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Rant: Computerworld – World’s Youngest CCNA: 12-Year-Old Irtiza From Pakistan

2nd July 2008 By 9 Comments

So a 12 year old passed the CCNA test. I suspect that many people will use this to point out how easy, or pointless, certfication is, but I believe it is a testament to education and the value of a well organised teaching system

Network World posted this article :

Computerworld – World’s youngest CCNA: 12-year-old Irtiza from Pakistan: “World’s youngest CCNA: 12-year-old Irtiza from Pakistan”

So here are some thoughts :

  1. this young man has a lot of support from parents and the local CCNA Acadamy. (He was mentored by Curriculum Lead and Academy Instructor at Ahad IT Services)
  2. The young man probably has an aptitude and / or pushy parents.
  3. The CCNA material is well written and designed, that even a twelve year old (albeit an exceptional one) can sit down and learn what is needed.
  4. CCNA is actually not that difficult. You are required to think clearly, organise your knowledge, and remember some stuff. That’s it.

Apprentice Qualification

I, personally, am of the opinion that CCNA is equivalent to apprenticeship papers. Today, a trade apprentice goes to college for a short time to learn some basics. You know, this is how you hold a hammer, this is dangerous, be careful around sharp objects, and learn the trade jargon.

The CCNA course is mostly the same. You get taught our lingua franca, uou can do basic router tasks, and a foundation on which to learn something. You should also have some understanding of ‘network safety’.

Conclusion

If you ever, EVER, turn up at an interview and tell me that you haven’t had the time to sit your CCNA exam, but you have 10 years experience, you should expect me to show you the door, and be laughed off the premises.

But don’t think too much of your self either, CCNA means you have some basic skills, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are qualified tradesman. You need a few years of experience and CCNP / CCIP / CCDP to be considered for that.

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About Greg Ferro

Greg Ferro is a Network Engineer/Architect, mostly focussed on Data Centre, Security Infrastructure, and recently Virtualization. He has over 20 years in IT, in wide range of employers working as a freelance consultant including Finance, Service Providers and Online Companies. He is CCIE#6920 and has a few ideas about the world, but not enough to really count.

He is a host on the Packet Pushers Podcast, blogger at EtherealMind.com and on Twitter @etherealmind and Google Plus

  • Joey

    As a CCNA working towards my IP I can definitely appreciate what you’ve said here. The CCNA is a good building block, but there’s a long way to go.

    • http://etherealmind.com Greg Ferro

      And a journey worth doing. Most do it for money, but find knowledge and skills that make work worth doing. Networking is much more satisfying that Servers or Software.

  • Anonymous

    disagree with both points

    1) CCNA worth doing — many companies (I worked with) in europe will frown on having a CCNA, sometimes even a CCIE… most companies (read providers) prefer guys with experience…. Moreover, and completely contradicting you.. Feedback I have is if I have had time to certify then I cant have been challenged enough at work….

    2) Networking is NOT more satisfying then server or software. Maybe for us but it does not follow it is the case for everyone???

    To sum up, imho, certs are commercial vehicles to find more money and be allowed in certain interviews.

    • http://etherealmind.com Greg Ferro

      1 – I must have missed this, but yes, I expect you to have experience, its a given (unless I am recruiting for a apprentice).

      However, I will not recruit experience without certification because you MUST have a certain amount of theory to be useful in a serious netwo. I expect to you know about OSPF, BGP and so on and to stand your ground in meetings. Knowledge and wisdom is a requirement, wisdom without knowledge is useless.

      2 – My blog is networking, so yes, that is the case for everyone!

      Certs are commercial. You have demonstrated your ability to:

      a – learn stuff by reading (which you need to do in our business)
      b – have persistence to do something you probably don’t want to do.
      c – the motivation to deliver results.

      I don’t so much care what you learn, although Cisco makes it useful, so long as you show me the things above, I am willing to consider you for a job.

    • Steve

      Certifications open doors and create job opportunities. I am not saying this is right or wrong, but it is DEFINATELY reality. I have been an MCSE for 10 years and will take my CCNA shortly. I found the studying to be very educational and mostly enjoyable because I am fairly new to the network side of IT. There are a lot of “Certification snobs” out there who feel certs are a waste and stricly a rip-off by whomever creates them: Although there is some merit in the “comericial scam” aspect view, it is highly exaggerated and I feel that view is for bigots.

      Experience is always the highest factor in determining one’s skills, but certs carry a lot, or a little, weight depending on the preference of the person/people hireing. It is certainly a grey area and varies a lot. It certainly does not gaurauntee anything but it looks good, and it never hurts.

      It does show a good attitude, and a lack of certs can be regarded as a poor attitude, like some on this post that would certainly be the case.

      The 12 year old doing the CCNA is no big deal. How often do we here about a 12 year old who goes to a university, or gets a 1400 on the SATs??? It should be taken with a small grain of salt.

  • Someone

    Hi Greg,
    I made the mistake of googling 802.3x and it led me to your very detailed report on the myth behind the problems caused by hard setting network and server ports. I must say it seems you have opened a can of worms with that one. Very interesting though.

    I then found this article and having read the comments feel a need to respond.

    I just wanted to say a few words on this just in case anyone one else like me is studying for the CCNA and they read this.

    I have managed to get by in networking for several years without getting certified. I have several friends who also have done the same and they could hold there own in some pretty serious network issues, however I believe getting Certified is no different to getting a degree these days. People still go to Universities to study their choice subject with the hopes and aspirations to succeed in their choice subject. My daughter has just graduated in Law and it will take her a few years to pay off her student loan. Yes Certs are commercial vehicles. That is nothing new. The pursuit of knowledge is very costly and it probably will be until we manage to get a pair of Joe 90 spectacles!

    I dont think a 12 year old getting a CCNA devalues the Cisco certification process anymore that if they got a degree in physics at that same age. You dont have to look very far to see child genius’s all around the world exceeding in a particular subject with the help of their parents or mentors. The facts are, those people rarely go on to make a big success of themselves. I would hope he is doing something worthwhile but I would like to see where he is in 10 years times.

    I am currently studying the CCNA using the ICND1 and ICND2 books by Wendell Odom. His writings and explanations are exceptional and certainly work for me in filling in some gaps. Its not just about getting a certificate, its about understanding the subject much better and having the confidence to argue your case in meetings with similar experts. It is also about working out problems in a much quicker way. The “Do I know this Quiz” at the beginning of each chapter is great self test. Time yourself before then after reading the chapter, and you certainly see a big difference in the percentage of correct answers and a much quicker time.

    Anyone who poo-poos certifications is usually someone who granted may know their stuff and have learnt it the hard way and may (I do say may) begrudge another person who has a piece of paper. Its no different to getting a degree. It doesnít make you a better person but it says something about how you have persevered to get what you want. I would employ experience over paper any day, but if a candidate has both, that gives them a much better advantage.

    As you say it shows they have the ability to dedicate their time to studying. Each to their own, but if you want to supplement your experience with clear facts get certified. I would also add you have to find an author that works for you. I understand Mr Odom teaches CCNA for a living so its not surprising he has got a winning formula. I do have similar books which dont work for me. I would add that there are a few mistakes in the books and if I didnt have my experience to fall back on I would find some parts very confusing.

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  • http://www.finethreadind.com Irfan Raza

    Well done Irtaza Haider

  • Pingback: Opinion: Certification mat≠ters?ó?Experience less so?ó?Part 1 | My Etherealmind