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Cisco CCNA / CCNP Certification Exam: Creating A Study Plan |
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Whether you're just starting to think about passing the CCNA
or CCNP exams, or you've been on the certification track for
a while, you've got to have a plan for success. If you wanted
to drive your car from Florida to California, you'd create
a plan to get there. You'd get a map and decide how far you
wanted to drive per day, and maybe even make some hotel reservations
in advance. You certainly wouldn't get in your car, just drive
it randomly down the nearest highway, and hope you ended up
in California, would you?
Certainly not. Earning your CCNA certification is the same
way. It's not enough to just study a few minutes "when
you feel like it", or tell yourself that you'll start
studying for the exams "when I get such-and-such done".
The perfect time to start on the road to Cisco certification
is not tomorrow, and it's not next week. It's today.
You're much better off with one hour of solid study than
three hours of interrupted, unfocused study. Here are a few
ways to go about getting the kind of quality study time that
will get you to the CCNA or CCNP (or any Cisco certification,
for that matter!).
Schedule your study time, and regard this study time as you
would an appointment with a client. If you were to meet a
customer at 10:00 to discuss a network install, would you
just decide not to show up and watch television instead? Not
if you wanted the job. The same goes for your study time.
That's an appointment with the most important customer of
all - YOU.
Turn your cell, iPod, TV, instant messenger, and all other
electronic collars off for the duration of your study time.
I know those of us in information technology don't like to
say this, but we can actually exist without being in touch
with the world for a little while. You may even get to like
it! Having uninterrupted study time is key to CCNA and CCNP
exam success.
Finally, schedule your exam before you start studying. Contrary
to what many people think, "deadline" is not a dirty
word. We do our best work when we have a deadline and a schedule
to keep. Make out your study schedule, schedule your exam,
and get to work just as you would a network project for a
customer. The project you're working on is your career and
your life, and by following these simple steps you can make
it a highly successful project - by passing your CCNA and
CCNP exam!
About the Author:
Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage,
home of free CCNP and CCNA tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study
Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages. For a FREE copy
of his latest e-books, “How To Pass The CCNA” and
“How To Pass The CCNP”, just visit the website!
You can also get FREE CCNA and CCNP exam questions every day!
Pass the CCNP exam with The Bryant Advantage!
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| Call 813.852.6400 now for more information to find the best router or switch to best help you with your certification exam. Having "real" hands-on experience is extremely beneficial not just for testing, but also ensures you are actually familiar with the device you are working on.
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