Getting Started

Nikki624

Hi All,

I have a BS in Information Technology with an emphasis on Networking and a minor in InfoSec. I also have a MS in Information Systems. I don't have any relevant experience yet and I am having the hardest time getting my foot in the door. Any suggestions/recommendations on what I can do to get started? I really want to jumpstart my career. I currently work as a Help Desk Technician, but this job isn't really helping me. I only do basic troubleshooting (very basic) and there is no room for growth and/or development. I have applied to several other help desk positions (along with many others) but I am having the worst luck ever with getting call backs. I have even taken my Masters off my resume to try to land a job so I can try to start from the bottom and work my way. I feel stuck and I don't know where to go or what to do at this point. Please Help!

Danielm7

Maybe post your resume? Are you not getting calls or are you getting passed over during interviews?

ImYourOnlyDJ

How long have you been working Help Desk?

tkerber

Nikki624 wrote: »

Hi All,

I have a BS in Information Technology with an emphasis on Networking and a minor in InfoSec. I also have a MS in Information Systems. I don't have any relevant experience yet and I am having the hardest time getting my foot in the door. Any suggestions/recommendations on what I can do to get started? I really want to jumpstart my career. I currently work as a Help Desk Technician, but this job isn't really helping me. I only do basic troubleshooting (very basic) and there is no room for growth and/or development. I have applied to several other help desk position (along with many others) but I am having the worst luck ever with getting call backs. I have even taken my Masters off my resume to try to land a job so I can try to start from the bottom and work my way. I feel stuck and I don't know where to go or what to do at this point. Please Help!

Even though your current situation isn't obviously ideal, I wouldn't hide your Masters degree--I don't think it's a good idea to hide education unless you dropped out.

I agree with others that you should post your resume, because it may be a large factor. Unfortunately though, to me it sounds like you just don't have that much experience yet and I hate to break it to you but IT is all about experience. Degrees are long term investments and are going to open lots of doors for you later on. However, right now if you're not experienced, having a Masters really isn't going to automatically land you a high paying IT job unless you're really lucky.

You've graduated with a Masters degree, props to you, that's a hefty accomplishment. Now I would work on the triage; experience + certifications + degree and in a couple of years down the road you may be quite comfortable.

Danielm7

tkerber wrote: »

Unfortunately though, to me it sounds like you just don't have that much experience yet and I hate to break it to you but IT is all about experience.

Probably the resume like you mentioned. He's already working help desk now, and applying for other help desk positions with experience, a BS and a MS, outside of being viewed as possibly overqualified with the education he shouldn't be passed by for experience for the same role.

markulous

How long have you worked there? If it hasn't been that long that could be part of it. As others suggested, it could be your resume also.

daviddws

tkerber wrote: »

Unfortunately though, to me it sounds like you just don't have that much experience yet and I hate to break it to you but IT is all about experience. Degrees are long term investments and are going to open lots of doors for you later on. However, right now if you're not experienced, having a Masters really isn't going to automatically land you a high paying IT job unless you're really lucky.
.

So true. The transition from school to work, especially after a Masters can be soul crushing in some instances. Your expectations are higher because you worked so hard to get that piece of paper. Now you need to meet the demands of the industry by certing up and gaining experience. I would probably look for another position with growth opportunities. No doubt HR or a recruiter will give you a chance. It may not be your exact choice at first, but thats just the way it goes.

Nikki624

Response to all posts and resume attached.I'm not getting calls. I've applied to hundreds of jobs and I've only gotten two calls. I should hear something back about both positions next week, but I'm wondering what is really going on.I've been working help desk for 8 months.I am preparing for the A+. Once I get this cert out of the way, I plan to get network and then security + certs. Eventually I do hope to obtain my CCNA. A friend (that also works in IT) told me the other day that I need to just find another help desk position, one that offers opportunities for growth and development and just start from the bottom and work my way up. I have started applying for other help desk positions, so hopefully I can get hired at a more promising company and gain the the experience needed to more forward. Here is my resume.

ratbuddy

You aren't gonna want to hear this, but get that University of Phoenix MS off the resume. It's only going to hurt you at this stage. Also get it down to one page, maybe by removing the oldest non-IT work.

markulous

I'd put your Education at the top so they see it right away and don't have to look at the end of your resume. I wouldn't put your GPA on there either.

