Is cat3/cat5 cable installation relevant work experience?

I just got called for an interview, and I was wondering your thoughts are. I'm wondering if something like this would count as relevant work experience for a person wanting to work on networks.

Job Description:

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]This position will include installation of networks, satellite systems, audio, video, security equipment, and cabling. The job will include working on ladders, lifts, new and old construction, attics, crawlspaces, and some lifting of heavy items. [/FONT]

I'm trying to think from the perspective of a hiring manager, but another consideration is that right now I'm mostly unemployed (I get occasional service calls for a small job I got on craigslist).

So would you, as a hiring manager, consider the guy that had this sort of job description on his resume in prior work experience? Would this be better or worse compared to desktop support and/or helpdesk?

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Comments

Priston

From what I've seen, being a cable monkey doesn't give you related work experience, but it's still good unrelated work experience.
I also think password ninja would be better on a resume than cable monkey.

ehnde

Priston wrote: »

From what I've seen, being a cable monkey doesn't give you related work experience, but it's still good unrelated work experience.
I also think password ninja would be better on a resume than cable monkey.

I've heard of "password ninja" but "cable monkey" is a new one.

Priston

If you think about it, they kinda are monkeys, climbing all over the place in the ceiling

mikej412

If being a cable monkey gives you a chance to see and learn different customer networking environments (and visit some big data centers) -- and a chance to meet some people who could give you a job in the future -- then it probably beats being a bag boy at the quickie mart.

But at some point almost any job beats having no job.

chrisone

Knowing how to crimp and create cat3 cat5e and cat6 will probably not give you much of an ego trip at work. But not knowing how to create your own cable will make you the laughing stock between your peers! Seriously , maybe because i am a younger guy, but we would heckle anyone at work if they didnt know how to create a cable. We do it in a fun manner, in no way do we crush the guys soul, nor do we do it to a new guy just learning the ropes. But it is expected for technicians with some years of experience to know how a copper cable works and how to create one, when needed.

erpadmin

chrisone wrote: »

Knowing how to crimp and create cat3 cat5e and cat6 will probably not give you much of an ego trip at work. But not knowing how to create your own cable will make you the laughing stock between your peers! Seriously , maybe because i am a younger guy, but we would heckle anyone at work if they didnt know how to create a cable. We do it in a fun manner, in no way do we crush the guys soul, nor do we do it to a new guy just learning the ropes. But it is expected for technicians with some years of experience to know how a copper cable works and how to create one, when needed.

Cat5 Cables Tutorial
How to Make a Category 6 Patch Cable

The back of my hand would prohibit any young punk from heckling me though...

(It isn't that I don't know how to do it...it's that I have better things to do with my time.)

chrisone

Well the point is, for entry level technicians you will probably be doing the grunt work, that means running cables and doing work higher more experienced engineers wont waste their time doing. So sorry if we are younger and more experienced but i would probably have you run the cable and crimp it for my pleasure lol j/k

I am not that kind of engineer hahaha , but seriously you should at least know how to make a cable and also accept if you are in an entry level position to expect to do grunt work. We all started from the bottom, we all did the grunt work.

erpadmin

chrisone wrote: »

Well the point is, for entry level technicians you will probably be doing the grunt work, that means running cables and doing work higher more experienced engineers wont waste their time doing. So sorry if we are younger and more experienced but i would probably have you run the cable and crimp it for my pleasure lol j/k

I am not that kind of engineer hahaha , but seriously you should at least know how to make a cable and also accept if you are in an entry level position to expect to do grunt work. We all started from the bottom, we all did the grunt work.

Only time I ever had to do that was when I had my first IT job...when my IT dues were beginning to be paid...by my third job they were paid up, but at this time, I diverged from systems/ERP administration from network administration/engineering....

Everyone should learn how to crimp a cable and it is kinda cool...but then after you've done a few hundred of them (and quite a few crossover cables as well), it's pretty much old hat.

So sorry if we are younger and more experienced but i would probably have you run the cable and crimp it for my pleasure lol j/k

Good luck with that....

[Seriously, I was also teasing.....

