I've never worked at a place that didn't think they could use the expertise but I've worked at a few that didn't think they could afford it.
It's actually probably not that they can't afford it - it's that they are unwilling to pay for that level of expertise since given enough time - the folks you have on staff usually work it out. My current boss is very supportive and it is one of the primary reasons I still work there. The company on the other hand is actively trying to outsource me. So, given that the primary reason I still work there is the economy and jobs market. Before this process started however I hadn't been getting much support from anyone other than my direct boss and just above for this sort of thing. My boss has the authority to approve some expenses and even the lab (not travel though). He has permitted me to use the days I have taken to sit for my first attempt last month as training instead of vacation. He's offered to pay for as much of the passed lab as he can which is basically the lab itself but no travel. Some companies may genuinely not be able to justify the 'cost' of investing in its people. If my company had given me a slip of paper to sign committing me to work for them for a certain period after attaining the cert - I'd sign it if it was reasonable. I did it with my Bachelor's degree. Maybe you could offer that to your boss as a show of your good faith. Yes, you want more money - who doesn't. Yes, you want better carreer prospects - again who doesn't. Don't kid him or yourself. While the cert is not a 'golden ticket' (as much as I wish it was) it will open opportunities up for you. Your boss knows this, you know it. You're asking for a commitment from him - what is the return on investment to them? Show them that and if they still say 'no' then you have your answer and you already know what you should be doing (besides paying for it out of pocket). I've been paying for about 1/3 of mine out of pocket. My boss approves training materials, paid for my IP Expert class when things at the company were more certain. Paid for my written 3 times (1 failure, 2 passes - long story). I've paid for some hardware myself for my garage lab and I had built an IPexpert topology in my lab at work (at their expense and with my bosses full knowledge). The out of pocket bits are totally tax deductible (I am not a qualified tax preparer) though not $1 for $1. If you don't itemize already, these expenses could get you over the edge and actually provide you a mild tax benefit. Does your company have an educational reimbursement policy? Maybe this can fit under that somehow by a long shot. Check into it and good luck. -Mike Lipsey [email protected] _______________________________________________ For more information regarding industry leading CCIE Lab training, please visit www.ipexpert.com
