Which cert has impacted your career the most?

vito_corleone · January 05, 2015, 06:47:03 AM

Post the cert and your reasons.

SofaKing · January 05, 2015, 09:13:54 AM

I would have to say my CCNA. When I applied for my current job, which I love, there was a check box for "Do you have a Cisco cert?" I had just earned my CCNA the week before applying for this job and I think it is the only reason I made it beyond HR.

deanwebb · January 05, 2015, 09:23:00 AM

CCNP-Security. When I wanted to return to IT, I wanted to do network security. This certification allowed me to get back to a mid-level job very rapidly and gave me some great preparation, even for non-Cisco products in the the security field.

Ironman · January 05, 2015, 03:56:49 PM

CCNP for sure so far. I needed to graduate out of the Network Admin role because I was slowly dying. As soon as I got my NP I was almost immediately brought into more of an Engineering role and have not looked back!

vito_corleone · January 05, 2015, 07:03:48 PM

I'll answer my own question now.

Mine is a toss up. The NA helped secure my first real networking gig, but the NP got me my first enterprise gig. And I truly mean got it for me - the interview was mostly "can you do x?", to which I say "sure", because I just finished the NP and though I really could. Though it worked out for the best, I should not have gotten that job...

wintermute000 · January 05, 2015, 07:24:43 PM

CCNA for sure. That was the foot in the door I needed.
Of course this was 7-8 years ago when people were still willing to hire without an alphabet soup and actually train people up instead of expecting an endless stream of do-it-all-on-paper candidates wiling to settle for rock bottom prices.

NetworkGroover · January 05, 2015, 11:45:02 PM

Quote from: vito_corleone on January 05, 2015, 07:03:48 PM
I'll answer my own question now.

Mine is a toss up. The NA helped secure my first real networking gig, but the NP got me my first enterprise gig. And I truly mean got it for me - the interview was mostly "can you do x?", to which I say "sure", because I just finished the NP and though I really could. Though it worked out for the best, I should not have gotten that job...

Yep - CCNP. Hands down. Same for me.

NetworkGroover · January 05, 2015, 11:49:00 PM

Quote from: wintermute000 on January 05, 2015, 07:24:43 PM
CCNA for sure. That was the foot in the door I needed.
Of course this was 7-8 years ago when people were still willing to hire without an alphabet soup and actually train people up instead of expecting an endless stream of do-it-all-on-paper candidates wiling to settle for rock bottom prices.

Haha - isn't that the truth

config t · January 25, 2015, 08:05:48 PM

Quote from: Ironman on January 05, 2015, 03:56:49 PM
CCNP for sure so far. I needed to graduate out of the Network Admin role because I was slowly dying. As soon as I got my NP I was almost immediately brought into more of an Engineering role and have not looked back!

That's exactly where I find myself right now. Can't wait to finish this thing, but I have learned so much from studying for it.

that1guy15 · January 25, 2015, 08:20:28 PM

CCNP. People take you a little more serious when you have an NP. Also my MBA got me a leg up on a number of interviews. My past two employers were most impressed that I had both.

Give me a month or two to knock out the CCIE and Ill tell you what that does.

killabee · January 26, 2015, 07:18:18 PM

Definitely the CCNP. It too got me my first enterprise gig, but I also felt like others now had much higher expectations of me after that point. That led to more projects, more interesting troubleshooting, more decision making, more confidence and trust in my say, and a promotion shortly after.

ZiPPy · January 27, 2015, 04:41:55 PM

I'd have to strongly agree. I recently just obtained the CCNP, and it's been a game changer for me. Job opportunities, big time!!

Shoot even the girls on the 3rd floor are giving me looks now that I'm a CCNP