Just started job at ISP

Hi all,

I have completed 2/3 years of University studying computer networks and have just started a placement year at an ISP that also offer many other servies than the obvious. Problem is, I'm 3 days in and struggling to put all this theory I have learned in to practicality. I can sit at Packet Tracer creating and managing networks no problem but in reality, the setups are absolutely nothing like what we have been taught/what I've created in Packet Tracer so far. Some of the guys seem to have been there either from a couple of months up to a couple of years and seem to know SO much more than me.

Also at Uni, we have only been taught Cisco (equipment and technologies) although again in reality, they are using much more than just Cisco.

Is there anything I can do out of hours to boost my knowledge or experience? I do want this career to work but right now I can't help but feel as if I'm in the wrong place.

Many thanks

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Comments

networker050184

Relax, it's 3 days in and no one becomes a master over night. Just learn everything you can and ask questions if you don't know something.

it_consultant

This sounds like a fantastic job/opportunity. You are drinking from the proverbial firehose. Don't be afraid to ask the more senior folks how to do things - that is what they are there for. Whatever you are nervous about doing or don't understand; there is someone nearby who has done it many times. It is easy to get overwhelmed in IT, as you get better and more experienced, you will pick it up much faster.

ivlatt

Hi and thanks for the encouragement.

I just feel slightly annoying by asking people everything all the time as I can see they have plenty of work to be doing themselves. I don't think it helps that I'm particularly shy at first. It is indeed a fantastic opportunity and I can see I have the opportunity to learn everything I could possibly ever need to know here. I guess it doesn't help coming from a basic IT environment of which I worked for 5 years, knowing everything inside and out.

As I said, is there anything I can do to boost my knowledge? I really don't mind putting the hours in out of work.

Thanks again

networker050184

Sure you can study and lab on your own. Find as much internal documentation that you can and go over it.

mgmguy1

I have worked at 3 IPS's so far in my life and I can tell you alot of stories. The Telecom industry touches many different business and environments.
I dunno what issues you may be troubleshooting. All three of the ISP's I have worked at had Level's 1 2 and 3 and as a Level one Tech I only could fix and research the most basic of issues.

My best advise is get to know your network. What IP is your DNS server ? What is the IP of your Mail server. Does your company host there own E-mail,Webserver ect ? Were are all our servers located ? What is the starting block of our IP range ?
These are a few of the things I learned along the way that were "NOT" explained to me. My first two ISP jobs I was thrown into the fire and I had to learn everything on my own because everyone was too busy to train me and my fellow new hires. My last ISP job I knew what I was doing but was still learning new things all the time!

Hopefully there is someone who can show you all the cool little tricks to help with your job. I have a folder on my PC of websites that were "very Helpful" in my ISP job.

Once more thing. Back in the day an old timer told me to get certified in Network + and some other certs. Fast forward to today and I still do not have any certs. The reason I did'nt get them was many but in the end I just did not put in the time. There were other more fun things to do. I have sat for my CCENT 3 times now and almost passsed this last time. The moral of the story is get your certs and education while you can. Fatherhood, Time and many other things can throw a wrench into the best laid plans.

Best of luck to you!

kohr-ah

ivlatt,

At one of my previous positions I worked as a lone network engineer. I had no coworkers on-site and my company took too long to give me help when I needed it from our corporate office. I realized I was way out of my league.

I learned more quickly via sink or swim than I ever though that to this current day I am one of very very few people in my company who know Cisco Network Admission Control Systems inside and out.

- Learn everything you can.
- Dont be afraid to ask questions. So they know more than you. Pick their brains for it

- When in doubt - Select Your Product or Technology - Product/Technology Support - Cisco Systems - Use this link. It will be more handy than you ever though possible.

boobobobobob

ivlatt wrote: »

Also at Uni, we have only been taught Cisco (equipment and technologies) although again in reality, they are using much more than just Cisco.

This is interesting.. but from personal experience I find that while you're dealing with different manufacturers and different CLI if you know the gist of what you are trying to accomplish you should be able to figure everything out with some smart ? commands. I also have to deal with different manufacturers everything from HP ProCurve, HP H3C, Juniper, Cisco, Brocade ect. The command line is all completely different but the general sense of what you have to accomplish is the same.

it_consultant

You might annoy them, but annoying them to ask them for help or to show you how to do something is better than the annoyance they will experience if you mess something up and they have to fix it. Do your research, look up articles on how to do it so you don't look like you are just leaching off of the more experienced staff - then approach them with the "I think this is how I need to do xxx...".

ivlatt wrote: »

Hi and thanks for the encouragement.

I just feel slightly annoying by asking people everything all the time as I can see they have plenty of work to be doing themselves. I don't think it helps that I'm particularly shy at first. It is indeed a fantastic opportunity and I can see I have the opportunity to learn everything I could possibly ever need to know here. I guess it doesn't help coming from a basic IT environment of which I worked for 5 years, knowing everything inside and out.

As I said, is there anything I can do to boost my knowledge? I really don't mind putting the hours in out of work.

Thanks again