If Cisco training is your aspiration, and you’ve no practical experience with network switches or routers, you most probably should start with a CCNA course. This teaches you the necessary skills to set up and maintain routers. The world wide web is built up of many routers, and big organisations with several locations also rely on them to keep their networks in touch.
As routers are connected to networks, look for a course that includes basic networking skills - perhaps Network+ and A+, before getting going with CCNA. It’s essential to have some knowledge of how networks operate before you start a Cisco course or you’ll probably struggle. Once qualified and looking for work, you’ll benefit from having a good knowledge of networks in addition to the CCNA.
If routers are a new thing for you, then working up to and including the CCNA is definitely sufficient - avoid being talked into doing a CCNP. After gaining experience in the working environment, you will know if it’s appropriate for you to go to the level of CCNP.
You should look for authorised exam simulation and preparation programs included in the package you choose.
Due to the fact that a lot of examining boards for IT are from the USA, it’s essential to understand how exam questions will be phrased and formatted. It’s not sufficient simply answering any old technical questions - they must be in an exam format that exactly replicates the real thing.
As you can imagine, it’s very crucial to know that you are completely prepared for the real exam prior to doing it. Going over ‘mock’ tests will help to boost your attitude and saves you time and money on thwarted exam entries.
Usually, trainers will provide a bunch of books and manuals. Obviously, this isn’t much fun and isn’t the best way to go about taking things in.
Where possible, if we can get all of our senses involved in our learning, then we normally see dramatically better results.
Learning is now available in disc format, where your computer becomes the centre of your learning. Video streaming means you can watch instructors demonstrating how it’s all done, and then practice yourself - via the interactive virtual lab’s.
Always insist on a demonstration of the study materials from your training provider. The package should contain demo’s from instructors, slideshows and lab’s for you to practice your skills in.
You’ll find that many companies will only provide training that is purely available online; and while this is acceptable much of the time, consider how you’ll deal with it when you don’t have access to the internet or you get a slow connection speed. It’s much safer to rely on actual CD or DVD ROMs that will not have these problems.
If your advisor doesn’t question you thoroughly - it’s more than likely they’re just a salesperson. If they’re pushing towards a particular product before learning about your history and experience, then it’s very likely to be the case.
In some circumstances, the training inception point for a trainee experienced in some areas will be vastly different to someone just starting out.
Always consider starting with some basic PC skills training first. This can set the scene for your on-going studies and make the slope up to the higher-levels a a little easier.
Student support is absolutely essential - look for a package that provides 24×7 direct access, as anything less will not satisfy and will also hold up your pace and restrict your intake.
Don’t buy training courses that only support trainees with an out-sourced call-centre message system when it’s outside of usual working hours. Companies will try to talk you round from this line of reasoning. But, no matter how they put it - you want support at the appropriate time - not as-and-when it’s suitable for their staff.
The very best training providers use multiple support centres active in different time-zones. An online system provides an interactive interface to seamlessly link them all, irrespective of the time you login, help is just a click away, without any contact issues or hassle.
Seek out an educator that goes the extra mile. Only proper round-the-clock 24×7 support delivers what is required.
(C) Scott Edwards 2009. Look at Cisco CCNA or www.learninglolly.com/Cisco_CCNA_Certification.html.
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