Veteran looking for some guidence

Phileeeeeeep651

Hey all,

I've been kind of lurking around for about a week now and doing some research. I have a question that hopefully I might be able to get some light shed on for me.

About myself, I've spent the last 5 years in the Navy as an IT working in a radio comms environment. I've done the technical support/help desk role but not in the typical sense, more in sense of solving RF communications issues i.e. troubleshooting radios, crypto devices, frequency issues, etc. Another aspect of my job was managing our ships IP services. We would do just basic link and services monitoring through the interfaces and Packetshaper. Through this work I've gotten some good time in Cisco routers doing interface configurations and acl entries and spent quite a bit of time in Red Hat basically just using the operating system but also performing a Raid configuration when we had a failure. I've recently separated and am now looking to pursue a career in IT.

That's a pretty good example of my background and where I'm coming from so my question is... with my experience where do I sit as far what types of jobs I should be targeting?

I have my resume posted up on Dice and I've been cruising the job sites and applying for anything to try and get my foot in the door and I've gotten a few interviews, usually a phone interview and nothing else. I've been contacted by a few recruiters, mainly just for call center type positions and while I'm not opposed to these positions I feel as though, at least from what I understand on how the IT job ladder works, that I've passed this marker with my military experience albeit not the typical call center/help desk role. While I don't have a ton of AD experience(2-3 account creations, password resets) I'm finding it hard to believe that this is what I need to add to my resume to take me to the next step.

I guess that's enough from me for now. I do appreciate it if you've made it this far in my ramblings. This seems like a great site with a wealth of knowledge so I'm excited to be part of the community.

docrice

The opportunities available to you will be highly dependent based on your location as well as your willingness to relocate if necessary. I wouldn't recommend looking at call centers as your first inroad into IT. Helpdesk possibly, but more along the lines of a desktop support role (sometimes the same thing as helpdesk depending on the organization).

Most of my experience has been at smaller businesses (several hundred employees) and I feel that by working at these size organizations you'll get more exposure to a variety of things rather than being pigeon-holed into a single role for a longer duration at a huge organization where there might be a less-flexible hierarchy as a generalization. It also depends on your sense of ambition and how fast you want to move up the ladder.

SephStorm

Don't forget to look for opportunities in your local healthcare centers, they may need delpdesk technicians. Look for staffing or contract agencies in your area. And finally, be willing to relo, there are way more opportunities where I want to go in my career outside of my city.

Dieg0M

Get certifications. You will get hired if you are fresh out of school and got knowledge and some work experience. A lot of companies want to hire veterans because of their work ethics but you have to be knowledgeable also. Invest time in your education and you will succeed.

BGraves

I have a similar background to you, Navy IT/Radio & Help Desk/Network Admin, got out and got in to IT.

I do agree with above posts, call centers not ideal for getting in to IT compared to other jobs. Targeting small/medium business's are a good idea, so is working with a team of IT guys/gals as opposed to going solo when you are first starting out. I can't recommend recruiters either, unless you're really desperate.

Overall, it is difficult to give such general advice not knowing what it is you want to do in IT.

If you want to get in to desktop support/help desk related stuff, pursue a position similar to that. It's starting at the bottom but you can probably pick most of it up quick. An A+ certification and some Microsoft certifications(Server/desktop/office) are appropriate at this level so that might be something to pursue.

If you liked working in routers and etc, a networking job/path might be ideal. Generally Network+, CCENT/CCNA are appropriate around this level as certifications go.

I recommend certs because they are generally a requirement for some positions and they also force you to study and learn, which helps you grow as an IT professional.

(There are plenty of routes/specializations in IT, either or both of the ones I list above build a decent foundation for anything IT related)

However, if I had it all to do again...and could recommend something to you....
(If you don't already have a degree/certs)I'd look in to using your GI Bill $, and check out WGU as you can gain certs while getting your education which is time saving and cost effective and I would try to find a lower level IT position like Help desk/desktop support or junior network admin, etc.

*If you have a security clearance, looking for jobs that need that level clearance could also provide opportunities. Basically, you'll need a security+ and other certs for gov't related positions though so might as well put that on the list if you are looking to go that route.

MrAgent

Since you were an IT in the Navy, this means you have a clearance, make sure you check out indeed.com and clearancejobs.com
You can also post your resume here and the folks here can help you out with that also.

dou2ble

What city are you in? Best bet would be to find something that uses your clearance. I echo what others said about NOT doing call center. That's a dead end job. Also, for DOD you'll need to get S+ or another 8570 cert.

Phileeeeeeep651

Thanks a lot everyone for the advice! Really appreciated.

@BGraves Guess it would have been a good idea to to explain the route that I was looking to go IT-wise but I'm looking to go towards the Networking side CCNA route.

Thanks for the WGU recommendation too. During my lurking phase I had taken a look at them but after you mentioned it I did a lot of research and I definitively think I'm going to apply there. I don't have a degree or any certs so I think this might be my best choice.

@dou2ble I am located in the Twin Cities area in MN. I do have a security clearance and have spent some time on clearancejobs.com. Just having a hard time trying to translate my military experience to the civilian IT world.

Again, thanks a lot everyone!

Phileeeeeeep651

Figured I'd bump this instead of starting a new thread.

I'm contemplating WGU at the moment and I'm just curious on whether or not their programs would be a good fit for someone with little, practical, IT experience or would I eventually find myself in over my head due to lack of hands on experience?

BGraves

I can't speak for WGU specifically since I didn't take my BS through them but I have done quite a bit of online schooling and am starting my MS with them next month. I think it really does come down to your schedule and how much time you can invest in your studies, however you might have better luck posting this question in a WGU specific thread in the Education forum area and seeing if more people can provide feedback.

Networking side of things is generally Net+, CCENT, CCNA, and then either further specialization in Voice/Wireless/Security/Design or continuing the networking route to CCNP, etc....but that is really quite flexible and if you know a lot you could just skip right to CCNA. I still would recommend a Sec+ if you are looking at jobs on Clearancejobs.com. (I never had much luck on there, even with a clearance myself.)

Maybe do a web search of the top military contractors and then go to their careers page and look for jobs you could apply for and do.
a few examples
Exelis - The Power of Ingenuity
SAIC: From Science to Solutions®
CSC: Next Generation IT Infrastructure, Services & Solutions
there are tons more out there and they love people with clearances already.

And you could prob post your resume in a separate thread asking for help translating from military to civ terms, lots of help here too.

Best of luck!