CCNA-CCIE: What's it like?

Hi Guys,

Not sure if this is the right place to ask but I need to know. What's it like to be a CCNA? CCNP? CCIE?

I love computers and am driven by the idea of setting up and maintaining large networks. I feel awestruck when I stand in front of a large server rack sending hundreds of cat5's up in the ceiling.

I've spent the last 6 years in front of a monitor designing websites and it's already taking it's toll on this 22 year old's back, posture, and wrists. I'm really looking to get away from sitting down for 40 hours a week.

This is why I need to know. What's your job like? How much do you get paid? What's a typical day at the office like? How many hours do you typically work per week? Anything you like/don't like about working in networking?

I'm currently working towards an Associates in networking, a CCNA and hope to persue a CCNP after that and if I like it enough, push for a CCIE. Any particularly good/bad points about this strategy? Your opinion is very valuable to me. Please let me know.

chris

 

I would advise against you getting a job in that line of work unless you are really resilient to stress...
As a Pen. tester, i get to talk to a lot of network security guys and admins, and they all complain how the want a less stressfull line of work.

 

And once you get the certification you have to retest every 3 years.

 

@cerickson... Please be careful guy. I work with government educational grants for dislocated workers and we've stopped approving grants for Microsoft and Cisco certifications because of the sharp decline in the industry sector. If you enjoy networks, there is zero growth in security...zero growth isn't wonderful but not as bad as it sounds: it means the number of annual job openings is roughly equal to the workforce applicants. The same is true for database management. Until recently, banks and insurance companies still used mainframes heavily but that has waned and those guys are retraining and scoffing up the database positions. I can't begin to tell you the number of Microsoft and Cisco certified guys I've had in the office looking for funds to change careers. So too, this is a national trend, not a regional one. I'm not computer wiz...nor do I pretend to be; I can only tell you what we're seeing and doind in the country's unemployment offices.