Two questions one around translating job roles the other about recruiting firms

philz1982

Ok,

So two questions:

I had a recruiter reach out to me from TekSystems I told the first lady I wasn't actively looking but after talking a bit longer I told them my minimum salary range and they said very few of their clients are paying that. My experience with sourcing firms is they offer the candidate a lower number, charge the client a higher number and pocket the difference.

I am also noticing that outside of the Fortune 100's very few companies know what to do with a JOAT. They started asking me questions around my background and it went kind of like this:

What's your network background: "I've got a CCNA but I've designed Multi-tiered Networks using HP, Avaya, Brocade, Juniper, and Cisco..."

Whats your Security Background: "Well, I do RA/VA/Audits on our partners and I also validate our designs."

I feel like I was confusing the lady by not being clear. I'm finding it really difficult to explain what I do to folks outside my company. Anyone else doing Technology Architecting with Multiple Technologies?

To give you an idea I touch:
Structured Cable, Power, DAS, WiFi, Voice, Video, RTLS, Network, Server, SAN, Virtualization, BAS, S&F, Lighting, Access Control, and the list goes on.

Yet the positions seem to be solely focused on CCIE or JNCE, Ect....

I'm having a real problem translating skills. I ran into this same issue when I left the military and I'll be damned if I take my skills and start at some low admin level role (no offense) just because I can't explain what I do.

So I guess I am asking two questions. One for insight into TekSystems and companies like them and the second, how to put my experience into a single 30 second statement.

Thanks,

-Phil

Tremie24

Most recruiters have no idea about the technical side of things.

darkerz

Contractors / Vendors are, typically, expected to be a SME for a specific set of projects or tasks.

JOAT's are becoming rare because companies need a small team of people to be very, very good at their domain as opposed to a large team of people doing everything.

shodown

Since you worked for such a large company with broad roles, its gonna be hard to find something similar. Your best bet for a guy like you is to start your own shop. That can be kinda hard in the beginning, but if you start networking now with people you can find something where you can offer some of your skills. Also keep in mind few companies are going to offer benefits like Johnson Controls, my best friend works there and I"m amazed at what you guys get.

anhtran35

None of the recruiters I talk to understand IT at all. They just want to know if you have this and that certification or clearance.

"they said very few of their clients are paying that."

LOL.