Obtaining various Cisco certificates can help you stand out when it comes to getting a promotion at work or seeking a new career in the technology industry. The Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) is the most prestigious certification in the industry. It offers five levels of certification: Entry-Level, Associate, Professional, Expert, and Architect. There are also special certifications that are industry-specific.
There’s a lot of steps to achieving a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA). Once you earned the entry-level certification, you can start learning the more advanced programs. It is a good idea to find and utilize some CCNA training before diving into the exam. After you pass and earn your certification, you can consider other specialist exams within your industry or another industry. For instance, you may want to want to become a Network Administrator or Software Developer.
There’s no denying that continuing education is an essential step to achieving your goals and enhancing your skills. Whether you’re starting out or returning to build upon your skills, pursuing Cisco certification can get you started. Here are some reasons why you should pursue a Cisco certification.
Gain Knowledge
This is an obvious reason. Whether you pursue CCNA training or CCNP training, you’ll get the skills and knowledge that you can apply to your job. For example, with Cisco certificates, you’ll learn how to configure, diagnose, install, and troubleshoot networks. A CCNA certification can lead you to obtain a CCNP certification. You’ll seek more certifications as you increase your knowledge.
The knowledge is not only practical, but it’s also factual. The information that you learn will be beneficial to your current job and where you want to go. Just because you gained an expert-level certification doesn’t mean you should stop there. Association certifications, primary certifications, and industry-specific certifications can help you build your skills.
Enhance Your kills
When you study various IT or Cisco-related certificates, you’ll learn more than just how to configure networks or how to troubleshoot common problems. You’ll also some valuable skills that you can use to advance your career.
These skills include communication, critical thinking, customer service, teamwork, and problem solving. Each of these skills will add value to your current position and organization. These skills can also give you the experience you need to take that next step to achieving your goals.
Demonstrate Strong Work Ethic
Pursuing a Cisco certification in addition to working your regular job won’t be easy at first. You’ll find it hard to juggle both. It takes a lot of hard work and determination to achieve a Cisco certification. Accomplishing this big feat will demonstrate a strong work ethic to your organization and your managers.
Current supervisors and potential employers love to see it when individuals continue to pursue education. When that person has the drive and ambition to expand their knowledge, it shows they’ll be able to add value to the company. Demonstrating a strong work ethic to pursuing your goals gives the organization hope that you want to be successful in your work environment.
Boost Your Self-Confidence
When you earn a Cisco certification, your self-confidence gets boost. You earned the skills, knowledge, and experience you need to improve your career and overall lifestyle. You feel comfortable about using those skills in your current job. By gaining skills in communication and problem solving and reaching your goals, you can increase your self-confidence.
A study from the University of Melbourne found that there’s a parallel between success and confidence. Participants ranked their confidence levels with each education level. The study found that those who had higher confidence levels received higher wages and job promotions.
Grow Your Social Network
You’ll have the opportunity to network with fellow and former students from a wide variety of work environments. Being exposed to this professional network through continuing education will allow you to network in order to advance your career. When you earn a Cisco certification, your network can provide you with a world of information as you advance your career.
To achieve a career in the technology industry, you should do the work to sharpen your skills, gain new skills, and grow a network that will help you flourish in your field. Whether you’re a entry-level employee or a manager, IT training can take you to that next step.