When looking over resumes for potential employees, I NEVER consider lab
training as experience. I think you'll find most employers feel the same
way, rightly or wrongly.
In fact, I think that if you try to sell your two years in the classroom as
OTJ experience, you may be harming your efforts; the employer will think
you naive at best and dishonest at worst.
Lab training certainly gets your foot in the door, and certifications also
help get that first job. However, I'd never hire someone for anything but
an entry level position if they've never had "battlefield" experience. If
you're truly talented, and can make the right decisions under pressure,
you'll rise up the ladder rapidly.
Here are some points to consider:
-In college, trade school, classroom training, you're exposed to the
environment maybe 8 hours a week...and that's if you're a conscientious
student. When you're working full-time, you're exposed to the environment
40-50 hours a week...and that's if you're not studying in your "free" time.
-In classroom based training, the problems occur right on schedule and
you've usually got the entire class period to work out a 15 minute problem.
In production, the problems occur when you least expect them and when you
least can afford them; you've got 15 minutes to work out a problem that
should take a day to resolve, and all while the client (who pays your
check) is asking, every minute or two, why the network is down.
-In classroom training, your screwup causes you to take longer to finish
the configuration lab and might cause your grade to be lowered by a letter.
In production, your screwup causes real monetary losses to your client;
and, in a worst case scenerio, could get you fired.
-In classroom training, you're never forced to make a decision that affects
thousands of users in less time than most people spend deciding what to
have for lunch. The ability to think of the ramifications of your actions
can make or break your career. Unfortunately, there's little big picture
thinking in configuring and troubleshooting a 2600 in a lab.
With all that said, I think classroom training is an excellent thing and
well worth the effort you put into it. If you're wise, you'll get a job as
an intern or co-op while you're taking the classes. That way, when you
graduate, you'll be able to honestly say that you have some real world
experience.
Just my $0.02....
Craig
>On Mon, 3 Apr 2000, Rodriguez, Noel wrote:
>
>> I keep reading messages that from individuals of the lack of
>> experience or hands on. My question to the group, would be this: I
>> am attending a community college associated with the CISCO academy.
>> In our labs we configure, troubleshoot 2500 series routers. Would
>> employers consider this "experience"? In their "sell" of the program,
>> we are to understand that this program, can be considered as two years
>> of experience, because of the hands on. Feedback?
>> Noel
>>
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