What do I do

So I work entry level IT for the state and I finished my bachelor's at WGU last September. It is a great accomplishment but I still make the same, most of my certs and my degree do not apply to my job, so I am forgetting some of what I learned. I have a kid on the way and I really do not know what I can do to get a higher paying job. Do I search for a job and learn the skills needed, or do I try to move up in my current job(who knows when that would happen, pay bump would be minimal).

It is depressing that I just racked up debt and learned skills I am not using. Any advice would be appreciated.

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TacoRocket

wrfortiscue wrote: »

So I work entry level IT for the state and I finished my bachelor's at WGU last September. It is a great accomplishment but I still make the same, most of my certs and my degree do not apply to my job, so I am forgetting some of what I learned. I have a kid on the way and I really do not know what I can do to get a higher paying job. Do I search for a job and learn the skills needed, or do I try to move up in my current job(who knows when that would happen, pay bump would be minimal).

It is depressing that I just racked up debt and learned skills I am not using. Any advice would be appreciated.

I think you kinda answered your own question. Look for a new job. If you're unhappy where you are at, staying won't help.

wrfortiscue

not unhappy at all, just need more pay lol. What I'm trying to say is I am new to this and how should someone like me get their feet wet?

636-555-3226

Never stay stagnant. I've never met a single person who stayed stagnant for their entire career who didn't regret it. If your response is well I'll just stay stagnant for awhile, well, I've never met a single person who said that and actually got out of that stagnant state. Change is good! Find something you like and explore it!

dustervoice

Take the advice of all the above posts.

wrfortiscue

Ok yes I want to but how? How does one get the experience? I don't even know what direction to even go...

TheFORCE

You say your degree and certifications dont apply to your current job... you have to give us some more information in order for the people here to provide some possible paths that you could take.
What are the current certificates that you hold?
How many years of experience in IT do you have, how many years in the current position.
What is the current job you are performing, job title, job description
What are you better at or are more inclined to like in the future. Are you good with desktop/hardware, do you like networking, do you like databases or programming, do you like or are interested in security?
Those are the questions you have to ask yourself and provide answers in order to find guidance.

Answer those and start finding and applying to jobs that are close to your answers and get junior positions to gain experience or volunteer or start going to your local computer meet ups to make connections.

Post a sanitized(remove personal info) version of your resume for assistance with your resume and feedback on how to improve it.

wrfortiscue

TheFORCE wrote: »

You say your degree and certifications dont apply to your current job... you have to give us some more information in order for the people here to provide some possible paths that you could take.
What are the current certificates that you hold?
How many years of experience in IT do you have, how many years in the current position.
What is the current job you are performing, job title, job description
What are you better at or are more inclined to like in the future. Are you good with desktop/hardware, do you like networking, do you like databases or programming, do you like or are interested in security?
Those are the questions you have to ask yourself and provide answers in order to find guidance.

Answer those and start finding and applying to jobs that are close to your answers and get junior positions to gain experience or volunteer or start going to your local computer meet ups to make connections.

Post a sanitized(remove personal info) version of your resume for assistance with your resume and feedback on how to improve it.

Thanks I'll get back to you with that info

Russ5813

Update your resume and apply for higher level IT jobs with the state. The fact that you're a state employee means you have an advantage over candidates who've yet to be vetted. Pay attention to job descriptions and tailor your resume to each individual opening-- don't go with a one-size-fits-all resume and start applying to everything in sight. Government jobs filter those out pretty quickly.

wrfortiscue

"You say your degree and certifications dont apply to your current job... you have to give us some more information in order for the people here to provide some possible paths that you could take.
What are the current certificates that you hold?
-CCNA
-CCNA security
-Comptia A+
-Comptia Network +
-Comptia Security +
-Comptia project +
-Comptia Linux +
- some CIW ones
-C# cert
- windows 7
Bachelors in IT security from WGU

How many years of experience in IT do you have, how many years in the current position.
Just 3 years in my current.

What is the current job you are performing, job title, job description
System Support Specialist is my title but it is just another word for helpdesk.
Got this from a site but it's basically this:

- Install and perform minor repairs to hardware, software, and peripheral equipment, following design or installation specifications.

- Oversee the daily performance of computer systems.

-Set up equipment for employee use, performing or ensuring proper installation of cable, operating systems, and appropriate software.

- Maintain record of daily data communication transactions, problems and remedial action taken, and installation activities.

-Read technical manuals, confer with users, and conduct computer diagnostics to investigate and resolve problems and to provide technical assistance and support.

- Confer with staff, users, and management to establish requirements for new systems or modifications.

-Develop training materials and procedures, and/or train users in the proper use of hardware and software.

