How to Fail Your Cisco CCNA
I have helped over 1000 students study for thier Cisco CCNA, CCENT and CCNP exams. I have seen people from all walks of life including builders, van drivers, plumbers and even some elderly people study and pass their exams. I have also seen a very large amount start their studies and then stop. Some of them take years to stop, having the occasional burst of enthusiasm only to fall back into old habits.
So, if you are going to fail your CCNA exam I think you should do so in style. This tongue in cheek article will help you fail in spectacular style because if you are going to do something, do it well.
Step 1 – Get a temporary case of enthusiasm
It’s no good if you go and get all excited and actually follow through with lots of regular study. The best way is to decide that you are going to pass your CCNA, CCNP and CCIE within the next 12 months and then become a Cisco consultant earning millions every year.
Step 2 – Spend lots of money
Order lots of books, pay for lots of expensive DVD sets from companies who sell stuff for every certification available. Keep your credit card out and don’t put it back until you have spent at least $2000 on Cisco CCNA goodies. When they all arrive make sure you leave them in a box on your shelf should you ever need to refer to them they will be within arms reach.
Step 3 – Go on a two week course
See if you can book yourself on a nice long course. Make sure there are lots of boring lectures presented by a trainer who has never seen a live network in his entire live. Also, make sure your trainer teaches at least three or four other subjects such as Microsoft, VMware and Linux. Also, check that he is a CCNA or lower.
The idea is that by the time you have reached the first Thursday you will have forgotten everything you did on Monday and Tuesday.
Step 2 – Take advice from lifes inadequates
Visit lots of discussion forums and ask advice from people who have no clue what they are talking about. Make sure you seek out those people who seem to spend hours on the forum every day because they have nothing better to do and who collect certifications like rockers collect tattoos. In fact they spend most of their day sitting in a basement somewhere bored out of their minds wondering where it all went wrong in their lives. They can’t wait to tell you what to do with your IT career so they can feel good about messing your life up as well.
The best advice you will receive is to do some useless qualifications first such as A+ and Network+ and not to even dare consider taking the CCNA until you have served three years penance on a helpdesk somewhere.
Step 3 – Fit your study in around your social life.
Make sure you can still see all your favourite programmes and don’t alter your social life in any way. Always be available on the phone if any of your friends or family need free tech support setting up their home broadband. Also, make sure your wife or partner is very demanding and bullies or threatens you every time you say you want to spend an hour or two studying.
Step 4 – Avoid live Cisco equipment
This is very important. If you are going to fail your exam, make sure you only use router sims or Packet Tracer. You don’t want to be wasting your time using real Cisco kit when simulators will do the job.
Step 5 – Don’t dedicate 2 hours per day for study
Probably best if you just flick through the book now and again or watch the odd video. That way you can stretch your studies out for years rather than pass in about two months.
Step 6 – Don’t take any practise exams
This is very important. You don’t want to use practise exams to gauge your level of knowledge in key areas, what a waste of time that would be! Just roll up to the testing centre and take the exam.
Conclusion
Failing the CCNA exam takes careful planning and a lot of effort so please make sure you do the job properly. If you want to actually pass then please re-read the article but do the opposite.
Paul Browning
