Am I still an entry level tech?

*pre-2000, I worked for a small company cataloging their inventory in Excel. I only did it for about six months or so. The company has long since disappeared as the owner died...so I don't really include it on my resume.

*2002 I did volunteer work at a vocational school, helping the administrator setup some new classrooms(ran cabling and installed machines).

*2000-2004 I did volunteer work, offering technical support to a remax office nearby where I had relatives working. I use to clean all the malware off the machines and help with minor issues like printer problems. I occasionally got paid for my work. Not sure if I should keep this on my resume, since the office owners are long gone and the management changed. The office was also moved to another town.

(didn't work in 2005 due to cancer surgery)

*2006-2007(for 15 months or so) I worked at Daystar in Orlando repairing PCs and laptops, doing data recovery and malware removal. Fun stuff, crap pay.

*2007(for two weeks) I worked as a cable installer, running data and CATV cable. It was the worst job ever and I had to quit. I don't include it on my resume or speak of it.

I really need more server and network experience, so I still market myself as "entry level" and put 1-2 years of experience down. I can't seem to get past these 30-40K/yr jobs.

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Comments

networker050184

It depends on what type of work your looking for. If you don't have experience with something then you will need to find an entry level position in that field. You are probably not ready to be a network admin, but may be able to land level two help desk. It all depends on the company, and how well you can sell what experience you do have. Good luck finding a good job though. 30k - 40k isn't bad at all for someone with only minimum experience (depending on location of course).

famosbrown

If you don't have the actual work experience, but feel confident you can do the job, then apply for what you are confident in doing. I have had jobs where it asked for so many years of experience, etc., etc., but I ended up getting the job over others with that experience. Just prove that although you don't have the work experience, you are knowledgeable in the area, and you are confident you can do the job. Sell yourself. They may take you because they feel you can do the job and can probably pay a little less for you and maybe fill in the gaps with OJT in areas you struggle. Smart investment in most cases.

blargoe

You would be experienced in support, entry level in admin. IMO.

remyforbes777

What do you do outside of the jobs? Do you have a server at home running windows 2000 server or 2003 server?
Do you do any admin work anywhere?
I would consider you entry level to be honest.
You don't have much enterprise level tech support experience.
You need to be honest and gauge yourself.
How much networking knowledge do you think you have?
How much administration knowledge do you think you have?
Just be honest with yourself and figure it out.

mackel beast

I would say your real world experience is entry level. If you want to break into IT field with more pay get some certs. I found in several job interviews some years ago that the interviewees were astounded when I told them I had spent my own time, my own money and had my own computer/networking lab setup. I had a couple of certs based off of experience and using the lab. If you want a PC/server based work, take and get at least a Network+ and MCP. Get a lab with a couple of computers and a simple router with a simple switch. A couple of computers running XP, do a virtual machine install of Linux so you learn some of the commands, a simple Cisco router like a 2500 series and a simple management switch like a 1900. Learn about setting up, doing simple commands and troubleshooting. With 6 months and some time with this setup you should start making a breakout. Getting and having Network +, MCP, Linux + and CCNA would put you in a great position especially emphasis you did al this on your own.

KGhaleon

I have all the basic comptia certs like N+ at the moment and I spend every hour of every waking day reading books, and I plan to buy a lab off ciscokits.com once I get a new job(hopefully Monday, tomorrow. I have a 2003 enterprise server in my apartment, but I don't do much with it. I play with active directory and maybe throw together a small network with some VMWare hosts.

I think I just need to get more work experience, though all I ever find is helpdesk and very basic desktop support jobs. All the admin jobs require skills that are foreign to me.

I really wish I could get internship in cisco/network or system administration, but it seems rare.
I'm ready to take my 70-270, but I'm so broke I can't really afford to take it now. <_<;

I thought about saving up and moving further north to a large city, in hopes of finding better work.

KG

Plantwiz

KGhaleon wrote:

I can't seem to get past these 30-40K/yr jobs.

That's pretty decent pay...depending on where you live, but Mid-west and a smaller city, that's pretty typical.

Certainly, if you can pick up some specialty that others lack and that is in demand, you'll be able to set your price, but when the market is flooded with talent...the rates aer going to be around there.