The Sr. Sales Associate you have listed from 12/2008 to 12/2008. If it really lasted a month you should take it off.

Nikki624

ratbuddy wrote: »

You aren't gonna want to hear this, but get that University of Phoenix MS off the resume. It's only going to hurt you at this stage. Also get it down to one page, maybe by removing the oldest non-IT work.

Why is university of Phoenix hurtful?

Nikki624

markulous wrote: »

I'd put your Education at the top so they see it right away and don't have to look at the end of your resume. I wouldn't put your GPA on there either.

The Sr. Sales Associate you have listed from 12/2008 to 12/2008. If it really lasted a month you should take it off.

Oh no!!!!! that's definitely not right!!! I didn't even realize I did that. I was Sr. Sales associate from 12/2008-09/2011.

JeanM

You are listing a WIDE range of technical skills under your "AREA OF EXPERTISE" section, but I bet this is hurting you as other than CS/Desktop Support / MS Suite your resume or job experience does not add up to what's listed ....

Whatever you have listed as skills or area of expertise , you would want to back it up with relevant job experience basically.

AREA OF EXPERTISE:
 Management/Customer Service
 Desktop Support
 Microsoft Suite
 HTML/JavaScript/SQL ( "Occasionally entered information into an SQL Server database ")
 TCP/IP ("Assisted with configuring networks" )
 Active Directory ?
 Windows Server ?
 VMware ?
 SharePoint
 Firewalls/VPN’s ?
 Network Security ?
 Windows /Linux / Unix?

Have you tried getting your resume to a contracting agency? Sometimes it's another way to get at least an interview and go from there.

alestor96

This is what I found after a quick search on University of Phoenix:
University of Phoenix Accreditation Hits Snag As Panel Recommends Probation
University of Phoenix - Phoenix, AZ | Yelp

Nikki624

JeanM wrote: »

You are listing a WIDE range of technical skills under your "AREA OF EXPERTISE" section, but I bet this is hurting you as other than CS/Desktop Support / MS Suite your resume or job experience does not add up to what's listed ....

Whatever you have listed as skills or area of expertise , you would want to back it up with relevant job experience basically.

Have you tried getting your resume to a contracting agency? Sometimes it's another way to get at least an interview and go from there.

This is what confuses me. My current manager told me to stop limiting my skills on my resume. She said if I've touched it, it's experience. These are skills that I worked hands on with in both my undergraduate and graduate program.

I am currently working with a recruiter from MDI.

powerfool

This may sound counter-intuitive, but maybe leave your MS off of your resume... You have an advanced degree and little experience, that could scare off plenty of employers.

JeanM

Nikki624 wrote: »

This is what confuses me. My current manager told me to stop limiting my skills on my resume. She said if I've touched it, it's experience. These are skills that I worked hands on with in both my undergraduate and graduate program.

I am currently working with a recruiter from MDI.

You manager was being nice Think about it, areas of expertise and having very little experience in some of these very broad technologies would surely raise questions.

Just be prepared to back it up during an interview, nothing is worse in interview than someone who is putting let's say "wireshark" or "networking" on their resume and then not being able to answer simple questions on it.

I don't be mean this in a negative way, but for you to see it from another side. Good luck!

srabiee

Add a Summary section at the top of the resume. I've never seen a resume without one.

Move Education and Secret Clearance to the top of the resume under the Summary section. You don't have extensive IT experience, so education is going to be your focus at this point.

If possible, I recommend you remove the Area of Expertise section and integrate those items into your actual experience. Explain to us HOW you interact with those technologies while on the job. If you work with Server 2008 R2 Active Directory, for example, put that in the experience section and tell us what you have done with it. If you work with Linux, put it in the experience section. etc.

