What Exam to go for?

bowmatty

Hey guys,

I have computer hardware and Level 2 support work experience and thought id start doing some IT certs, eventually getting into a specialised networking role. I have an advanced diploma in Networking and Telecommunications Engineering.

I was studying for my A+ exam, however i have been offered a job as an IP Networking Engineer for a telecommunications company, implementing and administering IP voice, Security, Audio Visual Solutions and SIP trucking. So thinking the A+ is now irelevant and maybe start on a networking cert.

What are peoples opinions, stick with A+ and progess from there or jump up to a different cert? or if you reccomend a cert that would benefit me more in my role then please let me know.

yoba222

Congrats on the job offer. If I were you I'd wait and see what the new job is like, at least for a few days, and see what kinds of certs they think complement the job.

I'm predict that you'll no longer need to pursue the A+ and likely going after the CCENT and then onto the CCNA R&S will make more sense, but it really depends on the new job's environment. Maybe they don't work with Cisco gear. Maybe CCNA Collaboration is their thing, etc.

bowmatty

Hi Yoba,

Thanks for the reply

So CCENT and Network+ was what i was thinking first. Shall i aviod Network+ and go straight for CCENT?

TechGuru80

bowmatty wrote: »

however i have been offered a job as an IP Networking Engineer for a telecommunications company, implementing and administering IP voice, Security, Audio Visual Solutions and SIP trucking.

Great...what technologies do they use? Before you jump on the Cisco bandwagon, assuming you are going to take the job, you better find out what they use.

You should also find out what percentage of the time is spent doing each area. If you are doing a lot of Cisco voice, CCNA:Collaboration doesn't have any prerequisites and should be your first choice...basically if it's a different area then substitute whichever area. Cisco is great to learn, but if the job won't use Cisco or a certain aspect, why would you waste the time...it doesn't make sense.

bowmatty

Thanks mate..

With the CCNA: Collaboration I se its around 60 questions, do you know if this is a hard full on cert like the CCNA for networking?