Career suggestions

Just came across Techexams and you guys seem super knowledgeable on the current IT market. I'm recently retired military and I just finished a BS in Information Systems Security from an online school. No certs, no experience. I've had a few interviews but no bites yet. I'm trying for just an entry level help desk job at this point, but I don't think they want a guy that plans on moving on in a year. Should a keep job hunting? Start knocking out some certifications? Which ones would help me most at this point? I'm currently working as a machinist at a local machine shop and I really feel that hiring personnel have something against blue collar workers....lol.

Thanks everyone!

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koz24

First of all, thank you for your service.

You need a great entry-level resume and some interviewing skills. Before you do that, I would get the CompTia "trifecta". Get A+, Network+, and Security+. You should be able to bang these out pretty fast. Once you do that, it wouldn't be bad idea to get a professional writer to craft your resume, and then get someone to help you with mock interviews. With a degree and military service, you should be getting offers for entry-level HelpDesk hand over fist.

P.S. Don't come across as the guy who will bail in 6-12 months.

greg9891

I agree just do some certs and you should be find.

networker050184

I have to disagree on the comptia stuff. You're over qualified for help desk.

What is it you actually want to do? You can likey leverage your military experience to get there rather than starting at the bottom.

Hatch1921

Thank you for your service! I was in exactly your place two years ago. The degree is a big help... but what landed several interviews for me and eventually the job I'm in now, was the CCNA certification. My boss wouldn't even interview people for the position I'm in without it. If you have some time ... go after a cert in the field you are trying to enter. Even for entry level jobs, this is a big plus. College shows you are teachable and willing to follow through and complete your degree... the certs show you have an interest in the tech/area you are trying to work in... IMO.

Hope this helps and best of luck in the future.

Hatch

tmtex

I am in Dallas TX. I was talking to a recruiter friend and I was asking him how the market is . He said its ok but mainly entry level and we cant find enough entry level people.

tmtex

No offense, I disagree with networker

dave330i

What did you do while in the Navy? Try to leverage it as much as possible, so that you don't have to start at the bottom. Try applying for a government position at USAJobs. As ex-military, you get preferential treatment.

If you're going government sector, CompTIA Sec+ is useful.

mbarrett

If you want to stay with the DoD environment, get your Security+ and it will qualify you for all sorts of things. Combined with your degree & military background, you will have no problems getting into an IT shop as a contractor, or possibly a government civilian employee if something opens up near you.

beads

Check https://www.usajobs.gov/ and see what you qualify. This will give you a better idea what you qualify for both civilian and government positions. The hard part of applying for government positions of course is learning that pesky government language. Of course have your DD201 ready to go. The rest is pretty easy to figure out.

And its hiring season for the government! Wooohooo!

Great timing.

- b/eads

CMCB0818

Wow, thanks for all the responses. I'd have a hard time leveraging myilitary career. I was vehicle maintenance then crosstrained to C-130 loadmaster. I'm kind of hoping to avoid governmentioned work again, at least at the federal level. I think working on certs is my best bet and keep job hunting in the process.

DatabaseHead

Find something you like and go for it. It's really that simple.....

Good luck on your certification whichever one that turns out to be.

Verities

Keep sharpening your skill set while you either look for work or an internship. I started as an intern after I got out of the military, and it helped me launch my career. Sure you work for free, but hey you get hands on time with tech (check with your local non profits, their IT departments are always underfunded and overworked)! Here are some free resources for you to check out:

Veteran Tech Training Programs | Microsoft Jobs After The Military > just Googled this

Injured Veterans Internship > Service connected disability? If more than 30% a lot of companies will prefer to hire you for tax credit purposes (something to think about)

Veterans eligible to receive free cybersecurity training - VAntage Point > Access to FedVTE for free security related training

Military OneSource - 24/7 Support for the Military Community > sign up and get an account > then you can get free access to Safari Books Online (sponsored through DoD MWR until 2020) > Also through Military Once Source you can get access to a lot of free resources (use and abuse this site!!!!)

EANx

CMCB0818 wrote: »

Wow, thanks for all the responses. I'd have a hard time leveraging myilitary career. I was vehicle maintenance then crosstrained to C-130 loadmaster. I'm kind of hoping to avoid governmentioned work again, at least at the federal level. I think working on certs is my best bet and keep job hunting in the process.

