Site Newbie - Need Some Advice.

Hi Guys

I just signed up today and this is my first post. I am almost 47 (Old I know

) with over 20 years experience in the networking industry. I have a wide variety of experience - maybe too wide. I have achieved several technical certs after leaving college including JNCIA/JNCIS( Hoping to take JNCIP this year).

I have just started a contract after being made redundant from my last job and am wondering should I go the CCNP/CCIE (written) route to make myself more employable. I have access to INE and CBT Nuggets online subscription services and wondering are these enough along with GNS3/IOU practice. I do have experience with Cisco routers/switches already. Are these enough? I don't particularly want to read through books RFCs again if I can help it.

I am based in the UK and to be honest a bit fed up with the industry. I have been made redundant twice now in my career and know a couple of guys in their late twenties who have been made redundant more than that. I don't really want to go back to a permanent role as the salary rates have dropped drastically since 2008 and the subsequent recession/depression the west now appears to be in. Contractor rates are dropping too with some guys on ICT visas mainly working for £100 per day!!! undercutting everyone else. I wouldn't have picked this industry had I know the way it now appears to be going

I know I shouldn't complain - could be out work, but I feel let down as I studied hard for my degree and subsequent certs only to see employeers wanting more and more certs for less money. It is too late to change careers now so I need to keep myself employable for the next 18 years at least. Any advice would be appreciated. I know security is also in demand is CCNP security worth taking?

Best Regards.... Arakis777 (UK)

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Comments

blackninja

I'm a contractor in the UK and I have loads of work, at very good rates too - I've never earned as much!

Checkout: jobserve.com cwjobs.com reed.co.uk totaljobs.com there is loads of positions for network people at good rates.

I really don't understand how you have come to the opinion that the industry is paid poorly & lacking jobs?

I have learned certs count for jack if you don't have the experience to back them up.
Don't go for a CCIE written if you don't intend taking the lab, as it's worthless without the lab.

"I don't particularly want to read through books RFCs again if I can help it" - I don't think I've read any of them

The UK IT industry did go though a bad patch a few years ago, but is very much alive again.

My advice is to become a contractor (a Ltd contractor), someone with 20 years as a network engineer should be on a fortune.

Best of luck

arakis777

Thanks for the advice Blackninja. I set up a Ltd company when I started my contract in October. I still think the permanent and contractor rates have dropped but I am still getting a lot of calls regarding my availability so there are jobs out there. I would appreciate your or any other member's advice on what certs I should take. I don't think JNCIP-SP will be enough. As regards CCIE Written I have spoken to a few contractors and indeed employers who says they value it, also it will pop up on a CV search so may get someone to at least read your CV.

I also agree about experience ,I have bags of this so it should count for something.

Best Regards.... Arakis777 (UK)

networker050184

So you have experience, whats it in? There's your answer for certification. No point in getting certified in something you don't know/have the experience to back up. The cert+experience combo is where the money is.

arakis777

Hi

I agree no point in studying Checkpoint for example if you have never touched a box.

I have a lot of experience in Transmission i.e. SDH / DWDM with two Alcatel-Lucent related Certs.
Experience in 2G to 4G IP RAN / Backhaul with related certificate

Juniper , Cisco , Riverstone experience etc certified to JNCIS (hoping to get JNCIP by the end of the year). I don't have any Cisco certs at present want to be on my way to CCNP before the year is out

I have worked from Enterprise / Service Provider NOC to TAC level and have managed a team of engineers. I have also worked as a resident engineer both here in the UK and on secondment abroad. I have had plenty of hands on field experience also.

I have specialist certs in network performance e.g. Network Performance Forensics

I also related City and Guilds certs (not sure if they have any value these days)

I know I really need to get CCNP under my belt. JNCIP is good to have also. I have access to nearly all the relevant training material as well simulators/emulators which is good

After I was made redundant (along with a host of fellow engineers) from my last job which was a permie. I went looking for a contract as permie rates in my mind have dropped a lot. I was on a good package in the permie pulling in well over £60000 a year. To earn anything like that now in a permie role I would need to be a senior Architect for example.

Anyway what scares me is the fact as a contractor you can be let go at very short notice and having a family it is a constant worry. Ageism is also a worry (may to invest in some hair dye

)

I would appreciate any advice, especially from contractors in the UK as what route is best. Is CCNP (R&S) plus JNCIP-SP enough for now? Thanks in advance.

Best Regards.... Arakis777 (UK)