Your Information Technology Career: Certification vs ExperiencePage: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 or Go To our Certification Articles Section
Whether you're just starting your Information Technology
career, or wanting to get further ahead in your current IT
career, you have probably thought about earning one of the
many popular computer certifications such as the Cisco Certified
Network Associate (CCNA) certification, or the MCSE (Microsoft
Certified Systems Engineer) cert.
A major point of frustration for individuals pursuing one
of these certifications is a possible lack of experience with
these technologies. Many future CCNAs or MCSEs simply stop
trying to earn their certification, feeling that their lack
of experience will hold them back.
Adding to this are those in IT who will stop everything they're
doing at the drop of a hat to stomp on the dreams of others.
I recently saw a post by an IT newcomer on a popular website
where he declared his intention of earning his CCNA. Within
minutes, several naysayers popped up and told him that he
shouldn't bother, it wouldn't do any good due to his lack
of experience, etc. (Did you ever notice that people who bash
certifications generally don't have any themselves?)
I am in no way discounting the importance of experience.
What I am saying is that every single one of us was a beginner
at one point, and a lot of IT professionals forget this. None
of us was born knowing everything we know today, and we shouldn't
spend any time dismissing the goals of others in the IT field,
or those just breaking in.
I am speaking from experience on this point. I had a tough
time breaking into the IT field, and made a lot of calls and
knocked on a lot of doors before I got in. I found out later
that the reason I got that entry-level job is that I had a
professional certification where the other candidates did
not.
The pursuit of certification is the pursuit of knowledge,
and in our field, you can never have too much knowledge. If
your work is strictly on the Local Area Network side, don't
let that stop you from pursuing a CCNA. If you work exclusively
on the WAN side, don't let that stop you from going after
your MCSE. If you're just breaking into Information Technology,
don't let a lack of experience prevent you from studying for
your A+, Network+, or even your MCSE or CCNA.
Because one day, opportunity is going to knock - and the
more you know, the readier you'll be to answer that knock!
Use your long-range vision to envision the day when you will
have both experience and certification - an unbeatable combination.
About the Author:
Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage,
home of free CCNA and CCNP 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”, visit the website and download
your free copies. You can also get FREE CCNA and CCNP exam
questions every day! Pass the CCNA exam with The Bryant Advantage!
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