take me as example. when I graduated (BSc Computer Science from non-famous university) few years ago, I had hard time to find IT job with good pay. my 1st job was doing IT support with RM1.6k salary. after working for 2 years, I managed to get a new job with RM2.7k salary. after working for 1.5 years, I felt I lost my direction. I was standing in cross road. my career never improve and I was doing the routine works day-in day-out.

so I decided to pursue my study in order to develop my new career. at that time I had little savings to allow me to take Master Degree. the part-time programme would take 2 years to complete. so I done my research about what Master Degree I aim for and which college to study.

one day I talked to my friends. I found that they were taking ACCA, CIMA, CIM, CPA, etc. then I started asking them what was that. only at that moment I given to understand there was something called professional certificate, licensed/registered career. so I started doing research about IT professional certificate.

finally, I had 2 options in front of me to choose for my career development. one is taking Master Degree. another one is taking Professional Certification. say I have RM20k in hand.

option 1 - taking Master Degree. need 2 years part-time to complete it and get the certificate. then may be can find a higher position and get RM2k increment. so after 2 years, salary would be RM5k.

option 2 - taking professional certification. depends how many certificate i want to get. say as many as possible within RM20k. say need 1.5 years to change job. position and salary would be determined by the type and number of certification i hold at that moment.

at last I made decision to choose option 2. shorter route. Master degree can take later. within 6 months completed Cisco CCNA, CCDA, CCNP and CCDP. another 6 months completed Microsoft MCSA, MCSE, MCDBA and MCAD. another 6 months completed OCA, OCP and etc.

then I went to Headhunter to submit my resume and requested RM5k job. they very impressed about my qualification. within 1 week i received interview from MNC. during interview, I showed HR and interviewer my professional certifications. no question at all from them. within a week i got an offer of RM5k job. after working for 3 months, I saw from newspaper that a MNC hiring professionals with some certifications that I was holding at that time. so I just try to send my resume to them, request RM7.5k. within 1 week I received interview from them. after interview, HR called me on 3rd day to sign the offer letter stated RM7.5k. my story goes on. today my pay is 5 digits.

take me as example. when I graduated (BSc Computer Science from non-famous university) few years ago, I had hard time to find IT job with good pay. my 1st job was doing IT support with RM1.6k salary. after working for 2 years, I managed to get a new job with RM2.7k salary. after working for 1.5 years, I felt I lost my direction. I was standing in cross road. my career never improve and I was doing the routine works day-in day-out.

so I decided to pursue my study in order to develop my new career. at that time I had little savings to allow me to take Master Degree. the part-time programme would take 2 years to complete. so I done my research about what Master Degree I aim for and which college to study.

one day I talked to my friends. I found that they were taking ACCA, CIMA, CIM, CPA, etc. then I started asking them what was that. only at that moment I given to understand there was something called professional certificate, licensed/registered career. so I started doing research about IT professional certificate.

finally, I had 2 options in front of me to choose for my career development. one is taking Master Degree. another one is taking Professional Certification. say I have RM20k in hand.

option 1 - taking Master Degree. need 2 years part-time to complete it and get the certificate. then may be can find a higher position and get RM2k increment. so after 2 years, salary would be RM5k.

option 2 - taking professional certification. depends how many certificate i want to get. say as many as possible within RM20k. say need 1.5 years to change job. position and salary would be determined by the type and number of certification i hold at that moment.

at last I made decision to choose option 2. shorter route. Master degree can take later. within 6 months completed Cisco CCNA, CCDA, CCNP and CCDP. another 6 months completed Microsoft MCSA, MCSE, MCDBA and MCAD. another 6 months completed OCA, OCP and etc.

then I went to Headhunter to submit my resume and requested RM5k job. they very impressed about my qualification. within 1 week i received interview from MNC. during interview, I showed HR and interviewer my professional certifications. no question at all from them. within a week i got an offer of RM5k job. after working for 3 months, I saw from newspaper that a MNC hiring professionals with some certifications that I was holding at that time. so I just try to send my resume to them, request RM7.5k. within 1 week I received interview from them. after interview, HR called me on 3rd day to sign the offer letter stated RM7.5k. my story goes on. today my pay is 5 digits.

