Job suggestions

jeremywatts2005

I am having a terrible time trying to find a job that pays over 70K a year. I have a MSM in ISS, BS in IT and an AAS in CNS. Also I have several credit hours toward a PhD in IT and stopped because I just did not see job prospects. In addition to that I have graduate certificates in Digital Forensic Science and Project Management. I also have Comptia A+, Net+, Security+ and a MCP. I started working in the field in 1998 in telecom and networking. Then I had several layoffs and contracts and finally went to education in 2007.

Worked in education as an IT Chair then a Dean for almost 3 years. Then the layoff and turnover bug hit the industry and I went back to Information Security. Never making above 70K a year. I live in Louisiana and have moved all over and trying to find a better wage. I also am a National Guardsman in Signal and have 10 yrs Time in Service. I just cannot find a good high paying job. Is this the economy or what? Suggestions

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networker050184

A few questions.

What kind of jobs are you going for?

What does your resume look like?

Have you considered getting more than entry level certification?

What were you actually doing during your years of experience?

As someone that is originally from Louisiana, I have to say the tech market isn't the best there but I'm sure there are quite a few jobs paying more than $70k. Looking elsewhere would be easier that is for sure.

jeremywatts2005

Resume I have had checked over by recruiters and friends in career service and it is solid. My experience reads roughly like this
Rockwell for 3 yrs as an ACD/Telcom/Networking Guy
1 year of IT contracting after layoff
2 yrs working on Point of Sale Systems, Servers, networks and so on then layoff
2 more years contracting infosec/disaster recovery IT and IT
6 yrs in education IT chair Dean at 3 different schools(layoffs, RIFS and so causing movement)
Now back to information security

I have worked on all of the MS Operating systems desktop,workstation and server since 3. Information security doing risk, compliance, forensics and training. Education as a SME and curriculum in addition to teaching. Plus my education side I was working executive level management responsible for budgeting, HR and everything from soup to nuts. Now I am doing risk, audit, and pen testing. I also have the whole E-Server, Point of Sale and ATM experience along with printers. Also I have a PM background and have been project lead, technical lead and associate PM. I have worked on so much tech and so many different networks it is crazy to think.

redz

I'm about to say something that may offend some people, so I would like to clarify one thing: The statements I'm making are based off a small sample size, and may not be deserving of the generalization I'm about to make.

In addition to what networker said, are you any good at it? Don't answer it here. But think about it. I've noticed a massive disconnect between the higher education IT workforce and the rest of the world. I've seen several IT/IS professors who are actively inept in the professional world, yet have fantastic depth of knowledge and theory. I've noticed that often, the metrics they use for measuring IT Professionals are skewed, especially in Security (in large part because the educational realm is more concerned with making sure everyone has a warm fuzzy about everything being open than protecting proprietary, classified, or privacy information; they're often quite good with availability).

If you can honestly say to yourself that you're good at what you do, then it's a resume and location problem. Modify your resume to reflect the depth of knowledge and experience you have and how you can bring value. Then look in Northern Virginia, California, or any number of other IT hot spots (which Louisiana is not on the list of) for an information systems security officer position. Then just don't let them talk you below 90.

EDIT: Also, this -

networker050184 wrote: »

Have you considered getting more than entry level certification?

jeremywatts2005

I can tell you I am dog gone good at what I do. I worked in hands on technical education. Which means that if I go in front of the room to teach I better know what I am doing. My students population was at over 85% placement rate going into the field. I hired highly technical folks like myself to teach the courses. Very hands on and very lab based. I terminated a few adjuncts who could not hack teaching hands on lab based/scenario based education. This includes the risk, and audit portions. None of this sit there and listen all night.
I have looked in VA and other other IT hot spots, but doesn't the cost of living go up? Which would offset salary. I do like your idea on the resume to accentuate the technical more. That is a good suggestion I am going to dig through on my resume.

redz

Bah, audit is easy, the only thing you ever have to do "outside the box" is the occasional stray tail of a check mark (I'm joking, CISAs, I love you all). Okay, I'm seriously done being a jerk today. I skipped breakfast. I think that's the problem.

Anyhow, don't just make the resume more technical, really focus on bringing the technical together with how you can add value to the employer and what sets you apart from every other applicant. Think PAR: Update Your Resume

Once you feel your resume is on point, don't apply like everyone else does. You think you're the best and you think you're special, right? I feel that way about myself, so I apply all special-like. I send handwritten cover letters with tailored resumes to the recruiter or hiring manager who posted the position. Most of them love it, some don't, but I almost always get a response (and not ever even one of those automated "ya we got ur resume lol dunno y u had a cuver leter dont nobuddy gonna reed").

