Got a RAISE!

Iristheangel

Hello all!

So a few weeks back, my boss asked if there was anything he could do to help me out or assist me more. I, jokingly, said "Sure! I'd take a raise!" (Was NOT expecting him to take that seriously at all) and he gave me a serious look while saying "Hmm... that's an interesting idea" before walking away. I didn't think anything else about it. Today he pulled me into office today, asked me to close the door and with a very serious face, he started with "IrisTheAngel, a few weeks ago with a straight face, I asked you if I could do anything for you or to help you and you asked me for a raise. While you may have not been serious, I thought it over and thought to myself that you've been going above and beyond what we've expected of you so I've authorized a 10% raise for you effectively. Merry Christmas or whatever holiday you celebrate."

WOW. What NOT expecting that.

I know I haven't submitted an update in regards to my new job so I guess I'll bundle it in here because I'm having a pretty amazing day. As I just relayed, the new job is going AWESOME. I've had a chance to design and set up huge new sites, configure 12-20 2960S, 2-4 3750X, and a several 2951s per site. We're also upgrading a LOT of infrastructure and adding tons of new things. I'm getting my hands on ISE, IPS/IDS solutions, CUCM 9, Unified Presence/Jabber, ASRs, MPLS, BGP, etc.

To be 100% honest, it's EXTREMELY fast paced and there's a lot of pressure. Right now I am concurrently running about 25 different projects where the buck stops with me and PMs that all expect their network buildout or upgrade to be the priority. I'm actually sitting in a major airport right now configuring a new network which is amazing and stressful at the same time (long story!). There are times where some of the senior network engineers are describing concepts and I'm just like "Wow. I have NO idea what they're talking about but I hope I get to their level one day."

Anyways, awesome day! Wish me luck on this network buildout tonight. It's looking like I'll be here for awhile.

skinsFan202

Congratulations! That is one sweet Christmas present. Sounds like you have an awesome job too getting to play with so many different technologies. What was your path like to get to where you are today

amcnow

Congratulations on the raise! This proves it never hurts to ask, even when you're joking.

Good luck on your network build tonight, though I doubt you'll need it.

veritas_libertas

Congratulations!

Iristheangel

In terms of jobs and certificates?
I started 5 years ago and progressed this way:
IT Technician/Jr Network Admin (2 years - Started at $12/hr) - Gained Security+, Linux+, A+, Network+, MCDST, and MCSA here
Security Access Anaylst (2.5 years) - Started and finished WGU - B.S. IT - Security, Gained MCSE:Security, CCENT, CCNA, CISSP, and a slew of meaningless CIW certs
Network Engineer (Current. Been her for 4 months. Started out past the 6-figure mark and heading 10% up) - Working on my M.S. at WGU, got my CCNA:Security and working on CCNA:Voice. Hoping to get my NP done here

sratakhin

Congratulations!

Iris, I was wondering how you got the CISSP without 5 years of experience directly in the security field. What counts towards it?

NotHackingYou

Congratulations, you earned it!

Iristheangel

sratakhin wrote: »

Iris, I was wondering how you got the CISSP without 5 years of experience directly in the security field. What counts towards it?

LoL. They took my physical security experience. I used to be a security guard for a data center. I would issue smart cards, revoke access, check physical and environmental issues, etc. I had to call ISC2 to ensure they would take it and they had me submit it with my references. I only needed 4 years of security experience to qualify for anyways since my Security+ certification waived a year requirement so my first and second IT job covered it

sratakhin

Wow, I didn't know that physical security also counts. May be they'll give credit for securing cookies and candies from my girlfriend

Iristheangel

Physical security is part of the 10 domains of CISSP:

Certified Information Systems Security Professional - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As long as you are doing full time paid work within these domains, you are gaining credited experience towards your CISSP.

Krones

Nice! Congrats Iris, well deserved. thanks for the update. glad to know you are kicking butt and loving it.

goldenlight

congratulations

inscom.brigade

CISSP wow thats a biggy!

Congrats on the raise,,, it sure is nice to hear that people are getting a raise, very promising for the rest of us!

Iristheangel

Thanks, Inscom! I probably will never utilize it fully since I'm really enjoying networking but it's one of those nice things to have and it makes the resume shinier.

Ok, this network is DONE! HOME TIME FOR SOME CELEBRATION! (Celebration = playing on the internet while eating cheese and watching Fringe like the big nerd I am. Don't judge me...)

drefoq80

Congrats Iristheangel! you are an inspiration to some of us who are still trying to get in. Great stuff!

veritas_libertas

LOL! Ah yes, Fringe. I'm mixed between liking and hating it right now

Iristheangel

If Peter dies, that show is dead to me. /nerd.

Roguetadhg

I guess you'll get yours all the gaming toys!

Congratulations, iristheangel!

YFZblu

Working for someone who has your back is a rare thing, and is really awesome. Congrats!

Roguetadhg

I'd like to have your job - give me a 50% pay cut. It just sounds like fun. I can only imagine what you've learned.

Ivanjam

Iristheangel wrote: »

LoL. They took my physical security experience. I used to be a security guard for a data center.

That's good to know - I have a couple of years of physical security experience too - throwing people out of bars - does that count?

Congrats on the raise!

Ivanjam

Roguetadhg wrote: »

I'd like to have your job - give me a 50% pay cut.

Roguetadhg - you'd have to take a 50% pay cut to make what Iris is making? You are doing well, my friend!

W Stewart

Congratulations. I hope to be somewhere close you your level at 5 years of experience.

truckfit

Congrats!!!!

emerald_octane

Iristheangel wrote: »

...I'm just like "Wow. I have NO idea what they're talking about but I hope I get to their level one day."

I bet some of us here are saying the same about you

kriscamaro68

Congrats on the raise. Gives me more motivation to always keep an eye out for extra things I could be doing to get noticed more at work.

truckfit

In the 5 year mark it looks like you achievved alot

Raisin

Iristheangel wrote: »

LoL. They took my physical security experience. I used to be a security guard for a data center. I would issue smart cards, revoke access, check physical and environmental issues, etc. I had to call ISC2 to ensure they would take it and they had me submit it with my references. I only needed 4 years of security experience to qualify for anyways since my Security+ certification waived a year requirement so my first and second IT job covered it

I worked as a security guard for two years at a government building that required a security clearance for entry. Always wondered if that time would count towards the CISSP. I felt like I was wasting my time in that job but didn't leave because I didn't want to give up my clearance. Eventually the contacts I made working there paid off and I was able to jump into a cleared IT position with a much higher salary.

rterrain03

Congrats, Sounds like you have your hands full !

Mike-Mike

rterrain03 wrote: »

Congrats, Sounds like you have your hands full !

of money

cisco_trooper

Iristheangel wrote: »

I'm getting my hands on ISE

How do you like ISE so far? I've been working with for a few months now. I'm currently doing a deployment on a network with 400 NADs and about 10000 endpoints. Just curious what others are experiencing.