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Name:
Yasen Spasov

Age:
26

Country:
Bulgaria

Job:
Cisco Certified Network Administrator

Yasen Spasov

Widening Horizons

26-year-old Yasen Spasov graduated from his local Networking Academy in Bulgaria and joined the Cisco Sales Associate Programme (CSAP) in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

It takes effort and determination to complete a Cisco Certified Network Administrator course (CCNA). And once you have done so, the big question is: “What next?” Some use the qualifications to take a position immediately, whilst others go straight back to the classroom and lab to add to their knowledge.

Advertising its advantage

Yasen faced just such a choice when he graduated from one of over 100 Networking Academies in his native Bulgaria in 2007, but as he explains: “Luck struck. I came across an online advertisement for the CSAP.”

After submitting his CV, Yasen faced an hour-and-a-half telephone interview. “And finally,” he recounts, “I had a full day of assessment in the Cisco office in Bulgaria. On that day, I had to do a one hour interview with one of the current systems engineers from Cisco, and I also had to give a technical presentation.”

Prepared for success

Having taken all four semesters of the CCNA, Yasen was well-prepared for the interview, particularly the practical aspects. According to him: “the most useful part of being a Networking Academy student is having the possibility to configure real devices – hands-on experience, which is the best way to learn for many people.”

“Another advantage is the materials which the academy provides. They are easy to understand and easy to follow, with many additional resources. Trainers are well prepared and, most importantly, are people with real experience, who can explain with examples.”

It certainly benefited Yasen, who soon found himself accepted for the CSAP. The aim of the programme is to develop participants to become either a Cisco account manager or a systems engineer. Yasen is currently taking the more technical route.

As a graduate on the CSAP, he will have the opportunity to work with both technical specialists and sales professionals in order to hone his customer-facing skills.

Lesson from around the world

In the meantime, Yasen is in Amsterdam enjoying working with a mixture of 132 people from 45 different countries. The international nature of the course is giving him much more than the invaluable lessons in IT. As a participant, Yasen is enjoying a unique opportunity to meet like-minded individuals from all around the world, learning with them – and from them.

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