Interesting Graphic from Cisco Networking Academy...

Interesting Graphic from Cisco Networking Academy

On Thursday afternoon, I found this interesting graphic posted by Cisco Networking Academy in my LinkedIn feed.

Skills Required in Different IT Specialties

Some Background

Ever since I decided to go into information technology (IT), I have been overwhelmed with all of the various certifications that are out there. After I earned my CompTIA A+ certification a couple of years ago, I tried to study for CompTIA's Network+ certification. It was an ABSOLUTE, COMPLETE, and TOTAL mess!!! Trying to study for the Network+ certification was like trying to study for three or four separate IT certifications at the same time. Let's see, for the Network+ certification, you needed to know about configuring routers and switches, how to configure servers with Microsoft Server, how to use Microsoft Active Directory, and how to use a network monitoring program like Wireshark. The Official CompTIA Network+ study guide that I was following along with used Microsoft's now-defunct Network Monitor program. I even paid $700 to CompTIA for online exercises for Network+ that were WORTHLESS. Ironically, for a certification that was supposed to be vendor neutral, everything about routers and switches was about Cisco routers and switches. Not a single mention about routers and switches from other vendors, such as Palo Alto Networks or Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

As a result, I became HIGHLY DISCOURAGED with studying for Network+. A co-worker at the Tier 1 IT help desk at the Social Security Administration suggested that I give studying for CCNA a try.

Studying for CCNA

At first, studying for CCNA was a breeze compared to studying for Network+. The study guides for CCNA focused exclusively on Cisco routers and switches. Before I got really busy with work, I made slow, steady progress through the first ten chapters in the first CCNA study guide. Perhaps more importantly, the author of the CCNA 200-301 Official Study Guide, Wendell Odom, had a section about career planning in IT. It was an intriguing read. You can read the series of posts about career planning for those going into IT here. I read each post and actually wrote down some ideas on what I wanted to do with IT. Like I wrote earlier, I had a span of time where I got really busy with my job. I put aside studying for CCNA. I put aside my nascent attempts at some kind of career planning.

After moving from Maryland back to Arizona after 13 years, I have restarted studying for networking. Instead of studying for CCNA directly, I made the decision to work my way through the online networking classes available from the Cisco Networking Academy. My original intent was to complete the online networking classes as a way to establish a foundation in networking PRIOR to making another attempt at studying for CCNA. Another factor for studying the online networking classes was that it became rather apparent to me that I needed to add some IT certifications on my resume IOT get out of working at a Tier 1 IT help desk.

Skills Required in Different IT Specialities

Getting back to the interesting graphic from the Cisco Networking Academy that just randomly appeared in my LinkedIn feed, I was immediately intrigued when I saw it. The graphic gave recommendations on what subjects to study for four different IT specialties. Want to be a software engineer? Then you need to study Python, C++, Java, and Scala. In other words, you will want to study the major programming languages. Want to be a web developer? Then you need to study HTML 5, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP. Again, you need to know how to use the most popular applications. Want to go into computer networking? Then it gets tricky. The graphic recommends that you study networking (preferably CCNA), have an analytical mind (for problem solving), have communication skills (for communicating with non-technical customers), and be able to read and understand reams of documentation (researching an answer is a valuable skill). Let's see, I have really good communication skills. I can simplify complex subjects for non-technical people to understand. For the analytical mind piece, I already worked as an intelligence analyst for the Army for almost nine years. All I need is that CCNA certification. Want to work in cyber security? Cisco recommends knowing how to use the Linux operating system, know about computer networking (again, CCNA), know how to program (Python), and have an analytical mind. In addition to computer networking, cyber security is also a field that interests me. For whatever reason, I cannot tell you why I never got around to studying for, say, CompTIA's Security+ certification for cyber security. Cisco also has its own cyber security certification. For Linux, I have played around with Ubuntu on a previous Dell laptop. When I had to buy a new Dell laptop back in November, I wanted to install either Debian or OpenSUSE. Unfortunately, my brand new Dell laptop doesn't have enough memory to do so. Currently, I am learining about computer networking. I have tried to learn how to program in Python on previous occasions. I need to try again, but make it my only focus. Lastly, for the analytical mind piece, I worked as an intelligence analyst for the Army.

In Conclusion

The graphic from Cisco gives me a guide on what to study for CCNA. That said, I also should get certified in Microsoft Windows Server and Microsoft Azure, for example. On their own, those two certifications will add punch to my resume. From what I have seen, those are the certifications that get noticed on a resume. There is always a demand for those certifications. When I complete my last CCST online course, I just might move over to studying Microsoft Windows Server and Azure. We'll see. Another possible option would be to find a location in Peoria, in Glendale, in Surprise, or in northern Phoenix that offers in-class learning for CCNA. With the new CCNA study guides coming out soon, that might be the way to go. On LinkedIn Learning, I found what appears to be a really good class on the Python programming language. I just might give that a try. Again, knowing how to program in Python is a good thing to have on your resume. Unfortunately, there are only so many hours in a day.

Working on My CCNA, Part 1...