And yes, the cost of living in Northern VA is insane, but I also made 65k in a Jr ISSE position, while living and working far enough south that the traffic wasn't terrible and the cost of living was only about 20% above the national average, so you're looking for an adjusted 84k (from 70k) if you live in that area...

dover

Jeremy,

Not sure where you are in Louisiana, but I can tell you the 'new' GE Capital Technology Center complex in New Orleans is actively recruiting for information security positions.

If New Orleans isn't your area, there have been some Federal infosec gigs at Barksdale AFB.

I'm currently in La. so PM me if you want...

jeremywatts2005

I'll PM you Dover once I figure out how to on this board. Thanks

Akaricloud

Typically when I see this happen, and it does frequently, either the resume needs some real re-work or the person's interview style could be better.

If you're confident in your resume post it up for us to review. If it's perfect then you get some free advertisement and otherwise we can help get it there.

dover

jeremywatts2005 wrote: »

I'll PM you Dover once I figure out how to on this board. Thanks

I think you need a certain number of postings before you're able to send private messages. Maybe Networker (the Darkside mod) can help you out with that restriction...now that we know he's from La. too

jeremywatts2005

Let me convert my resume to plain text tonight and I will post it up

Akaricloud

Get it up when you have a chance to and plenty of us will take a look!

I'd suggest against converting to plain text as bad formatting can also kill a resume. Attach it in original format or convert to PDF if necessary.

petedude

redz wrote: »

. . . Think PAR: Update Your Resume ...

Holy. . . [insert exclamatory phrase]. This is what I've been looking for.

A few years ago, any half-way clean, intelligent resume that would have listed a reasonable skillset and number of accomplishments would have done the trick. Now that companies are tighter on resources, they have to pull people in who are going to hit the ground running and do something for them.

I had seen ideas similar to the PAR format presented before, but nothing really gelled until this link. Thanks, redz.

My challenge adapting to this format is going to be that I haven't kept copious notes of my accomplishments over the years. When I run into serious day-to-day issues I usually fix them and move on (which makes "tell me about a problem where. . ." questions more difficult as well).

redz

petedude wrote: »

A few years ago, any half-way clean, intelligent resume that would have listed a reasonable skillset and number of accomplishments would have done the trick. Now that companies are tighter on resources, they have to pull people in who are going to hit the ground running and do something for them.

I don't deserve your love, pete, I just re-posted that link from somewhere else on these forums.

However, if most of what you're doing is serious day-to-day issues, one of the things you can point to are time-constraints based on the business criticality of what you're fixing, personnel constraints (doing more with less people, efficient teamwork, et al), and other items that relate to the overall mission of what you're doing. Think of your (or your team's) impact from an ITSM perspective.

Every tech recruiter knows what these roles entail, but you need to write your experience in a way that shows you understand both the impact of your job on the business as a whole and the technical aspects of what you do.

wdwiz4

Dang, sounds like you got a boatload of experience. From my experience, the education industry compensate very well for IT professionals.

lsud00d

redz wrote: »

I don't deserve your love, pete, I just re-posted that link from somewhere else on these forums.

PAR is a great approach and I recommend it to everyone!

Moon Child

Although you have an MSM and BS in IT along with A+,N+, S+ certs I still think that may not be good enough for higher paying positions. The previous experience helps. If I were you would try to pass some harder certs. I have a few years of previous experience in IT along with a Masters in Education and a Bachelors in CIS along with the A+, N+, Microsoft certs. I am having a hard time with those qualifications getting even an entry level $17/hr help desk job. If employers are that picky for a $17/hr job I can only imagine how hard it is trying to land a 70k a year job in IT. If I wanted to land a job that paid 70K a year I would try to pass several very hard certs.

iBrokeIT

Sorry to hear about your job search. Post a word doc of your resume and let us beat it up and make helpful suggestions.

Most employers value work experience with technologies, certifications then education just as check mark as qualifier in that order. Your resume is probably tilted the opposite way highlighting your education the most.

Do you have a security clearance though the guards? If you do, is that mentioned on your resume? If I were you I would start looking into taking either the SSCP or CISSP to get over the $70k mark.

What methods are you using for your job search? Is your resume on Dice and other job boards? How is your LinkedIn profile? ect

Moon Child

iBrokeIT wrote: »

Sorry to hear about your job search. Post a word doc of your resume and let us beat it up and make helpful suggestions.

Most employers value work experience with technologies, certifications then education just as check mark as qualifier in that order. Your resume is probably tilted the opposite way highlighting your education the most.

Do you have a security clearance though the guards? If you do, is that mentioned on your resume? If I were you I would start looking into taking either the SSCP or CISSP to get over the $70k mark.

What methods are you using for your job search? Is your resume on Dice and other job boards? How is your LinkedIn profile? ect

The education shouldn't be highlighted first? Where should I put it at top or at the bottom of the resume?