My CCENT/Cisco Journey

Hey there

I've been trolling the forum for about a month now and I must say you guys are pretty active here...

I've been doing a self study for the ICND1 using Odoms book, CBT Nuggets and other documents. I have been studying for a month now and due to 1. No experience and 2. Working 55 hours and 2 kids under 2 its been hard and slow, but I am in it for the long run.

I do have a question or 2...I don't really want to sign up for the Academy therefore my options for simulator is GNS3? I should note that I plan on going for the long haul in cisco so maybe a real lab may suit me soon?

Another question is..are there jobs that offer something like an apprenticeship? Meaning..can I go into a job..say I want to work in IT field..tell them I am working on my certs..and they hire me or something along those lines?

My last note is I live in Chicago IL..USA ..so if there are any other Chicagoans or Midwesterners...I say Hey..

Thanks in advance for the help and advice

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Comments

Ivanjam

Itztal - stop trolling! J/K

One month preparing for the CCENT is no time at all - I have been studying for ICND1 for the last 4 months! I work similar hours to you in a totally unrelated field so I feel your pain. Good luck with CCENT/CCNA!

Itztal

Awesome.

I am glad to see other people like me! I imagine there are a ton more as well

neotesla

I think it's possible to get to CCNA with the help of GNS3 and Packet Tracer (or Network Simulator). At least, that's what I plan on doing. (And it worked OK for CCENT).

The reason I won't commit to purchasing a "proper" lab* at this stage is that I intend going Cisco "all the way" (and by this I mean towards a CCNP) only once I'm successful in gaining networking roles. My present IT work has little to do with networking (well, it sort of annoys me when the network's down

).

At least from my experience it is a bit hard to convince the networking jobs' interviewing panels to give a chance a person with little (or no) Cisco track record. I'm hoping this might change once I have the CCNA under belt (in a month or so). Will keep you posted (in large red font), if it happens.

* This might not happen even if I get a steady job in the networking area. The Uni I'm enrolled with is partnering with the Cisco Networking Academy, so I should be able to access all the gear I would need (provided that I don't move from the locale, which is likely).

mksmith777

I am working towards my CCENT right now, and there are companys here that hire on short term bias if you have your voucher for the exam.

Itztal

Really? Awesome. I guess I have to do more research with the jobs.