Has earning a Cisco certification positively changed your life or career, or both? Do you think your Cisco certification story would help encourage other people to earn their Cisco certification? If so, we want to talk to you!
How it all began
Certifications can improve your ability to do your job
My dad is a systems administrator, so I grew up around computers. Just watching him tinker with them was cool. However, when I went to college, I earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. Next, I got a teaching credential, then taught elementary school for a few years. But when I turned 24, I decided I wanted a career change. So, I picked up a book on TCP/IP networking, started studying it, and realized that I really enjoyed it. My dad wasn’t into networking that much, so I didn’t know much about it, and got into it more organically. I considered pursuing Cisco certifications right away since the idea of learning about networking led straight to these credentials. I took a networking class at a local community college, then obtained my Cisco CCNA certification.
Certifications can improve your ability to do your job
I enjoy system administration, I’ve gained communications skills, and I’ve learned tech skills, in Microsoft active directory systems, administration, and networking virtualization. General troubleshooting is a big part of my job, too. Most importantly, I’ve gained the flexibility to work around difficulties and learn new technologies. Just being able to keep up with the constant change in technologies is incredibly valuable.
About Ben
Certifications
CCNA
Location
Columbus, OH
Hobbies
Reading
Hiking
Learning new tech
Ben Harting
What would you tell your younger self?
Definitely try different things and go all in on whatever interests you the most.
What would you tell a friend?
I’d tell them to go for it. It will open up a lot of opportunities for them. They’ll have all the knowledge they need to go forward in their career.
Career path
Certification path
Read more certification success stories
Jenny Guay
"The guidance I gained from earning the certification helped— in near real time—to determine what was happening on the job, when I became an SOC operator."
Network security analyst
Cybersecurity Associate
Yasser Auda
"You can do anything. You just need to decide to do it, have the will to do it, and never give up. Be confident in yourself and stop the barriers in your mind."
Network security architect
CCNA, CCNP Enterprise, CCNP Security, Cybersecurity Associate, CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure, DevNet Associate, DevNet Professional
Olivia Wolf
"The knowledge that I’ve got from studying for those certifications gave me the confidence that I’ll always be able to get a job if I need to."
Systems engineer
CCNA, CCNP Enterprise, DevNet Associate