Cisco CCNA | Career Advice | How to Get Started in Networking

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From left to right, CBT Nuggets trainers Kelvin Tran, Knox Hutchinson, Keith Barker, and Jeff Kish discuss how they got their start in IT, career advice, mistakes made on the job (and what they learned), and more.
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[@neverhomepnw]

All of you have inspired me to keep pushing. There was so many times I wanted to give up or I felt Im not meant to be an engineer but your words are motivating. I just landed my first network engineer position from a long path of climbing the ladder and no degree. Now I have my CCNA in a few weeks. I am looking forward to crushing it :)

[@Robdoodle]

Wow network engineer without CCNA ? You must’ve had some good hard skills and job experience to manage that 🎉

[@ashelyclixon6456]

Kudos to you brother! As i am learning for ccna for past month i feel demotivate in-betweens like is it worth it to do, i like networking but watching how competition is growing so much makes me anxious.

[@diaz8712]

Keith, you're my IT hero.

[@jagsheer]

Really liked this format and great to see the trainers

[@savageorge5603]

Very inspiring talk! The final conclusion I reached from all of you was to slow the pace and make sure that I truly understood what I learned.

[@AtrachewJemberie]

Just got my CCNA a week ago. This was very on point and real advice on the networking world. Great content.

[@JerseyJeff84]

How hard was the exam? I have been an IT Support tech for a few years and want to upskill, but am beyond intimidated by the CCNA.

[@theainsec7041]

The guy in blue spitting facts and my reality, taking it real slow every day and appreciating it more.

[@dnatech4477]

Mr. Jeff Kish

[@lifenotatwork]

Love these chats.

[@JonathanB00K3R]

Need more of these!

[@KnowledgeMutitsveAKIP]

Thank you. I am preparing for my first CCNA. Taking the exam in January.

[@joejoe2452]

Update?

[@joejoe2452]

Did you pass?

[@devinneal7510]

Good mix y’all keep it up💪🏾💯

[@supremerunning]

great format

[@johnmclaughlin9674]

Great video great advice very real

[@Odim65]

Keith!!! The man!

[@blo0m1985]

great video

[@thegolfingtrucker850]

I have an Associates in Information Technology, plus an A+, Security+, CCNA & more.. I know they don’t guarantee me a job, because I don’t have a job in tech yet (trying to become at least a junior network engineer)… I got the certs because employers request them. Certs also show companies that I have a certain level of knowledge. I would like to see these guys go door to door volunteering their IT services. I promise - it’s not as easy as it sounds.

[@tedlessor3887]

I think they know what they are talking. They never said go door to door 😂. You got the certs so you need to start or continue to do projects.

[@DanielRu-n4m]

Do help desk, anything get your foot in the door. Are you in a metro area?

[@RFUQUA26]

I would suggest taking some contract roles I have no college and got a job with just the A+ as a very underpaid contractor and eventually got hired on with the hospital as an Information Services Senior and my pay almost doubled that was 3 years ago. I recently had an interview as a network engineer and find out if I got the job in the next few weeks. Current have the trifecta Comptia certs. Take a contract role!

[@satekhi2349]

I wish some companies would see this.

[@SApcGUY]

Keith Barker definitely goes to Burning Man -what a legend

[@ollababasijibomi2832]

Can we get this every week 😔

[@ahmedazzouz4584]

22:32 Kelvin Tran unintentionally pulling a Kevin Hart 😂

[@kelvintechie]

I promise you I meant it to them as a compliment 🤣

[@ahmedazzouz4584]

@@kelvintechie I know I know but it was funny

[@Niggro07]

Keith Barker is such a gem

[@ruvimkiforishin2345]

If you do the things outside of work, the work will pay off

[@Tooqwikman]

I just accepted a job offer at my first help desk technician position with no certs. Had I not watched videos telling me “apply before getting the certs” I’d still be strictly studying waiting to apply after I passed. I have 8 years as a slot technician, but putting I was working towards my A+ and my CCNA got their attention and they even worded it to me as “you have some networking experience” even though I haven’t passed it. It was enough to get me an interview then I sold myself, talked about my home labs etc. Yes certs help get a job, but don’t wait to get them to apply if you feel you’re ready.

[@Robdoodle]

What home labs did you mention ?

[@Tooqwikman]

@ they were just theory labs at the time. I had mentioned I was setting my old PC up to run my own dedicated cs 1.6 server. 5 of the 6 interviewing me all played games on their own time so that probably helps. It’s not really a homelab, but had mentioned I was designing a game in Godot for my girlfriend’s son for Christmas too.

[@ashelyclixon6456]

Like from where to start with if you really want to volunteer like some local internet firm ?

[@KibetBr]

Hi guys! Would love to be a Network admin and already started with CCNA. But was wondering if there's any programming language someone should learn. Anyone advise

[@bryanb30]

12:21 Who needs a volunteer? So many artificial barriers it seems like today.

[@NetworksPath]

Love you All However missing Jeremy.....

[@tahersadeghi6773]

Hey bro, what do you mean a certification doesn't mean anything? Please tell the Cisco people that.

[@harry8912]

As a Senior in college with no networking experience, what types of projects do you guys recommend? I’m a security dude but know very well how important a Networking background is in it. Thanks! Btw I have Sec+ exam coming in 2 weeks and Net+ in 3 months.

[@cheesybeast1721]

Packet tracer labs are nice

[@majiddehbi9186]

hi guys nice to see u all, but some are missing david bombla, kevin wallace, jeremy it labs ans the last lazzurus teecomtech

[@amochswohntet99]

a bank! 😂

[@DavidMaynardClark]

The certification does not guarantee anything! Are you serious?😳 Literally?😳. But I got to show employers that I have experience, internships, be the helper of the lazy infraestructure tech, show that I could fly for the job, and show that I fly with acrobatics stunts. And you're asking us, why no one wants to substitute your positions? 😳. 😳. As if the certification was based in the Sunday Girls water volleyball sports results! 😳. 😳.