Realtalk: Main expectations vs. reality in CCNA career

Nung nagsimulang lumaki at dumami yung readers nitong blog, I also received multiple emails almost everyday. Bukod pa yung mga pm at msg sa facebook.

One of the “issue” na lagi kong nakikita is there are other aspiring CCNA or maybe yung mga newly passed CCNA ang either na-disappoint or feeling lost pa rin on their track.

What do I mean by that?

Kumbaga hindi sila happy. Or maybe hindi sila contented in what they achieved. Or siguro they expected different things or expected different results vs. the actual reality.

One of the blog follower told me that ang isang nagustuhan niya sa blog is the “real world expectation” na sini-share ko sa mga articles at videos. Kahit papano they are getting the “picture” of what’s in there kapag sumabak ka na sa talagang networking world.

And that’s what I have to share today. Here are the main expectations vs. reality in CCNA career lalo na sa mga Pinoy.

Expectations vs. reality in CCNA career

Ito yung mga pinaka-karaniwan, pero alam natin na marami pa. I may update this article when I have time.

1. Expectation: I will immediately get a job

Reality: It depends and most of the time the answer is NO.

Yes, don’t expect to get a job immediately once you passed CCNA or finished your training. Kelangan mo pa rin sipagan mag-apply, mag-tanong tanong, at mag follow up sa mga na-applyan mo na.

Lagi kong sinasabi na your certification will only land you to an interview. Your skills, knowledge and attitude ang mag-papahire sayo at magdadala sayo in the long run.

The good news is, being certified has some advantages compared sa ibang applicants. And kung maipapakita mo yung skills, knowledge at attitude mo during the interview, for sure, you’ll have that job.

2. Expectation: Your salary will increase immediately

Reality: Naah, hindi agad-agad. You still need to back it up with skills and knowledge + attitude. Isa pa, kung newbie ka or beginner,

Isa pa, kung newbie ka or beginner, talagang medyo may kababaan ang offer jan. Pero that’s where you can get started. Lalo ng kung related talaga sa network yung role or job mo.

From there pwede ka ng mag-ladder up to gain more experience and then moving forward increasing your salary range.

Check ccna salary in the Philippines here.

Cisco career is rewarding in terms of salary. GIVEN that you have enough experience, skills, knowledge and again the right attitude. And siyempre to get that level, simula muna tayo sa baba. Hindi naman pwedeng from a beginner role, engineering salary range na agad ibigay sayo. Make sense idol?

Make sense idol?

3. Expectation: I know what to do, I’m CCNA!!!

Reality: Naah, marami ka pa(tayong) kakaining bigas idol.

Networking in the real world is too complex. Hindi porket nakapasa ka or naging certified you already know everything. Or khit nakapag training ka using real devices alam mo na talaga ang gagawin, malayo pa idol.

It’s a long, winding and stressful journey. Yet sabi ko nga, it’s fulfilling and rewarding kung talagang gusto mo at paghuhusayan mo.

When I became a network admin, I thought andami ko ng alam. Yet nung mismong nagtro-troubleshoot na ako ng “network outages“, nganga pa rin ako. Meron pa ngang time na yung script ko sa PLDT isp na-paste ko sa GLOBE router namin sa sobrang taranta ko. Hahaha.

I can’t forget that day. Buti na lang maintenance window yun. ^_^

Marami pa as in maraming times pa na hindi ko talaga alam gagawin ko. Una dahil ibang iba kapag enterprise network na hawak mo. Let say down yung isang call center site niyo, walang calls na pumapasok. That means, the company is losing money. The “big bosses” ang getting angry and of course it creates pressure sayo at sa team niyo.

Pangalawa, dapat alam mo kung ano ang titingnan mo, alam mo kng ano ngyayari at alam mo kng papaano mareresolve. Kung hindi man, dapat alam mo na hindi mo kaya para makahingi ka kagad ng tulong.

Kaya nga lage ko sinasabi, don’t rely on dumps. Alamin mo kung bakit at pano. Dahil pagdating mo na sa real world, magagamit mo lahat yun.

Kaya rin laging kasama ang attitude sa mga ina-advocate ko is talagang kailangan. Kailangan mong maging calm, professional at maging honest sa sarili mo.

There’s more to learn on this field. At hindi mo makakabisado yun ng isang iglap lang. It will take time.

That’s why the CCNA and other curriculum are always evolving. Kasi nga, nagbabago ang technology. Nagbabago ang demand ng industry. And tayo kelangan natin mag-keep up. We need to always equip ourselves para alam natin yung mga dapat gawin.

I have a lot of more to tell, pero medyo mahaba na ‘tong email. I will cut it here, next time na yung iba. Pero that 3 expectations vs. reality ang main issue and concern ng karamihan.

I hope by providing and sharing you my own experience in the real world, you will strive more to learn and educate yourself of what’s ahead.

Nothing in life is easy. CCNA and networking are not easy. Finding jobs is not easy. Learning things is not easy.

BUT they are all doable. They are possible. They are all learnable. Yun nga lang, it takes time, effort and real hard work.

If you’re willing to pay the price, it will be worth it in the end.

I hope this has been inspiring again. Cheers!