- Refer major hardware or software problems or defective products to vendors or technicians for service.

- Read trade magazines and technical manuals, and attend conferences and seminars to maintain knowledge of hardware and software.

- Answer users' inquiries regarding computer software and hardware operation to resolve problems.

What are you better at or are more inclined to like in the future. Are you good with desktop/hardware, do you like networking, do you like databases or programming, do you like or are interested in security?
I am decent at networking, I am interested in security and or linux, I want to learn more about programming. I would love to do computer forensics but don't even know how to get a job in that. I am open to improving and moving up in current job.
Those are the questions you have to ask yourself and provide answers in order to find guidance.

TheFORCE

You have enough experience to move onto another position/role. Your certifications are well regarded, especially the Cisco certs, just by using those you could apply for some junior networking roles or junior security roles or windows administrator roles. Don't waste any more time in your current role, start applying for other positions. Where are you located? Your area plays a big part also. With those certifications plus the degree plus the 3 years experience you could be making way more than what a Helpdesk role is making.

techtia

Sell stuff on Craigslist

NOC-Ninja

Dont wait for your job. Start looking for a network analyst or noc technician jobs.

Go to meetup.com, look for any meet up in your area that deals with network engineers/cisco stuff. Go and talk to people, meet people, let them know you are looking and willing to learn.

Add guys at linkedin in your area. Message and introduced yourself.

IMO, usually, you get a infosec job once you have networking experience. There are some special case but i have not met them.

daviddws

Don't stick around. That would be a mistake. It could take a couple months or up to a year to find another job, but keep looking.

wrfortiscue

Thanks for the replies guys. Going to look around for some junior roles, hopefully I can find something with my skillset.

dcarey4698

Just apply for jobs that are related to your certs and degree. Mainly search for jobs using your certs as the keyword. You will find something. Good luck!

wrfortiscue

dcarey4698 wrote: »

Just apply for jobs that are related to your certs and degree. Mainly search for jobs using your certs as the keyword. You will find something. Good luck!

Sucky thing is I have not been using most of certs in real world so I am forgetting some of them. I'm sure a quick review would get me up to speed though.

I have asked people I used to work with that are in another job with a higher position but unfortunately I am not qualified. Already told my current boss I want to learn more and move up and she understands but I feel it's one of those things that will just get pushed aside. I do like the job security here, the people and environment, just need more pay lol.

I honestly don't even know what to pursue. I know my weak point is public speaking though.

nascar_paul

wrfortiscue wrote: »

I have asked people I used to work with that are in another job with a higher position but unfortunately I am not qualified.

Yet. I think that this is going to be the case more often than not. You'll train on something, have little to no practical experience with it, then you'll secure another role where you actually handle it. And while you perfect those skills, you'll train on something else, have little to no practical experience with it, then you'll secure another role where you actually handle it. And on and on.

The only thing will be that your experience and skill level (and pay) will continue to increase. Just like life. This is my read on the general situation at least.

wrfortiscue

nascar_paul wrote: »

Yet. I think that this is going to be the case more often than not. You'll train on something, have little to no practical experience with it, then you'll secure another role where you actually handle it. And while you perfect those skills, you'll train on something else, have little to no practical experience with it, then you'll secure another role where you actually handle it. And on and on.

The only thing will be that your experience and skill level (and pay) will continue to increase. Just like life. This is my read on the general situation at least.

yup I sure hope so. There are positions opening up around here, sys admin, unix, etc and they are desperate to hire especially in hires. I am trying to get pushed in a junior/learning role to be their full time at half pay of what they are asking. Maybe I might get it.

wrfortiscue

ok so it looks like I am getting an opportunity to move up within the company. It is a system administration job. I need to brush up on AD/server, SCCM and other things. Can anyone recommend some interview tips? What do I say if i do not know the answer? My current boss told me that they won't expect me to know everything but at the same time I do not want to look completely inept.

kohr-ah

wrfortiscue wrote: »

ok so it looks like I am getting an opportunity to move up within the company. It is a system administration job. I need to brush up on AD/server, SCCM and other things. Can anyone recommend some interview tips? What do I say if i do not know the answer? My current boss told me that they won't expect me to know everything but at the same time I do not want to look completely inept.

If you don't know the answer simply be honest. Tell them HOW you'd find the answer.
"I am not sure how'd we go about that situation but I do know that in the past doing xyzabc has helped me find the answers to issues before"

wrfortiscue

So now management is working on my interview skills. Preparing me for what kind of questions might be on the interview. If all this helps me gain interview experience and also teaches me to be prepared if I don't get the job.

- My insecurities tell me they are pushing this to show they want me to grow so that I feel I have their support when in reality they already have the candidate in mind. I'm probably wrong though