To Recertify, or Not Recertify?

mckeefarley asks: "What is an out-of-work networking guy to do? Almost three years ago I worked for a systems integration company as a Senior Network Technician (with the help of an A+ cert). Two years and many certifications, later: "I am five months away from the expiration of my CCNP/DP and I question whether I should even spend the money to recertify." Would you spend the time and money to recertify, when every cent may count, and all of those pieces of paper still might not get you a job?

"The real fun and excitement was in the engineering department, and I was told the sure way in was to get my CCNA. Well I got my Sybex book, and with the help of our small lab (two Cisco routers and a catalyst switch) I received my CCNA with a [score over 90].

Thrilled as I was, the engineering department was taking some hits, and I couldn't get in. Instead of remaining stagnant I took it on myself to get my CCDA, which I got a month later. Engineering department still going down, me still wanting to rise, I looked for something else. At about this time my company was trying to get a contract working with Nortel routers and switches. 'This is my chance!', I proclaimed.

One and a half months later I was a NNCSS (Nortel Networks Certified Support Specialist), but then contract fell through. The engineering department was taking BIG hits (as was the rest of the networking industry), but I was determined. We only had one CCNP in the company, and my goal was set. With the help of the lab, and some determination, after three months I became a CCNP and CCDP.

Did I get in the engineering department?

Nope.

Did I give up?

Nope.

I got my CCIE study guide, and was all ready to rent time at a major Cisco lab at The University of Colorado, in Boulder (I am not even sure that they have this lab anymore). A month later there were two people left in the engineering department, and then was laid off.

After six months of unemployment checks and sending resumes, I gave up and decided to go back to school and do some independent consulting for some small businesses in the Denver metro area. Now, I am again looking for a full time job, and I am dealing with the same problems that I dealt with, two years ago.

I am happy to admit that all my hands on Cisco experience have not been in a production environment. I understand that the difference between the lab and the real stuff is huge. But the certs didn't, and still don't even get my foot in the door. My resume has been critiqued by many people, and is in tip-top shape. I do have experience on Gateways (Nomadix) and many switches (SMC) and have worked on some MDU engineering projects.

Any suggestions?"

Comments

I recertified last November

[puzzled]

My CCNP and CCDP came due last November. I recertified with eight hours to spare. I don't recall what I got on the monolithic recertification exam but I should have read the Catalyst QoS book first - the router sims are going to weed out anyone that doesn't do this stuff all the time.

The CCNP/CCDP has been a meal ticket for me since I got it. I get paid again on the 28th and I'm going to take the BSCI exam as the first step towards completing my Cisco Certified Internetwork Professional.

I *am* unemployed. I hang around the house in my bunny slippers and wait for my cell phone to ring. I'm in the 53rd largest metro area in the US and so far it has rung a little over $6,000 worth of work in 2004. I fully expect to crack the $60k mark this year and I'm going to work about 800 hours to do that. Given the benefits of getting my money pretax I have a full time job pay wise and I'm only there forty percent of the time.

Oh, I should mention I do have the ideal complement skill for Cisco wizard - I am a BSD ninja, too. As a long time slashdot reader I realize that BSD is fragmented and dying :-) But it is a very lively corpse here and it continues to require my attention.

A CS degree is no longer operative

[ciggieposeur]

Yup, I've already got a CS degree and just got laid off from IBM. Now I'm in school again for Chemical Engineering.

Truth is CS is never going to grow up in this country. I spent five years inside IBM and can say with confidence that IBM isn't going anywhere with real computer science (the software stuff I mean). They solved some hard problems twenty years ago with high-performance computing and data storage, and now they're just milking existing revenue streams and selling products solely on marketing hype. Reducing development costs by moving software development and testing to India and Poland. To be fair the Indian developers are very good. It's just IBM isn't in the business of innovating software anymore.

I would suggest that if anyone is still more than two years away from graduation, switch immediately to another major. Or plan on leaving the USA to have a viable career.

Re:If you don't have a C/S degree, get one

[Paracelcus]

Buuuuuullllssshhhiiit!!

Iv'e got one (since 1973) and have been out of work for two years! I'm/was an NT 4.0 MCSE and have held OS/2 and Novell Certs in the past.

If you have a job, count your blessings and hold your breath. If you don't have a job, good luck! you'll need it!

And if you want to flame me and brag about all the job offers etc. that you've been turning down, then you are obviously a kid and are not even looking.