New Job Network Engineer

BroadcastStorm

Hi guys, I just want to share this great news, I got a call today from a company I interviewed that I nailed and did well with the interview and got the job as a Network Engineer, the pay is much better than my previous one, I will be working with BGP/MPLS/Blade System/Security/ASA Firewalls/LAN.

It's good to see how the little time I put my 100 % pays off, now I gotta nail some of this cert out of the way, I am so motivated to give it my best, and work 12 hours each day to master the companies network, it looks like a real great place they have 182 sites, as well as having the impression of a highly organized department.

Ryuksapple84

BroadcastStorm wrote: »

Hi guys, I just want to share this great news, I got a call today from a company I interviewed that I nailed and did well with the interview and got the job as a Network Engineer, the pay is much better than my previous one, I will be working with BGP/MPLS/Blade System/Security/ASA Firewalls/LAN.

It's good to see how the little time I put my 100 % pays off, now I gotta nail some of this cert out of the way, I am so motivated to give it my best, and work 12 hours each day to master the companies network, it looks like a real great place they have 182 sites, as well as having the impression of a highly organized department.

Congrats man, that is very encouraging to hear. I have been trying to get into engineering positions but it seems like around here, you have to know someone to be considered.

Cheers

Dakinggamer87

Congrats on new job!!

shodown

Network Engineer is a big jump if you are coming from the other side of things. Good Job. No Great Job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BroadcastStorm

Thanks guys this site was a big help, this wasn't something handed to me on a plate, I was competing with other candidates for the position, went in there having a positive attitude and that I have alot to offer.

With that being said, there's no going back and some of my plans has to be changed, I will start pursuing CCIP and put some of my training on the side.

I celebrated playing 4 songs on guitar hero lol back to study.

Ryuksapple84

What are you using for the CCIP? After my CCNP that is what I want to go after.

BroadcastStorm

Ryuksapple84 wrote: »

What are you using for the CCIP? After my CCNP that is what I want to go after.

It will be GNS3 for the most part, I have 3 2611XM and 1 2600, I do invest heavily on my lab so if I need to purchase more hardware I'll have to do it, I was also looking at a 2800 router.

As far as resources I would assume the INE CCIP training material is a must, since this are advanced certifications, I'll have to check for CBT/Trainsignal as well, for my CCNP I bought some of the old lab portfolios they have for sale, it has richer content compared to the lab companion I could almost say the lab companion for switch is a rip-off, so I will do the same thing for CCIP materials, I'm going to pick-up Halabi's BGP bible...

chrisone

congrats amigo! use this as motivation to pursue your cert goals.

N2IT

Awesome job!

-DeXteR-

Congo bro!! where's the part Tonite

Xcluziv

Fantastic Job man!!!!

mikej412

BroadcastStorm wrote: »

it looks like a real great place they have 182 sites

Welcome to the bigs.

ITdude

Congrats dude!

down77

Congrats on a well deserved opportunity! There is no doubt that your hard work has paid off in positive ways. With the experience from the new gig something tells me you and I will be taking the CCIE lab exam around the same time

BroadcastStorm

down77 wrote: »

Congrats on a well deserved opportunity! There is no doubt that your hard work has paid off in positive ways. With the experience from the new gig something tells me you and I will be taking the CCIE lab exam around the same time

I am starting to debate CCIE Lab might as well go for the big fish, although this won't happen till next year, but with CCIP/CCNP I am already preparing for it.

down77

BroadcastStorm wrote: »

I am starting to debate CCIE Lab might as well go for the big fish, although this won't happen till next year, but with CCIP/CCNP I am already preparing for it.

That's awesome! I'll be starting on the CCIP track this summer as a prep for the CCIE. How much longer till CCNP/CCIP is complete?

BroadcastStorm

down77 wrote: »

That's awesome! I'll be starting on the CCIP track this summer as a prep for the CCIE. How much longer till CCNP/CCIP is complete?

I expect to be finished with CCNP in 2 months, I've been on it for more than a year now, the CCIP is going to be a different ball game, if anything I might do BGP/MPLS first, I would assume there would be overlap with CCNP Route.

RPMar52

BroadcastStorm wrote: »

Hi guys, I just want to share this great news, I got a call today from a company I interviewed that I nailed and did well with the interview and got the job as a Network Engineer, the pay is much better than my previous one, I will be working with BGP/MPLS/Blade System/Security/ASA Firewalls/LAN.

