What do do after CCNP

wave

Hi guys,

I'm taking TSHOOT in a couple of weeks and then plan to look for a new job (Currently an IT generalist, 40% networking and wanting to move into pure networking). I'm also going to continue studying. Given the growing relationship between networking and virtualization I thought about working on the VCP cert. In my current environment we don't have anything virtualized. My other option would be to commence my quest for CCIE, which I plan to do anyway.

I'm thinking it might be best to forge on with the CCIE while I can freshly build off my CCNP knowledge. But, then I'm wondering if I should take 4-5 months and get some virtualization knowledge using VCP as structure.

Thoughts?

RouteMyPacket

wave wrote: »

Hi guys,

I'm taking TSHOOT in a couple of weeks and then plan to look for a new job (Currently an IT generalist, 40% networking and wanting to move into pure networking). I'm also going to continue studying. Given the growing relationship between networking and virtualization I thought about working on the VCP cert. In my current environment we don't have anything virtualized. My other option would be to commence my quest for CCIE, which I plan to do anyway.

I'm thinking it might be best to forge on with the CCIE while I can freshly build off my CCNP knowledge. But, then I'm wondering if I should take 4-5 months and get some virtualization knowledge using VCP as structure.

Thoughts?

If you are wanting to go "pure networking" then why are you considering the VCP cert? If your job is "pure" networking then you will most likely not be touching the vSphere environment.

I've also been a generalist for the last 7yrs and am now in a 100% focused Cisco role hence why I am even considering sitting certs. VCP has been an interest of mine but as a generalist I never buckled down and sat it but if you want to get it for personal growth or achievement, I see nothing wrong with that.

I look at certs as what they are, they are a supplement to experience and if I am no longer actively working on vSphere, then personally my interest in certifying myself on it is gone.

networker050184

RouteMyPacket wrote: »

If you are wanting to go "pure networking" then why are you considering the VCP cert? If your job is "pure" networking then you will most likely not be touching the vSphere environment.

I agree with this.

My advice would be to find your new job and then get certified on what ever you are getting experience with. I know a lot of people like to to plan out their certification goals years in advance, but to me you need to get certified on what you have experience with. If you are looking for a new role you probably don't know exactly what that is yet. It would be a big waste of time to go for the VCP and then never even have a job touching the gear or have any relevant experience to back that certification up. You never know, you might end up taking a role working with nothing but Brocade or Juniper gear.

MrBrian

wave, I'm basically in the same boat. Getting my CCNP and then a new job.

Networker brings up a good point, wait until you find out what your new role is before deciding the next step. I'm one of those guys that's "lining up" my next certs, so I'll factor in that advice because it makes sense. My plan was to go for the JNCIA-Junos so I can learn the syntax for configuring Juniper devices. I think this is a good idea regardless of the new position. After that, I guess it will depend on my new job.

Ideally I would go JNCIA--> CCNA:Security--> CCDP--> CCIE? I'm really down about the CCIP being no more, because that was going to be in there too. I guess there's now the CCNP Service Provider, but I need to wait to see how that is..

MickQ

Ditto on the path.
Since you want to go pure networking, stick with it. However, be aware that the scope of what you work with will be ever widening to include virtualisation and other OSs (e.g. Linux, BSD). The CCIE path now is not the final certification.
As the others have said, wait until you know what you'll be working with. I've had to alter my cert paths many times because of this.

@mrBrian: I'm going CCDA,P, SP, IE. The SP (from what I've heard) is still basically MPLS, QOS and BGP which you'll be using in your IE.

wave

Thank you all.

Point taken. I feel this can be the 'chicken and egg' scenario at times. I wouldn't have got to where I am now with Cisco experience in production unless I had started studying and passing Cisco exams. Some people tend to see just the certificate or the letters, but as we all know there is a hell of a lot of learning that goes in for these certs and that knowledge is worth something.

Agree with MickQ on the OS side and thankfully I have some *nix and FreeBSD knowledge as I used to work with it a lot.

After reflecting I feel that providing I land a job working mostly with Cisco kit I should knuckle down and do the CCIE, because if I left it a few years I would have to do more work re-studying CCNP level (and above) topics that I might not touch during my workday. That being said, I'm flexible if my job presents a need to spread out a little.

pert

I have my NP, after I did that I studied F5 LTM, I am going after NP Design, after that I will go after NP Data Center (if it exists by then), if not I'll just do the DCUFI or something. Then I'll either go for NP Security or go for the IE. I just don't see what I'm going to get out of an IE at this point. My Route/Switch knowledge already surpasses what I need on day to day basis, going after IE would just make me better at something I already don't need much help with. Whereas Design/Data Center/Security are still areas where I'm deficient. Furthermore, going after the IE is a multiyear commitment, going after another NP is 3-9 months depending on the track and the # of tests involved.

wave wrote: »

Thank you all.

Point taken. I feel this can be the 'chicken and egg' scenario at times. I wouldn't have got to where I am now with Cisco experience in production unless I had started studying and passing Cisco exams. Some people tend to see just the certificate or the letters, but as we all know there is a hell of a lot of learning that goes in for these certs and that knowledge is worth something.

Agree with MickQ on the OS side and thankfully I have some *nix and FreeBSD knowledge as I used to work with it a lot.

After reflecting I feel that providing I land a job working mostly with Cisco kit I should knuckle down and do the CCIE, because if I left it a few years I would have to do more work re-studying CCNP level (and above) topics that I might not touch during my workday. That being said, I'm flexible if my job presents a need to spread out a little.

discount81

I disagree.

EVERYONE should have virtualization knowledge, sys admins, network engineers, desktop support etc

For example a Virtual Admin may not have the experience to properly configure a distributed switch, or Cisco Nexus 1000v.
These things are the realm of a network engineer.

IT has changed a lot in the past 5 years soon enough it won't be possible to be a 100% specialist anymore without at least having a working knowledge of a Virtualization platform.

RouteMyPacket wrote: »

If you are wanting to go "pure networking" then why are you considering the VCP cert? If your job is "pure" networking then you will most likely not be touching the vSphere environment.

I've also been a generalist for the last 7yrs and am now in a 100% focused Cisco role hence why I am even considering sitting certs. VCP has been an interest of mine but as a generalist I never buckled down and sat it but if you want to get it for personal growth or achievement, I see nothing wrong with that.

I look at certs as what they are, they are a supplement to experience and if I am no longer actively working on vSphere, then personally my interest in certifying myself on it is gone.

QHalo

You don't have to cert in something to have knowledge of it. Use the cert for structured learning on the topics that directly relate to you. As a network engineer, knowing how vSphere handles networking might help you resolve an issue one day. Doesn't mean you have to be a VCP.

Zartanasaurus

discount81 wrote: »

I disagree.

EVERYONE should have virtualization knowledge, sys admins, network engineers, desktop support etc

For example a Virtual Admin may not have the experience to properly configure a distributed switch, or Cisco Nexus 1000v.
These things are the realm of a network engineer.

IT has changed a lot in the past 5 years soon enough it won't be possible to be a 100% specialist anymore without at least having a working knowledge of a Virtualization platform.

I'm not going to say that it should be a requirement, but virtualization complements networking nicely.

That said, go for the IE if you feel like that's where you want to go. You'll certainly be pure networking.
CCNP:SP is also a good step towards CCIE as well if you want to take a more intermediate step and aren't sure you want to go IE.