This isn't directly related to the exam, but I was hoping I could get some general opinions here on what I should do assuming I pass (or don't).
I'm working on R&S prep right now and am hoping to sit for lab before the changes. Right now I'm the network admin at a company on the smaller side of mid-sized. We have a few remote sites + HQ connected via MPLS and L2L VPNs and approx 50-60 cisco devices under management. Lots of cisco routers, switches, and ASAs, but no load balancers (website hosted in cloud). We're a pure cisco shop.
I've done a lot while there (never idle or just maintaining) but it's not exactly a complex enterprise networking environment compared to something like a bank with thousands of branches connected via a plethora of different techs. And obviously, my day to day is lighter on R&S type stuff than other things like VMware/Hyper-v, System center, Windows Server, etc. I'll have been at this job for 4 years in June. The good thing from a resume standpoint is I've built everything and done everything myself (aside from helpdesk type issues), including a couple migrations of both network and vmware->hyperv and not ruined the company... ;p
I do acknowledge my relative lack of experience in what you might call hardcore networking on a day to day basis. I do the networking, but also all the other stuff, so despite my rather good cisco skills at this point (I'm moving along in my CCIE prep) and what I feel is a naturally good troubleshooting ability, I feel there's a lack of exposure to other things that would be important to a top-flight network engineer.
So for my next job, I'm really hoping to get something that will provide a lot of high-value experience, meaning not just tons of work doing MACs. High-value experience, to me, means complex troubleshooting and/or design work.
I'm not sure what road I should head down at this point. Should I try and get a job at a service provider or a datacenter or a large enterprise? Or would something at a cisco partner provide me the greatest breadth of experience so that I can begin to fill in the gaps? I'm really looking for maximum benefit to my skillset so that I fill in the experience gaps.
And what about certification? After I pass I plan to continue labbing to keep my core R&S skills fresh (I enjoy it, so no biggie) but I'll also be able to lay off a bit and start focusing on the next goal. Would something like the CCDP be most beneficial? In terms of just getting a cert done, I figure service provider would be an easy step coming off of R&S, but that's more of the same at one level wherease DP could really broaden my knowledge of design issues and best practices. Or maybe I should switch focus to Juniper R&S certs to round myself out and be less cisco-dependent. F5 certs could partially address lack of hands-on with load-balancers... Also wondering if I should consider CCNP Security. I'm decent with the ASA, but there's probably lots of stuff I don't know... Having said that, I'm not interested in becoming the firewall guy, per se. Service provider and datacenter work interests me a lot more and I'd assume large orgs like that would all have dedicated firewall guys so it's less important if I'm not a SME for ASAs (or checkpoint or whatever)... Then there's other stuff that some employers ask for like ITIL... How should I prioritize my continued learning?
It may be a bit presumptuous, but I'm asking now because I'm considering making a move before or around the same time I write the lab, regardless of pass/fail because I know I need to move into a larger environment asap. Need to start planning...
I'd appreciate any response that provides thoughts or guidance.
Thanks!