I'm being offered free certification training, don't know what to choose

Hi ya'll,

I am having training and exam costs paid for by employer and I've narrowed it down to the following:

CCNA training broken up into two courses (ICND1, ICND2) - 10 days of training then the test
Windows Server 2008 Active Directory broken up into two courses - 8 days
Exchange Server 2010 - 5 days
Security+ - 5 days
Linux+ - 5 days

I'm excited about the idea of receiving formal training for any of the above, but conflicted in what to choose based off of which one I could benefit the most from getting in class training. With any of these (CCNA training in particular) there is the whole "is 10 days of training really enough to pass the test", granted I don't have to schedule the test for the day after training ends. I'm leaning towards the CCNA, what do you guys think?

For the record all of these fall in line with knowledge/skills and certifications I'd like to achieve at some point in my career

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Comments

j.petrov

I'd do whatever is going to help you excel most in your current job role. You can then pick up the others as you see fit.

Good luck on whichever you decide to go for. As for my two cents, I would go CCNA

networker050184

Agree with j.petrov. Go with the one that is going to help you day to day in your current role. If you can return from the training with knowledge that makes you a better employee now you are more likely to get more training in the future.

Nyblizzard

Realistically, Active Directory and Exchange would be of most benefit given my current job. Thing I forgot to mention is, I'll only be here until the end of June (employer knows that) so part of me wants to think of this as some sort of send-off

xnx

I'd personally pick Windows Server since it's the thing I find most boring studying by myself.

higherho

Out of any of those. Cisco or Linux. Learning "all" is possible but being a jack of all trades is only good to a certain point. If you want to be an expert or very solid in your career than jack of all trades won't do you any good (unless you plan to go into management). Do what makes you excited the most. Security + is a waste (took me 5 days just to get the cert. was really easy) and exchange to me feels like a bad idea simply because how email is moving and heading (ex - Office 365).

Concerned Water

I agree with higherho about exchange. I use 365 at work, create username, assign license, sync to AD and done. Any problems after that, it's Microsoft's issue.

yzT

I'd go for the CCNA.

Server 2008? bah..if at least it was 2012.
Exchange? I do not use it at all.

Security+, Linux+: you just need to read a book.

Krusader

I would agree, do the one that is most boring. So you dont have to do it on your own time

Tyb

Since you're leaving, pick the one that interest you the most. Out of those though, I'd pick the CCNA.

LeifAlire

What is your next job going to be? Then go with the cert that helps you in that direction...CCNA or Exchange is what I would do...

dopedsmurf

CCNA, hands-down.

omi2123

I'd definitely do CCNA. Doing sec+ will give u advantage getting DOD contract jobs, never been a fan of Linux & if u r gonna go for server cert, go for 2012 server. It's worth it. Now, the big question is How big of a genious are you since you plan on taking the CCNA test after just 10 days training unless u have lots of hands on Cisco gear experience or networking experience?

jvrlopez

You won't have to pay or agree to stay longer?

Went to a security+ boot camp and then left the company within the window of what I had agreed to and I was forced to pay the cost of the boot camp.

Dakinggamer87

CCNA without a doubt is what I would pick

Nyblizzard

After careful consideration, I just sent in my request for CCENT and Security+ training.

Main factors were:

Scheduling (I'm going on vacation on the most ideal date for ICND2 training)
Not having to feel rushed doing both ICND1 and 2 in such a small amount of time
Exam costs (Not having to pay $250+ for the Security+ exam helps)
MUCH more confident in my ability to do the CCENT and Security+ exams in the allotted amount of time, given I'm already familiar with some of the content included in these test, the training should put me on top
I'm currently rushing to prepare for Server Virtualization on May 19th

Thank you all for your recommendations. I start training the second week in June, let the games begin!

Nyblizzard

jvrlopez wrote: »

You won't have to pay or agree to stay longer?

Went to a security+ boot camp and then left the company within the window of what I had agreed to and I was forced to pay the cost of the boot camp.

No sir, I'm officially done at the end of June and they know that. I honestly feel this is a going away gift as this option wasn't available for me the 2 years before

EngRob

CCNA definitely.

Linux+ and Sec+ you can self study. Exchange you can self study too but it seems to be going the way of the cloud or large enterprise deployments, in which case they will hire Exchange specialists.

egrizzly

Nyblizzard wrote: »

Hi ya'll,

I am having training and exam costs paid for by employer and I've narrowed it down to the following:
CCNA training broken up into two courses (ICND1, ICND2) - 10 days of training then the test

Windows Server 2008 Active Directory broken up into two courses - 8 days

Exchange Server 2010 - 5 days

Security+ - 5 days

Linux+ - 5 days

I'm excited about the idea of receiving formal training for any of the above, but conflicted in what to choose based off of which one I could benefit the most from getting in class training. With any of these (CCNA training in particular) there is the whole "is 10 days of training really enough to pass the test", granted I don't have to schedule the test for the day after training ends. I'm leaning towards the CCNA, what do you guys think?

For the record all of these fall in line with knowledge/skills and certifications I'd like to achieve at some point in my career

If you have to take one then just do the CCNA because it is more recognizable plus reward you get salarywise is higher. If you must do all then do it in this order: CCNA, Windows Server 2008..., Exchange Server 2010, Linux+, Security+.

This is all because the skillsets span Physical, Datalink, Network (CCNA, Windows Server), then Transport, Presentation, Application (Exchange Server, Security+). Best of luck.