Are there any commercial pilots that also were in the Network (computer) field that can compare studying and achieving their MCSE or Cisco certification vs. the effort involved in pursuing a career in aviation. I'm studying for some microsoft exams here and the greater majority of questions that are in the exams you can't find in the books. I wouldn't have a chance in hell passing one of these exams if I just read a couple of books that are given from their academies (nor would I have a good chance of passing if I had some decent hands on application). You either have to scour the web hours upon hours to find some answers to questions they might ask -or- you have been working in the field with this software for quite some time. I can't imagine a pilot studying aviation related material, prep'ing for exams (certifications), having to scour the web because exam questions don't come from the book. Can anyone that has had this experience shed light? I suspect that everything you need to know is provided to you since what you know could save your and others lives, whereas the computer industry if something breaks, big deal. I studied for my PPL and passed my exam and I didn't have to scour the web for possible questions. I knew the material, had the books that were supplied, attended grounds school and I passed. The same is absolutely not true of any computer industry exam that I know of. Anyone with experience here? Please chime in, I'd like to hear it.
MCSE/Cisco vs. Pilot
- Thread starter airman
- Start date
Sprint100
Well-Known Member
I have my CCNA and that was 100% harder than studying for the PPL exam. I heard the other tests beyond the PPL are harder but I can't imagine them being harder than any MS or Cisco test. At least with the pilot tests you have the Gleim and you can memorize answers, but alot of the questions for my CCNA were situation based.
Sprint100
Well-Known Member
From people I know either taking the commercial or have taken the commercial they say that was the hardest because it involved knowing alot of systems. I don't know about the accuracy of those statements but hey they took it and I'm not even close:laff:
killbilly
Vocals, Lyrics, Triangle, Washboard, Kittens
The Cisco exams for even the most basic level are composed by sadists of the worst order. I have never, ever studied anything that made me feel so monumentally stupid as Cisco certs. The labs you do in Cisco training are insane. However- you have to keep in mind that they want you to use Cisco-only solutions - there are often other ways to solve the problem.
The CCIE or CCSP are the two hardest, from what I hear, but they also make you automagically worth high-five-to-six figures, easily. In my field, they're not so important, but I can see hardcore data network jockeys needing it.
Food for thought....
CoffeeIcePapers
Well-Hung Member
A monkey can learn the written exams. You have all of the questions before hand.
killbilly
Vocals, Lyrics, Triangle, Washboard, Kittens
For FAA or Cisco exams? I've used a few Cisco study guides, and then taking practice tests, had only a small percentage of the questions I'd studied.
That being said, I still stand by the lab exercises. Those were the toughest.
Chewie von Nubbins
New Member
I think mojo is referring to the FAA exams. He is a computer nerd like us, but I don't think he has any of the Cisco exams.
Figure I'll throw my .02 into the mix here too. I hold a CCNP, Sun Solaris System Administration Cert, and several others related to network management. The Cisco exams are hard for a reason. The idea is that when you achieve the cert, they want you to be able to walk into any job that is running a Cisco environment and be able to log into a router and start making changes and be trained up and able to at least have learned the smarts in order to figure out the network that you will be supporting without having a million questions. Sure, you are not gonna ever be able to walk in the door on Monday and be able to contribute like someone that has been supporting said network for any period of time, but your baseline of knowledge is what Cisco is saying that you are competent enough in doing. They make their certs hard so they are respected in the industry. And of all of the computer certs out there on the market, the Cisco certs are probably one of the most respected.
However, a certification is really nothing more than resume candy. Of the list of possible candidates competing for a job, certifications are a nice way to make sure that your resume goes into the pile of resumes that will be considered for a position. Don't get me wrong...you do learn a heck of a lot about the technology that you are getting the certification in, but a certification alone will never substitute experience. So, don't let that misconception cloud your mind. Some people think that just because you get a certification in a particular technology that they will automatically leap-frog over people already doing the job out in the field and do not have the certification. That is a probably the biggest complaint that I have when I have interviewed junior people for a job. Don't fall into that trapful thinking.
My personal opinion...stay as far away from the MCSE'ish Microsoft certs and technology as possible. I purposely did this when I first got into the industry in the 90's and it was the best decision that I could have made. Although you will still need an OS to support, I would look towards the UNIX/Linux path instead of the Microsoft path for the OS box checkmark. Why? The Microsoft guys are a dime a dozen and finding them and paying them rock bottom salaries is the norm. Entry level salaries for UNIX/Linux positions start where the Microsoft (MCSE) guy finally gets to within 3-4 years, most of the time.
Good luck in your quest.
Figure I'll throw my .02 into the mix here too. I hold a CCNP, Sun Solaris System Administration Cert, and several others related to network management. The Cisco exams are hard for a reason. The idea is that when you achieve the cert, they want you to be able to walk into any job that is running a Cisco environment and be able to log into a router and start making changes and be trained up and able to at least have learned the smarts in order to figure out the network that you will be supporting without having a million questions. Sure, you are not gonna ever be able to walk in the door on Monday and be able to contribute like someone that has been supporting said network for any period of time, but your baseline of knowledge is what Cisco is saying that you are competent enough in doing. They make their certs hard so they are respected in the industry. And of all of the computer certs out there on the market, the Cisco certs are probably one of the most respected.
However, a certification is really nothing more than resume candy. Of the list of possible candidates competing for a job, certifications are a nice way to make sure that your resume goes into the pile of resumes that will be considered for a position. Don't get me wrong...you do learn a heck of a lot about the technology that you are getting the certification in, but a certification alone will never substitute experience. So, don't let that misconception cloud your mind. Some people think that just because you get a certification in a particular technology that they will automatically leap-frog over people already doing the job out in the field and do not have the certification. That is a probably the biggest complaint that I have when I have interviewed junior people for a job. Don't fall into that trapful thinking.
My personal opinion...stay as far away from the MCSE'ish Microsoft certs and technology as possible. I purposely did this when I first got into the industry in the 90's and it was the best decision that I could have made. Although you will still need an OS to support, I would look towards the UNIX/Linux path instead of the Microsoft path for the OS box checkmark. Why? The Microsoft guys are a dime a dozen and finding them and paying them rock bottom salaries is the norm. Entry level salaries for UNIX/Linux positions start where the Microsoft (MCSE) guy finally gets to within 3-4 years, most of the time.
Good luck in your quest.
killbilly
Vocals, Lyrics, Triangle, Washboard, Kittens
Wondered when you were going to chime in on this.
This is absolutely true. I should have clarified in my earlier post - assuming you have the rest of the skills in place and interview well, you're looking at a higher baseline salary for the job vs. entry level Network Ninja.
I've been told by a number of network professionals that in terms of practical (and practicable) network knowledge, the Network Plus certifications were actually better to have, because they weren't Cisco-centric and dealt with networking at a problem-solving level, rather than a problem-solving-with-Cisco level, you know?
Also agreed. I've got about half the sales force I work with has MCSE certs and it hasn't done them a lot of good. I wouldn't trust them beyond using "IPCONFIG" at a DOS prompt.
True, but depends on what you're doing. Right now, we're attracted to guys who understand, thoroughly, issues with VPN, QoS and VoIP more than anything, but we're a voice company.
If I was gonna go back and do it again, I'd turn myself into a Linux Ninja simply because that gives you a lot more options in the IT world for telecom, data networking, and back-end web environments, server-colo farms, and a bunch of other things.
Plus, you can turn an X-box or a Linksys router into a phone system if you're feeling particularly saucy.
CoffeeIcePapers
Well-Hung Member
Yeah, I was referring to the FAA ones. I don't have any IT certs, I never needed them for "resume candy".