Looking for advice for Networking Career path

Hello all, I've only just found this place after spending some time looking for a discussion board with people that might be able to help me. From what I've read so far, this seems like the place. My problem is that I just got my Network+ cert 2 months ago and I'm just getting around to finishing my Associate's Degree in Network Admin so I've started to look for related job opening. The thing is that I have spent half my day without success finding a job that would accept my skill set.

This has all ended up depressing me greatly since I am 23 and only work part time at retail which makes me feel like I'm wasting my life away. I do not want to go to a 4-year degree to get myself tho the door. I simply want to find a job any job that would want what I have to offer. While I do not want to go to a 4-year college, I still am willing to get more certs. So I am asking anyone to tell me what I should do and maybe what I can apply for right now.

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Comments

Rave18

A useful tool CompTIA Career Pathways . Hope that other, more knowledgeable members will help you out

Master Of Puppets

Unfortunately, chances to start right at an admin job aren't big. Your best bet would be to start a help desk/ tech support kind of job. That is by no means bad. If you use it to build up experience and develop your skills, it can be quite valuable. Also, trying to get your hands dirty and learning as much as you can will help you advance. You can take up some more serious network tasks once you prove yourself and that will help you get into networking. IMO, a CCNA is a must here.

Half a day of searching for a job is nothing. In order to find the right one, you can end up looking for months. Just be patient. Is it possible you are applying for jobs not suited to your experience? Aiming too high is sometimes the reason for things like that. After all, from an employer's perspective, your current qualifications are hardly enough to be a network administrator/engineer. They usually want experience coupled with certs. You definitely don't need a 4 year degree to start but there are a lot of good discussions on this topic in other threads so if you want to expand on that, I'm going to leave it to you.

Don't feel bad. At 23 you're still young and it is not too late for anything.

NetworkVeteran

Dieren wrote: »

HI just got my Network+ cert 2 months ago and I'm just getting around to finishing my Associate's Degree in Network Admin so I've started to look for related job opening.

While it's great you earned your Network+, the typical prerequisite for networking-specific jobs is a CCNA. You have a little further to go before you're going to be an in-demand quantity for entry-level positions. Keep at it! On the plus side, you don't need a degree to work in networking! A degree is a very smart investment, but you don't have to have one to get a job.

w00t

You will have to start at entry level. That's where you can your start at, start off as a help desk guy and work hard and get that experience. You will be able to move up and get that network admin job. You have the network + cert and will have the AS degree soon. I am a network admin and I do not have any certs currently and I have an AS degree. It took me one year to get that point from a help desk position. I will be working on some certs myself here soon, so it's all about working hard and you will move up. Do not fret.

pamccabe

I am a year from graduating with my Associate's in computer networking. Back in April, I earned my CCENT and am taking my CCNA exam next month. I've been applying but have had no call backs yet. The thing I am doing though, is working with my school. I met with my program advisor and found out that my school has an internship program. I am now working an internship with an NFL team that was made possible by my school. It is only help desk, but the important thing is that it is experience. I also get to help our network team with projects. The stadium is undergoing construction so I get to help run cable and clean up the wiring closets. They even had me update the OS on the Juniper switches before they were put in production. It has been an amazing experience, and made possible by my school. My point is that you should ask your advisor about internship opportunities. You won't get paid the best, but it is experience that goes right onto your resume. That way, when you do graduate, you will have something to show besides that degree. Keep digging and asking around, you never know what opportunities are out there waiting for you.

FloOz

As stated your going to need to start at the bottom as an entry level IT person, be it help-desk or desktop support. When you get this role continue your studies (CCNA) and you could potentially get a promotion. If not you may have to look elsewhere. Like anything else in life this is a process and it takes time. Put in the effort and I am sure you can get into a networking role much sooner then you think.

Params7

Yeah, I graudated with a 4yr degree in MIS. I wanted to get into Network Engineering/Admin. Even got a 6 month internship as a network analyst, and got my CCENT (more tougher than N+).

After two weeks full of job searching, I couldn't even find one Network admin position. I figured out the hard way that entry-level Networking positions are actually IT-Helpdesk positions. Land one of those, study in your offtime for higher certs..and then you'll get there.

NetworkVeteran

I figured out the hard way that entry-level Networking positions are actually IT-Helpdesk positions.

I know many people--myself included--who started out directly in networking. I spent a couple weeks earning my CCNA first, which helped in landing that initial job. Help desk is one option, but it can be bypassed if one prefers. Choices!

Mutata

I find Helpdesk is such a broadly used term and found it means anything from resetting passwords to full-on sys admin. For me - the most important thing when I started was looking at what the job actually had you do. Sure apply for Helpdesk positions , but really dissect the posting use the interview as your time to really find out what you are going to be doing.

I've worked a few "Helpdesk" positions and found the difference between them to be night-and-day.

You might be surprised what you find if you don't just a position simply by the tag "Helpdesk"