If you could put life on pause to get CCIE, would you?

config t · April 19, 2015, 12:58:50 PM

Does anyone know who Eman Conde is? He's a guy who made a career out of connecting CCIE's with companies in the states.

I hit him up on Linkedin asking a question about the CCIE Sec and he actually wrote me back

Basically, I had mentioned to him that I was planning to take time off of life, work, etc.. to get the CCIE Security (NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES!)* I expressed concern that the skill set would be too specialized and limit my opportunities and places I could work. So, since he is big time into slangin' CCIE's I asked his professional opinion about whether it would be worthwhile.

*Sweet baby Jesus I hope it doesn't take longer than a year.

His response:
"The Security track is very hot and will not limit your opportunities at all. The cert emphasizes an area, but your experience and skills are still what they are. The cert is required by Cisco channel partner re-sellers so that will open up your value at another plateau. "

It seems a bit vague.. do you guys have any interpretations on that? And, if you had the opportunity to take time out to knock out a CCIE, would you do it?

deanwebb · April 19, 2015, 02:06:30 PM

I took the time out to do a CCNP.

CCIE, though... I don't think so. I'm not at a VAR, so the value/pressure of a cert isn't as high in my company. Our company goes nuts over CISSPs, though.

Reggle · April 19, 2015, 04:10:12 PM

If I really could put life on hold, I'd do it right away. No doubts.
But you can't put life on hold: it's what happens around you when you're trying to build up your life.

killabee · April 19, 2015, 10:21:53 PM

CCIE? Nope. Life is actually treating me well at the moment.

dlots · April 20, 2015, 09:35:34 AM

Not sure
If I could do it without any worries about money or such I might, but that really isn't an option, and I think I would go crazy with no real issues to work on only studying.

routerdork · April 20, 2015, 10:17:09 AM

Guess it depends on what you want out of life. I am willing to study but not willing to give up travel, beer, fun, beer, girlfriend, house projects, beer, movies, oh and whiskey.

That being said I think security will only get hotter. Eventually something has to give. All these large companies will have to start being held accountable for breaches. The world is only becoming more connected. Security guys are going to rule the world. Also along those lines, I could see a CCIE Security guy becoming a hot commodity. Especially as an independent consultant coming in and assessing/recommending. But I wouldn't put life on hold, I would budget time for it.

that1guy15 · April 20, 2015, 11:53:45 AM

Im deep in on my CCIE studies (between attempt 2 and 3) and if I could turn back time I would absolutely go back after the CCIE. Its not until you're in the thick of the CCIE track that you start to understand the bennifts and gains you aquire outside of just the technical. Some off the top of my head:
1) Quickly learning (in depth) new technologies
2) Hardcore troubleshooting skills.
3) Prove the ability to run a very complex task/project through completion

There is a reason the CCIE is the highest ranking cert in the IT relm. the journey is long, very difficult and almost kills you. But seeing the end of the light and witnessing first hand what I am able to do now blows my fucking mind!

I completely disagree with setting life aside to get the CCIE. I started this journey with 2 kids (3 and 1 at the time) and just had number 3. I cant set life aside its not an option.

Its something so many people stress during certs but I guess people ignore it for the CCIE. Everyone learns different and works through certs at a different pace. So quite seeing the study routiine others are using and think that is what you have to do to get the CCIE. This cert is a long term cert. Ive been going for ~3 years now but most of that time was 20-25 hours a week with several months spread out of back off. Sounds a lot like your CCNA/CCNP studies huh?

Commitment is the hardest part of the CCIE. But if you just start and hold yourself to something you will get there. Now final prep is what separates the men from the boys. Its not a normal 3-5 weeks of hardcore studies its more like 3 months. But its manageable.

NetworkGroover · April 20, 2015, 12:20:10 PM

You know... this is a bummer because I've already spent $800+ on materials... but I'm now thinking it may not be worth it.

I work primarily in the data center.. I do very little WAN stuff. That said, a LOT of what I do has nothing to do with CCIE R&S. I was primarily just going to initially do the written to re-cert my CCNP, but I'm getting a gut feeling (and I usually go with that) that the reward isn't going to be worth the work involved. I'm already in a good payscale area, and I'm really thinking that VMware certification is a much more lucrative way to go. As I write this... I'm thinking...

1. Re-cert CCNP just so I don't lose it in case my current employer just gets tired of my crap

2. VMware
3. Storage
4. Security (Maybe - doubt it though)

As that1guy15 points out... the clear benefits to pursuing it is the intangible benefits such as study methods, research, etc. I think it's just so early on for me, I work for a competing vendor, and I'm focused on the data center, that I may just spread out my skillset rather than continuing to focus on R&S.

Otanx · April 20, 2015, 01:15:19 PM

The problem as I see it is if you put life on hold meaning you quit your job to pursue the CCIE you may have problems getting back into a good job. Yes you would have a CCIE at the end of it, and while that is awesome I as an employer I would wonder why you needed to take time off of everything to do your CCIE where the other candidates continued to work while they got theirs. Do you fold under stress, or lack time management skills to be able to do your study and work at the same time?

