Network+ after CCNA

I was told by some who are taking Network+ that if I pass the CCNA exam, the Network+ exam should be easy, as it's similar but doesn't cover nearly as much material. Anyone have any suggestions or comments, particularly someone who has both the CCNA and Network+ certs?

Find more posts tagged with

Save $250 on 2025 certification boot camps from Infosec!

Book now with code EOY2025

Button

Comments

sprkymrk

The two tests have maybe about 30% overlap, but the CCNA is definately the more difficult of the two. One reason is that the passing score for Network+ is much lower.

Some things on the Net+ you won't see on the CCNA include a lot of cable "type and length" questions, Novell Netware, a couple of linux commands, Appletalk, etc.

gaby_978

i just started studying for the ccna and so far the first 2 chapter of the book i am very familiar with because of the network+... i am pretty sure the rest wont be so easy..

NightShade1

Well Network + is easier cause you dont need 85% to pass it like CCNA and CCNA covers a lot of Network + material...

Another thing i have read is that if you got no experience then it will be hard for you to get a job as CCNA cause noone will let you hands on their routers if you got no experience... they recomend you should get entry level certification such as A+ and network +

Kaminsky

NightShade1 wrote:

Another thing i have read is that if you got no experience then it will be hard for you to get a job as CCNA cause noone will let you hands on their routers if you got no experience... they recomend you should get entry level certification such as A+ and network +

In large organisations there are several job types within the networking umbrella. I recently saw an entry position for a person to write switch scripts before they are sent out "pre-configured" for the client's environment. Even in smaller companies, once the routers are configured, they typically get left alone as they are.

Except for specialist roles, the majority of basic networking roles out there will be standard monitoring, cabling, patching where there is very little money or need to change/upgrade the network on a regular basis.

CCNA would beat Net+ hands down and the certs are usually done the other way around where you do Net+ as preparation for CCNA. To be honest, you may find it easier to get the Net+ out of the way now you have the CCNA but I can't see any real benefit to you for spending the time and money doing it unless it's an elective for MCSE or something.

Why not get into the more detailed switching, routing, troubleshooting techniques that can be found on the path toward CCNP whilst your brain is still buzzing with those topics from the CCNA?

NightShade1

YEah i though the same but i got no work experience... im finishing my university and ill be doing my profesional work which i dont know how you call it there...

Basically when you finishing your career in the university you gotta work for free for a company for 3 months, i really like what is on the cisco material, they are all interesting material and the best thing that there is a lot of documentation around about all this, so there are a lot to read

I said that because in other forums ppl always saying ill never get a job as a CCNA i mean like the first job, that they will put me as a helpdesk then LATER will maybe move me to the networking area.

About my profesional job i ve been going to many interviews for it and the best one so far was one that asked me to install and configure CiscoWorks and IPS in their network which seems a lil hard since i got no experience and i have never used or read about that till now lol. i ve been looking one in which i could configure routers or do troubleshooting(stuff i learn in CCNA) to gain experience on it so then i could move up to CCNP or other cisco certification.

Tricon7

NightShade1 wrote:

YEah i though the same but i got no work experience... im finishing my university and ill be doing my profesional work which i dont know how you call it there...

Basically when you finishing your career in the university you gotta work for free for a company for 3 months, i really like what is on the cisco material, they are all interesting material and the best thing that there is a lot of documentation around about all this, so there are a lot to read

I thought that one would have to work for little to nothing upon graduation, too, from what I had been reading, but I don't believe this is necessarily the case after looking extensively into it. Here are some posts taken from this website regarding this topic. I hope they encourage others out there:

Don't be discouraged about how much you MIGHT make after getting your degree. There are PLENTY of graduates who will and did come out of college making more than 50K, and I am an example. It all depends on your degree. My degree taught me a lot of programming and there aren't many certifications for programming, so my first gig salary was pretty good coming out of college. Waht you make will depend on what the company is willing to pay you. Search through the forums and you will see many who have shared their stories about getting a nice high paying job without the experience some say that you need to make money. The degree and certs will get you the interview, then it is up to you to get the job. There are many who learn so much while going through school or studying for certs without experience, but they can do the job. I'm repeating myself again on this forum...apply, apply, apply. The only thing they can say is yes or no. Some companies will even bring you in just because you are a good person, good with people, great communication, etc., and will train you up on the techincal stuff that you may be missing. There is NOONE that will start a NEW job and be able to do EVERYTHING. There will be certain applications you will have to learn, different techniques, etc. You might be used Dell PowerEdge servers, but your new job uses HP Proliants, or you might be used to Group Policy, but your new job uses Desktop Authority, different remote applications, custom apps, etc. Don't be afraid to apply for those jobs asking for the "PERFECT" candidate with all of the experience. If you feel that you can do the job, or learn some of the things quickly, apply. Your education will get you the interview, but it is up to you to get the job offer.

Myself and others who have posted are examples. Everyone has to start somewhere, and sometimes starting isn't necessarily low paying. When I was a Supervisor, my Help Desk staff hourly rate started at 20 bucks an hour...some of them only had a couple of certs, some clueless but good personality, some no experience, etc. The jobs are out there and don't believe that they are just for the experienced. Good luck!!

EDIT: By the way, a degree and certs will land you an interview for the jobs offering the amount of money you want, but what you learn thorugh attaining those educational achievements will get you the job. Anyone can **** their way through, but when it comes time for the interview when you are asked technical questions or asked to perform a task, you will have the chance to back up what you have and land you that job amongst the others. I only say this because we recently had job interviews for a Network Administrator, and a guy had his MCSE 2000, CCNA, Net+, A+, and 6 years of experience, but couldn't tell us what Raid 0,1, and 5 were. Nor could he tell us what OSPF stood for. Those are only a couple of examples, but stuff like this weeds out those who have the certs but don't know much, and those with certs who has learned and retained a lot. Of course this guy hasn't looked at the stuff in a long time since he has been doing Help Desk for the last couple of years, but when you present your certification, there are certain things employers will expect you to know.

Well, 2 weeks after my 3rd interview (2 technical & 1 personality, I guess) I was offered a job as a Network Support Specialist II. Pretty good money, but the experience is going to be awesome! The network has over 1000 3750's and 1000 Aironet 1200s, as well as several 6500's and multiple branch site routers, I.E. 26xx/28xx. I'll be doing more L1/2 than anything, but they pretty much guaranteed to move me up to Network Engineer I after 12 months.

To everyone who says certs don't mean ass...the primary reason I landed this job with absolutely 0 production experience was because of my CCNP. Moving towards the CCIE didn't hurt either. Of course, I did blow the tech interviews away...a little too much maybe; I was answering the questions a little too detailed/involved I think, but I guess they didn't mind.

Anyway, just wanted to let everyone know that even without any experience you can land a decent gig if you put the work in on your studies!

Congratulations!! I have been saying this all of the long...don't be afraid to apply for jobs because you don't have the experience...the only thing they can say is NO or YES!! I'm glad you didn't let not having experience stop you from applying for decent jobs that might ask for 5+ years experience...you got the interviews, and you blew them away!!

Another success story for many who know the stuff through hard studying, but no WORK experience doing it!!

NightShade1

Lol thanks man this really encorage me