Interview US Law

amb1s1

Let me explain my situation. I work night shift as helpdesk for 2 year. I started to study for the CCNA for almost 3 month and I already passed the INTRO. I noticed my employer that I passed the INTRO 2 weeks ago because I know they are looking for NOC Support. I also know they were pushing one guy from days to pass the CCNA. They are even going to pay a boot camp, so he can pass the test.

The other day I asked him if he started studying for the test and he told me that he hasn't. Also, the other day he was troubleshooting a user that the user was not able to get into the Internet, and he went and asked me how to fix it. I asked him to try to ping the Linksys router (192.168.1.1) to see if the user can see the router and then he asked if all Linksys router have the same IP Address. That’s telling me that he is not prepared the boot camp. What I'm thinking is that this guy thinks he is going to pass the CCNA just by taking the boot camp, ok.

OK, so last week the NOC guy from days call me and asked me if I want to go days because he know that I already passed the intro test. I was exited because he told me that he is going to talk with his manager (That it is also my manager) about me taking over his spot because he is going to move up to Engineer. That was last Thursday. Last Saturday I noticed that guy from days walk in with a brand new CCNA Sybex book and was like uuummmmm something is wrong here. I called the NOC support from days and I asked him what is going on. He told me that the guys interviewed for a JR Network Engineer position and he is pretty sure that he is going to get it. He ask why not me, he manager told me that I'm going to be taking training on night shift with the NOC support on nights. Right now I know that I'm not either replaced the night guy or the even considered me for any position. I was not even asked to go to the interview, and the job is not even post it. They did everything under the table. They told me that they are going to train me on night just to say that they are helping me out. The guy from night has 20 years of experience and he is not going anywhere. What should I do and if there is something illegal here. I can make this case bigger because I’m Hispanic and the other guy is White, but I like to used that the guys has some connection because I like to use that card.

milliamp

Maybe I am bitter, and this could in fact be the case, but I read your post saying to myself "Wow, this guy writes like a 12 year old".

I don't care if English isn't your fist language, most technical jobs require written and verbal communication...in English. Completing half the CCNA and pulling the race card because they won't make you an engineer is pretty lame.

I am JNCIS, JNCIA, CCNA, CIW, Network+, I-Net+, Linux+, Security+, A+ with tons of good experience and I would like to be an engineer too.

Are you in the U.S. on a work visa? If you are a native born US citizen maybe it is about time you turned off Spanish TV.

amb1s1

I'm here in US. First the Jr Engineer is just a big title. The real title is NOC support. You are right, English is my second language and about pulling the race card, I already told that I’m not going to pull it. If somebody with good network knowledge got the job, I would not complain, but this guys does not even know what protocol is used on DHCP. I bet my life that this guy does not know how to subnet.

I’m going to ask you a question. You have 2 choices; One hand you have someone that is going to get the CCNA Certificate on couple of weeks, only call out 2 in 2.5 years, always there for overtime or the guy with no knowledge, no certificate, but he writes better. Give me a break, and I’m not exaggerating.

amb1s1

milliamp wrote:

Are you in the U.S. on a work visa? If you are a native born US citizen maybe it is about time you turned off Spanish TV.

I was born here, but raise in another country. They can say that my writing is not good, but why they are going to give me access to the router. I work as a helpdesk and never had a problem with my writing or the way I talk. Again I don’t talk or write like people that were raise here, but I always do my job without my talking or writing affecting my performance.

milliamp

It is human nature for people to place more weight on their own strong points. Being a technical person, I am inclined to vote for the more technical person in that situation. A well written, but technically inept manager may not necessarily be inclined to agree with me. Guess which one gets to make important hiring decisions? Hint: not me.

amb1s1

Well, I'm going to find out why I was not told about the Open Job.

amb1s1

milliamp wrote:

It is human nature for people to place more weight on their own strong points.

I'm not placing more weight on my strong points. I gave u my weakness and I gave you my strengths.

tech-airman

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, so seek competent legal advice.

amb1s1,

First, I'd concentrate on passing the Cisco 640-811 ICND exam instead of wasting time complaining. Since you passed the 640-821 INTRO, you're basically ahead of the other guy by about half way. Just keep going and pass the 640-811 ICND exam so you'll become CCNA certified. Then with a solid CCNA in your hands, you'll be in a relatively stronger position to negotiate for that other job. If you start complaining now without being fully CCNA certified, then you might come across as a "troublemaker" instead of a competitor to the other guy.

I understand this "certificate competition" environment because at my last job, the company was interested in becoming a Cisco Partner. So they needed someone to become CCDA certified. Well, the competition was between the current "system/network engineer/administrator" and myself. Unfortunately, he was allowed to lounge around in his office studying while I was working hard in the production department building computers from scratch which didn't leave me much studying time. Either way, he's the one who passed the 640-441 DCN exam before me. Therefore he now has a stronger competitive position than me. He had such a stronger competitive position than me to the point where he's the one who kept his job and I was the one laid off.

That's why I'm advising you to finish up the ICND first before confronting management. Since you've taken and passed the 640-821 INTRO, you've got the upper hand as far as familiarity of how Cisco asks their questions. You've also got friends here at TE behind you.

Good luck.

amb1s1

tech-airman wrote:

First, I'd concentrate on passing the Cisco 640-811 ICND exam instead of wasting time complaining.
Good luck.

I’m definitely going to wait until I passed the ICND before I open my mouth. What you advised me was what the current NOC Support told me to do. Thanks; by the way I’m planning to take the test on 07/30.

sir_creamy_

milliamp wrote:

Maybe I am bitter, and this could in fact be the case, but I read your post saying to myself "Wow, this guy writes like a 12 year old".

I don't care if English isn't your fist language, most technical jobs require written and verbal communication...in English. Completing half the CCNA and pulling the race card because they won't make you an engineer is pretty lame.

I am JNCIS, JNCIA, CCNA, CIW, Network+, I-Net+, Linux+, Security+, A+ with tons of good experience and I would like to be an engineer too.

Are you in the U.S. on a work visa? If you are a native born US citizen maybe it is about time you turned off Spanish TV.

Amen brother.

iDShaDoW

I'd have to agree with airman, just get your CCNA and then talk to the NOC guy and have him put in a good word with the manager. He might be able to persuade the manager into seeing that you're more knowledgable than the other guy and work harder.

If they don't even after you get your CCNA, you'll be in a better position to locate work elsewhere.

And with the whole English thing... Even if his English isn't strong, someone who is good with English should be able to decipher what he's trying to get across.