What topic should i start next?

Robbo777

Hi, so I've just finished my CCNP and i'm going to start applying for high level networking roles very soon. I have been considering which area to start studying next though. I feel very comfortable in OSPF, EIGRP, BGP and switching, areas that i know but don't feel no where near as comfortable are QoS, ASA, MPLS. Going off today's normal networking roles demands, which topic do you think i should go in depth into next?

Thanks

negru_tudor

Well MPLS and IS-IS are on pretty much any job posting for network engineers nowadays so I'd say give these a shot perhaps. QoS should be a good investment as well.

Robbo777

Yeah i was thinking MPLS to be honest. I know more about MPLS than i do the other 2 topics i mentioned though which made me kind of want to go in that direction instead but maybe i should just go with MPLS next

networker050184

Depends on what kind of jobs you're shooting for. An enterprise gig? Firewalls will surely help more than MPLS. A service provider backbone gig? The opposite.

Robbo777

networker050184 wrote: »

Depends on what kind of jobs you're shooting for. An enterprise gig? Firewalls will surely help more than MPLS. A service provider backbone gig? The opposite.

I agree, i suppose there are more enterprise roles going than service providers so i should focus on ASA's and QoS instead. Personally though, if you had to rank the 3 in order of importance what would they be, (depending on the role aside). I am obviously aware that all 3 are very important but if you where going to pick the 3 to study, what 3 would you do them in.

Thanks

networker050184

For an enterprise role:

Firewalls
MPLS
QoS

MPLS and QoS are rarely used outside of really large enterprise networks.

Robbo777

Would you say i have enough knowledge and certs etc... to be able to be applying for these positions now also?

negru_tudor

Robbo777 wrote: »

Would you say i have enough knowledge and certs etc... to be able to be applying for these positions now also?

Really depends on how much experience you have. Don't see certs on your profile but I know you recently passed CCNP. I'd say with a CCNP and several years of experience you can safely start looking around. CCNP should be a good sign that you can grab new skills and that the commitment is there.