II was a horrible student K-12. I wasn’t good in my first couple technical schools in the navy either. But I earned the following professional certifications: CCNA, Sec+, Net+, PMP, CFCM, CISSP, CISM, CISA, ITIL, PSM, CEH, and most recently CMMC CCP & CCA.
I earned them all withOUT bootcamps (with the exception of the CMMC ones as the course is mandatory).
I witnessed something disturbing years ago. When I was studying for my CCNA, well before I tested for it. I was asking some coworkers what a Loopback 0 was and asked them to explain it to me. Well at the same time, someone passed by and proudly answered my question….. INCORRECTLY. I didn’t really know what a Loopback 0 was, but I knew what it wasn’t… That!
This person took a bootcamp and passed the CCNA exam just weeks prior. Obviously didn’t learn the curriculum.
Several jobs ago, I was the hiring manager for my theater. It was a amazing that there were applicants who had earned certifications like CCNA, who couldn’t solve the simplest of subnetting (or other elementary) questions. I haven’t subnetted for years, and I can still work it out – just not as fast.
I’m proud to say I’ve just opened the books, studied the material, learned the material, and took the exam. It’s easy to pass the exam if you know the subject matter.
Situations like I mentioned above have resulted in people doubting the worth of professional certifications which I have studied very hard for. People please, learn the material.
Studying and understanding the content pays off.
– Doug