If you have three months to study, no job, what would you do?

Basically, I won the IT training lottery. I got into a program that pays 100% for my A+ (which I have), CCNA and CCNA-Wireless. We are going over A+ material now, which I feel confident about. The instructor will go over subnetting in depth next week to prepare us for our CCNA class.

This is the program : http://www.tri-c.edu/workforce/InformationTechnology/Documents/H1B%20NSS%20Brochure_05-2013%20pdf.pdf

Right now, I've been coming home after seven hours of class and watching CBT nuggets and reading some of the Cisco material. I'm just not sure how to manage my time. What should I concentrate on if I already have a good foundation of help desk work and A+ studies? I think I know it probably boils down to read, read, and lab...but maybe someone could expand.

Thanks in advance.

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CyberfiSecurity

XiaoTech wrote: »

Basically, I won the IT training lottery. I got into a program that pays 100% for my A+ (which I have), CCNA and CCNA-Wireless. We are going over A+ material now, which I feel confident about. The instructor will go over subnetting in depth next week to prepare us for our CCNA class.

This is the program : http://www.tri-c.edu/workforce/InformationTechnology/Documents/H1B%20NSS%20Brochure_05-2013%20pdf.pdf

Right now, I've been coming home after seven hours of class and watching CBT nuggets and reading some of the Cisco material. I'm just not sure how to manage my time. What should I concentrate on if I already have a good foundation of help desk work and A+ studies? I think I know it probably boils down to read, read, and lab...but maybe someone could expand.

Thanks in advance.

First pick a path before heading there. The Information Technology field is too broad, concentrate in one area.
- System Engineering (Linux, Unix, Windows, VMWare)
- Network Engineering (Cisco CCNA, CCNP, CCIE, Juniper, Palto Alto Networks, and etc)
- Cyber Security (Security+, CISSP, CISA, CISM, GIAC,
- Technology Management (ITIL, CISM, PMP, and etc)
- Software Developing (JAVA, Microsoft, Apps, Android)
- Database Administration (MS SQL, Oracle SQL, and etc)

Pick one thof these, then head to that particular certification. I started out with help desk, then system, then networking, and security. Now I work in security only, but nothing else.

Jon_Cisco

Honestly I think there are practical limits on how many topics a person can study at once. I would not try to add more to my list I would just try to reinforce what you do in class a little each night. If you have options for labbing I would definitely do that. It will stick more then any bookwork will.

Aside from that if I truely had no job and no school for 3 months I would probably grab a microsoft certification because they are requested even for entry level positions in a lot of job postings.

doobu

CyberfiSecurity wrote: »

First pick a path before heading there. The Information Technology field is too broad, concentrate in one area.
- System Engineering (Linux, Unix, Windows, VMWare)
- Network Engineering (Cisco CCNA, CCNP, CCIE, Juniper, Palto Alto Networks, and etc)
- Cyber Security (Security+, CISSP, CISA, CISM, GIAC,
- Technology Management (ITIL, CISM, PMP, and etc)
- Software Developing (JAVA, Microsoft, Apps, Android)
- Database Administration (MS SQL, Oracle SQL, and etc)

Pick one thof these, then head to that particular certification. I started out with help desk, then system, then networking, and security. Now I work in security only, but nothing else.

I see you've acquired your CISA. That, along with other security training, seems like a good fit for my degree path. I majored in accounting and there have been quite a few jobs opening up in choices places for IT auditors/assurance looking for CISA certified. They're not filling due to lack of qualified people.

Do you feel your CISA was helpful to gain/add to your knowledge base?

UnixGuy

What's your current experience level? I'd choose the stuff that I have access to work on on my current job and the stuff that I want to work with in my next job.

doobu

UnixGuy wrote: »

What's your current experience level? I'd choose the stuff that I have access to work on on my current job and the stuff that I want to work with in my next job.

I'm have a degree in accounting, was doing accounts payable and then moved into basically full on help desk (networking, remoting in, email management, etc...if it's broke, I fix it).

NotHackingYou

CCNA. It will apply to any job you choose.

UnixGuy

+1 for CCNA, combine it with something like MCSE if you want to Microsoft products or Linux+/RHCSA if you want to work with Linux. CCNA is pretty challenging though so it will take you time. Good luck

doobu

UnixGuy wrote: »

+1 for CCNA, combine it with something like MCSE if you want to Microsoft products or Linux+/RHCSA if you want to work with Linux. CCNA is pretty challenging though so it will take you time. Good luck

My friend received his CCNA about 4 years ago and it's done nothing but benefit him. If anything, it shows we can focus and sit down and learn, as well as be dedicated/hard working.

N2IT

Go to training and then go fishing or do something fun. Only can take so much of that IT stuff

broli720

CCNP Routing and Switching; CCNP Security. The little bit of networking that I know has been extremely helpful in my current role from a design and management stand point. I would definitely like to expand on it.