Got a new job!

pevangel

So I just accepted a job offer for a Sr. Network Engineer position that puts me at above 100K for the first time in my career. Total compensation puts me at mid 100K.

This is actually the first hop I'm going to take that's a pay increase. I had a goal to work in a strictly networking role and have chosen jobs that would have brought me closer to that role regardless of the pay. I chose a networking gig that payed at least 4K less over a systems job that paid 20K more. I even stopped going to college because it interfered with my networking studies.

I've been in IT for four years and didn't think I'd be where I am now. Two years ago my wife and I had a combined total compensation of less than 70K. She has also been studying hard and has joined the IT world recently. Now our combined total compensation is around 200K!

snadam

Congrats on the new position! Glad to see your hard work has paid off!

asmills85

Congrats.

Dakinggamer87

Congrats!!

gbdavidx

pevangel wrote: »

So I just accepted a job offer for a Sr. Network Engineer position that puts me at above 100K for the first time in my career. Total compensation puts me at mid 100K.

This is actually the first hop I'm going to take that's a pay increase. I had a goal to work in a strictly networking role and have chosen jobs that would have brought me closer to that role regardless of the pay. I chose a networking gig that payed at least 4K less over a systems job that paid 20K more. I even stopped going to college because it interfered with my networking studies.

I've been in IT for four years and didn't think I'd be where I am now. Two years ago my wife and I had a combined total compensation of less than 70K. She has also been studying hard and has joined the IT world recently. Now our combined total compensation is around 200K!

what did you do when you first transitioned into IT?

pevangel

Thanks!

@gbdavidx, my first IT job was in desktop/systems support. I wasted 1.5 years there. It was 90% downtime and I can honestly say that I didn't learn anything there.

dave330i

Congrats!

TheFORCE

Congratulations! How many jobs did you change in the 4 year span and what was your first job paying? If you could provide that information, that would be a better gauge for others to understand your success. Well done!

kohr-ah

Congratulations! Way to keep towards your goal!

pevangel

So I started with the desktop support job at 37K with a CCNA and A+. The CCNA didn't help at all. It wasn't until I got the A+ that I got the job. I spent 1.5 years there and got really bored. I wanted to get back on track to becoming a Network Architect. I bought the CCNP books and started studying during all of my downtime and while at home. I stopped going out drinking with friends and stopped my daily session with the PS3 and Call of Duty. I focused on getting the CCNP.

I passed one of the CCNP exams and my resume got noticed more. I was doing a bunch of interviews and got two offers: a sys admin job for 60k and a NOC support job for 33K. I took the NOC job and passed the other CCNP exams.

I eventually got promoted to a Junior Network Engineering role for 60K. I went back to college to get my bachelor's degree but stopped to focus on certifications related to what I was doing at work. I went back to my networking studies and got promoted a year later at 75K. That's the last position I held before getting this new offer.

I've worked/studied really hard and made some sacrifices along the way, but it's nice to see those things paying off. I get to do a job that I enjoy and get paid extremely well for it.

kurosaki00

Awesome stuff. Good job man! Gratz on the gig.

jamthat

pevangel wrote: »

So I started with the desktop support job at 37K with a CCNA and A+. The CCNA didn't help at all. It wasn't until I got the A+ that I got the job. I spent 1.5 years there and got really bored. I wanted to get back on track to becoming a Network Architect. I bought the CCNP books and started studying during all of my downtime and while at home. I stopped going out drinking with friends and stopped my daily session with the PS3 and Call of Duty. I focused on getting the CCNP.

I passed one of the CCNP exams and my resume got noticed more. I was doing a bunch of interviews and got two offers: a sys admin job for 60k and a NOC support job for 33K. I took the NOC job and passed the other CCNP exams.

I eventually got promoted to a Junior Network Engineering role for 60K. I went back to college to get my bachelor's degree but stopped to focus on certifications related to what I was doing at work. I went back to my networking studies and got promoted a year later at 75K. That's the last position I held before getting this new offer.

I've worked/studied really hard and made some sacrifices along the way, but it's nice to see those things paying off. I get to do a job that I enjoy and get paid extremely well for it.

Way to stay the course, that's awesome. Congrats! Any plans to finish up your degree?

