Consulting Engineer
Micheline Murphy
"There’s a whole universe out there. Once you get a foundational grounding in IT so you can understand what’s going on, stick your head up, look around, and see what interests you. Figure out what you want to do and go get that shiny."
Consulting Engineer
Micheline Murphy
"There’s a whole universe out there. Once you get a foundational grounding in IT so you can understand what’s going on, stick your head up, look around, and see what interests you. Figure out what you want to do and go get that shiny."
Consulting Engineer
Micheline Murphy
"There’s a whole universe out there. Once you get a foundational grounding in IT so you can understand what’s going on, stick your head up, look around, and see what interests you. Figure out what you want to do and go get that shiny."
About Micheline
Certifications
CCNA
CCNP Data Center
CCNP Enterprise
Location
Seattle, WA
Hobbies
Biking
Hiking
Boating
How it all began
For me, working in IT was a 180-degree switch. I was a trial lawyer for 16 years and felt that I had done and tried nearly everything. I was having a conversation with my husband, who works in IT, and I asked him, “What do you think I should do?” He said, “You should do what I do. I think you’d be really good at it.” I took that to heart and started looking into what makes IT go ‘round. I was literally asking, “I don’t know what a router is. What do you mean by a switch?” So, I basically started my tech journey as an IT learner.
Along the way, I met this great community in Cisco Learning Network (CLN). I wrote about a dozen articles on the CLN about data center networking. As I kept creating content, I realized that it was showcasing my ability to break down something complex into something simple and digestible. Eventually somebody said, “Hey, I could use those skills.” It made my transition from a volunteer to getting paid.
It pays to learn and get certified
When I decided to switch careers and pursue certifications, I did lots of research as to what the certifications were in the IT industry. So, I started my studies knowing which certifications I wanted to get. I started with the curriculum for CCNA and thought it was intellectually challenging in a way that law hadn’t been for me for a very long time. I just kept going and I got the certificate that I set out to get. Then I got a few more certs. By that time, I had gotten to the point where I thought, “I have all these certifications. I contribute valuable content to the CLN. Now I need to get a job and do this for money.”
Eventually, I was referred to a hiring manager who had read some of my articles on the CLN. He decided that we didn’t even need to talk about my technical expertise. He just wanted to make sure I was a fit on his team. That was how I had the interview for my very first paid IT job.
What does having a Cisco Certification mean to you?
“I derive a great deal of pride from having these certs. Certifications are a box I can stand on in front of the room and be the expert. They help me to stand up with confidence and authority.”
The recognition and the common value of the certs was what was important to me because I was just coming into the industry. If you say somebody has a CCNA or CCNP that's short for a certain level of expertise. If you say somebody has a CCIE, we all know that person has a high level of expertise. I wanted to be able to shortcut the conversation with the hiring managers by saying, I have a CCNP in XYZ, just to get the door open. I wasn’t relying on them to guarantee me a job. But I was relying on the cert to guarantee me an opportunity.
“I derive a great deal of pride from having these certs. Certifications are a box I can stand on in front of the room and be the expert. They help me to stand up with confidence and authority.”
The recognition and the common value of the certs was what was important to me because I was just coming into the industry. If you say somebody has a CCNA or CCNP that's short for a certain level of expertise. If you say somebody has a CCIE, we all know that person has a high level of expertise. I wanted to be able to shortcut the conversation with the hiring managers by saying, I have a CCNP in XYZ, just to get the door open. I wasn’t relying on them to guarantee me a job. But I was relying on the cert to guarantee me an opportunity.
What would you tell your younger self?
“Everybody falls down at one point in time. To think that as an IT professional you will always know the answer is setting yourself up for failure. It’s setting yourself up for the inability to grow. As long as you accept that and you go into the mindset that you're still learning, it's fun.”
What would you tell a friend?
Become certified because it boosts your credibility. It gives you opportunities to apply for jobs. You could be in retail, fashion, cars, coffee, airplanes, or whatever. They all have an IT infrastructure and need IT. If you’re looking to join IT as a new career, think outside the box. It’s not the old IT anymore.
Micheline's career path
CURRENT ROLE
Consulting Engineer
Consulting Engineers work closely with customers to design, build, and maintain the best solution to meet the needs of an organization or business. Solution examples include networks and data centers. Consulting Engineers also ensure the solution can scale as needed.
PREVIOUS ROLES
Implementation Engineer
Trial Lawyer
Micheline’s certification path
MOST RECENT CERTIFICATION
CCNP Enterprise
CCNP Enterprise certification holders configure, troubleshoot, and manage the networks of the largest companies in the world. The certification consists of both a specialist concentration exam, and the ENCOR exam, which covers enterprise infrastructure, virtualization, assurance, security, and automation.
OTHER CISCO CERTIFICATIONS
CCNA
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification is the first step toward a career in IT Networking. The CCNA exam covers networking fundamentals, IP services, security fundamentals, automation and programmability.
CCNP Data Center
Read more certification success stories
AJ Murray
"After getting my CCNA, I turned my attention to taking the CCNP Enterprise. About a month after passing the exam and obtaining the professional-level certification, I was promoted to senior deployment engineer, leading a team of engineers. I was told the CCNP certification wasn’t a requirement for getting the new position, but it helped convince management that I could lead others."
Senior Network Engineer
CCNA, CCDA, CCNP Enterprise
Christoph Neulinger
"Preparing for certification increased my knowledge and confidence, which ultimately translated to better work performance. As a result, I’ve received generous salary increases."
Network Engineer
CCNA, CCNP Enterprise
Kevin Brown
"People always want to know who they're talking to. They want to know if you’re qualified. Certifications give you instant credibility."
CyberOps Analyst
CCNA, CyberOps Associate
Streamline certification prep
Cisco U. certification Learning Paths walk you through courses and labs to prepare for your next exam, with assessments to check your learning.