Jobs of CCNA

There have been a lot of people asking me lately if they can get a job in cyber security with just the Cisco CCNA certification. This is a good question, as the CCNA is not an easy exam and is not the first certification people seek. It doesn't matter what, however, it raises a great question: "Is the Cisco CCNA sufficient to get a job as an IT/cyber security professional?"

Can you get a job as a Cisco CCNA-certified person? Employers will often hire people with the Cisco CCNA certificate for entry-level or lower-level IT jobs or cybersecurity jobs. However, your chances of getting hired are greater if you have a secondary skill such as customer service or technical experience.
Let's dig a little deeper and see what our chances of finding a job are with just a Cisco Cisco CCNA certification. Also, what additional resume we can add to improve our chances of success in job searches?

The CCNA Can Help You Get Jobs

Cisco CCNA, also known as Cisco Certified Network Associate (or the advanced entry-level designation) is a certification that Cisco designed to show an understanding of layer 2 & layer 3 routing and switching concepts and how they relate to Cisco equipment. Cisco's CCNA certification has been in use for more than twenty years and is still very popular.
Other CCNA certifications have been developed by Cisco, such as CCNA Wireless and CCNA Security. Although these certifications are comparable to associate-level credentials in Cisco's Cisco lineup, almost all people who say CCNA is referring to the CCNA Routing & Switching, which was the first and still the most popular.

The CCNA will open up a variety of entry-level to mid-level career opportunities in networking. These positions include network technician, network administrator, and network engineer. These positions may be called different things at different companies. For example, a network administrator at one firm might do the same as a network technician at the other.

The Cisco CCNA certifies that you are capable of working in networking-related positions such as installing routers and switches, troubleshooting, and wiring them. While most employers won't allow you to work on a network or perform more dangerous configurations such as access control lists and routing protocols with the CCNA until your abilities are proven, they might be willing to let you go to learn and help you complete more basic tasks.
You can still get a job as a technical worker if you have the Cisco CCNA but no other technical experience or certifications. However, it will be more difficult. You shouldn't expect a higher salary if you have only the CCNA. However, you can still get a job if your resume includes more experience or expertise.
Although the CCNA can get you in, it won't keep you there.
Although the CCNA can be enough to get you hired by some companies as a networking-based job, even if your resume doesn't include any other information, it won't keep you there and will not help you move up.
You can't get a job with the CCNA certification alone. Your first task should be to learn more about other skills and knowledge. You must have experience. By looking for additional projects and taking daily assessments of what you have learned, you can gain experience. If you are in a technical job, you should record at least one new skill every day.
You can use any downtime to learn new skills that will improve your job performance. It could be learning about the operating systems your company uses on its network. Every day, learn something that you can add to your resume or supplement your CCNA certification.

Complement Your CCNA Skills With Other Skills

Soft skills are easy to document so you might consider them when building your resume around your CCNA certification. Most people have some soft skills and experience that they can add to a resume. A lot of people don't realize the value of prior experience.
Did you have the opportunity to demonstrate customer service skills in a retail setting? Have you ever worked in a job that required you to work with a team or have leadership experience? Did you have a job that required you to be on the phone all day, which might have given you cold calling or sales experience?
To see the skills you have, look through your work history. Make sure to document any soft skills employers would like. Combining these soft skills with the CCNA will open up doors for you. It all comes down to how you present it.

Add another certification to your CCNA certificate

You could also work towards another certification, which is my least favorite option. It would be a good idea to go back to school and take the CompTIA Security+. What would a Linux or Windows Server certification do for you? While certifications are beneficial in general, you should not add technical experience to your resume.
The Cisco CCNP or CCNA Security are two of the most sought-after certifications if you're determined to continue your education. The CCNA Security certification is a good choice, as it allows you to enter the security side networking. It only requires one exam.
Last Thoughts

With the information you've read, you should be confident in your ability to get a job as a CCNA-certified professional. If you don't have a job yet you can find out how you can quickly do so. You are welcome!