I'm not using my certification skills in a job....frustrating

Robbo777

Hi

I recently over the last year gained the CCNA and Network+ along with my degree from a couple of years earlier. I wanted to make myself more desirable while gaining more knowledge in the area that I enjoy the most, networking.
That includes everything to do with Cisco software or the CLI and the networking concepts behind it all etc...
However I have now started applying for roles and it seems the roles I'm going to be getting interviews for the most are 1st and maybe some 2nd line positions using Microsoft products and server also. I was wondering if this is all i can expect and will result in me forgetting most of my Cisco knowledge and will I ever get a chance to use it? I'm not as keen on just using a water downed version of Server 08 or 12 in a position and I enjoy Cisco networking a lot more also.


Thanks

jamesleecoleman

It honestly depends. I don't use a lot of information that I know at my job and so I have to continue to study up on what I know and go deeper into the different subjects. If you're at a company right now and you don't touch the Cisco stuff then try asking a manager if they can send you some stuff to do that deals with Cisco. Always ask..... It shows a lot when you do ask and explain that you're working towards a certain type of technology. The way I got to do this is by asking an engineer if I can make changes as long as I show the steps first. Once everything was okay, I went ahead and made the changes. They were just VLAN changes but I got to use that knowledge.

Robbo777

I'm wondering if most companies wont actually have Cisco equipment in house or wont do their changes on site basically. What type of position would i have apply for, maybe a junior position that deals with Cisco technologies because everything i am seeing at the moment seems to be Microsoft.

Cheers

TechGuru80

Most networking positions I have seen listed are never truly entry level. Server administration is more likely because many come out of help desk.

The best advice is try to get into networking if you can but take a job in servers if you have to. As you get the experience, hopefully you can transition but keep up the knowledge through studying.

Robbo777

Is there any positions that i could apply for that utilise my Cisco knowledge more so? Maybe at a junior level. There doesnt seem to be any route into it

UncleB

Smaller companies often have more scope to get hands on work with the networking but then will have less to do once the kit is in place, so if you want to really develop into this field then your best bet may be to upgrade your Cisco certs and just keep on plugging for the interviews, learning all you can through tech forums and playing with any kit you can get your hands on.

Remember that Cisco are just one supplier out there and there are plenty more, so if you can get experience working with other kit it can go a long way to impressing at interview if you know how they interoperate, and though having read up on faults other people found (on tech forums) you will be able to ask pertinent questions if the recruiter has a mixed network.

The most effective way to get into a network team if typically to change employer so keep an eye on the recruitment sites for what they ask for in terms of certs and aim to get them.

good luck
Iain

Russell77

If you want router and switch experience there is no better place to get it than working for an Internet service provider. Look for NOC positions that get you in the door. You may start on a bad shift or work weekends but in the end it will pay off.

DoubleNNs

I had the same issue during and after completing my CCNA. I desperately wanted to use some of the knowledge I was studying but couldn't find a job to use it in.

As previously mentioned, NOCs might be a good place to look. So are data center tech roles. However, during the hiring process you'll have to ask the right questions to see whether you'll ever be able to make changes yourself. Regardless, even if you don't get to make changes, roles like that are usually stepping blocks to more network admin-centric roles.

Also, if you have the additional skill set, you could always get a Systems/Server admin role in a smaller company. Even if you don't work with Cisco equipment directly, you'll almost definitely have to use general networking knowledge in your day-to-day tasks. And even if networking knowledge isn't necessary in such a role, time after time again you'll find them useful.

Good luck!

SteveLord

This is always a challenge. I went to a technical school and my course was largely MCSA (Windows 2000) and COMPTIA. My first job had mostly Novell servers that another guy managed and a single Microsoft file server that was barely utilized for anything. Waste and those Microsoft skills eventually perished because I could never apply them.