How to advance to Network Admin from Tech Support?

I'll keep this short and simple. I'm A+ and N+ certified. I just landed a job as a Tier 2 Network Technical support. The pay is $44k a year and it's my first job in IT after getting my certs. I started my IT career three months ago.

I want to work here for atleast 6 months to a year or year and a half. I want to be a network administrator.

I'm currently pursuing a BS in IT Security from WGU because it also has the CCNA certs.

Realistically what would be the next step and can I make it to a network or junior network administrator job within a year? With just A+, N+ and experience in this new job of mine while getting my B.S. in IT and the other Certs.

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aderon

Are you in FL by any chance?

ande0255

I would talk to management, and see if they are willing to make introductions to assist you in meeting with the network team, and from there it is all you to impress the hell out of them until a position opens on their team.

If management is not willing to do this, you will probably need to change companies to take that step.

Jacinto1023

I'm located in NY but want to move down to Florida in 2-3 years.

At my company location in about the highest level tech. There's just team leader and then supervisor. My company has system admin positions but in another location but it's only 15mins further!

Maybe if I work very hard and show interest I can move to system admin.

JoJoCal19

Jacinto1023 wrote: »

Maybe if I work very hard and show interest I can move to system admin.

What is your end goal? Moving to System Admin when you want to move to be a Network Admin will not help. With your Network Tech Support position you are in the perfect spot to work towards a Network Admin position. Just learn everything you can at this position, and start work right away on your CCNA (don't wait to do it at WGU). Knock out your CCNA and make sure you lab a ton and can talk the talk and walk the walk, and then after a year on the job you should be in prime position to land interviews for Network Admin positions.

blatini

Just talk to the network team, shadow them when you can. Ask to borrow old equipment that's been shelved to lab.

"Network Admin" means something different to everyone. Honestly you would most likely get a gig as a NOC tech, but even that would be a big step for getting to your end goal.

Jacinto1023

JoJoCal19 wrote: »

What is your end goal? Moving to System Admin when you want to move to be a Network Admin will not help. With your Network Tech Support position you are in the perfect spot to work towards a Network Admin position. Just learn everything you can at this position, and start work right away on your CCNA (don't wait to do it at WGU). Knock out your CCNA and make sure you lab a ton and can talk the talk and walk the walk, and then after a year on the job you should be in prime position to land interviews for Network Admin positions.

Yes you are right, makes more sense to do that. I see you said to get a move on CCNA asap before WGU. WGU has two B.S. in IT.

1) Labeled as Network Administration and actually gives you

Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA): Windows Server 2012
Microsoft Certified Professional, Specialist

2) Labeled as Security which gives you

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA®)
Cisco Certified Network Associate Security (CCNA® Security)

so should i take the Network Administration B.S. and then do the CCNA on my own that way i'll have my B.S. in IT/Network Admin and have both Microsoft and Cisco certs. i thought the network admin degree would have Cisco instead of Microsoft.

I'm grateful i landed this job just one week after completing my certs and even though it is a call center at least i'm the highest tier and doing network troubleshooting but i do not want to get stuck in the call center environment. It seems the only positions available here is Team lead and then supervisor and that is not what i want. i want to be a Network Admin doing much more complex and challenging tasks..

anhtran35

Job Title is not the issue. Whether you are a network tech or network admin. Are you doing the same work? I would stick with the position for a year or two especially if they teach you network admin stuff. Get your CCNA and Sec+CE or CCNA Security and find a company to give your a clearance.

Jacinto1023

anhtran35 wrote: »

Job Title is not the issue. Whether you are a network tech or network admin. Are you doing the same work? I would stick with the position for a year or two especially if they teach you network admin stuff. Get your CCNA and Sec+CE or CCNA Security and find a company to give your a clearance.

its a call center environment, i'm the highest tier Tech handling networking troubleshooting but like i said in the end it is still a call center environment. So i'm not sure i can grow here but its definitely a good learning experience.

jamesleecoleman

Jacinto1023 wrote: »

its a call center environment, i'm the highest tier Tech handling networking troubleshooting but like i said in the end it is still a call center environment. So i'm not sure i can grow here but its definitely a good learning experience.

I think you could grow, especially since its the first IT job that you've had and you've made the jump right into tier 2. Plus, the pay that you have seems like it's good. A lot of people make way less starting off. First full time IT job that I had started me off at 32,500 but I got overtime for about two years and so my pay was 48,XXX a year. Even though its a job in a call center, you might be able to get assigned small tasks that are beyond the stuff that you do. I suggest that you stay with it for a couple of years and work hard.

Jacinto1023

jamesleecoleman wrote: »

I think you could grow, especially since its the first IT job that you've had and you've made the jump right into tier 2. Plus, the pay that you have seems like it's good. A lot of people make way less starting off. First full time IT job that I had started me off at 32,500 but I got overtime for about two years and so my pay was 48,XXX a year. Even though its a job in a call center, you might be able to get assigned small tasks that are beyond the stuff that you do. I suggest that you stay with it for a couple of years and work hard.

While pursuing my WGU BS in IT/Network Admin and taking my CCNA correct?

Jacinto1023

So i talked to management and they offer a few different positions.

NOC Level 1 but the pay is the same grade as my current job and i need to wait 6 months to transfer but atleast its alot more technical and exactly what i'm looking for.

then they also have system admin and network engineer. the system admins is just requiring a bachelors in IT and the network engineer wants certs and 4 years minimum. i'm looking to progress fast so i was thinking the studying i'll be doing at home with the WGU and self studying for the CCNA should land me the transfer to NOC after 6months. the WGU offers MSCA so i was thinking maybe switch over the system admin since i would be able to alot sooner then network engineer. my pay would literally more then double.