Personal Technology Information

How To Become A True CCNA


I've worked my way from the CCNA to the CCIE, and along the way I've conducted job interviews and casual conversations with dozens of CCNAs and CCNA candidates. Believe me, people who "sneak by" the CCNA exam by braindumps, memorization, and never touching a router or switch are QUICKLY found out in job interviews and on the job.

The field will always need qualified CCNAs. The key word is "qualified". How can you make sure you're truly qualified? It's actually pretty simple.

1. Use routers and switches in your study, not simulators. Simulators are OK to start with, but when you're in the interview room and you're taken to the network room, that simulator's not going to be there. Real routers and switches are. With all due respect to the simulators on the market, they're not routers and switches. Don't fool yourself.

Attend a CCNA class that gets you plenty of time on real Cisco equipment. Used Cisco equipment is cheaper than ever. Look at it this way -- you can put together a true CCNA lab that you can also use for CCNP study for less than $1000. When you choose to sell it, you can get half of that back. A small investment like that pays huge dividends in your future.

2. Know binary math. Some leading CCNA books tell you to just memorize a chart to get by the exam. I wish I had a nickel for every CCNA that hasn't been able to solve a simple subnetting problem in a job interview. Someone who doesn't know binary math is not going to go far. Who's going to remember that chart they memorized for the exam six months ago?

3. Run plenty of "show" and "debug" commands when running labs. These are the commands that show you what's going on "behind the command". You need to know what is really happening when you put in a command when you get asked about it in an interview.

These three simple points separate the real CCNAs from the ones who got lucky or braindumped their way to success. By constructing a solid foundation of Cisco knowledge at the CCNA level, you build the bridgework for a lifetime of career success. You don't have to have a lot of job experience to get a CCNA job, but you do have to really understand the subject matter.

It worked for me. I went from the CCNA to the CCIE in this manner, and the habits I developed at the CCNA level followed me all the way to the top. It can happen for you, too!

Good luck!

About The Author

TheBryantAdvantage.com is owned and operated by Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933. He has worked his way from the CCNA to the CCIE, has interviewed dozens of CCNAs, and knows what makes the difference between someone who knows how to do the job and who doesn't. He teaches these skills to small groups of five students at a time with his custom-written Study Guide and Lab Workbook. By keeping the groups small, every student gets the attention they deserve. For CCNA and CCNP training at its finest, either in-person or over the Internet, visit him at http://www.thebryantadvantage.com today!

cbryant@thebryantadvantage.com


MORE RESOURCES:

06/01/2024
The Best Bookshelf Speakers to Blast Your Tunes
Soup up your sound with these active and passive speakers. We have picks for every budget.


more info


06/01/2024
How a Samsung Washing Machine Chime Triggered a YouTube Copyright Fiasco
When YouTube’s Content ID system goes wrong, it goes very, very wrong.


more info


06/01/2024
The Ticketmaster Data Breach May Be Just the Beginning
Data breaches at Ticketmaster and financial services company Santander have been linked to attacks against cloud provider Snowflake. Researchers fear more breaches will soon be uncovered.


more info


06/01/2024
These Are Our Favorite Smart Displays
Ever wish you could smash a tablet and smart speaker together? These devices offer the best of both.


more info


06/01/2024
Android Now Lets You Edit Text Messages
Plus: Spotify will refund owners of its discontinued Car Thing, Amazon gets FAA clearance for more drone deliveries, and we’re in love with the new Rafa Nadal watch collaboration.


more info


06/01/2024
Autocomplete Interview
Autocomplete Interview - Is Ice Cube a nice guy? Do astronauts really drink their own pee? Does Gerard Butler still surf? The internet searches for answers and WIRED goes right to the source for the answer.


more info


06/01/2024
Zombie Fire Season Is Here in the Arctic
Every year, peatlands in the Arctic suddenly ignite. Smoldering subterranean fires from the previous summer were thought to be to blame, but now modeling suggests a worrying new cause.


