What does it take to pivot from a product administration position right into a full-time community engineering place?
For Michelle Szklarska, the reply was clear: earn the CCNA. Her journey proves the worth of Cisco’s certification ecosystem and exhibits why the CCNA stays a premier networking credential. Michelle sat down with Study with Cisco’s Patrick Gargano to inform her CCNA success story.
Pivoting from product proprietor to community engineer
Earlier than incomes her CCNA, Michelle labored as a community and safety product proprietor. She wished a extra hands-on position. After passing her examination, she transitioned right into a full-time community engineer place. How?
“Due to the CCNA,” Michelle mentioned merely, when requested what made the distinction.
The CCNA did greater than validate her technical information—it opened the door to a brand new profession path.
Why the CCNA nonetheless issues for community engineers
In a world of cloud platforms and automation instruments, you may ponder whether a foundational certification just like the CCNA remains to be value pursuing. Michelle’s story proves that it completely is.
The CCNA supplies a complete, structured understanding of networking fundamentals, from IP addressing and routing protocols like OSPF to community safety ideas like AAA and entry lists, to important companies like DHCP and NAT. These aren’t simply examination matters; they’re the constructing blocks of real-world community engineering.
For professionals pivoting their careers like Michelle, the CCNA serves as a reputable, industry-recognized sign to employers that you’ve the foundational information wanted to function successfully. It bridges the hole between understanding what a community does and figuring out how to configure, handle, and troubleshoot one.
The problem: The place to start
Anybody who has downloaded the official CCNA examination matters is aware of the sensation Michelle described: “You obtain the record of necessities, the matters, and also you’re like—oh my gosh, the place to start out?”
The CCNA curriculum is broad. Selecting the best research sources is vital. Michelle didn’t depend on a single supply; she constructed a various research toolkit to remain engaged, challenged, and ready.
Examine useful resource 1: CCNA Prep
One in every of Michelle’s major sources was CCNA Prep, a free video collection obtainable on the Cisco Studying Community, created by Patrick Gargano and Hank Preston at Study with Cisco.
CCNA Prep stands out for its sensible, lab-focused strategy. As a substitute of simply explaining concept, every episode dives into actual configuration duties, strolling viewers via hands-on labs overlaying:
- OSPF
- NAT
- Entry lists
- AAA
- DHCP troubleshooting
The educational continues after the video. Each CCNA Prep episode consists of:
- A Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) lab file for these utilizing CML.
- A Cisco Packet Tracer model for wider accessibility.
- Assessment questions to bolster the fabric.
- A downloadable PDF lab information to maintain as a reference.
Michelle highlighted the downloadable reference sheets as considered one of her favourite options. “On the finish, you possibly can obtain a sheet of the data, and that was actually helpful.”
She additionally referred to as out the DHCP troubleshooting episode, noting an vital networking lesson: you be taught extra when one thing breaks.
“You really be taught extra when one thing’s damaged. It makes you determine the way it’s speculated to be working.”
This philosophy drives CCNA Prep’s strategy: transcend definitions and dive into the issues you’ll really encounter on the job.
Examine useful resource 2: Cisco U.
Michelle additionally used Cisco U., Cisco’s digital studying expertise, which affords a whole, structured CCNA Studying Path.
The Cisco U. CCNA Studying Path, Implementing and Administering Cisco Options, supplies:
- Subject-by-topic protection of the total CCNA curriculum
- Built-in labs to bolster hands-on expertise
- Preparatory follow exams to check your information earlier than examination day
For learners who desire a guided setting, Cisco U. affords organized, progressive studying. It builds confidence for examination day with built-in follow checks that simulate the true expertise.
Combining the structured curriculum of Cisco U. with the hands-on, scenario-driven content material from CCNA Prep is a profitable technique. The 2 sources complement one another—one supplies breadth of information, the opposite supplies depth via software.
Enter to your probability to win the CCNA Studying Path at no cost (ends: August 31, 2026) Enter giveaway
The CCNA as a basis for CCNP and past
Incomes the CCNA is a launchpad, not an endpoint. Michelle’s dialog with Patrick Gargano made this clear.
After incomes her CCNA, Michelle set her subsequent profession aim: the CCNP certification. The CCNP Enterprise monitor builds immediately on CCNA information, diving deeper into superior matters lined in exams like ENCOR and ENARSI.
This pure development is why the CCNA is structured the best way it’s. The foundational ideas you be taught—routing protocols, switching, safety, automation—are the pillars that CCNP-level certifications increase upon. Whenever you sort out the CCNP, you construct on a strong base.
Cisco’s studying group actively invests within the CCNA-to-CCNP journey. Patrick famous that future content material from the CCNA Prep staff will seemingly give attention to bridging the hole from CCNA to CCNP, serving to learners transition with the identical sensible, lab-driven strategy.
“Getting somebody from CCNA to CCNP—beginning to have a look at extra superior matters which can be lined in ENCOR and ENARSI—that’s in all probability going to be the main target.”
For Michelle and 1000’s of networking professionals, this roadmap supplies a transparent path towards profession progress.
Key takeaways from Michelle’s CCNA success story
Whether or not you’re model new to networking or trying to formalize expertise you constructed on the job, Michelle’s story affords sensible classes:
- Use a number of sources: Mix structured studying (Cisco U.) with sensible, scenario-based content material (CCNA Prep).
- Embrace troubleshooting: Study what occurs when issues break to construct actual understanding.
- The CCNA opens doorways: For Michelle, it catalyzed a profession transition into community engineering.
- Assume past the CCNA: The information you achieve prepares you for the CCNP and past.
Prepared to start out your individual CCNA journey?
If Michelle’s story impressed you, discover how the sources under can assist you put together for the 200-301 CCNA v1.1 examination:
- CCNA Certification Information: Jumpstart your studying journey with our free information.
- Keep on monitor for CCNA success: Discover expert-curated sources, suggestions, and extra that will help you attain your CCNA cert aim.
- Enter to win the CCNA Studying Path at no cost. (Enter the giveaway by August 31, 2026.)
Your CCNA success story is ready. Take the subsequent step at the moment:
1. Free CCNA Cert Information | 2. Keep on monitor for examination success | 3. Enter giveaway
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CCNA: The inspiration that constructed my IT profession (might be yours, too)
