Expert's answer

Getting your CCNA is a good step and one that should serve you well. But one of the best things that I can recommend is to get experience. That will serve you just as well as a collection of certifications when you are first starting. As you get more experience, you may find things that interest you that you may not know about at this point.

Keep in mind that more and more certifications come with some type of periodic certification requirement. This means that you will be continually studying for exams to keep your certification collection current. You need to keep a balance between work and family.

Another thing to consider when deciding what certifications to pursue is what certifications are in demand where you live. Reach out to recruiters and headhunters in the area for their perspective as to what certifications and experience that perspective employers are looking for. Keep in mind that this is something that is always going to change. When I first started Novell was king in terms of certification demand. I rose through the ranks and attained a majority of the Novell certifications available at the time. Things have changed a lot in the almost 20 years that I have been in the IT arena. You need to remain flexible in what you are looking for and what employers want. The more flexible you are will serve both you and your employer well.