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Message: <blockquote data-quote="reapersaurus" data-source="post: 311087" data-attributes="member: 1194">I think your 2 last statements sum things up very well.1) I think it would be quite silly for anyone to pass up such an opportunity.2) I think Brainburn's son will no doubt succeed, not only for whatever skills he may possess, but if Brainburn can get him an internship, that's about all that's needed to enter the field.So it certainly sounds like you've thought it out, BB, and that's always good to hear.Too many people take such an unrealistic approach to careers, it's scary.A auto mechanic hears that Cisco engineers pull down over $100 an hour, and decides to take a loan, take a course, and expects to come out with a high-paying job.It doesn't work that way anymore.There are thousands of experienced networking people who were laid off the last year, so it has gotten a lot harder to open up doors when you have only book experience.Once you GET that first job, though, it still opens up a lot more opportunities than in many other fields (and $$ opportunities).BB, congrats on having a plan laid out, and your approach seems very sound.I was NOT saying your son won't make it.Gargoyle:I don't agree with this at all.I think you're doing yourself a great disservice not learning hardware and software for any computer-related job.I have heard hundreds of tales of people in high-paying jobs who really don't know that much about computers because they seem to have concentrated on just what they needed to know to get thast one job done.That might help you do that one task, for that one employer, but it won't help you in the long run.In fact, one cert doesn't cut it in the slightly, of course.You must continually learn and expand your knowledge base or technology will trample you faster than a Sauropod with a bee stuck in his butt. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />As for entry level jobs that allow you to do Cisco routing ....  you must live in a different kind of job environment, is all I can say. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />I agree with other things you said.Network+ is a MUCH better introduction to networking than CCNA.And FOR YOU, perhaps a greater concentration on networking and routing would have gotten you farther, faster than you are today.However, I think it's safe to say that you shouldn't be copying your background for someone starting out today.It is a different place, and the last 10 years are not what it's like anymore in networking today.(I'm really just stating the obvious here, but...) When advising people, you should take the GENERAL into account, not a couple people's experiences.Hundreds and thousands of people try to get into this field every year.Some are successful, some are not.Unless you can rely on knowing somebody to get you a job (which STILL is the best way to get a new career, don't let anyone dismiss that), you should have a solid plan and breadth of knowledge before entering the field.enough for now.good discussion - now, Gargoyle - explain this to me - WHY the heck would you not be working ALL the time as a Routing engineer if you can make 1/4 of that an hour, instead of trying to make money in the RPG field.THAT should be an interesting reply. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /></blockquote>

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