you pay yourself or sponsor by the company ?

a few times i scored very close to pass the exam ie. 1 question or 1 mark to pass. at that moment i felt i wanna give up (my devil kept telling me on my right ear), somehow i scared to lose (my angel kept telling me on my left ear). at last angel KO devil. haha.

to sit for the exam. you need to adjust your mentality before start doing the question. don't get panic. treat it as the exercise questions you done regularly.

you no need worry about the expiry of your CCNA. it only mean you are inactive (status) as Cisco professional. you still able to get the job in the market.

just take any 642 prefix paper. but if you find 642 prefix paper too hard. then re-take CCNA lo.

no worry. go flip through newspapers and browse online recruitment websites. you still can find the job you want.

i have found the information about Recertification Policy Update from Cisco website.

"Recertification is an important indicator to IT professionals and their employers, ensuring that the certification holder has kept up with current trends in networking technology. Valid certifications may be renewed indefinitely, but without timely renewal, certifications expire or become inactive. To keep certifications current, individuals should recertify by advancing to the next level of certification or passing the designated recertification exam(s)."

"Renewal requires certification holders to register for and pass the appropriate Cisco recertification exam(s). In order to recertify, exam requirements must be met prior to the certification expiration date. Individuals with an expired certification(s) must repeat the entire certification exam process in order to regain their certification(s). Visit the Cisco Career Certifications Tracking System to check the status of your certification(s)."

"Cisco advises its certification holders to make plans to recertify well in advance of the certification expiration date. To re-certify, certification holders must take and pass one of the professional-level exams or a CCIE written exam before the expiration date. Cisco will send a reminder six months prior to the date that a certification expires, and again one month before expiration."

you can get details from HERE.