To Everyone Who Has Passed the CISSP

joeykeis

There are a bunch of threads on here about studying for the CISSP and eventually threads/posts where someone has passed the test.

What I am interested to know is what happened AFTER you passed the exam.

Therefore, Id like to start a thread on what happens next in order to inspire me and others who are studying and/or thinking about taking the test.

Two fold: Questionnaire and Poll

1) Why did you take the CISSP ?
2) Did you get a promotion or did you change jobs entirely or none at all?
3) Was there a big pay increase from your last job ?
4) Future plans, whether it be work or education?

emerald_octane

I'm sure for folks with full blown CISSP the results are more pronounced but even for someone like myself who only sports the associate title it's definitely given a boost. I'm being given more interesting tasks wrt BCP, DR, Network security and also received a 5% "attaboy" (please don't leave the company) raise (several times more than the cost of the test, but remember it's only the associates).

Waiting is the hardest part. I have few years in IT but nill in info sec so with a degree I have to wait the full 4 years. But just peruse the exotic infosec positions that say " CISSP preferred/required". I can't wait to start vying for them.

Iristheangel

I did my CISSP more for personal fulfillment. It was sort of a challenge to myself so I didn't really expect it to do magical things for my career but I have noticed that I get a *LOT* more calls, emails, and inquires from my resume on job sites ever since I put those magical credentials on my resume. I had a job interview last week for network engineer position with an IT director who had his CISSP and we chatted about the exam, certification process, etc for a good 20 minutes. I would say that it probably helped warm him to me but the rest of the interview was pretty awesome so I don't think that's what got me the job.

spiderjericho

I took the exam as part of a boot camp that was being offered to IT-related military that worked in my unit. The test has a reputation of enhancing a resume and increasing the amount a perspective job seeker can ask for. I'm still in the military so it had no immediate benefit to me; however, if I ever get out, I KNOW it will. No pay increase.

To your last question, I was pretty disappointed with the test and my experience. To prepare for it, all I did was attend a two-week class. I sat in the class listening to the lecturer. I did the practice tests that were offered (the questions weren't close to the test questions). I did not read any book (though we were given the Shon Harris book and work book). I think the thing I took away from the class was the testing methodology. The second instructor taught us how to analyze questions and how to pick the right answers.

I took the paper-based exam last year. It was a pretty harrowing experience, since it was 250 multiple-choice questions. I want to say I used about four hours. And then the waiting period afterward to find out if you passed or fail. Definitely a great test taking experience. I hope to take the CCIE R&S, which is another tough exam.

JDMurray

I have my present job because a hiring manager found my (three year-old) resume on the (ISC)2's Web site. I would say that (ISC)2 certification has definitely been a benefit to me.

paul78

I probably fall more into the N/A category. I did it because it seemed like a good idea at the time.

winstarman

1) Why did you take the CISSP ?

Got a job that turned into being an IAM and they asked what training I'd like to do so I did both Sec+ and CISSP.

2) Did you get a promotion or did you change jobs entirely or none at all?

Got a promotion - and job "evolved"

3) Was there a big pay increase from your last job ?

I am very satisfied with the difference it made in my pay. (Plus job security and confidence I could easily find a new job.)

4) Future plans, whether it be work or education?

Got AS in business admin this past spring, starting BS at WGU in September then planning on MBA. Also planning on more certs once new DoD 8570 comes out.

DarthVader

1) Why did you take the CISSP ?
Personal enrichment/challenge

2) Did you get a promotion or did you change jobs entirely or none at all?
Same job, but its already a pretty senior position so I wasn't expecting a big change.

3) Was there a big pay increase from your last job ?
It wasn't related to teh CISSP alone, but yes I did go up in pay oevr the last year significantly.

4) Future plans, whether it be work or education?
Just keep working in my profession.

spiderjericho

winstarman wrote: »

Also planning on more certs once new DoD 8570 comes out.

I went on the website today and it seemed like a revision occurred back in the beginning of the year: DoD 8570 Information Assurance Workforce Improvement Program The above web site was revised back in May. Is there another revision coming? It seems like CISSP still meets the Level 1-3 requirements. I think I might go for the CISM just for the icing on the cake. I wish the powers that be would send me to a SANs class (maybe I need to ask again).

beads

People I have spoken to over the years tend to basically agree that once you have the credential its "no big deal". To those who don't have the credential its sounds like the path to work heaven or something. Either way I always find the responses to be entertaining, nonetheless.

- beads

dover

1) Why did you take the CISSP ?
Challenge.

2) Did you get a promotion or did you change jobs entirely or none at all?
Nope.

3) Was there a big pay increase from your last job ?
Nope.

4) Future plans, whether it be work or education?
CCIE Security...pretty much for the same reason as the CISSP - challenge and I like it. That and I don't feel like going even further into student debt to get a Masters degree in IA.

spicy ahi

1) Why did you take the CISSP ?

I took it to close out one of my past goals. I was supposed to have earned it in 2011 for a position I was trying to get but I ended up not getting side tracked and the position was filled. Despite that, I invested too much time and effort to just let that go to waste.

2) Did you get a promotion or did you change jobs entirely or none at all?

I actually ended up taking on more responsibility because I have it. Since it fills the IAT III block in DoD8570, there were a few IAT III rated responsibilities that fell on me as the only "qualified" guy. More responsibility + same pay = demotion

3) Was there a big pay increase from your last job ?

See the last part of #2.

4) Future plans, whether it be work or education?

ISSMP and CISM are in my future.

JDMurray

spicy ahi wrote: »

More responsibility + same pay = demotion

If you look at your career as a game of Chess or Go, sometimes you have to give up a little territory now to gain a lot more territory later in the game.