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  Asked: Feb 28 2008   10:59 AM GMT
  Asked by: Cmk

What qualifications do I need to be recognised as knowledgable on networking


Networking, MCP, Network+, CCNA, Networking certifications

Hi, I would like to study for some networking qualifications, but I'm not too sure which ones would be most useful for me in the job- market. I'm A++ qualified and have done a few networking jobs including a wireless network at my current work place. I enjoy networking but realise that without proper certification, I'm not likely to go far. Any and all advice will be appreciated.

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Last Answered: Feb 29 2008  1:53 AM GMT  by Mrdenny


Latest Contributors: Buddyfarr


If you want to go into networking then since you already have your A+ you should start studying either for your Network+ or your CCNA. The CCNA is definitely much more prestigious than the Network+ but the Network+ is a step towards that. You should also look into at least getting your Microsoft MCP certification only because Microsoft owns 90+ % of the market. Start looking at the major job boards like dice.com, monster.com, careerbuilder.com, etc. to see what jobs interest you and what they are asking for as far as certifications. Good luck!

In addition to what Buddyfar has said, I'll also point out that you also need experience which takes time. The longer you work in the field the farther you'll be able to get. It takes several years to get into that senior level position, but for the patient you'll get there.
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Jlees  |   Feb 29 2008  4:50AM GMT

Yes, MrDenny is correct with his addition. Certification helps you get an entry level job without experience it alone isn’t going to get you your dream job.

Keep that in mind when ever the training centers tell you X Certified people make Y thousands of dollars a year.

The combination of certifications and experience gets you the great Sr. Level job.

I would work on Network+ since it’s similar to A+ in that it is vendor neutral and try to get an entry level position for 6 months to 1 year. Consulting and placement firms are great for geting a varied range of experience in a short time.

 

Wrobinson  |   Feb 29 2008  3:39PM GMT

First of all, congratulatons on passing the CompTIA A+ exam. It’s not easy, even for some experienced professionals in the IT field. You seem to be off to a good start, being that you already have experience in networking. While you can certainly prepare and take follow-on exams such as CompTIA Network+, CCNA and so on, I cannot stress how important it is to make your experience count. Make sure that growth is part of the plan. Lots of people tend to base their decisions solely on money and fail to expand and grow horizontally as well as vertically. The key will be to chart out exactly what in “networking” or IT that you would like to do and proceed from there on a course to achieve it. Since this conversation is rooted in networking, you should definitely consider a security certification such as CompTIA Security+ or CISSP as well.