seeking advice and direction

stylezunknown

Hello!
This is actually my first time posting here but I have lurked around for a couple years now. To the point now!
I am looking to getting into a networking or pc support position, Currently I live in Dallas,TX and am a installer for time warner cable's business class. So, daily I come into contact with many companies seeking help with maintaining, and configuring their networks. Usually their server rooms are a complete mess of spider webs cat5 cables and nothing works. Usually when the "IT" guy is there waiting for me to finish their new cable modem install I ask for their advice. My question is.. given my current job and experience as a cable phone,internet and tv installer. what is the best route to becoming a applicant in networking or pc support? Before this job i also did help desk for a DSL provider for 2 years. So I am familiar with computers and basic networking. Currently I have read a couple a+ books but I have not taken any test to get certified. The "IT guy"s usually tell me to just get my ccna and I will get a job. That sounds a bit far reached for some one who doesn't have any college degrees or certifications. I really would like to find what could be the most logical route for someone who doesn't have the time or money for college.. Thanks!

kohr-ah

My vote is get your CCENT and try to get into their NOC then finish it and you'll have your CCNA.

It isn't far reached at all.

"Tomorrow belongs to none; just do the best you can today"

TBickle

I worked at Time Warner Cable's NOC for a roughly a year, and I'd say your CCNA is a great cert to get you into that entry level position. I was only making 40k a year there, but the point is that it served as a good foundation for my career in Networking.

I say do it and don't drag your feet on it. Study hard and you can have it knocked out in 3-4 months.

Good Luck!

stylezunknown

Thanks kohr-ah & TBickle. Your advice proves consistent. I shall follow suit. Thank you!

egrizzly

Get a CCENT, then a CCNA. After that it largely depends on how you market your resume and interview. Keep coming back to this board for follow ups. Good hunting.

stylezunknown

egrizzly wrote: »

Get a CCENT, then a CCNA. After that it largely depends on how you market your resume and interview. Keep coming back to this board for follow ups. Good hunting.

Definitely a good plan egrizzly. I appreciate your input as-well. Thank you!

JaneDoe

If your ready to go for your CCNA depends on your networking knowledge. Can you subnet? Have you ever worked with a cisco switch or router? If the answer to either of those questions is yes, then working toward your CCENT or CCNA as your first cert makes sense. The Network+ has more questions about cabling, so that might be easier for you, but it isn't as well respected as the CCNA. A lot of people suggest the CompTIA trio (A+, Network+, Security+) for people who are trying to break into IT.

Start getting certifiations in the part of IT that intrests you most. If networking is what intrests you most look into getting a networking cert first like the CCNA/CCENT/Network+. Do you run Linux at home? If so look into Linux certs. Make websites? Make portfolio and share it. Fix friends comptuers? The A+ or Microsoft/Apple certs might be good for you. Hack in your spare time? Then look into security certs. Follow your passion.