-Otanx

NetworkGroover · April 20, 2015, 02:27:21 PM

Quote from: Otanx on April 20, 2015, 01:15:19 PM
The problem as I see it is if you put life on hold meaning you quit your job to pursue the CCIE you may have problems getting back into a good job. Yes you would have a CCIE at the end of it, and while that is awesome I as an employer I would wonder why you needed to take time off of everything to do your CCIE where the other candidates continued to work while they got theirs. Do you fold under stress, or lack time management skills to be able to do your study and work at the same time?

-Otanx

Yeah... I DEFINITELY don't see a need to quit your job... maybe take a week or two vacation when you're in final moments before the lab.. but outside of that.. even with a family it's just communicating/coordinating with your significant others to set aside time (Which teaches you the ability to communicate, compromise, and work as a team). Heck, in all of the networking jobs I've had, granted not a ton, I've always found time to study during lunch and what not. Even when I was working in a call center - and trust me you don't know what "busy" is until you've worked in that kind of environment. I laugh at what others have considered "too busy".

deanwebb · April 20, 2015, 08:06:37 PM

I think the larger question is, "Should we put our lives on hold for *any* certification?" I say no, not even for college. Do it all in parallel with your job, because experience, continuous experience, is king on a resume.

wintermute000 · April 21, 2015, 04:55:32 AM

If I could, yes.

Would I, no. I have a mortgage and a little one to feed.

Well strictly speaking I'm ahead enough on my payments that I could easily take at least a few months out, but there is a fairly major risk in that you don't know how long you have to wait until you land your next job. If I could quit my job with a cast iron guarantee of employment I would seriously think about it.

I'm deep into my attempt as well, ~60% of my way through the individual technology labs, ETA another month or two to finish off then 3-4 months of full scale / TS lab practice. I know the foundations, just worried about all the 'extras' (services, multicast, where the f--k did Cisco decide to put this feature in the doc-cd etc.).

Its not just about time management. I dunno about you guys but after a hard day @ work then time with the little one, there remains very little energy for decent study. Sure I can study for a P level written, read an hours worth of crap and understand the concepts, but for an IE level of understanding and hands on familiarity you not only need full concentration but also time to get up to speed - my wife just doesn't understand how 'you have 20 minutes free, why don't you do some study' isn't really effective when it takes you 5 minutes to spin up the lab and another 5 minutes to get properly going.... study for the IE lab and studying for ANY OTHER (PURELY WRITTEN) CERT IS ABSOLUTELY NO COMPARISON. Put it this way I knocked over my CCNP Security in under 2 months....

config t · April 21, 2015, 12:36:19 PM

The consensus here is the same as I found when I brought this up at work and with a few friends and colleagues; mixed.

From my perspective it wouldn't really be that big of a deal to put it all aside and focus on CCIE. This is easy to say because I don't have kids.. debt.. wife.. or any other pressing responsibilities outside of myself. I'm on my own working in the middle east, and by the time the date I plan to do it rolls around I will have been doing so for around 2 1/2 years. Money wouldn't be an issue.. especially since during that time I plan to move to Thailand where I could live comfortably for as little as 20k a year and the training and access to lab equipment is half the price as the states.

As for a job with the same company afterwards.. well nothing is guaranteed, I think we can all agree on that. But I wouldn't burn any bridges on the way out the door.. and we don't seem to be planning to stop bombing anyone anytime soon.. so contracting jobs will be there for a long time.

Quote from: deanwebb on April 20, 2015, 08:06:37 PM
experience, continuous experience, is king on a resume.

That's the only thing I can see stopping me.. keeping the flow going on my career. But, it is very, very tempting. I don't know when or if I will ever be in the situation I am now again with the amount of freedom I have. Would I still have a life? It's nigh impossible to live in Thailand and not have a life, but CCIE would be my full time job until it was done. Afterwards I would follow the money and opportunity.

burnyd · April 21, 2015, 05:21:33 PM

I personally do not think it holds the same merit as it used to hold. It is great to have but if you are just starting I would point you in the direction to be a generalist not just networking. Security has so many aspects to it other than firewalls. I am going to get flamed for this but stateful firewalls are becoming a thing of the past.

NetworkGroover · April 21, 2015, 09:38:05 PM

Quote from: burnyd on April 21, 2015, 05:21:33 PM
I personally do not think it holds the same merit as it used to hold. It is great to have but if you are just starting I would point you in the direction to be a generalist not just networking. Security has so many aspects to it other than firewalls. I am going to get flamed for this but stateful firewalls are becoming a thing of the past.

Funny you mention that. Like I said before, I'm thinking of hanging up R&S and start picking up on VMware. I'll be sure to harass you on here or LinkedIn for guidance since IIRC you've been all about NSX?