​PrepAway: What You Should Know About the Cisco CCNA Routing & Switching Certification & How It Can Help Your IT Career by 30Seconds Dad

Technology has become a staple in almost everyone’s life. Whether it’s a smartphone, a pair of wireless headphones or a microwave, technology plays an important role in our daily lives. We have become so dependent on it that many of us wouldn’t want to give tech up for a million dollars. This is why many people around the world are choosing information technology (IT) as a career path.

Keep in mind that IT is a skill-based field. This means that your skills must be kept current. There are a lot of ways to polish your skills; however, one of the best ones is through certifications.

Numerous companies offer IT credentials, and you can choose any certificate you like as long as it is related to your field. One of the organizations that has been providing valuable certifications for a number of years is Cisco. Here, we'll take a look at the CCNA Routing & Switching certification.

What Are the Benefits?

Before making big life decisions, it’s helpful to list out the pros and cons. It's necessary to do the same when dealing with certifications, as they have some advantages and disadvantages. Employers usually make key decisions regarding hiring individuals based on what knowledge they see on the candidate’s resume. This is why you need to present as much as possible through your CV and really shine. If an employer sees that you have a Cisco credential, then he or she may be more likely to consider you for a position.

Another clear advantage that the PrepAway Cisco CCNA R&S brings is a higher salary. Even if your colleagues have the same skills as you – but you are the one with the credential to demonstrate your abilities – then you may likely earn a better salary compared to your peers. Those individuals who hold the Cisco CCNA R&S certificate earn a salary of about $76,000 per year.

If you're interested in building your skill set, then this may be the biggest benefit of this certification. If you successfully pass all the relevant tests and receive the certificate, then you will have gained a lot of knowledge during the process. And once you apply your newly learned techniques on the job, your employers will appreciate you even more!

Potential Job Roles

If you’re having trouble finding a job, then the CCNA Routing & Switching certification may help increase your marketability. There are a lot of jobs out there for a person who has the CCNA R&S credential. Let’s take a look at some of the job titles you can apply for:

• Network Administrator: Working as a network administrator is a dream for many individuals. However, most people believe that network administration is similar to system administration, but that’s not the case. A network administrator’s job is the installation of LAN/WAN networks along with intranet systems. It is a pretty challenging and enjoyable work, and only the applicants with the right knowledge can successfully do this job. The average salary of a Cisco network administrator is nearly $80,000 a year.
  

• Network Engineer: Another job that a CCNA R&S certified individual can get is network engineer. This job requires that one has the skills needed to setup, organize and maintain networks for organizations and companies, as well as other job requirements. The average salary of a Cisco network engineer in the United States is around $75,000 per year.

• Network Security Analyst: A network security analyst is required to make sure that the company’s network is completely secure. For this purpose, any analyst needs to use a number of different techniques and methodologies to tackle the situation. The average salary for a network security analyst is about $85,000 a year.

These are only some of the job roles that a CCNA R&S certified individual can get – there are even more.

Preparing for the Certification Exam(s)

No matter what kind of certificate you decide to pursue, there are always a few exams that you need to pass to get your credentials. The situation is the same when you talk about the Cisco CCNA Routing & Switching certification. The test is pretty straightforward, but you still need to study and prepare for it.

If you use online platforms such as PrepAway, then you can make your preparation process simpler. With this website, you will get access to a ton of practice questions and lectures. It's important that you answer as many questions as possible, as this is what will help you prepare the most.

The Bottom Line

The Cisco CCNA Routing & Switching credential has changed the lives of many people and makes a difference in their careers. Even if you possess a particular set of skills but don’t have a credential to show, it may mean very little to employers. If you haven’t opted for any certificate up until now, you may want to consider pursuing a CCNA Routing & Switching certification.

Cisco is a very big name in the networking community, and a lot of companies use Cisco technologies to implement their networking solutions. This is why if you have any Cisco certification, it will increase your chances of getting a job. Every organization needs a networking expert to take care of its systems. In fact, most companies can no longer function without these certified specialists.