Spoke to a recruiter recently, need some opinions

So I sent my resume to a recruiter for the first time since I got my CCNA and Security+. Had a phone interview with them recently and was asked some pretty generic questions like experiences (none since I'm new to the field and I had been studying, and was working in other fields before), and future goals, etc.

One topic that popped up during the conversation had me thinking about getting some opinions from seasoned pros here.

He asked me how much I know about the job role of a Sysadmin, and whether I'm familiar with Windows servers. I told him I am trying to decide whether I should get started studying for MCSA or furthering networking. His response were I should focus of getting a CCNP if networking is my passion (it kind of is), that most of his clients would not really trust a guy that has too many certs, unless it's a job requirement. I guess question of how good you really are at a particular field comes up when you claim to be multi-talented.

With the above said, my plan now is get a MCP, for basic Server 2012 exposure, then start studying for CCNP, and try to pick up industrial networking as a side project (industrial always interests me), but I must get the certs that will ensure job stability first before anything else.

What do you think?

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Comments

danny069

Sysadmins, in the context of the recruiter, are usually Microsoft certified. It entails managing Active Directory, creating user accounts, exchange servers, domains, the list goes on and on. It seems to me you shouldn't worry about Microsoft certs and just focus on your CCNP. You love networking and it will bring you a networking job instead of a sys admin job, know what I mean?

techfiend

Take a look at what entry level positions are looking for and judge from that. I'd imagine an MCP or even MCSA 2012 with no experience is easier to explain then a CCNP with none. A+ is often a requirement on entry level positions here, it's expensive and likely won't teach you much but it's needed to get by HR.

Many TE members started out with 3 or even 4 associate level certs in different areas and it worked for most.

ITNewbie2

techfiend wrote: »

I'd imagine an MCP or even MCSA 2012 with no experience is easier to explain then a CCNP with none. A+ is often a requirement on entry level positions here, it's expensive and likely won't teach you much but it's needed to get by HR.

Thanks for the advice. That's a good point about a CCNP with no experience. I guess my best bet is to get a job first and perform any type of LAN & WAN grunt works, and study for CCNP at the same time. I will probably forgo A+ until I am being asked to get one, plus I have my Security and Network+ already.

ITNewbie2

danny069 wrote: »

Sysadmins, in the context of the recruiter, are usually Microsoft certified. It entails managing Active Directory, creating user accounts, exchange servers, domains, the list goes on and on. It seems to me you shouldn't worry about Microsoft certs and just focus on your CCNP. You love networking and it will bring you a networking job instead of a sys admin job, know what I mean?

Sure do. I am applying for anything that seems remotely in my realm, forgoing any positions that requires x years of experience as requirement. Hoping to boost my credibility for bigger and better future jobs. Will be purchasing the CCNP cert guide book soon. Didn't know they were over $120 on amazon, but I guess the reward will be worth the cost.

Dojiscalper

Maybe you can find a local company that would hire you to support desktops and deploy them as well as help out with the network stuff while adding to your certs. I imagine thats still needed? I started that way in the `90's when lots of places where upgrading to ethernet for the first time.

ITNewbie2

Dojiscalper wrote: »

Maybe you can find a local company that would hire you to support desktops and deploy them as well as help out with the network stuff while adding to your certs. I imagine thats still needed? I started that way in the `90's when lots of places where upgrading to ethernet for the first time.

I am hoping to find something basic but local first also. Living in Los Angeles, over 60% of the population work in a different county and traffic is a nightmare on the freeways. I am hoping I won't have to commute far for an entry level job, it probably won't even cover the cost of gas, know what I mean.

totallyjaded

danny069 wrote: »

Sysadmins, in the context of the recruiter, are usually Microsoft certified. It entails managing Active Directory, creating user accounts, exchange servers, domains, the list goes on and on. It seems to me you shouldn't worry about Microsoft certs and just focus on your CCNP. You love networking and it will bring you a networking job instead of a sys admin job, know what I mean?

Building on this a little, when I see "System Administrator" on a resume, I assume it means "desktop support" or "NOC tech".

There's nothing wrong with either, but if you want to be a network engineer, having a balance of Microsoft and Cisco certs isn't very helpful.

Assuming the recruiter was from a contract house, having Microsoft and Cisco certs benefits them much more than it benefits you.

techfiend

It really depends on the size of the company, SMB sys admins often do desktop support along with server duties. I don't see that in large companies that have separate help desks.

I see a lot of bigger companies hiring network admin or engineer looking for network and windows or linux knowledge. While MCSE or RHCSE are unusual goals for a network engineer, knowing some of each at an associates level can be very helpful in finding admin and most engineer positions.

Around here it's getting harder to find positions that are looking solely for network experience but they're posted by recruiters after all.

ITNewbie2

techfiend wrote: »

I see a lot of bigger companies hiring network admin or engineer looking for network and windows or linux knowledge. While MCSE or RHCSE are unusual goals for a network engineer, knowing some of each at an associates level can be very helpful in finding admin and most engineer positions.

Around here it's getting harder to find positions that are looking solely for network experience but they're posted by recruiters after all.

That's exactly what I have been seeing on job sites too. I suppose for a seasoned IT person, they can easily distinguish whether the "requirements" were written by a recruiter, or by an actual I.T. manager looking for such requirements without all the BS. Ever since I started looking at job sites in the last couple of months, without saying for certain, I see lots of jobs description asking lots of experiences, server, VM, networking, exchange, desktop, LAN, WAN, security and the list goes on and on. I agree, it shouldn't be that way because having all these certs don't necessarily make you good at a particular area, but rather, to satisfy the recruiter and HR and get your foot in the door.

ITNewbie2

totallyjaded wrote: »

Building on this a little, when I see "System Administrator" on a resume, I assume it means "desktop support" or "NOC tech".

There's nothing wrong with either, but if you want to be a network engineer, having a balance of Microsoft and Cisco certs isn't very helpful.

Assuming the recruiter was from a contract house, having Microsoft and Cisco certs benefits them much more than it benefits you.

Agreed.

Russell77

totallyjaded wrote: »

Building on this a little, when I see "System Administrator" on a resume, I assume it means "desktop support" or "NOC tech".

There's nothing wrong with either, but if you want to be a network engineer, having a balance of Microsoft and Cisco certs isn't very helpful.

Assuming the recruiter was from a contract house, having Microsoft and Cisco certs benefits them much more than it benefits you.

Why is what benefits the recruiter mutually exclusive to the client? If it's a local good recruiter they know what the market wants and needs. The recruiter evaluates where the client may fit into the market. If the market needs sys admins vs network engineers then that may be the way it is where they are. In my case I am a telecom guy that lives between two cities. In one city there are not many jobs for what I do and the competition is high. In the other city they have a hard time finding guys like me. A market dictates what is needed. It seems to me the advice was probably sound without knowing the local conditions.