Transitioning from Network Operations to Engineering

Danielh22185

Hey guys and gals, just trying to get some opinions / best direction advise here.

So my current work background has been with network operations for the past 3 years+. I have been able to make successful strides and have moved up two support levels within our operational team to our level 2 support. Lucky for me the 2nd level support is outside the NOC, however doesn't feel all that different from the NOC

In order for me to really move beyond my current role in my same company I would be taking on a level 3 position within the organization but that team is very small and has an opening on average maybe once every 2 years or longer; also the competition would be huge and I know I am not the first in line. I don't feel it would be best to sit and waste time for years longer just to make a marginal improvment with my career.

Anywho my dream is to move into Engineering / Implementing (consulting in later years). What I deal with day-to-day is just outage after outage caused either by a design flaw, a carrier issue, hardware failure, or some type of application issue where network needs to be proved out.

Now I know the operational side of things is a great place to gain experience and I have learned a TON from these past 3 years but I am ready to take on more. I feel I am beginning to plateau with what I am able to learn from the operational side of things and honestly getting bored.

However, the problem with the engineering roles are generally what seems just a hair out of my reach as far as experience goes. I also understand the engineering role is a very granular term and could mean designing the network from the ground up or simply being in charge of maintaining a specific element of the network only.

Anywho, any of you out there that made this change? I feel maybe I am being impatient but I know a lot of people my age (30) that are into much deeper and complex roles, and I feel their early exposure to these complex roles is what helped them get there.

f0rgiv3n

3 years of network ops experience and some as a level 2 position.
CCNA, and working on CCNP.

I would say you are SO CLOSE to getting over that bump. A lot of jobs look for 5 years of networking experience, etc...

My opinion is that you should look now. If you're willing, there's most likely a company willing to teach you. Even if you feel like you don't have all the experience the posting calls for, apply and give it a go. Tell them what you know, what you don't know and where you want to go. Be 100% honest and if they hire you on, they'll have already known where you need to grow and where you excel and accepted that.

Danielh22185

f0rgiv3n wrote: »

3 years of network ops experience and some as a level 2 position.
CCNA, and working on CCNP.

I would say you are SO CLOSE to getting over that bump. A lot of jobs look for 5 years of networking experience, etc...

My opinion is that you should look now. If you're willing, there's most likely a company willing to teach you. Even if you feel like you don't have all the experience the posting calls for, apply and give it a go. Tell them what you know, what you don't know and where you want to go. Be 100% honest and if they hire you on, they'll have already known where you need to grow and where you excel and accepted that.

Kinda my thoughts too. I am in a good position to apply and interview at my own leasure and when the right thing comes along to jump on it if they are willing to have me.