Help me in choosing the networking course

mohamed81 · September 2007

Hi Professionals

Am a post graduate in Physics and i would like to do a course in networking. Am in dilemma in

choosing the certification (MCSA/MCSE/CCNA/etc.).

I have no knowledge about networking.

Please throw light on the following:

1. Which certification will fetch me a job (am planning to visit Dubai for employment in 4
months)?

2. Whether CCNA is for Linux platforms only? Also, if possible, please distinguish MCSE and
CCNA.

Thanks in advance.

networker050184 · September 2007

CCNA is for routing and switching (Cisco Certified Network Associate) and MCSA\MCSE is for microsoft systems (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator\Engineer). If you don't have any IT experience it is highly unlikely you will finish a MCSA\MCSE in four months. The CCNA is possible to finish in four months, but you are not likely to get a job working with routers and switches with no IT experience regardless of the certification you have. I would suggest you look into starting with a microsoft client exam and go from there. You could also start with the A+ and N+ which will also count for the elective on your MCSA. Certifications are not a key to a job especially if you have zero experience.

Also CCNA has nothing to do with Linux......

blargoe · September 2007

ajs1976 · September 2007

Are you looking for a job that will be inline with you post grad work in physics or do you just want a job in computers?

If you just looking for a job, the helpdesk support / system admin route would be the best way to go, because there are more of those types of jobs then the others. That path would normally be the A+ -> Net+ -> MCDST -> MCSA -> MCSE

If you are looking for something that might involve you work in physics, you may want to go the Cisco route. That will put you closer to the physical layer of networking were the theories you should have covered in undergrad phsyics should come in handy.

If you are interested in certifications in Linux, you should look into the Linux+, LPI, Redhat, etc.

Darthn3ss · September 2007

also, no certification will "fetch" you a job, you're at least going to have to look for one yourself.

mrj · September 2007

Like said, especially with your lack of knowledge, a certification won't cause a job to fall into your lap. Not even remotely.

Dubai is full of CCIE and JCIE ex-pats, and citizens, good luck.

Illusionking · September 2007

As stated by nearly everyone above just having a certification isn't going to get you to the point where jobs fall into your lap.

The route I would suggest (not the path I've taken) would be:
A+
Network+

That will establish all the network fundamentals.

THAN:

CCNA for more in depth knowledge of networking, layering, subnetting and so on.
MCSE starting with 70-270
70-290
70-291

Thank whatever else you feel like taking.

This will not by any means be a quick solution to the job hunt, especially if you want to understand everything that you will be studying. It's going to be alot of lab work and you will probably be asked several scenarios that would pertain to your job, so just having the certifications based on book knowledge won't do you a whole lot of good.

Help me in choosing the networking course

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