Its been ages since I have posted! sorry about all that…just had a lot of ups and downs..mostly self inflicted downs now that I think about it!
so what have I been doing the past few weeks? well ..things have been dead quiet .. agencies have been on the low ..not getting much phone calls in the past weeks!
Lately the thoughts of “was coming here the right idea?” have been going through my head, I came here thinking I would be taking a step forward in my career ..but instead It feels like I have taken 5 steps back.
Is that true? nope ..thinking that was my down fall..I have gained a lot out of life coming here..actually leaving my comfort zone in SA and coming here was good to get a taste of the real world, even tho it has only been over 2 months..I still have a lot to learn but have matured being here as an individual.
I was asked recently: why do I want to get my CCIE? … It took me awhile to answer..and explain this obsession.. my answers were that its because I believe it will fast track my career and I like the challenge! the way it is spoke of is as if its a wall thats unbreakable!…and I want to break that with intensive studying and a high level of understanding networks. My 1st understanding was this was a business orientated goal ..but more thought into it I’m thinking its more personal.
I was recently called up by a gentleman and asked to meet him, He has a one man company here in London thats IT based and said he was looking for someone to train up for consulting but I would have to work 9 to 1 in an office doing blackberry support for customers, which is one of his contracting jobs and then from 1 – 5 deals with the business side of things of this 1 man IT company.
I know what you are thinking! scandal! …yes i thought the same…but I needed the money ..so I took the job out of interest.. and guess what I’m doing now?…. pretty much an office job picking up phones and working on Microsoft access! and its been from 9 to 5 ..and I am very unhappy but its bring in money…for now..and gives me a chance to look for other jobs while I’m here.
I am moving into a new place on 16th november, Its my own room! at last. It has a double bed and room for a computer..it costs 480 pounds a month…very pricey…I wont have a lot of money for savings with my current salary but im happy have my own space in the corners of dirty gray england!
I found out that Cisco is having a mobile lab in june next year in johannesburg which really supriesed me! so I got in contact with one of the people over in cisco SA ..and was told its more for people who work in companies that are cisco partners and not for the individuals!.. but what they will do is make a pre lab up and then the candidates will go and attempt the pre lab and the top scorers will be allowed access to the real CCIE lab.. they pretty much only want people who will pass to do the lab.. I found this all a bit strange but I would not have a problem doing a pre lab because I wouldnt do the CCIE lab if I was not ready!
So what am I getting at? I can have an option to go home back to CT and do my CCIE within my country!
I’m not going to do that just yet
I’m sticking it out here in London for now in case an opportunity arises ! I will make a decision in January on what I am going to do and what will make me get my CCIE the fastest!
Cisco is having a partners day on the 11th in Birmingham which I will go check out..I want a chance to meet these companies face to face and show them what I am really made of! haha