I agree that you should remove older job info that was unrelated to IT and didn't last a very long time. That will allow for more room on your resume to expand upon your IT experience.

Remove the "References Available" section. It's implied and unnecessary.

GPA isn't necessary. If you graduated Magna Cum Laude or Summa Cum Laude, put that on there instead.

I agree that the resume should be only 1 page at this point. You don't have the extensive experience to necessitate two pages.

I don't think removing the Masters degree is a good idea. Actually, I think it's a silly practice and I hate it when people recommend for others to do this. You worked hard for it, you earned it, you are educated, and you don't need to hide that fact. Be proud of the fact that a very low percentage of people ever obtain a graduate degree, and you are one of those people.

Right now you need experience and you need certs.

Keep gaining experience and start working on IT certifications. A home lab (physical or virtual) will be invaluable to you. Good luck!

LeBroke

srabiee wrote: »

I don't think removing the Masters degree is a good idea. Actually, I think it's a silly practice and I hate it when people recommend for others to do this. You worked hard for it, you earned it, you are educated, and you don't need to hide that fact. Be proud of the fact that a very low percentage of people ever obtain a graduate degree, and you are one of those people.

Problem is, it's a degree from University of Phoenix, a for-profit online school that's well-known for simply handing out diplomas with good grades just for paying, irregardless of learning, knowing, or passing anything. Hence, most employers don't take it seriously and are known to look down on it. It's the complete opposite of going to MIT, where the mere fact of graduating it will get you a decent job. UoP can often hurt your chances.

srabiee

I looked up UoP's accreditation on Google and this is what I found:

"The University of Phoenix has been regionally accredited since 1978 by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) as a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA)."

It's regionally accredited. I highly doubt it's on the same level as a for-profit, predatory, non-accredited diploma mill like Everest Institute, ICDC, or similar institutions. There has to be something said for the fact that UoP obtained and has maintained regional accreditation status for decades.

Personally, I wouldn't choose a for-profit school or send my daughter to one, but I also wouldn't immediately dismiss a for-profit online degree as trash.

daviddws

LeBroke wrote: »

Problem is, it's a degree from University of Phoenix, a for-profit online school that's well-known for simply handing out diplomas with good grades just for paying, irregardless of learning, knowing, or passing anything. Hence, most employers don't take it seriously and are known to look down on it. It's the complete opposite of going to MIT, where the mere fact of graduating it will get you a decent job. UoP can often hurt your chances.

Seriously? By your logic unless you get into MIT you should just give up. Employers are looking for employees that finish what they start. An accredited school is valid regardless of your opinion. If there was a problem do you not think the accredidation would have been pulled?

pevangel

In my opinion, don't do the A+ and Network+ certification. Your foot is already in the door with the help desk job. I think a CCNA will accelerate your career more than either of those certs.

On your resume, put education and your clearance on top and I would not take off the Masters. I think you would do pretty well here in the MD/DC/VA region with that resume. Have you considered moving?

Nikki624

Pevangel,

I actually just moved last year from Mississippi To Georgia hoping this would be a better opportunity. I amm open to moving, but I have a special needs son and after a year I JUST got him situation with all the assistance (specialist, therapy, school, etc), so I wouldn't want to move again so soon . I just revamped my resume and swapped it with the one I had uploaded yesterday. I am just now seeing your post so I will move my education to the top and add my Master's back. But I have tried to pull out the important stuff when highlighted my job duties in the past. It was hard trying to keep it at one page. The little experience I do have I say isn't relevant because most jobs I look at are asking that you have between 3 and 7 years of experience. My job as an Electronic Tech/Systems maintainer was only 8 months because it was a government contract that ended way earlier than expected. My son's father also works in IT, he had a conversation with his manager about certifications because it is time for him to renew is + series, but his manger told him that most employers don't care if you have those certs as long as you can get the job done. Even if they mention the certs in their job description, they aren't really checking for that. I guess that could be argued as UoPX is arguable. You all are definitely being a great help though.