]

Psoasman

ehnde wrote: »

I just got called for an interview, and I was wondering your thoughts are. I'm wondering if something like this would count as relevant work experience for a person wanting to work on networks.

Job Description:

I'm trying to think from the perspective of a hiring manager, but another consideration is that right now I'm mostly unemployed (I get occasional service calls for a small job I got on craigslist).

So would you, as a hiring manager, consider the guy that had this sort of job description on his resume in prior work experience? Would this be better or worse compared to desktop support and/or helpdesk?

I think it's relevant. We make some of our own cables at work. Every now and then I need a specific length or have to make a quick fix on a damaged cable.
Any experience with this should help you.

Turgon

ehnde wrote: »

I just got called for an interview, and I was wondering your thoughts are. I'm wondering if something like this would count as relevant work experience for a person wanting to work on networks.

Job Description:

I'm trying to think from the perspective of a hiring manager, but another consideration is that right now I'm mostly unemployed (I get occasional service calls for a small job I got on craigslist).

So would you, as a hiring manager, consider the guy that had this sort of job description on his resume in prior work experience? Would this be better or worse compared to desktop support and/or helpdesk?

Put it on your CV. Far too many IT professionals these days are short of hands on with the physical layer. Having this sort of experience may increase confidence in your ability to work carefully in a datacentre.

SteveLord

I always keep an image of the 568 standards on my cellphone. It's very rare that I have to cut a custom length cable nowadays, so having that on demand for quick reference has come in handy more than once.

Devilsbane

Really depends on what your other skills/experience are. If your other jobs have been a bagger or cashier at the supermarket then of course. But if you were an admin with years or experience then it becomes irrelevant.

chrisone

erpadmin wrote: »

[Seriously, I was also teasing..... ]

I know its all for fun

if we dont have a little fun at work our lives would be so depressing

uhtrinity

If working at all with networks, yes even though I would classify it as an entry level skill.

Paperlantern

SteveLord wrote: »

I always keep an image of the 568 standards on my cellphone. It's very rare that I have to cut a custom length cable nowadays, so having that on demand for quick reference has come in handy more than once.

Yes. This.

There is no need to MEMORIZE the standards and be able to make a cable in nothing flat without any reference, though at one time many of us probably could just because it was what we were doing day after day. But as your career matures, the pinouts fade, but knowing HOW to make one is still valuable, regardless if you have to remind yourself of the wire positions.

Give a guy with NO experience and even a paper Net+ cert... crimpers, cable, and terminators and a full guide to making cables, sure he'll make them, but even though i may have to look at the guide as well to get the pinouts refreshed, i'll make a dozen to his 1.

Yes the experience is valuable.

eansdad

chrisone wrote: »

But it is expected for technicians with some years of experience to know how a copper cable works and how to create one, when needed.

For us it is called petty cash...Seriously they won't let us make cables since some techs (way before my time) did them with non-standard ends and barely there crimps. Of course these are the same people that have run cat5 over 430+ft. I couldn't believe it when I started mapping the jacks (they didn't do that either).

za3bour

It was the first thing I've learned in my first job even before knowing how to assemble a PC.

And man I was quick

, help desk is easier and less messy in my opinion and looking at your certs it sounds more natuarl to do it however if you are currently unemployed and have this job offer I would say take it.

I do think being a ninja is still better than a monkey

ehnde

Thanks for the feedback guys. I decided to take the job if they offer it. Unfortunately during the phone interview something in the ladies voice told me my schedule would conflict with what they're looking for, even though they said that scheduling is flexible (got class at 1pm two days a week in a city 40 minutes from the employer).

Honestly it sounds like fun. I had a blast running Cat5 in my house. It's a rental, and a cable is running from one hole in the laundry room to another hole in a wall in the laundry room. Before we move I'll cut that cable and terminate each end in the laundry room. Someone is going to move in not knowing wtf those keystone jacks are for, but at least there won't be holes in the walls.

Z Funk

I was in a similar situation. I worked on a small cabling project for an automotive supplier. I'm an entry-level guy, and it was a big part of the interviews I went on. Let's just say it helped me get my first job in the field.