Career as CCIE

Common choice students make

The number of young IT aspirants in country is huge and so are their dreams to embark their name in IT/ITES industry. Students today majorly are inclined towards sinking Software Industry without analyzing its current statistics. Following the herd, majority of students enroll themselves for courses like Java, SQL, C++ and many more.

Several institutes offer courses in software development and assure students for job placements. As there are n number of institutes so is the number of fraud companies which are open in Delhi/NCR claiming to be one of the growing companies.

Current Industry Statistics

Running short of career opportunities has made fresher candidates narrow down options that are not favorable to their interests. The most popular industry that is flashy to a fresher is software industry. No doubt software industry has elevated and shaped careers of many IT aspirants but it is now striving hard to survive recession.

Not only this, the availability of n number of institutes which provides trainings on the same courses has reduced employability rate. Many organizations today prefer hiring experienced IT engineers other than fresher candidates. These two parameters run parallel and make fresher dizzy about choosing right career option.

Networking- The Golden Gate

With shrinking software industry requirements for fresher, networking industry welcomes fresher candidates, provided they are skilled at expert level. Networking Industry is impassive in nature towards recession.

Everything from ATM Withdrawals, socializing on social networking sites and checking emails is directly linked to networking. Networking is a complex system that connects almost everything securely and reliably. Networking is a dynamic field whose demand is in even in the uncertain economy.

Companies require candidates who can understand their business applications and apply solutions into networks as well as design their networks.

CCIE – The Holy Grail certification

CCIE certification is considered as the Holy Grail certification for IT professionals. Cisco certifications are classified into 8 different fields/technologies as Routing & Switching, Design, Data center, Security, Voice/Collaboration, Wireless, Service Provider and Service Provider operations further categorizing these networking certifications into 3 levels as associate level, professional level and expert level.

The minimum eligibility criterion to pursue these certifications is 10+2, but however graduation is required to get job placement or to get employed. As graduation is the minimum eligibility criterion in most of the companies. Every IT organization looks out for Cisco certified candidates in order to fill their rapid requirements in networking domain. To graph the requirements chart in networking industry, CCIE engineers are the most required professionals.

Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert- CCIE is the highest level of certification offered by Cisco Systems. Earlier the trainings of CCIE level were only available in USA because to set up a CCIE level training company; huge investments and CCIE certified trainers are required. But there are some good institutes available in India offering CCIE level training on live Cisco racks which are updated as per the Cisco CCIE lab exam equipment checklist. Due to the initiative taken by some Indian training companies, CCIE training is now available in India and that to at very less cost as compared to USA or UK. In order to become a CCIE, candidates are required to clear CCIE written and CCIE lab exam. Candidate can skip exams of lower level certifications, i.e. CCNA or CCNP etc. But knowledge of CCNA and CCNP level will be required in order to pursue CCIE. The candidates who clear the CCIE Lab exam are the usually the most hunted professionals by the organizations. A 5 digit CCIE number is issued from cisco Systems which clearly distinguishes the candidates from the other candidates. The salary package offered to CCIE certified engineer is more generous than a non-certified CCIE Engineer.

CCIE Salary in India:

Salary packages offered to CCIE professionals are higher than average salary packages offered to software engineers or web developers. CCIE is also known as most prestigious and Highest paid IT certification. It is the most reputed certification from last 15 years.

Salary Packages after CCIE Enterprise/Infrastructure:

Average starting salary packages offered to fresher CCIE engineers are around 4-5 lacs per annum. But candidate will have to clear both CCIE written and CCIE lab exam to expect this salary package. As we all know that CCIE lab exam is very expensive and costs around 1, 00,000 INR (1600 USD) in order to appear for the lab exam and not everyone is able to clear the lab exam in first attempt. These candidates, who have CCIE level knowledge but only CCIE R&S written certification in their resume, can expect a minimum salary package of 2-3 lacs per annum. After working for few months, they can prepare for CCIE R&S lab exam in some institute or via CCIE rack rental online. Once they are prepared for CCIE R&S lab exam they can appear for the lab exam in Bangalore or any other available location. They can expect the same growth and salary package after clearing the CCIE R&S Lab exam.

Salary Packages after CCIE Security V6 Integrated:

CCIE Security V6 Integrated certification is another challenging certification offered by Cisco systems. A candidate who wishes to make a career in security then CCIE Security V5 certification is an ideal choice. Average salary package offered to a CCIE Security V5 certified fresher ranges from 4-6 lpa and experienced candidates can be offered anything in between 10-30 lpa depending upon their experience and skill set. Candidates should be very cautious on shortlisting an institute to pursue CCIE Security V6 Integrated certification as the security devices are most of the time not available in the Institutes. Network Bulls is the only institute in North India who provides CCIE Security V6 lab equipment. CCIE Security V6 Lab certified candidates are high in demand as security of network infrastructure for every organization is a priority.

Salary Packages after CCIE Voice/Collaboration:

CCIE Voice certification is now been absorbed by Cisco Systems and CCIE Collaboration certification is now being introduced. CCIE Collaboration focuses on Video and Voice both. Average salary package offered to a CCIE Voice Lab certified fresher ranges from 4-6 lpa whereas experienced professionals can be offered a considerable good hike, say anything in between 10-30 lpa. Scope of CCIE Voice certification in India as well abroad flags high and the requirements of these engineers are generating rapidly. CCIE Collaboration job opportunities are numerous in networking industry.