CCIE Pros #2

2. Prestige/respect

Today there are only a handful of IT certifications that get ANY respect. A+, Network+ and MSCE just don't cut it. At least not in the networking world. CCNA and to some degree CCNP are better but still essentially entry level qualifications. Although, at least for me, CCNP was difficult and took alot of study and effort to attain. However CCIE stands head and shoulders out from the rest. In every category there is no other cert (possible exception of RHCE) that will immediately have your voicemail blow up with job offers. Real job offers. Big salaries. And this will continue until you decide to stop working in the field. That's why it gets respect. Even in my current shop we have the cert/degree grump squad who downplays the notion of certs or degrees meaning anything. BUT every single one of them busts it to get their next degree or cert. So talk is talk. If you truly believe they mean nothing back up your beliefs and DON'T go after them. I'm ok with that. More room for me. Otherwise admit they help and buckle down and get them. Even the grump squad never really downplays someone getting their CCIE. A casual glance through what you are required to know -breadth and depth- is humbling. So no doubts you will get respect for attaining it from your peers in the form of awe and/or jealousy and from employers in the form of money.