A Newly Minted CCIE Success Storyby Eman |
This week has been great as far as weeks go for a recruiter, but as a career agent though it was a typical week for me. To give you a little insight on how things work let me share some of the timelines.
In July 2009 I was contacted by a newly minted CCIE with very little experience:
I asked for a resume from him so I could speak with him;
> I need to speak with you. Please send a resume and make time for a
> Skype call so we can discuss. My Skype ID is CCIEAGENT.
>
> I will be happy to share what I know.
>
> Thanks
Followed by:
Thanks Eman for your prompt response, pls find my cv attached, I am creating Skype account right away
It was several calls and emails and IMs before I was able to locate an opportunity for a new CCIE with 6 months of experience. Then I was contacted about a Cisco HR Talent Forum in Nigeria near where this CCIE lives. I realized that since there is a big push in the emerging markets by channels and Cisco this CCIE might have a chance to use his number and his skills to get a shot at a job. There are 33 CCIEs in Nigeria and the demand there for CCIEs has remained high. So when Brooke Ellingworth one of most favorite people in the Cisco SRS Talent Program asked me if I could help with some candidates for the HR Talent forum in Nigeria I was ecstatic. Of course M (CCIE Agent Girl Friday) jumped at the chance to get some of our locals to the event. So on Tuesday October 6, 2009 we had a couple of our CCIE network members join the Channels and interview there. On Thursday October 8, 2009 we got his offer and then on Monday October 12, 2009 he starts his first day on the job.
HI Emily and Eman ,
Thanks a lot . i was so excited as i read the offer letter , wow it has finally come .
I am going to write the best referral possible.
I look forward to continue this relationship that we have built , for any future employment there is only one place to head to and that is CCIE Agent.
Pete has been a CCIE for most of 2009 his experience is limited to a few projects but nothing really extensive or deep. But he had one thing a lot of folks don’t have. He has his CCIE digits!
What was it like being a CCIE out of work in Nigeria and looking at bleak options? Well I decided to put this one on the spot and interview him for you.
Q: Peter you are so young just 21 years old. I have shoes older than you! When did you make the decision to become an IT professional?
A: I made the decision to be an IT professional about four years ago during the second year of my undergraduate degree in Computer Engineering.
Q: The decision to pursue your CCIE did not come lightly I am sure. The lack of real mentors in Nigeria might have been a problem. Was it a problem or did you find a CCIE to mentor you?
A: I had friends who wanted to be CCIEs , so we mentored each other and motivated each other during the hard times of the CCIE journey.
Q: Step me through this. You decided to go for it then what? How did you get started, what study materials, boot camps, and how many attempts?
A: I started with the CCNA and CCNP certifications then i decided to join the elite club of experts. I started by reading the most of the Cisco recommended texts to have a thorough understanding of the topics covered in the Lab , then i used Internetwork Expert Vol 1,2,3 workbooks on their Online Racks and Dynamips to get some hands on experience , as the lab drew closer i spent a lot of time on the Cisco Documentation CD. I never did any bootcamp and i passed on my first attempt . The principle i use for all my certifications comes from a Lewin quote “There is nothing more practical as a good theory” .
Q: So why did you reach out to me to help?
A: I got a recommendation from a notable CCIE in an email(Scott Morris) and i also discovered that you were the only Agent out there that was truly commited to the placement and success of CCIEs and this showed in the articles found on CCIE flyer .
Q: Ok, Ok it’s easy to make me blush so stop it. More important to me is the approach you took against all odds. You were listening to someone somewhere tell you that becoming a CCIE would open doors. So when you did get it and you went so long without a job were you thinking you made a mistake?
A: I got my CCIE March 2009, i thought i made a mistake sometimes but most times i knew something good will come up because God saves the best for the last and indeed i got the kind of job i desired , my hopes were raised even more when i came across CCIE Agent.
Q: It was a long tough time and I felt your pain as we looked for a role for you. I could never imagine that as a recruiter in Delaware I would help an IT professional in Africa get a good job. As the CCIE Agent I have been especially happy that I have been able to help so many with their careers. What is your next goal now that you have a good job?
A: My next goal to become a better and versatile engineer and also to carve a niche for myself in the industry both locally and internationally as the consultant of choice for computer networking solutions and ill start by getting the CCIE Service Provider certification.
Q: Do you have any advice for our readers who are embarking upon their journeys and who might be on hard times?
A : My advice is encapsulated in a Winston Churchill quote “ never ever ever ever ever give up “.
Q: Do you read the CCIE Flyer?
A: Yes
Q: What do you think of it?
A: It is an excellent online magazine, the information found in it is very valuable and a must read for CCIEs and CCIEs to be.
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