Deathmage

Must say having a wife that is a partner in crime but is also a IT professional talk about a winning relationship. Must have some interesting conversations!!!!

But this story is what yours and so many sound like when you invest time and energy into your career. I love hearing these stories. Staying positive is what it's all about!!!! - Keep on truckin'.

networker050184

Congrats!

pramin

Congrats and nicely done.

coreyb80

Congrats!

markulous

Nice. Only 4 years and making that much is pretty quick. Not sure where you're located, but I'd be stoked if I can reach that. I'd probably be happy with 70k at that point though.

bpenn

Congrats man. You found the recipe for success: hard work and dedication. I know I will get there one day, also. Just gotta persevere!

coffeeluvr

Congratulations!!

pevangel

I'm focused on CCIE right now but will probably go back to college once I get my number. You don't need a degree to be successful in the IT field, but it helps a lot. I've been passed on by many companies simply because I didn't have a degree.

The nice thing about having a wife in IT is that she understands why I'm always studying because she has to do the same thing.

greg9891

That's Great news. its very encouraging to me. I was just recently network + certified and am now studying security + and it was amazing to see how much my resume got noticed for just passing the network + it has really motivated me to study hard for my security + exam. I believe in God that one day I will Be where you are salary wise. thanks your story has encouraged me.






Studying: Security +
Upcoming: VCA-DCV, A+,MCSA SERVER 2012, ITIL FOUNDATIONS

pevangel

Don't chase the money. Specialize in something you enjoy doing, get really good at it, and the money will come. I had a goal and stuck to it even though some decisions put me in debt early on. I used to make 68K a year before I transitioned to IT and took a massive pay cut.

Here are the things I've learned in the past four years that helped me get to where I am now:

• Don't chase the money which I've already mentioned. Set a goal for what you want to do and chase the jobs that will help you reach your goal.
• There's nothing wrong with getting high level certs with zero or very limited experience as long as you're doing it to learn the material. I got my CCNP because I wanted to really learn the material and spent a LOT of hours reading and labbing. I read all the Cisco press books, blogs, white papers, and RFCs. I watched Nuggets, INE, Chris Bryant, and youtube videos. I labbed everything in the study guide, gns3vault, and other labs that I made up. Taking the time to really learn the material helped me excel in interviews and impress potential employers. It also allowed for better interaction with the engineers which was a huge help with my promotion. I was a technician doing engineering tasks during my downtime.
• If there's a task/project that should be easy for you to do, don't do it. Focus on tasks that are challenging because that's where you'll see a ton of growth. If you think a task is way over your head, volunteer to do it or at least assist with it. Delegate what you find easy to people who might find it challenging. It frees up your time to do more challenging stuff, and you're challenging others to help with their growth which brings me to my next point.
• The fastest way to grow yourself is to grow others. If you are the only person that knows how to do this one thing, then you will be stuck doing that one thing. Teach others and promote their growth so that they can take on your current tasks. This frees you up to do more challenging tasks and move up the ladder.
• Take a break. I take vacations every year with my family and leave all the study materials at home. Burning yourself out is counterproductive to your growth.

nascar_paul

pevangel wrote: »

Don't chase the money. Specialize in something you enjoy doing, get really good at it, and the money will come. I had a goal and stuck to it even though some decisions put me in debt early on. I used to make 68K a year before I transitioned to IT and took a massive pay cut.

Here are the things I've learned in the past four years that helped me get to where I am now:

• Don't chase the money which I've already mentioned. Set a goal for what you want to do and chase the jobs that will help you reach your goal.
• There's nothing wrong with getting high level certs with zero or very limited experience as long as you're doing it to learn the material. I got my CCNP because I wanted to really learn the material and spent a LOT of hours reading and labbing. I read all the Cisco press books, blogs, white papers, and RFCs. I watched Nuggets, INE, Chris Bryant, and youtube videos. I labbed everything in the study guide, gns3vault, and other labs that I made up. Taking the time to really learn the material helped me excel in interviews and impress potential employers. It also allowed for better interaction with the engineers which was a huge help with my promotion. I was a technician doing engineering tasks during my downtime.
• If there's a task/project that should be easy for you to do, don't do it. Focus on tasks that are challenging because that's where you'll see a ton of growth. If you think a task is way over your head, volunteer to do it or at least assist with it. Delegate what you find easy to people who might find it challenging. It frees up your time to do more challenging stuff, and you're challenging others to help with their growth which brings me to my next point.
• The fastest way to grow yourself is to grow others. If you are the only person that knows how to do this one thing, then you will be stuck doing that one thing. Teach others and promote their growth so that they can take on your current tasks. This frees you up to do more challenging tasks and move up the ladder.
• Take a break. I take vacations every year with my family and leave all the study materials at home. Burning yourself out is counterproductive to your growth.

