HELP! Job’s killing me, what are my options?

martron

Hey everyone,

I'm posting here to hopefully get some life altering information!

I have a BS ME, and for the last 3+ years, I have been working supporting custom data center equipment (not very much IT). It was okay for the first couple years, but with a new manager, and some reorganizations in the group, it’s become hell. Each day I go into the office I feel like I die a little more inside. There’s a lot more to it, but I’ll leave it there.

I'm trying to land a new job, and have been applying remotely to positions in Denver for over a year (my fiancé moved there for grad school last fall). I was trying to avoid quitting my job without something lined up, but sometimes there are things more important in life than a paycheck. My dog is in Denver too!

I started studying for the CCNA in Jan, but with work and applying for jobs, I can only set aside maybe 10 hrs/wk. It’s going too slow. I have some of the required knowledge already, got my A+ recently without much trouble.

Do any of you have any suggestions/advice for someone looking to enroll somewhere as a full/part-time student, for the purposes of fast-tracking my CCNA / CCNP? I’m not opposed to accruing a little more debt. If I just stop everything, and focus a few months on getting the CCNA, then my CCNP, I think the job opportunities would be there. Is this foolish?

In addition to getting hands-on some equipment, school enrollment would pause student loan payments, but maybe there are other options? Google searches have not turned up much in the way of going to school in pursuit of CCNA / CCNP, just a lot of self-help stuff.

My current situation is increasingly untenable. The work of a Network/Ethernet/IP engineer really interests me, and there are 10X more jobs for CCNA/P’s than for ME’s in Denver. Long term career-wise, I think this route is a smart move. I know this could be risky, but to a future employer, I think this route is defensible.

Any thoughts/opinions would be incredibly appreciated!

100k

For school I would recommend WGU as most members here will. That's how I got my CCNA and that degree check box for HR. The CCNA will get you an entry level job in a NOC and rest is in experience and hard work from there. With your A+ you should be able to easily get a desktop support or help desk job. You maybe able to get a entry level network job with your degree pending your existing experience. Post up your resume and we will be able to see where you fall.

Bokeh

Been there at those kind of jobs.

I know several folks who have used this book on Amazon to get their CCNA - https://www.amazon.com/Cisco-CCNA-Days-Paul-Browning-ebook/dp/B00IY5FP2G?ie=UTF8&keywords=60%20days%20to%20ccna&qid=1462395606&ref_=sr_1_1_twi_kin_2&sr=8-1 . Paul does have a good CCNA/NP/IE site as well. Kindle edition is only 10 bucks right now.

martron

Thanks so much for the reply and info! I have spent some time perusing this forum in the last few months, and have frequently seen WGU being tossed around. Quick Google search shows them looking pretty good. Always good when things are described as "disrupting the status quo." Would you happen to know if my current loans could be deferred while enrolled at WGU?

networker050184

I'd strongly suggest you not rack up anymore debt getting your CCNA/CCNP. You can learn at home with video courses, books and lab resources for much cheaper and more thorough.

Even with those certifications I'd keep your job expectations in check. This is an industry that heavily favors experience. Especially on the network side. You might have to look into taking a lower level position to make the career move. You'd likely be looking at a pay cut too.