Tag Archives: tips

Anthony’s IT Certification Tips – 8 of 10 – Time Can Be Your Best Friend

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I can’t stress enough the importance of being realistic about how much time you need to study and prepare for an exam.

It’s better to be safe than sorry. Give yourself plenty of time.

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How much time will vary by exam. For example, it could take someone 700 hours to study for the CCIE exam. That same person could need just 40 hours for the CCNA. What’s tricky is that everyone learns differently, and at his/her own pace. The key thing is to allow yourself enough (or more than enough) time to really understand the content.

Not having enough time is why most students inevitably complain about boot-camp-style classes. They just cannot possibly retain all the information they are being taught or expected to know in a week. Again, the goal isn’t just to pass the exam, it’s to master the content. This can take a lot longer than you might think.

So use a tracker, as we discussed in a previous blog post, and ensure your mastery! Overall, this is much more important than merely passing an exam by a certain date —it’s about making sure you can apply your knowledge and skills to gain experience, land an interview, or get a job.

Until the next tip, study with passion and take your time!

Anthony’s IT Certification Tips – 7 of 10 – If It is Broken – Fix It!

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Sometimes in certification, you can encounter a resource that is just not working for you. Perhaps it is an instructor that just really rubs you the wrong way, perhaps it is a book that reads like a dishwasher repair manual, perhaps it is a simulator that is so buggy it does not feel like the actual device at all. These problematic resources might cause you to lose your passion for studying the topic and could potentially derail your goal achievement. Remember, if this happens, or is starting to happen – do something about it!

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One post that you see many times in Certification Support forums is something along the lines of  – “Is there another way to practice XYZ technology other than using this product?” I love these posts. It demonstrates the student is not having the best time with a particular training resource and they are ready to ask their peers for another.

Do not settle for anything but the very best resources that work for you as you look to take your career to that next level.