If you have a clearance, you might want to rethink that and leverage it into a job. Do that job for a few years or work for one of the contracting companies that do work for Uncle Sam but do it just long enough to get 3-4 years of diverse experience and then head off to where you really want to go.

CMCB0818

Thanks for all the replies! Been studying up for Network+ and in the meantime I got a job offer....Help desk for large fast food chain. Quite the pay cut from my current job, but I think I don't have a choice but to take it. Any suggestions?

DatabaseHead

@ OP

IT is a very large field, what particular part of IT interest you. I actually knew a machinist back in the day who was into networking, got his CCNA worked a few contract and eventually became a Change Manager. LOL No idea how that happened but he skipped help desk altogether.

I remember he had a high level of skill with Excel and MS Access, they tracked some quality issues in those tools.

I would focus on any software or automation you may have experience with. Leverage that into some of the roles you are looking at. I would think working as an IT Jack of all trades in a ware house or manufacturing facility would be right up your alley.

CMCB0818

Unfortunately working as a jack of all trades IT guy for where I work isn't possible. Thought I had the position a few years back after an awesome interview but it ended up a who you knew position, not what you knew. As far as automation I have limited experience. I'm one of the few old school manual guys in the shop and they've been trying to show us the door for a few years now. Think I'm going to take this job offer.

Thanks for the reply DatabaseHead

brewboy

How long have you been looking/interviewing since you graduated?

CMCB0818

About six months, but just got really serious the last two months. I've had a couple phone interviews and this was my first in person interview.

dmoore44

I'll throw a few more resources out there...

Depending on your location, there's a non-profit that helps retrain Vets in to IT jobs. Check out the nPower site here: Technology Service Corps

Also, check out some of the resources offered by Syracuse University's Institute for Veterans and Military Families: https://ivmf.syracuse.edu/partners-initiatives/ensuring-long-term-careers/career-training/ - the Veterans Career Transition Program might be of particular interest.

anhtran35

Do you have a clearance?
Certification advice. Security + CE( mandatory for DOD contractors ).
If you like networking then CCNA etc...
If you want to be a system administrator then MCSA, Linux etc...
Entry is help desk or desktop positions. Usually you have to stick around for a year or two and network to get other opportunities. I live in DC/VA area. My brother started off making 30k with Pragmatics. Once he got his clearance he tried to bounce and they offered him 45k. 3 months later I referred him to an Junior Sys Admin job for 65k. So he within 9 months he jumped from help desk at 30k to junior sys ad 65k.

brewboy

An offer in two months is great. This is a tough one though because even though it's help desk, that first IT job can be hard to get. You could jump on this, keep certing and after some experience apply for other positions.

CMCB0818

Thought I'd jump in here and offer a quick update on my current situation.

I took that help desk job that held a contract with a major fast food chain. Two weeks of intense training and then thrown to the wolves! There was hardly any tier two support for us and some calls would last hours. Anyway, I was there three weeks and a buddy of mine felt that gave me enough experience to hire me on as an IT Analyst at a truck dealership. While the title is IT Analyst, I am doing help desk operations but I am learning a ton from guys I've known for years. I can't quite say it's a dream job, but the pay is very fair. It's kind of hard working with friends, I was a groomsmen in my bosses wedding seven years back. As far as certifications I'm slowly pecking away for a CCNA and scrapping the lower level ones for now. Anyway, just wanted to update those who gave me advise months back. Thank you!

volfkhat

CMCB0818 wrote: »

Thought I had the position a few years back after an awesome interview but it ended up a who you knew position, not what you knew...

Looks like that works both ways, no? :]

Congrats! and keep pushing towards that cert (network+/whatever)

CMCB0818

volfkhat wrote: »

Looks like that works both ways, no? :]

Congrats! and keep pushing towards that cert (network+/whatever)

Haha...Very very true volfkhat. Can't argue that. Seems to be the case most of the time these days. At least getting started. Someone has to take a chance, and most of those people like taking chances on people they know.

CMCB0818

Any tips on how to not mess this up? I think I have an interview coming up. 10 point Veterans Preference.

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