Industry certifications CCNA and the like.

[slakjaw]

I am really curious if these types of certifications do indeed help people with promotions or landing a better paying job. I am getting ready to take the CCNA exam but part of me wonders if these are just a cash cow for companies like CISCO or Microsoft. Do these certifications have any real value to employers?

[slodave]

I let my CCNA lapse. I spent a lot of time and $$ getting the certificate and I never saw any return. I have an MCP in Windows 2000, but it seems that this cert never expires. Not that it has opened any doors either. I am sure certs have helped others, but I see no reason to get another one.

Dave

[azasadny]

In my position (IT consultant), the CCNA is "required" to establish any kind of credibility. In our area (Metro Detroit), all of the job postings require certification but the certification alone will not get you the job...

[HardDrive]

MCSE,MCT,MCSA,MSTS,CCNA,A+,N+,Server+

Man I need a life......

I'm a trainer/consultant with a Microsoft partner in Seattle, so up to date certs are simply expected. In fact, they are required to teach Microsoft official training material.

They won't get you a job that you don't deserve, but they won't hurt either.

Frankly, I think the certification tests are relatively easy.

Exam Cram + Measure Up test + minimal product knowledge = passed test x 7 = MCSE.

You can get all the OS software for free, and run it on your desktop machine on Virtual PC, also free.

[masraum]

The various Cisco certs do help. CCNA is pretty much entry level. what really kick starts things are the P level exams. Still, they are usually just a foot in the door. In my experience interpersonal networking is even more valuable. Making friends/acquaintances and keeping up with them can be much more valuable than any cert. I've gotten a job because of my certs, and I've gotten interviews because of my certs, but it's much, much easier to get a job if you know someone on the inside.

I had CCNA and CCNP and took the CCIE lab once long ago. All have expired. I keep telling myself I'm going to recert, but haven't been able to force myself yet.

[mikester]

I've been a CCNP since 2000 and recently passed the CCIE written and am preparing for the lab later this year.

Having had the certs for a while I can say that I agree with the above statement that they won't get you a job you don't already deserve. They lend some credibility to your resume to about 50% of the folks who are looking to hire - the other 50% think they are just bunk.

It's true that some book knowledge and product knowledge will help you pass the test - um I think that is the way it is supposed to work. The tests can't replace experience. The Professional level tests are quite a bit more detailed but I wouldn't say they are harder.

I've never used them specifically to get the job I wanted - rather to improve my own ability so I could qualify for the job I wanted. They have always helped me to learn more and get better at what I'm doing.

The CCIE exam is somewhat tough (the written) but far from impossible. You just need to KNOW the material and that knowledge is quite powerful when put into practice in the real world. Knowing the protocols and processes routers and switches use to make networks work (or not work) makes the difference between someone who gets it and knows it and someone who doesn't. I feel pretty safe saying that and feeling that I am closer to getting it than not.

They have been very valuable to me; I don't believe they are "cash cows" but their primary purpose is to encourage resellers to invest in training so that their sales staff are properly knowledgeable.

[slodave]

All the CC tests are hard now. I took the last "easy" CCNA test and since there were too many CCNA's they threw questions from different exams in. Made it really difficult to pass.

Certs are good for certain jobs. The clients I have and go for, don't really use Cisco products and never will. If your client base runs entire buildings, maybe that CCXX will be needed.

Dave

[masraum]

Originally posted by mikester
I've been a CCNP since 2000 and recently passed the CCIE written and am preparing for the lab later this year.

Congrats and good luck. I had mine about 6-7 years ago. I got the CCNA, then I was going to skip the CCNP and go straight for the IE. I went to get a job where they were looking for people with the NP or IE for partner status. They said that if I had either that I could get a sign-on bonus (a really big one, this was before the 3/2001 dot com crash). I had already passed the IE written which was very, VERY different from any of the other tests being all theory on the standards, nothing cisco specific, but the IE written wouldn't get me the bonus, so I went and took the Foundation R&S (3 tests combined) and the CIT and got my CCNP. I then tried the CCIE lab back when it was still 2 days. I got 3/4 through, but didn't make it past that. Really close, but not close enough. Then I got laid off and haven't screwed with any of that since.

I second the sentiment that if you get the certs by ACTUALLY LEARNING the stuff, rather than just studying some sample tests, they actually make a big difference in your ability to do you job. Understanding the nuts and bolts helps with troubleshooting and getting the big picture more complete.

[mikester]

The biggest help that I have found by knowing the stuff is that when I plan for some sort of maintenance I am able to predict the bad things that will happen and prepare for them.

This is a very good skill to have particularly when dealing with networks that are in very bad shape - like one of my previous employers. Networks that are in good shape are boring - I like that but it sort of dulls the senses a bit.

Back in 2003 I recertified my NP with the composite - vowed I would never do it again. I had to study because I hadn't been using the knowledge in the position I was in. I figured I did enough studying to pass the IE written.

Up for recertification again next year so I studied a bit (yeah!) for the IE written and now I'm good on the NP until 2010 my card says.

Hopefully I will pass the lab one day.

[id10t]

Cisco certs are good, redhat linux certs are good (only hands on test that i know of...)... I think MCSEs got overrated with everyone getting them a few years ago... several of my students (I teach a linux admin course as an adjunct) have theirs already but lack the ability to read, ask smart questions, or rtfm... the cisco students that I have that have certs already seem to be able to do that, even if shell scripting, etc. confuse them...