N Is For Networking N4N020: To Cert Or Not To Cert?
Apr 3, 2025
In this discussion, hosts dive into the value of certifications in the networking field. They explore whether certifications truly aid in landing jobs and their real-world applicability. Hands-on experience is emphasized as vital, with lab work encouraged to deepen understanding. The differing perspectives on certification levels and their employer perceptions are analyzed. They also touch on financing options for certifications and the challenges of remote testing, ultimately reinforcing the need for a balance between certs and practical experience.
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Expert Certs Open Unique Doors
- Expert-level certs (CCIE/JNCIE) are rare and historically highly respected due to difficulty.
- Their scarcity can open doors that lower-level certs often cannot.
Clarify Why You Want A Cert
- Before pursuing a cert, ask why you're getting it and what career benefit you expect.
- Avoid collecting certs solely for labels; target ones that build useful knowledge or opportunities.
Certs Enabled Ethan's Early Career
- Ethan used Novell and Microsoft certs early to gain consulting opportunities he otherwise couldn't access.
- Those certs let him recommend, build, and support real customer environments early in his career.