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His first Cisco certification was CCNA, then he attained his CCNP in late 2001. This past December Cisco Systems announced the latest course program, the CCIE Assessor Lab for Routing and Switching, the first CCIE practice lab and assessment offered by Cisco. With CCIE Assessor Lab, candidates can assess their strengths and weaknesses and improve exam readiness using Cisco equipment and lab scenarios-all from their own desktop. Cisco offers three levels of general certification: Associate, Professional and Expert in various tracks such as Routing and Switching, Network Security and Service Provider. A variety of Cisco Specialist focused certifications are also available to show knowledge in specific technologies, solutions or job roles. "After my first Cisco certification I really had a clear idea it was what I wanted to do as I enjoy configuring routers and working with programming. Much more fun than the point-and-click of working in Windows boxes." Late in 2003 Crocker began sending his resume out looking for a network engineer position. He posted it online and also scouted out local companies as he wanted to stay in the immediate area. His big job search hurdle, however, was that many companies and contractors in the Norfolk, Virginia area wanted engineers with government security clearance, an expensive proposition for individual to accomplish. Security clearance is typically a mandate for contractors working on government projects. But Crocker lucked out after just a few short months on the job hunt, thanks to contacts he made while attending the Cisco Academy. A former classmate recommended him for a job at Multimax, which was then called WAM!NET. Multimax is a provider of enterprise IT services and solutions focused on the Federal, state and local government markets. Headquartered outside Washington, DC, the company has operations across the United States The initial interview with Multimax was a 45-minute phone discussion with the IT manager that focused on technical topics and technologies. "There were lots of questions about switching and routing to see if I had the skills they needed," says Crocker, adding that the questions became progressively harder to the point where he couldn't answer some. "There is stuff I'm unfamiliar with but I was offered the job right then and I said yes," he recalls. That was March, 2004 and he's been moving upward career-wise ever since, and still on the certification path. "Continual education is a good ting as tech is always changing. In order to keep up companies need to provide education and training," says Crocker, whose next certification focus is attaining the CCIE. Designed as an option for exam preparation, the four-hour CCIE Assessor Lab features remote access to live equipment using a Web-based, lab management tool and configuration scenarios which simulate the format and difficulty of the actual CCIE lab exam. After completing the lab, candidates receive a detailed assessment of their performance, including the correct command lines and suggestions for further study. "The eight-hour lab exam, performed in a Cisco office, is commonly perceived to be rigorous and stressful, especially for first-time candidates," says Mike Quinn, vice president, Technical Support Group at Cisco. "The pre-lab assessment is an invaluable tool for candidates to identify gaps in their preparation and devise an effective test-taking strategy from their own desktop - at a quarter of the cost of the lab exam." Crocker says he's done so well with Cisco certification for two reasons: his passion for the technology and the buddy system he employed during the courses. He and a friend would spend hours in the college Cisco lab drawing networks and frame relay scenarios and immersing themselves in what needed to be learned. Going to school while working makes for a long day, he acknowledges, but it all comes down to having the right mindset, says Crocker. "Yes it impacts family and time with friends, but its about prioritizing your time. If it's important to you then you can find the time to do it. It's about bettering yourself and building a strong career base." Right now Crocker is aiming for a role as Advanced Support Engineer at Multimax, a job that involves planning out new implementations and working on higher-level outages. A key element is passing the CCIE exam which he hopes to do by this June. "The most important thing with a career is to love what u do. If you're not loving your job it's time to find something else. If you're not sure about jumping into a certification course, then pick up a book first and make sure it's what you're interested in as it's a good idea for figuring out if the technology is what you're into," says Crocker. And while he didn't pursue further Microsoft and the Novell certifications, the network engineer doesn't consider those early certifications a waste of time or money. "It all helped to build on my experience and actually helped me decide what I like and didn't like in terms of the technology I wanted to excel in. It helped me become a well rounded and better engineer." Other recent articles from TechCareers Veterans Have Job Choices In Civilian Workforce The IT Job Market: A Positive Outlook
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