Here to Pump You Up

A personal trainer works one-on-one with individuals to develop and implement a plan for each client’s self-improvement (usually in the form of physical fitness). The trainer will set goals to help motivate his or her clients, and provide constructive feedback — boosting the client’s confidence and ability to achieve the results the trainer has promised them.

My goal with this brief blog post is to act as your personal IT trainer, providing goals and a training regimen for prospective IT networking professionals to follow. I may not be a certified personal IT trainer, but I do know a thing or two about the industry — and I believe I have found the best path to follow in order to reach a career in networking.

Warm up your IT muscles

Before you bite off the meat of your training, you must prepare for the rigors of your training exercises. You must first take the CompTIA A+ course and exam. This will provide you with the basics and comfort level needed to move on to the next steps. This step will continue to prove useful in your journey to becoming a Network professional.

Practice a number of IT exercises

Once you are warmed-up with the basics found in the CompTIA A+ training, practice these exercises in the following order:

1. CompTIA Network+
2. Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching
3. Cisco CCNP Routing and Switching
4. Cisco CCIE Routing and Switching

Work on proper IT lifting form

It’s important that you choose the right training program. Ask yourself what form produces the most results? Is it video training or practice tests? May I suggest trying TestOut’s LabSim training simulations? LabSim exercises don’t just isolate a single part of the brain, but require use of multiple brain areas to help with overall learning and retention.

Cardio

Seriously, cardio exercises like running can relieve stress and help your brain function ... just sayin'.

Set attainable goals

Be time-specific when you set your goals. On average, it takes an individual three to four months to complete a single TestOut training course. This means you could get your A+, Network+ and CCNA certifications in well under a year. This depends on how much personal time, of course, you have to devote to each course.

Record your progress

Update your resume regularly, and apply for whatever job and volunteer opportunity that comes your way.

If you follow this outline, you will see results — you will land the networking job you deserve. Just remember, nothing comes without putting in the work.

About the Author — Jake Slater is the social media manager for GoCertify and a graduate of Brigham Young University. Jake is not a personal trainer, but he did play one in this video, where he appears as the plyo push-ups stunt double.