CONGRATULATIONS! And THANKS! That's some of the BEST advice I've ever heard in my life! Can I ask a question? How much did networking (the social kind, not the protocol based kind ) play a role in your success? Do you speak often with others that you've working with along your journey?

markulous

pevangel wrote: »

Don't chase the money. Specialize in something you enjoy doing, get really good at it, and the money will come. I had a goal and stuck to it even though some decisions put me in debt early on. I used to make 68K a year before I transitioned to IT and took a massive pay cut.

Here are the things I've learned in the past four years that helped me get to where I am now:

• Don't chase the money which I've already mentioned. Set a goal for what you want to do and chase the jobs that will help you reach your goal.
• There's nothing wrong with getting high level certs with zero or very limited experience as long as you're doing it to learn the material. I got my CCNP because I wanted to really learn the material and spent a LOT of hours reading and labbing. I read all the Cisco press books, blogs, white papers, and RFCs. I watched Nuggets, INE, Chris Bryant, and youtube videos. I labbed everything in the study guide, gns3vault, and other labs that I made up. Taking the time to really learn the material helped me excel in interviews and impress potential employers. It also allowed for better interaction with the engineers which was a huge help with my promotion. I was a technician doing engineering tasks during my downtime.
• If there's a task/project that should be easy for you to do, don't do it. Focus on tasks that are challenging because that's where you'll see a ton of growth. If you think a task is way over your head, volunteer to do it or at least assist with it. Delegate what you find easy to people who might find it challenging. It frees up your time to do more challenging stuff, and you're challenging others to help with their growth which brings me to my next point.
• The fastest way to grow yourself is to grow others. If you are the only person that knows how to do this one thing, then you will be stuck doing that one thing. Teach others and promote their growth so that they can take on your current tasks. This frees you up to do more challenging tasks and move up the ladder.
• Take a break. I take vacations every year with my family and leave all the study materials at home. Burning yourself out is counterproductive to your growth.

Great advice. I've got a soft goal of clearing 100k after 5 years of experience, but I'm aiming for what interests me and what seems like a good environment to challenge me. If I don't make that monetary goal, then not a big deal if my career is progressing the way I want it to.

ArabianKnight

I wonder where your location is, because that makes a big difference in salary? Congrats by the way!!

Chadius

Congrats man! I hope to be in your position in the future. May I ask how old you are? I ask only because if your older like me, that will give me even more hope!

fredrikjj

pevangel wrote: »

I even stopped going to college because it interfered with my networking studies.

That's some hardcore stuff man, I love it. Congratulations on the job!

UnixGuy

Excellent attitude and excellent achievement.

May I ask what career did you have before It?

Why did you switch to IT?

Did you go back to uni on campus or online?

Thanks for a motivational thread!

Legacy User

pevangel wrote: »

Don't chase the money. Specialize in something you enjoy doing, get really good at it, and the money will come.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Congrats on the new job!

slee335

i agree i got my ccna and it didn't help me either a+ help me more. but i found out after working in noc its not for me i'm more a system guy. i was contemplating on taking less to work as a system guy too to get experience. such a hard choice to take a cut.

pevangel

Thank you all!

I'm in the DMV area and I'm turning 30.

@nascar_paul
Networking (the social kind) did not play a role at all in my success. I see the benefit of it. I know several friends who have gotten great jobs because of who they know, but I'm just not very good at it. I have close to zero connections in the IT field. It's one of those things that I really need to improve on.

@UnixGuy
- I was a Bench Technician before I went to IT
- There's not much room for growth where I was. I looked at the market and IT was booming. I wanted to either be in Systems or in Security. After taking a few classes, I really enjoyed Networking and focused on that.
- I went both onsite and online.