   

     It's difficult to believe it, but I earned my CompTIA A+ certification three years ago.  Somehow, I managed to pass the 220-901A+ exam with a score in the high 80s.  After cramming for three months, I managed to pass the 220-902 A+ by the skin of my teeth. I'm not too sure where some people get the idea that the CompTIA A+ certification exams are easy.  I can only guess that the exams are easy if you have been working in information technology for several years or more.  When I passed the 220-902 A+ certification exam, I had already been working at the Tier 1 IT help desk at the Social Security Administration for over two years. One of the weaknesses of my current job is that we don't have any hands on experience with physically repairing a laptop with, say, a hard disk drive that needs to be replaced. We don't get to re-image laptops.  We don't get to create new users in Active Directory.  All of those tasks belong to different contracts. 

    After taking a couple of weeks off from studying, I thought that the next logical step was to start studying for CompTIA's Network + certification.  I then opened one of the Network+ study books that I own and began to work my way through the book.

    Talk about a mistake...

    I own at two books for studying for the CompTIA Network+ certification exam.  One book I received from the A+/Network+/Security+ course that I took at UMBC.  I bought the second Network+ book from Barnes & Noble.  After spending several months studying for Network+, I came to the realization that the Network+ certification is a complete mess. From what I could tell, in order to really know the topics for the Network+ exam, one needed to know how to use Microsoft's Active Directory and Server Manager. One of the Network+ books made numerous references to Microsoft's now defunct equivalent to WireShark. On top of all of that, the Network+ exam also covered the usual networking topics such as switches, routers, fiber optic cable, Ethernet cable, and IP sub-netting, among other topics.  Despite focusing exclusively on Cisco products , CompTIA wanted you to know that the Network+ certification was "vendor neutral".  I even paid several hundred dollars for the Network+ online tutorials offered by CompTIA.  Those tutorials were rather underwhelming.   

    After getting bogged down in studying for the Network+ certification exam, I decided to kick Network+ to the curb. 

    Since I was already bored with working at the Tier 1 help desk at the Social Security Administration, I started to look for an IT certification that could get me into a new IT position.

    I tried learning about Ubuntu Linux. I bought one of those glossy magazines at the bookstore that gives the reader a crash course in how to use Linux. I learned to how to install Ubuntu Linux on my Dell laptop. I learned how to use Oracle's Virtual Box. I learned several basic commands for Linux.  The subject was interesting. Unfortunately, I pushed learning Linux to the side because my current job doesn't use Linux. Everything that we do at the Tier 1 help desk at SSA involves using Windows. 

    I tried learning about WireShark. I downloaded WireShark onto my computer.  I bought the 500 page training book from Amazon. I worked through a couple of the introductory chapters.  Network analysis is an interesting subject. One thing that I liked about WireShark was that you could see the different OSI model layers in each packet.  You could actually see the OSI model at work by starting WireShark, play around on the internet for several minutes, and then stop saving traffic.  You could see the source address, the destination address, the port numbers used, the different protocols involved, and so on.  However, my knowledge of networking is very rudimentary.   

    I also tried working on the free online course Microsoft offers for Azure.  Cloud computing is an interesting field. Moreover, there's A LOT of demand for people who are certified in either Azure or Amazon's AWS.  Indeed, someone on LinkedIn, who had read about by struggles with studying for Network+, recommended that I get an IT certification that was in high demand, such as Azure or AWS.  I progressed to the part of the class where you setup your first Azure environment.  As started making progress, other things came along and dominated my time.  

    While studying for Network+, I came across Cisco's Packet Tracer program.  I tried taking the free online course offered by Cisco.  It was a surprisingly user-friendly program to use.  Since I don't have several hundreds of dollars to spend on used Cisco networking equipment from eBay, I liked how you could set up a simple network in Packet Tracer and then "see" it work. 

    I explored further into what Cisco offers for certifications and online training materials.  I went to Barnes & Noble and Book-A-Million and leafed through Cisco's own training manuals. I was impressed with everything that I saw.  I also liked how Cisco has its own version of CompTIA's Security+ certification.  Being a former intelligence analyst in Army, that captured my interest.  As a result, I went on to Amazon and bought both volumes of the CCNA 200-301 certification book by Cisco. 

    While reading the introduction to the first volume of the CCNA 200-301 book, I came across a passage that discussed career goal setting. That's probably the main problem I have.  I'm trying to figure out what my next step in the world of IT will be. After working as a Tier 1 help desk specialist for the Social Security Administration for nearly five years, I need something new.  I have had enough of dealing with callers that lost their PIV card, cannot connect to VPN, are locked out of the mainframe, need to order a new maintenance kit for a printer, trying to convince callers to purchase an Ethernet cable, and so on.  It's mind-numbing work.  As a result, a system administrator position sounds interesting. 

    So far, I have read the first three chapters of the first volume of the CCNA 200-301 book.  Yes, the information covered in the introductory chapters is a repeat. However, it is important to learn about the 5 Layer TCP/IP Model, the properties of Ethernet and fiber optic cables, the basics of IP routing, and so on.  However, I do think that I am starting to get bogged down on the introductory chapters, so it's probably time to move on to the next section of the book.  

    As a result, the other night I started reading chapter 4, where you learn about the basics of Cisco's operating system for routers and switches. As I progress through the first volume of the CCNA 200-301 certification book, I am going to try to post updates to my blog  as I progress.