It's good to see how the little time I put my 100 % pays off, now I gotta nail some of this cert out of the way, I am so motivated to give it my best, and work 12 hours each day to master the companies network, it looks like a real great place they have 182 sites, as well as having the impression of a highly organized department.

Congrats! Good luck!

BroadcastStorm

Update as a full capacity network/security engineer:

So far so good, verything is working in my favor, I hold the most technical position at the company given my cubicle size lol, well it comes with it's function I'm the only network/security engineer, I've been sooo damn busy alot of projects that I was able to turn around and most has already finished in a short amount of time soo many in my plate and I think it will just get busier after hearing that the DR/COLO has been on hold since they are unable to get a decent network engineer.

I carry an attitude of a matador grabbing these projects by it's horn and taking down the bull with precision and got praises so far, but the battle is just in it's early stage, I don't want to become a senior level I want to be a ninja level like some of you guys dynamik/mike/ahriakin/Paladin so many to mention I have to say I'm very envious, I plan to put all my 100 % for this year towards me knocking out my certifications, not to mention VCP/MBA on the horizon, and my project management skills sucks ass either I like it or not I will most likely be leading this projects.

One of my big project includes a redundant asa and ips/, as well 160+ sites and growing that I need ASA 5505 deployed, while upgrading some idsl to T1/cable internet, and maintaining a good 20 sites that are on MPLS/corporate network.

One thing I'm quite disappointed about myself is slacking on my studies, I need to get tshoot/ccna security out of the way to open the road to CCSP and the new track they now have.

My ADD is at it's best at dating sites and woman on my downtime, seems they luv GEEKS after all and I can't resist haha...

NOC-Ninja

Looks like your having fun. What was your job before you got the job?

BroadcastStorm

NOC-Ninja wrote: »

Looks like your having fun. What was your job before you got the job?

Jr Sys Admin
Sys Admin
Infrastructure Admin - Mostly Cisco Networks (laid off)
System Engineer - 35 % Networks VMware/Linux and MicroCheez M$

I went through the whole Metamorphosis phase started as a maggot/larvae and evolved to a brutalisk now trying to become a ninja brutalisk lol...

NOC-Ninja

BroadcastStorm wrote: »

Jr Sys Admin
Sys Admin
Infrastructure Admin - Mostly Cisco Networks (laid off)
System Engineer - 35 % Networks VMware/Linux and MicroCheez M$

I went through the whole Metamorphosis phase started as a maggot/larvae and evolved to a brutalisk now trying to become a ninja brutalisk lol...

Looks like you become a pro on everything.
Im guessing thats a list of positions you went through?

BroadcastStorm

NOC-Ninja wrote: »

Looks like you become a pro on everything.
Im guessing thats a list of positions you went through?

We're in the same state your working on CCSP very nice.

Yes I started from the bottom, when I realized having a BSCS was not enough to land a quick job.

PC Technician - Network Engineer with the last 7 years mostly network administration.

Can't call myself a PRO like Mike said welcome to the big, with hardwork I will start knocking out certification, I came from a MCSE background and 9 years of experience.

I am sure one might guess if one is worthy of big titles I carry my weight very well, if I was correct at decyphering your encrypted text.

Now if I may ask the same question at you, how's the NoC position your holding? in what area and how busy it is working for a NoC? I must admitt working for a NoC never appealed to me, possibly due to mundane tasks, I might be wrong I am sure all the big things happen at NoC though...

BroadcastStorm

I also want to add what's your background? it looks like you hold a clearance of some sort since you stated your job as classified, I might have confused NOC with an ISP.

NOC-Ninja

Im still finishing up my TSHOOT then CISSP > CCDA > CCNA-Sec > CCNP-Sec. Still a long road. lol

The NOC that im holding is alright. More of dealing with L2 and little bit of L3. I assist the engineers here on their projects. Its good since some engineers are lazy and they make me do most of the work which is great for my resume.

I cant really tell the area but you can PM me your linkedin address so I can add you and from there you will see which area and which company i work for. I also cant say the company here since I can turn into a target. lol Yes, I have a security clearance.

NOC is always busy. Lots of projects and migration going on but I still have time to study.

My background is Software Validation Engineer for couple of years and I moved to IT recently. I have a A.S. in Comp Eng and B.S. on Electronics from a trade school. Hopefully, I can start a Masters soon or commit myself to CCIE but knocking down the NP's and getting experience are my current priorities.

