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If you are an IT pro or network engineer, you might be missing out on a great way to enhance your career profile. The IT job market is getting more crowded every day. One of the best ways to set yourself apart in the crowded IT job market is with a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Certification. In this article, we will explain the many benefits of being CCNA certified for any IT professional.
Do I really need CCNA certification?
Let’s say you are applying for a job at a new tech firm. You might have incredible IT skills, but how do you show this in a job application or interview? The people that do the hiring need to make decisions based on limited information. If they see official CCNA certification, they can be assured that you have achieved a certain level of competence. Otherwise, they have to take a chance. Plus, if there are two candidates for a job that have pretty much the same amount of experience, the one who has certification will most likely get the job.
What if I already have a job?
Now if you are already employed, you probably have the desire to move up to a higher-paying position. The higher-level jobs are low in supply and high in demand. The same principle applies here. You are competing against others, and the deciding factor might be whether or not you have CCNA certification.
Don’t forget that HR makes the call.
In many cases, whether it is hiring or promotion, the decision is made by human resources. Now while they may have a IT background, they make their decisions in a way that takes into account many different factors. One of these is formal credentials, such as the CCNA. Whether or not they have IT experience, a CCNA Certification is easy for them to appreciate.
Are there other benefits?
The CCNA makes you a solid, well-rounded network engineer. Completing the certification process not only gives you a certificate, it trains you in multiple levels and areas regarding the ability to work with routed and switched networks. CCNA certification training classes can be found at www.countrywidetraining.com/certification/cisco/ccna. The core skills tested are:
Installation Configuration Operation Troubleshooting
What else is there to know about CCNA Certification?
The CCNA Routing and Switching is a program developed for network engineers that fully develops and evaluates your networking knowledge and helps you add value to any organization’s network. You should have at least 1-3 years of experience before beginning the certification process.
To obtain certification you have two options. These are:
Pass the single 200-120 CCNA exam (90 minutes, 50 – 60 questions) Pass two separate exams: the 100-101 ICND1 (90 minutes, 40 -50 questions) and the 200-101 ICND2 (75 minutes, 50 – 60 questions)
These tests evaluate your ability to work with all core aspects of enterprise branch networks. The topics covered are:
IP data network operation LAN switching technology IP addresses IP routing technology IP services Network device security Troubleshooting WAN technology
The test format and content was updated in 2013 and the requirements are more difficult. Once you are certified, the certification is valid for three years.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are numerous advantages to getting CCNA certified. You not only make yourself a better job or promotion candidate, but you also enrich and broaden your skills as a network engineer.
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