You know your an IT professional when you go bald and you grow a bread out.

I am going to have 18 certifications in 3 years, including a CCIE. :) Thank you Eli

Wow, Fred's head is so much more shiny than Eli's.

Eli, you are an amazing interviewer. I am a network engineer, just passed my encor, working on ensari. You’re interview with people of this stature inspires me. Thank you

Striking similarities between myself and Fred Ferrell, vets, same MOS, learned troubleshooting, had a moment underneath a backhoe, said F#*k this and switched to computers, went to college and have since lat moved into cyber security.

very good interview. I am working on obtaining my CCNA. I hope to be certified soon.

Good move Eli! Total re vamp of your youtube format. Gooood move ;)

Hard to listen to this when you have been unemployed for over two years.

Thanks for the quality upload again, thanks for the interview! I found it really interesting and helpful.

Thanks for that Eli and Fred!

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:00 🔍 *Introduction and Background* - Eli introduces Fred Farrell, a network and infrastructure engineer at tmw systems. - Fred provides an overview of tmw systems and its focus on logistics software and cloud services. 02:03 💻 *Data Centers and Infrastructure* - Fred discusses the number of data centers (two in the U.S.) and their locations. - Explanation of the decision to have a data center in Raleigh and a DR site in Nashville. 03:40 📈 *Company Growth and Technology Evaluation* - Focus on the company's growth and the role of Fred in evaluating new technologies. - Mention of evaluating CI (Continuous Integration) as one of the new technologies. 05:00 🎓 *Pursuing CCIE Data Center Certification* - Fred talks about pursuing CCIE Data Center certification. - Mention of the significance of CCIE in mastering Cisco UCS and Nexus technologies. 06:37 🤔 *Choosing Between CCNA/CCNP and CCDA/CCDP* - Explanation of the differences between CCNA/CCNP (focused on troubleshooting) and CCDA/CCDP (focused on design). - Clarification on the importance of both certifications based on their distinct areas. 08:13 🛣 *Transition from Military to Technology* - Fred shares his transition from being a Marine Corps mechanic to entering the IT and technology field. - Emphasis on mentorship as a crucial factor in navigating the transition successfully. 11:50 🚀 *Starting IT Career with Network Administrator Role* - Discussion on Fred's first IT job as a network administrator at Roger Bacon Academy. - Mention of attending a job fair while still on active duty orders and landing the position. 14:20 💼 *Moving to Senior Network Engineer Role at Future Data* - Insight into working at a consulting company (Future Data) and gaining experience across various networks and vendors. - The positive impact of the company's culture on encouraging certifications and learning. 16:51 🎓 *Approach to Certifications and Continuous Learning* - Fred's approach to certifications, starting with Network+ and gradually expanding to multiple certifications. - Recommendation for aspiring IT professionals to consider starting with an MCSE for a broad foundation. 17:34 ⚖ *Job Changes and Handling Questions About Job Hopping* - Addressing questions about job changes and longevity in interviews. - Balancing the need for personal growth and potential concerns from employers. 18:44 📍 *Importance of Environment in Career Growth* - Recognizing the significance of being in a technology-friendly environment like Raleigh-Durham. - Leveraging the right environment for career growth and opportunities. 19:52 🎓 *Balancing College Degree and Certifications* - Discussion on Fred's progress towards completing a business degree alongside certifications. - The importance of aligning educational choices with long-term career goals. 21:16 🎖 *Veterans Benefits and Preferences* - Utilization of Montgomery GI Bill for college education. - Consideration of military service as an advantage, especially when dealing with prior military employers. 21:28 🏢 *Transitioning to NetApp Contract* - Contracted with NetApp for supposed three months, extended to almost a year. - Gained valuable experience in a multi-million dollar lab, extensive training. 23:04 🌐 *Adapting to Different Company Cultures* - No longer faces issues with company culture due to learning from past experiences. - Emphasizes the importance of two-way conversations in interviews to assess cultural fit. 24:26 🖥 *Contribution to AASARockstar.com* - Contributor to AASARockstar.com, focusing on Cisco ASA product. - Originally started as a blog for learning Cisco ASA out of necessity. 25:36 💻 *Experience with FlexPod Solutions* - Enjoys using FlexPod for its top-tier enterprise solution. - Appreciates Cisco Verified Designs (CVDs) for easy implementation. - Considering exploring other vendors during the upcoming infrastructure refresh. 30:25 🔄 *VMware and Citrix in the Environment* - VMware for server virtualization, Citrix (XenApp) for remote application access. - Both technologies serve different capacities in their infrastructure. 32:13 🚀 *Future Career Aspirations* - Aiming to focus on managing larger infrastructures with multiple data centers. - Interested in companies like Amazon, Rackspace, Google, Facebook for expansive roles. 33:50 🎓 *Advice for Those Starting in Technology* - Networking is crucial; leverage social media, particularly LinkedIn. - Certifications offer immediate ROI and enhance job prospects. 35:28 🎖 *Military Path in Technology* - Suggests joining the military if possible, gaining experience and certifications. - Military supports certifications financially, providing valuable opportunities. Made with HARPA AI ```

i like watching stuff like this

some more of this kind of content please!

Dude Eli really loves networking, he's vibrating!

I appreciate this Eli, keep it up!

I always feel like I am taking my time with certifications because I try to plan ahead safely and not rush into it. I plan to do my CCNA either next year or early 2018 and sometimes think to myself... Heck I'll nuckle down and try to go for it in a few years since I am trying to study as much as I can. I feel like I am not pushing myself too much since I am actually doing my Net+ soon in college but have already studied tons via books/plural sight/youtube/hands on experience and even at work, I feel like I am limited in a 2 man enviornment that I shouldn't rush into it since we barely use Cisco (only around 2-3 of our main customers).... Although it is just a personal interest and I absoutely love it. I wouldn't like to be certified with Cisco because of my job, but because I would have acheived my personal goal. (My goal is to get CCNP before I am 25 in 2021 LOL)

Brilliant interview

Thank you Eli!!

I realy enjoyed this . he seems like a really good guy .

another great upload. I'm liking these interviews. keep up the good work Eli.

great questions Eli

Thanks guys for your advices. My opinion about cisco certifications now they became nothing ...because what I'm seeing now the exams you can passed it with help and that's really bad. ..companies now focusing on your experiences and what you can do for them not on your f your certified certificates.

Excellent interview thanks!

He has......"The Successful IT Guy Look!!!"

i love this channel

these are great questions

Very good questions

Very informative, great interview thank you both

Awesome stuff. I already have my beard...going for the bald look by 2030

Do they visit the same barber?

QUESTION: Computer Science or Computer Engineering? What is you opinion on which one would you prefer if you were getting your bachelors degree, also taking into account doing either at 40 years old.

Very nice interview. What about SDN? What future do you see for it?

fantastic advice at the end, time to uninstall hearthstone LUL

Is he having a blast? He is no longer working with TMW

look up YearUp Ncr its a nonprofit IT school across the nation perfect for your demographic

2:57 1,000 VMs in two cabinets? What?!

informative

ahhh, interesting...

i don't understand how a human does 17 certs

37 minutes? that's it?

Three times, I'm scared :S

2

tmw ..... aka truckmate

They look so far apart.

FIRST