Spreading out vs. specializing

Cat5

In order to get a better job, I'm thinking about spreading out my knowledge instead of specializing deeper. The specialist jobs can be harder to find and are more likely to require one to move, I think. I'm in networking, and although I have a CCNA and could move on to a CCNP level area, I'm thinking about getting the CCNA-Voice, CCNA-Wireless, and CCNA-Security certs. I'm not in love with any of the higher-level certs (except wireless, but there's apparently no demand for this at a CCNP level).

Has anyone else spread out his study knowledge like this, and if so what kind of success was there in doing it this way?

techfiend

I don't have the experience to answer your question but a few observations I've seen around this area that might help out.

Do you like R&S? Around here CCNP would open many doors to mid to high level positions, depending on experience. Unfortunately CCNA is starting to look more and more like an entry level cert to companies because so many people have it. People that studied it certainly know it's not entry level.

I've seen some jobs looking for CCNA security and voice but if you aren't interested in them I don't see why you'd go down that route. CCNA wireless isn't a popular cert on job listings around here, you think it would be since wireless is in demand now and just a technological breakthrough away from becoming huge.

Cat5

It's precisely because I don't have an interest in R&S that I'm considering spreading out. Being a generic network engineer is the epitome of boredom to me. I'd much prefer a specialization. Wireless would be my first choice, but no study materials exist for the CCNP-Wireless, and I don't think I've even seen an employer asking for this cert. Very odd since wireless knowledge goes pretty deep, and someone who dabbles in it or only has a CCNA-Wireless just won't cut it. Why there's a CCIE-Wireless cert, I have no idea.

fredrikjj

Every single business in the entire world, more or less, has wireless. Why wouldn't there be demand for skills in that area?

Cat5

The job boards in my area have never asked for a wireless certification that I've seen.

cwshellhamer

I could see it as something that becomes a bigger part of the "business world" (for lack of a better term). But i think most higher ups are to scared of it yet. Just my .02

fredrikjj

Cat5 wrote: »

The job boards in my area have never asked for a wireless certification that I've seen.

Sure, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything.

networker050184

Wireless is more of an add on skill than a main area of focus in my opinion. Unless you go work for a large VAR or the vendor (which again probably requires relocation if you are in a small town) there just isn't a need for a guy that does wireless full time. It will be something the LAN admins roll with.

Cat5

Yeah, that's why I'm not working toward a CCNP-Wireless. I just don't want to move.

Btw, whatever happened to the moderator named "Mike" who had virtually every single Cisco cert (except CCIE)? His avatar was some kind of cat.