Next Steps?

N7Valiant

Just got my MCSA: Windows Server 2016 last week, bit curious about the direction I should go.

I live in Hawaii, and I've found that once I've excluded DoD jobs, the IT market is actually pretty dry over here.  One reason I exclude DoD is because I'm currently a DoD subcontractor (I contract out to another contractor to the DoD, which is weird).  Infrastructure is old, and a million layers of security makes even doing a feature update a questionable prospect.  Even if I do work on servers, my certification wouldn't be relevant since the OS is so old.  And I'm currently just doing desktop support if even that(mostly just manual labor and emailing customers for now).

My preference right now is University > Corporate > Healthcare > MSP > Stay where I am.  I figure University and Corporate would be more on the cutting edge of technology.  Healthcare would more or less involve one large public hospital (Queen's), would probably have the same issues as my current job, but shorter commute (5 minute drive).

I figure if all else fails I could just go right back to hell (MSP).  Already burned a bridge with my last MSP (and I have no regrets about that), the other MSP with a job posting is underpaying by about $20k minimum.

Staying where I am will probably hurt me skill wise, but I figure saving up for 6 months would leave me with enough cash to make a move somewhere in the mainland where there's a bigger IT market.

I was planning to give myself a month break, but after spending a weekend trying to relax and finding that video games are boring compared to my virtual lab, I was planning on finishing my MCSE.

mikey88

N7Valiant said:

saving up for 6 months would leave me with enough cash to make a move somewhere in the mainland where there's a bigger IT market.

That's what I would focus on first. It'll make your next decision much easier by not stressing over money or move.

NetworkingStudent

Keep saving your money.  I think the role you’re will help you get next step.  

 Have you tried posting your MCSA cert on linked-in?    Also, do you have your recent position posted on linked in?  A lot of recruiters do keyword searches , so having your job and cents on linked-in may help them find you quicker.

N7Valiant

My cert is posted on LinkedIn as well as my Wordpress blog, which I have hosted under a domain name I purchased using my first and last name, which coincidentally I also use as my email domain with SPF/DKIM/DMARC all configured.  I have my recent position updated, however my recent experience has taught me to avoid recruiters like the plague.

My dead-end job is largely owed to a recruiter who pulled a bait and switch on me.

AvgITGeek

Sorry you had a bad experience with a recruiter. I've had nothing but good results as every interview they scheduled were with the Company I'd be working for. I can see where this would be a problem if you have no contact with the company you will be eventually working for. That might get rid of this bait and switch trait as you will be able to ask your potential employer questions.

N7Valiant

Highly unlikely that sidestepping the recruiter would have helped in my case.  Both parties pulled a bait and switch.  The recruiter for reaching out to me with a Cybersecurity Analyst carrot, which then morphed into IT Specialist.  The company for saying they'd like me to write Powershell scripts and perform network scans, and then I arrive to do neither.

AvgITGeek

If the company is going to do that, it isn't on the recruiter obviously. So the company job description mentions nothing about what they expect you to do? Did you talk directly to the company? The company asking for X and expecting Y should have had you talking to the company. So you take the position after the company telling you they need PS and you take it? I'm getting confused.

N7Valiant

Gotta admit, I wasn't in the mood to be picky.  I had given my 1 month notice to my MSP at the time before I knew I had something else lined up.

Can't say it was the wrong decision either when I found out they terminated our 2 most skilled Engineers (out of a team of 6) because they raised a complaint about unpaid overtime.

So I was willing to overlook a few issues.

kaiju

Send me a PM.

The last two DoD jobs that I have had recently started using Server 2016.

Yes, recruiters SUCK! I hate it when they send me a form questionnaire without actually reading my entire resume,  cannot answer basic questions about a particular position and/or do not have a grasp of  8570 requirements.