CCIE Boot Camp for the Cisco Guru
In the world of technology there is never a point when you will become a “know it all”. Yet to those working in the networking world the CCIE boot camp may be the one thing that will bring you close. As a CCIE guru you become the must have employ in any serious IT company, able to diagnose and repair any network problem that may exist. The pay increase and prestige that comes with getting your own CCIE number is the icing on the cake. There are many people who are waiting until they are ready to take the CCIE plunge. Thinking that they aren’t ready for a CCIE boot camp many people languish in their careers and sadly never make the move.
CCIE Preparation
CCIE boot camps are located all over the world, they can easily run you $3000 or more and they will put your mind and concentration to the test. Before selecting a CCIE boot camp you really need to use your friend, the internet, to do your research. There are many great and knowledgeable instructors; people who may be amazing in their knowledge of every protocol and every aspect of the Cisco command lines implementation. Yet if they are not talented at teaching or working with people you may find yourself in an uncomfortable position. While choosing a CCIE boot camp you should have a plan that includes professor selection, the failure and re-test taking policy as well as the quality of their lab setup.
Cisco has gone through great care to prepare the CCIE Lab exam; if you have managed to pass the qualifier test then you must know your stuff. The CCIE Lab exam is about 75% technology and 25% physiological, and this 25% is what holds so many people back. Hearing about the tremendous challenge that exists can cause a feeling of insecurity. This is probably the main reason why people pursue the CCIE boot camp option, as it prepares you for this time with many intense days of Cisco “cramming” and real world lab work.
CCIE Boot Camp -What to Expect
In my opinion, if you seriously intend on passing your CCIE certification, consider enrolling in a CCIE Boot Camp. The intense lab practice and the immersion you experience while being around other like minded professionals will give you much more than just a typical school environment. These boot camps offer you the chance to talk about topics and ask questions about things you might not normally be able to address. Many CCIE Boot Camps offer a free retest for people who fail. If you are prepared and apply yourself it is almost a sure thing.
The preparation for the CCIE Lab test begins well before the actual day of the big test. What about for people who are traveling? Arriving 2 days early will help you beat any potential fatigue. The night before get together with some CCIE Boot Camp classmates and go over your notes, late night cramming isn’t the best idea but its better than watching TV. Going over notes can benefit the group of students, but don’t stay up too late!
CCIE Test Day
Today is the day to put to use the things you learned in the CCIE Boot Camp. On the day of the test you will be assigned to a table that is equipped with computer equipment and told the rules. You will be given a lab book that is unique from the others. Once you get the lab test book read the whole thing first to get an idea on the intention of the lab and look for any potential surprises. It’s a good idea to create a diagram of the lab on some scratch paper. In most cases the lab material is laid out in points, each point will have multiple tasks shown. You must complete each point correctly; there is no credit for a partially correct attempt.
As you complete the sections, check them of your list so you will have a total and an idea of your overall progress. This is important as you need to gauge your labs timing, you will have 8 hours with a short lunch in the middle. If you begin to get short on time then you will need to work on the things that give you the most points, you will not want to be working on items that are difficult and contain only a few points if you become stressed your life. These are test taking lessons you should be prepared with from the CCIE Boot Camp instruction.
The Results
Once the smoke clears and its all over, you will not receive your score if you pass the test, this is testing policy. But you will receive something much better, your CCIE number! If you pass then you will know that you scored above 80 points as this is the passing threshold. This is the time to celebrate! But remember in 2 years you will need to retake the test and keep retaking the test every 2 years thereafter. If you want to continue being a CCIE kingpin this is the cost, you need to be able to stay at the top of Cisco game. So what do you think…are you game?