Looking Back #2: A Timeless Advice for an IT Career

 

Years ago, on one of my bus rides back to my hometown—or maybe back to college (the memory is foggy)—I was reading a Tom Clancy novel. The ride was bumpy, so I didn’t get much reading done, but I had already gone through the book a few times. I was reading just for the sake of reading.

I was seated beside a gentleman who either worked or lived across the causeway. Seeing me with my book, he struck up a conversation.

"You like reading?" he asked.

I glanced at him and nodded.

Then, out of the blue, he said, "You should do Cisco’s CCNA."

I didn’t ask why, but he continued. "It’s a great starting point for a career in IT." He assumed that since I liked reading, learning networking concepts and IT fundamentals would be easy for me.

At the time, I had no idea what CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) was. But later, I looked into it. It would have been a game-changer—a great pivot into IT.

I just wished certifications weren’t so expensive back then. (They still are.)

The IT Industry, Then and Now

That conversation happened 20+ years ago.

Today, the country across the causeway—already an economic powerhouse back then—has only grown stronger in terms of technology, finance, and infrastructure. The exchange rate, which was 1.5 times my local currency back then, is now more than 3 times that.

Had I pursued CCNA certification at that time, it could have opened doors to a solid IT career.

Why CCNA is Still Relevant Today

Even after two decades, CCNA remains one of the best entry points into IT. The industry has evolved, but networking remains a fundamental pillar of data centers, cloud computing, and enterprise infrastructure.

In fact, data center growth in the region has exploded. Governments and corporations are acquiring more land to build new data centers, and the demand for IT professionals—especially in networking, cybersecurity, and cloud computing—is at an all-time high.

A CCNA certification, alongside a relevant IT degree or hands-on experience, still provides a strong foundation in the field.

Final Thoughts

Looking back, I sometimes wonder how different things would have been if I had acted on that advice sooner. But for those considering an IT career today, the opportunity is still there.

If you’re looking for a solid entry point into networking, cloud computing, or data centers, CCNA is still worth it.

So, would you take the advice that I didn’t?