ARE YOU READY TO GO TO WORK?
by Eman
I have been tied to the global economy as a recruiter for a couple of years now. Recruiting CCIEs as a specialty requires that I remain open to international currencies, cultures, customs and fluctuations in the economies of many countries. The customs and cultures are my favorite part of this effort I have lead to support CCIEs and their careers in a market fraught with legends and lies; sorting it out is a part of what I do daily. When I am asked to comment on what I know about CCIE salaries, job markets and areas of technical competencies I like to start with asking the individual what are they doing now. “Are you ready to go to work?” You see your investment in yourself should not change drastically in the rush to enter the areas of the highest demand.
Back in the 1849 James W. Marshal discovered gold while building a sawmill along the American River near Sacramento, California, a legend was born from this event that caused a nation to surge into uncharted territories in the United States. Several times in the history of IT events similar to 49’ers gold rush have caused young forward thinking professionals to change their career focus or geographies and to rush headlong into something new. When the New York Herald printed the news of the gold find in 1849 the stampede west was nearly unstoppable.
OK! I hear the crickets again. “Eman what the heck are you talking about?”
I am trying, in my own simple minded way, to explain that many folks have invested wisely in a career track in IT. This is a great place to be. But when you ask me what you should be concentrating on, I reply; “What will get you a paycheck the quickest?” Take that investment and capitalize on it so you can focus on guiding your IT career to the next milestone. Don’t be in such a rush that you could make a bad move or decision.
ARE YOU READY TO GO TO WORK?
I was recently involved in two events which made it clear to me that young people in their concern over their abilities to earn a living in the future are listening to advice. WOW. When I was a kid I did not listen to anyone. So I am impressed by the maturity they show now in adapting this advice to their goals. The rollout of the Cisco Network Academy at Padua Academy and my trip to Cairo and their established Network Academy program brought me face to face with numerous young people from diverse backgrounds and cultures in short order. In a three week period I spoke with literally hundreds of young people. The impression I have is that many youth have two basic attitudes about the future and their investment of time and money.
Instant gratification or investment.
Like those who decided to join the Gold Rush of 1849 there were many who chose their own routes to their IT career goals. Some of the 49ers even changed their entire strategies while passing the months it took to cross the country. Some simply stopped and staked out farms instead of continuing with the dream of becoming rich quickly. There were others who chose to sail around the tip of South America and others who chose to sail through Panama. Their goals were the same to strike it rich in California but their routes were different and some even very risky. What risks should you be willing to take?
Well let me tell you about the Donners. A group of people so caught up in the fever to make it to the Promised Land that they became stranded in a blizzard in the Sierra Nevada mountains. After days of extreme cold and horrible conditions they resorted to killing and eating their Oxen. Oxen are real big animals but they were also their only means of hauling all their goods in their wagons across the mountains. When the oxen were gone the 87 people were once again starving and dying of frost bite. So a brave group of 15 struck out on their own for a wilderness fort 100 miles away. On that trek conditions remained bad and the survivors who did reach the fort told tales of cannibalism and extreme suffering. From their journey for rescue. Those remaining in the camp eventually resorted to cannibalism as well and it to the work of four rescue parties to extract the remaining survivors at the camp to safety.
While I don’t know of any CCIEs who have resorted to cannibalism to achieve their certification goals but I do know that many have suffered. Many have sacrificed time, money and family for the goal of becoming a CCIE. Every two years the recertification test brings back bad memories of the original journey and many CCIEs are happy the written is required and not the lab each time. But if you select the CCIE Voice track and you have not been equipped with the expertise and skills only experience provides you could find yourself in a “Donner moment!”
Recently, I have witnessed a rise in the demand for CCVPs and this is a track I recommend. You can become a CCVP with training. You cannot however become a CCIE Voice as easily. The fact that there are only about nine hundred CCIE Voice certified professionals in the world attests to the difficulty in passing that lab. The folks best equipped to pass the CCIE Voice lab are those professionals who live telecommunications and data-communications to a scientific level. Heck I cannot even pretend to know what it takes but I do know it is experience not books that get one passed that lab. So I recommend pursuing SP, R&S or Security, with the addition of a CCVP. That certification will often help get you on the right projects that can help gain the expertise for the CCIE Voice. Do you really need it? No. Being a CCIE Voice and having a CCIE R&S with voice experience will get you the same job. So don’t repeating the mistake the Donner Party did and be left to eat your family or friends. The voice track is hard and could surely lead to a burden you may become over taxed by. I recommend the CCVP as a great certification to add.
A CCNA or CCNP right out of the Cisco Network Academy should consider their options. Does the skill you have now with the addition of the certification open the door to a better job? Use what you have now to grow professionally. If the answer is you don’t have a job and the outlook is bleak then CCVP might improve the outlook. Unified Communications is all the rage and many companies in many regions need Call Center Manager support those people who support IP Telephony. I think that the demand for CCVP skills is strong and growing stronger. The lack of CCIE Voice certified professionals opened the doors for CCVPs.
There is a Channel Partner category for Unified Communications and their target is to hire CCVPs to obtain that recognition. So don’t be left out of this gold rush and don’t over extend yourself. A great career track that will enhance your goal to become a CCIE is the CCVP.
Remember the steak sauce if you must become a cannibal!
Now get back to work damn it!
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