BroadcastStorm

All those stuff sounds good, I'm currently somehow on the same page as you, my projects involves purchasing a 2nd 6500 including sup engine that will support VSS, I am currently weighing the benefits and the high price tag, vs. another method.

I am more involved working in the security area at the moment, we have a very paranoid configuration on our ASA 5505 where internet access has to go back to our network and routed out to our DS3 there goes my project of iDSL upgrades, and network access is restricted to specific segments of our network, I'm also currently fine tuning our redundant IPS system, and working on how to deal with encrypted traffic that IPS is unable to inspect, something along the lines of restructuring app server from Inside to the DMZ and creating a strict NBAR policy.

I have set a timeframe for completion with this projects, and I am almost certain that after this the DR/COLO will be brought, I am hoping I make it to the waiting list for UCSC VCP program, since my plans involves VMware failover technology, and SAN replication technology, and that CCIP would be golden for this project, in that case we should definitely network.

I've been with the company for almost 2 months, and I hate to say it very early that our new Senior Network Admin acts like a Jr. Admin sometime a helpdesk, so more projects on my plate which is good for now.

My goal is to wrap my CCNP, and start with CCNA Security followed by CCSP, with 160 remote sites running ASA5505/IPS etc. I am almost certain that this will help me tackle this, right now I'm bouncing back and forth between Tshoot and CCNA Security/IPS v7.

Then I will follow it with Linux certification, followed by either CCIP/CCIE or MBA, anyway it will be good to network especially we're on the same area, and gunning for the same credentials, and might as well gun for the same salary of 150K haha in my dreams.

phantasm

NOC-Ninja wrote: »

I cant really tell the area but you can PM me your linkedin address so I can add you and from there you will see which area and which company i work for. I also cant say the company here since I can turn into a target. lol Yes, I have a security clearance.

Ok Jack Bauer. We got it. Me and my "clearance" are going to get some coffee.

NOC-Ninja

phantasm wrote: »

Ok Jack Bauer. We got it. Me and my "clearance" are going to get some coffee.

hater much?

phantasm

NOC-Ninja wrote: »

hater much?

If your job was that "classified", you wouldn't be mentioning it. As for the OP, congrats!!

RouteThisWay

BroadcastStorm wrote: »

One thing I'm quite disappointed about myself is slacking on my studies

Don't fret it man. You have been doing the right thing, focusing on your new job more so than studying. Taking on a new role in an unfamiliar environment is very daunting and requires a ton of attention.

Congrats on the job man and glad all is going well!

NOC-Ninja

BroadcastStorm wrote: »

All those stuff sounds good, I'm currently somehow on the same page as you, my projects involves purchasing a 2nd 6500 including sup engine that will support VSS, I am currently weighing the benefits and the high price tag, vs. another method.

I am more involved working in the security area at the moment, we have a very paranoid configuration on our ASA 5505 where internet access has to go back to our network and routed out to our DS3 there goes my project of iDSL upgrades, and network access is restricted to specific segments of our network, I'm also currently fine tuning our redundant IPS system, and working on how to deal with encrypted traffic that IPS is unable to inspect, something along the lines of restructuring app server from Inside to the DMZ and creating a strict NBAR policy.

I have set a timeframe for completion with this projects, and I am almost certain that after this the DR/COLO will be brought, I am hoping I make it to the waiting list for UCSC VCP program, since my plans involves VMware failover technology, and SAN replication technology, and that CCIP would be golden for this project, in that case we should definitely network.

I've been with the company for almost 2 months, and I hate to say it very early that our new Senior Network Admin acts like a Jr. Admin sometime a helpdesk, so more projects on my plate which is good for now.

My goal is to wrap my CCNP, and start with CCNA Security followed by CCSP, with 160 remote sites running ASA5505/IPS etc. I am almost certain that this will help me tackle this, right now I'm bouncing back and forth between Tshoot and CCNA Security/IPS v7.

Then I will follow it with Linux certification, followed by either CCIP/CCIE or MBA, anyway it will be good to network especially we're on the same area, and gunning for the same credentials, and might as well gun for the same salary of 150K haha in my dreams.

Yah, those 6500 are no joke. Freaking heavy to put in (one of my co worker messed up his hand) and a challenge to config.

Senior's usually get comfortable and let the new kids work. Its a bad thing since we're getting paid less doing their work but at least we're learning more.

Im not really using my CCIP. However, I knock that out of the way just in case I go for the CCIE track.

150k is doable. I know some contractors with the right experience and right cert(s) gets paid 175k-200k.