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