&S
-CCNA Data Center, CCDA and then my CCNP R&S
5. Do the Work! Take your training & the exams.
As I mentioned last night, I ended up not taking the exams. I did the training though but my focus became solely learning what I needed for my job....don't do this. Get the credentials for your hard work if it aligns with your plan
As I mentioned last night, I ended up not taking the exams. I did the training though but my focus became solely learning what I needed for my job....don't do this. Get the credentials for your hard work if it aligns with your plan
6. Determine if You need additional Education - since my goal is to own a business, I knew I need to understand the business side of IT, so I changed my major to business in college. I also knew I need to beef up my soft skills. I regularly take courses on Cousera & LinkedIn
7. Take jobs/projects that align as close to what you want to do as possible.
8. Finally, regularly review your plan and adjust as you go. As you go through your career you'll get more exposure and your plan may change. This is key to making sure you work along with your plan and don't fall into cert chasing.
