Whats next?

So after you finished your CCNA what did you hit up next? IM thinking about the CCNP but i don't know if i have the time to do it. I need my resume to be as strong as possible in the next 6 months. As of now i have CCNA, 4 years military experience, and a clearance. What would you recommend hitting up next? I was thinking maybe security+ to maybe help out with my clearance or something....

What would you do?

Thanks

John

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Comments

jbkm

OH yeah forgot to add i will have my CCAF (community college of air force) degree. I know its not much as far as degrees go but its better than nothing, also going to be working toward a "real" one as well.

PCHoldmann

Security+ would be a good cert to have. If you want to stay with the Cisco track, you should have time to get at least one of the old exams in, I would recommend BSCI or BCMSN (In that order, unless you have a strong preference for switching). You could also start with BCMSN, and then get a copy of Routing TCP/IP by Jeff Doyle, which will put you well on your way for the new exam, although you will need more than that for the test, because it only covers IGPs. You will be able to mix and match the new and old exams, so taking one or two would not be a waste.

HTH,

Peter

tuscani

Sec+ and 70-284 is next for me. A walk in the park compared to CCNA!

jbkm

what is the 70-284 ?

Smallguy

70-284 is micrsoft exchange server

Smallguy

the real question you have to ask your self is what do u wanna do??

if you want ot be a network admin you should start worknig towards your MCSA/MCSE this laong with your CCNA will get u a leg up... then add in the Sec+

If you want to be an infrastructure expert continue with the Cisco certs.

one thing to remember is there are not many places that have an IT dept with just windows admins and just infrastructure experts. That only happens in large organizations.

in alot of cases companies want an all-in-one guy someone who can maintain the server... dealing with routing and switching ... even some programming. so beiung well rounded will help get your foot in the door thne u may be able ot specialize later on

Humper

PCHoldmann wrote:

Security+ would be a good cert to have. If you want to stay with the Cisco track, you should have time to get at least one of the old exams in, I would recommend BSCI or BCMSN (In that order, unless you have a strong preference for switching). You could also start with BCMSN, and then get a copy of Routing TCP/IP by Jeff Doyle, which will put you well on your way for the new exam, although you will need more than that for the test, because it only covers IGPs. You will be able to mix and match the new and old exams, so taking one or two would not be a waste.

HTH,

Peter

Peter, volume 1 of TCP/IP routing by doyle/carroll covers IGP's. Volume 2 covers multicasting and BGP as well as some other things.

Slowhand

I'd say Security+ might not be a bad idea. And, from the sounds of some of the responses on this thread, I'd say start crankin' on your CCNP tests. You said you wanted your resume as strong as possible, and having some, if not most, of them done will do that for you.

jbkm

so having 2 or 3 of the CCNP tests out of the way would look good on the resume? I didn't know if you needed 4 for 4 to put it on the resume or not. Thanks for taking the time to respond!

John

mikej412

Don't forget the CCSP exams -- ounce for ounce, buck for buck -- you get more resume candy from those exams.

Isn't the SND the new "foundation" exam -- and worth a Cisco NSA 4011 Training Standard Letter? Then the PIX/ASA, VPN, or IPS exams get you the CQS (Cisco Qualified Specialist) for each one of those. Somewhere in there you also get the 4013 Recognition Letter, and then the CCSP. 5 Exams get you 4 Certificates & 2 letters.

I think the single ISSP Letter (still good until 2046

) has been replace by the 4011 and 4013.

If you have access to the equipment to practice with, some (or all) of the CCSP exams may be worth looking at.

If you know where you're going home to, is there someplace that could use your existing clearance? If there are no defense contractors or government gigs in that area then you might want to just follow your interests -- and maybe also branch out to cover more bases.

jbkm

I'm willing to try almost anywhere! i really want to get back to 4 season (texas weather is not for me!), but if i get a job somewhere then thats where im going!

I'd love to keep the clearance and get a job that takes advantage of it, i hear some companies will eat you up if you have one since its cheaper for them to train you then to get you the clearance.

PCHoldmann

ModemHumper wrote:

Peter, volume 1 of TCP/IP routing by doyle/carroll covers IGP's. Volume 2 covers multicasting and BGP as well as some other things.

Correct. Sorry, I was up late with Vol 1 sitting next to me, and was thinking Vol 1, but didn't write it.

John, 2 of 4 can't hurt on the resume, but you need all 4 to really be worth anything. I was saying that you could get a start with the old exams until the new material is available. The security clearence could be worth more than just about any cert, check out http://www.clearancejobs.com/, and check for companies that are government contractors.