Seek Career Advice - Multiple Certifications + Masters degree with little Experience

Hi Guys,
I've been reading this forum for a long time and decided to post today to get some advice on my messed up career.
I've worked as an ETL developer straight after completing my Undergrad in an Outsourcing firm in India. My company sponsored me to train in a few popular Data Warehousing tools. I took part in the delivery of a few modules of a project for a Foreign Bank. I improved my SQL skills thanks to the job and certified in Teradata and Datastage. I quit the job after 6 months to study for my CCIE Security, as I felt that I had a lot of interest for Networks and didn't like the grind at my job. I hope to pass the lab in the next few months. I also have basic Java programming skills, which I've brushed up from my undergrad days to pass my SCJP.
I was offered admission to a UC, and am going to be doing my Masters in Computer Science starting this fall. I passed the RHCE and am looking to spend the next month before I enter graduate school pursuing my VCP and CCIE.
Assuming I get my CCIE and VCP, Is my lack of relevant experience going to be a problem in landing a decently paying job in the US? Is having multiple certifications in unrelated technology going to be a problem for me? I'm 22 now.
I'd appreciate some advice on how to best spend my time usefully to give a good crack at the job market in 2012.
I've been reading this forum for a long time and decided to post today to get some advice on my messed up career.
I've worked as an ETL developer straight after completing my Undergrad in an Outsourcing firm in India. My company sponsored me to train in a few popular Data Warehousing tools. I took part in the delivery of a few modules of a project for a Foreign Bank. I improved my SQL skills thanks to the job and certified in Teradata and Datastage. I quit the job after 6 months to study for my CCIE Security, as I felt that I had a lot of interest for Networks and didn't like the grind at my job. I hope to pass the lab in the next few months. I also have basic Java programming skills, which I've brushed up from my undergrad days to pass my SCJP.
I was offered admission to a UC, and am going to be doing my Masters in Computer Science starting this fall. I passed the RHCE and am looking to spend the next month before I enter graduate school pursuing my VCP and CCIE.
Assuming I get my CCIE and VCP, Is my lack of relevant experience going to be a problem in landing a decently paying job in the US? Is having multiple certifications in unrelated technology going to be a problem for me? I'm 22 now.
I'd appreciate some advice on how to best spend my time usefully to give a good crack at the job market in 2012.
Get JNCIA-Junos by Dec 31st.
Then pursue the loftiest goal ever.
Then pursue the loftiest goal ever.
Comments
My point is qualifications are really good and it does help but you will also need experience.
The CCIE as you know is a high level certification. Its going to be really hard to get a high level job without experience. I'm sure someone would be willing to give you a shot though eventually. It just might have to be something below the CCIE level.
I also agree with ipconfig.all that going for the CCIE without experience is pretty pointless. If I were you I'd start with the CCNA and try to land an entry level gig.
Why wait until 2012? You need experience, try and get some now! Waiting until 2012 to get that experience isn't going to help you.
I would start searching for a Unix SysAdmin job right now if I were you. Networker pretty much summed up my thoughts, experience is golden in IT.
*sniff**sniff*I smell shenanigans...
Graduate of the REAL HU & #1 HBCU...HAMPTON UNIVERSITY!!! #shoutout to c/o 2004
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I don't think he's trying to be malicious or unscrupulous, but something is definitely up. A CCIE is hard even for an CCNP who has been doing Cisco at that level for a number of years. There's a reason why there aren't that many of them (still!).
On the other hand, like I said in an earlier post, perhaps he's a savant or the next Stephen Hawking....lmao.
And as I mentioned in my original post; I haven't taken the lab yet, but I do hope to pass. It's doable.
Then pursue the loftiest goal ever.
Is it going to land you a bad ass job with out some kind of practical experience? Probably not. You will realize in time that 90% of what you need day in and day out isn't something you learn studying for an exam. That's why experience is key.
There are a few. Since I have been posting here there have been a lot more people that got the higher level certs and still couldn't find a job then the other way around.
It's not going to substitute for experience, but I'm hoping for the best.
Good to know that someone would want to give an academic a chance.
It's a chicken and egg situation when it comes to getting the required experience for a job profile of my choice.
Then pursue the loftiest goal ever.
What exactly are you trying to do?
Currently Working On: Python, OSCP Prep
Next Up: OSCP
Studying: Code Academy (Python), Bash Scripting, Virtual Hacking Lab Coursework
+1 on that. That's actually a very good plan.
To quote one of my favorite Southern sayings...anything else in this situation would make you have a "big hat with no cattle."
My programming skills are not really up to scratch; Discovered that after taking Advanced Data Structures this quarter. I'm still going to take more programming based courses next quarter as I feel that staying in touch with core CS courses such as Operating systems, Algorithms will help me interview better for programming jobs which are in more abundance.
Do you think this is a good idea? I am interested in doing Network Admin work though. Do you think IT jobs will come my way even with my background in CS, provided I stay in touch with my Cisco skills.
I graduate in Jan 2012.
Then pursue the loftiest goal ever.
Having the education and certs will help you progress faster in a job, but you will still start off as a lower level than what you would be if you had the experience.
Then pursue the loftiest goal ever.