Does the Job Market Push Us Towards Multiple-CCxP?
By wendell on Mon, 01/19/09 - 8:05am.
Anyone who's thinking of going past CCNA, or even past CCENT today, has to think about what the next best cert should be. I even toyed with this idea relative to the new CCNA's when they came out last summer: will there ever be a day that a quadruple CCNA be as valued as a uni-CCxP?
I could pose the same question - probably with a more substantive comparison than with CCNA/CCxP - for getting multiple CCxP's versus a single CCIE. Or more appropriately, getting and maintaining the skills associated with those exams, because it's the skills that matter.
But in keeping with this thread about the job market, and desirability of Cisco certs, I'm going to put a couple of slants on today's questions: When you've planned for 2009, did you change from pursuing CCIE to instead pursuing multiple CCxP's? Or vice-versa? Or consider changing paths, but not change? What I'm driving at is whether there's been movement in this area, and if so, if it's related to the job market. That's hard to collect in a survey, so feel free to comment on why.
The other question that comes to mind when comparing these options is whether a multiple-CCxP has the same perceived job-loss target on his head as does a CCIE? That's not to say that all CCIEs are at risk - I'm just expanding the same point as the last post, which seemed to be supported by our informal survey, that CCIEs (with higher salary) are at more risk in this economy. Does someone with multiple CCxP's - and with the skills implied by those certs - achieve the same level of job-loss risk? And how many such CCxP's before you reach that level of risk?
Let me know your thoughts. Thanks...
- About Cisco Cert Zone
Odom, CCIE No, 1624, splits time between writing books for Cisco Press and teaching classes for Skyline ATS. In his 25-ish years in the networking industry, he has worked as as a pre-sale and post-sale SE for a few networking vendors, as well as a network engineer implementing network technology. Wendell has spent the majority of the last 15 years teaching, consulting, and writing about networking technologies, most of which in some way relate to Cisco products. His books include titles on QoS, CCIE R/S, as well as several titles related to CCNA certification, including the September 2007 book CCNA Official Exam Certification Library (CCNA Exam 640-802) (Read a sneak peek of chapter 7). Click for the list of current titles by Wendell.
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CCNA to CCxP to CCIE is the way to go "my friends"
I've always felt the natural and correct path to CCIE is CCNA to CCxP to CCIE. This builds the candidate up from the bottom, also giving time to absorb and apply the skills on the way.
FIRST FEEL CONNECTED
Hi
Agree with the above comment ....yo need to feel connected with the Cisco path yo choose , i mean CCNA-CCXP way up to CCIE THAT IS CONFIDENCE AND MATURITY ON THE FIELD . then i dont mind to discover CCXP'S As technology moves on .
Cheers
Just like the survey...
I concur with the thought, and found it interesting that the survey backs up your opinion as well - only a few of those responding have broken from their original plan (CCIE or multiple CCxP). Thanks...
Wendell
need to be well rounded
i know some CCIEs that are very, very good at r/s but not much else. if you've got someone who really understands r/s, voip and security at the professional level then they are more valuable to more organizations than a ccie who only knows r/s , imho. i think the best way to maintain job security is to be well rounded and able to take on a critical role on a variety of projects.
Agree!
J,
I agree completely. It's hard to quantify that when asking my little surveys, without expounding at length - and if I get started, it's hard to limit the length. But I agree, CCIE R/S that's just that, and only that, versus a well rounded CCNP, may be more at risk for job loss because of that lack of breadth.
Thanks for the comment...
Multiple
I am one for diversity in the certifications, for one it increases your value to the company. Gives you a total picture of the environment you are working in and allows for more interesting conversations at project time.
An example I am an experienced professional with MCDBA, MCSA, CCNA and now pursuing the CCSP along with incident handling and forensics expertise. This has allowed me to save my employer several millions in expenditures and outsourcing since I work with a very professional group of engineers.
That said it helps to at least have an AAS in business as more and more it is critical that you understand business and the impact of your technology decisions. As for CCIE love it and would one day achieve it not at this time since the time necessary is not in my hands right now.
Good Luck
Multiple
I am one for diversity in the certifications, for one it increases your value to the company. Gives you a total picture of the environment you are working in and allows for more interesting conversations at project time.
An example I am an experienced professional with MCDBA, MCSA, CCNA and now pursuing the CCSP along with incident handling and forensics expertise. This has allowed me to save my employer several millions in expenditures and outsourcing since I work with a very professional group of engineers.
That said it helps to at least have an AAS in business as more and more it is critical that you understand business and the impact of your technology decisions. As for CCIE love it and would one day achieve it not at this time since the time necessary is not in my hands right now.
Good Luck
If you've got someone who
If you've got someone who really understands r/s, voip and security at the professional level then they are more valuable to more organizations than a ccie who only knows r/s , imho. club penguin
CCNX
Hi I think is good to start from bottom to top with the CCNA and follow Cisco path to CCNP but if you have CCNA Security , CCNA wireles and security experience you are a very valuable person for your company and the company cannot risk to lost this type of employees.
But you cannot forget to include other technologies like Checkpoint and Microsoft security all them together are a bomb in your resume.