Hi Cingu,

How your made it ? in six month you can aim to finish CCNA and CCNP.Another six month you finish MCSA ,MCSE etc.This consider very hard and tough challenge .You have to work daily so each day you only sleep 3-4 hours.Huh any secret recipy to share to all of us here.First how you able to manage you time to grab a cert in this short time.

Thank

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Added on June 24, 2008, 9:36 pm

hi Cingu,

Thanks for sharing,you really make me feel that there is still a hope for me.I have a basic degree in Comp Sci work at IT support line as system engineer for 4 hours.Experience still very green coz all the while i am working in a end user company to provide support to end user means provide the first level support in server,email ,desktop,backup etc.....The next higher level of support is usually outsource to vendor.I have senior but he is very selfish in knowledge so everything have to self swim.I found that i no luck work in IT line.Everywhere i go i have to survive myself?which i mean my senior is not helpful or no senior at all.Currently i plan to take MCSE to take add my value.

I would like to check with you in case i want to move my line to Oracle next? how should i start the initial step? As i know for Oracle database the company very seldom will hire for fresh grad as this is the critical application.Beside where can i get the course for Oracle beside Oracle Malaysia which is expensive .Kindly advice to get the OCA and OCP.Do you do your self study anyway?

Hope the better will come... thanks

The exam fees for CCNA 640-802 already increase from  USD150 to USD250  effective from 24 June 2008.
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/netacad/...PriceChange.pdf

http://www.pearsonvue.com/vouchers/pricelist/cisco.asp
USD250 is around  RM 800 just to take CCNA exam alone.

sometime you have to push yourself to the limit. at that time I sacrificed my time, my entertainment, etc. I used free time to study, to hands-on, even to sleep in the office. ya. I slept around 4 hours a day. weekend also stayed in office.

however I chose the right path, the right decision. i received harvest after 18 months. now I have Cash, Car, Credit Card, Condominium, Career, Certificate, Club. is this not what you are dreaming for ???
surviving is an art. some people willing to help you. some people don't. Your senior not willing to guide you, to share with you. because he scares you better than him. he has no confident about himself.


Thanks for advice cingu....You are right ? this how they wanna protect themself but if they teach or guide us then he no need to do so much .Am i right? we should learn to survive as you say.Be confident with ourself 

if you want to build your career in Oracle, you need to have;
1. Oracle systems for you to hands-on
2. books to refer
3. associations/experts to network with

Small and Medium Industries do hire fresh graduates to support Oracle (small scale system). even MNCs also do hire fresh graduates to assist Senior to support Oracle systems.

if you want to take OCA and OCP, you can go to Oracle Training Partners ie. CSA.

What you means by  3.associations/experts to network with? do you mean there is a society to join which all are in oracle line....I actually got search for vacancy where mainly of the organization need min 2 years experience for ORACLE DBA. You do self study for OCA, i was inform that for ORACLE paper they need us to attend course ? before can take exam.Is this true?

for OCA, i self-study. for OCP, I attend the course.

you can join,
1. Association of Database Developers
2. Independent Oracle Users Group
3. International Oracle Users Group Community
4. Oracle Applications Users Group

normally employers stated years of relevant experience, is just a benchmark/reference. you can apply the position if you are confident you deem fit.

OCA is a level-entry certificate. no need to attend course. OCP is a professional certificate. you need to attend course and submit the Hands On Course Requirement Form.

www.testking.com
got all the pass year paper in there.

If u can read chinese, try to Google the exam question in http://www.g.cn  which is Google China to find more questions banks

ya. current company sponsor me for trainings and exams, but not all. some i pay myself.

previously i paid everything myself. around RM20k. got all the certificates in 18 months.

haha. 20k is a lot for own hard-earn money. if sponsor by company, different story lo. i didn't attend CCNP and MCSE courses cause I found the trainers were lousy after few class sessions. i complaint to management and got my full refund. luckily the company i worked has a quite comprehensive networking environment for me to hands-on. i setup a simulation lab and everyday study+practice.

CCNP indeed is hard to pass. I also failed the exam few times. one of my friend went to eBay bought few 2nd-hand routers & switches, and setup a home lab.

my piece of advice. technical certificates require you to have hands-on experience. just study the books or attend trainings would not help you to pass the exam.