more info


06/01/2024
Who Wants to Have Children in a Warming World?
Jade Sasser’s new book focuses on the racial dimensions of eco-anxiety. Among her findings: Women of color are likelier to say climate change will make them have fewer children than they want.


more info


06/01/2024
Mysterious Hack Destroyed 600,000 Internet Routers
Plus: A whistleblower claims the Biden administration falsified a report on Gaza, “Operation Endgame” disrupts the botnet ecosystem, and more.


more info


06/01/2024
How to Make Café-Quality Espresso at Home
Making good espresso is hard, and it takes some trial and error. Here are some tips to get you started.


more info


05/31/2024
14 Great Deals From the Sony Days of Play Sale
From games to consoles to accessories, Sony PlayStation gear is heavily discounted through June 12.


more info


05/31/2024
Google's AI Overviews Will Always Be Broken. That's How AI Works
Google rushed out fixes after its AI search feature made errors that went viral. Fundamental limitations of generative AI mean that it will still screw up sometimes.


more info


05/31/2024
It's the AI Election Year
With over 60 countries holding elections in 2024, deepfakes and robocalls are being used to manipulate voters across the world. WIRED is tracking every instance of AI interference during this critical election year.


more info


05/31/2024
‘Animal Well’ Demonstrates What Gaming Stands to Lose Amid Indie Studio Closures
Shared Memory’s pixelated game “Animal Well” relies on players joining online communities to solve its puzzles. It’s also an indie gem that’s becoming all too rare as studios close.


more info


05/31/2024
Dyson's Hair Tools, the Airstrait and Airwrap, are $100 Off Right Now
Banish puff and frizz with these discounted flat irons and blow dryers—not just from Dyson.


more info


05/31/2024
The Daylight Tablet Returns Computing to Its Hippie Ideals
Anjan Katta thinks computers and the tech industry became too corporate and straitlaced—so he invented a tablet with a zippy monochrome screen that’s usable outdoors.


more info


05/31/2024
Gene-Edited Salad Greens Are Coming to US Stores This Fall
Biotech giant Bayer plans to distribute mustard greens that have been genetically altered to make them less bitter to grocery stores across the country.


more info


05/31/2024
Trump Campaign Claims $34.8 Million Windfall After Guilty Verdict
From small donors to rich Silicon Valley investors, Donald Trump enthusiasts signaled their support for the convicted felon by sending money to his campaign.


more info


05/31/2024
The Best Earplugs for Concerts, Bedtime, and Anytime
Whether you want to sleep through the party or rock out (safely) to your favorite band, these will help block out the noise.


more info


05/31/2024
The Best Organic Mattresses, Toppers, and Bedding
These nontoxic beds and bedsheets are easier on the environment and your health—and they feel like a dream.


more info


05/31/2024
How to Record Everything on Your Laptop Screen Without Microsoft Recall
These utilities for Windows 11 and macOS record all your desktop actions, giving you a searchable log. The apps work similarly to the still-in-preview Microsoft Recall, but they're available now.


more info


05/31/2024
Touch Controls on Stoves Suck. Knobs Are Way Better
Annoying, mistake-prone touch controls have become standard on induction stoves, but good old-fashioned knobs are far superior in the busy, messy kitchen. It’s high time we bring back the knob.


more info


05/31/2024
The Limits of the AI-Generated 'Eyes on Rafah' Image
The “All Eyes on Rafah” image went viral on social media this week, with over 47 million shares on Instagram alone. It's bringing up tough questions about the power of the visuals of war and AI.


more info


05/30/2024
Google Admits Its AI Overviews Search Feature Screwed Up
Liz Reid, Google’s head of search, said in a blog post that the company had made adjustments to its new AI search feature after screenshots of its errors went viral.


more info


05/30/2024
Trump’s Online MAGA Army Calls Guilty Verdict a Declaration of War
Trump supporters, fringe extremists, right-wing pundits, and politicians have all posted incendiary rhetoric, including some calls for “war,” following former president Donald Trump’s felony conviction.


more info



home | site map | contact us