Quickest way out of a siloed technical support background?

I'm trying to figure out how to break free from my siloed technical support role with a nitch network security product. I want to go the direction of system/network administration. My area is full of those type of jobs, but they always want someone with years of related experience. I'm also not finding too many junior level roles as the market I'm in has a negative employment rate for IT workers. Is there another direction I should be taking that doesn't involve contracting (I'm full time now) to get experience in the administrative side of things? I like operation side of things more so security type roles don't interest me.

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Comments

NetworkNewb

Do you have the skills needed for those higher jobs? You can definitely go ahead and apply those jobs even if you don't have the required experienced. Get some advanced certs they are looking for and send the resumes out. You maybe surprised.

E Double U

NetworkNewb wrote: »

You can definitely go ahead and apply those jobs even if you don't have the required experienced.

Agreed! I've always been able to land jobs I wasn't fully qualified for.

scaredoftests

E Double U wrote: »

Agreed! I've always been able to land jobs I wasn't fully qualified for.

Same here.

torqux

I have no idea how you guys managed to move - recruiters do not care if you do not have experience

YesOffense

torqux wrote: »

I have no idea how you guys managed to move - recruiters do not care if you do not have experience

I've seen mostly the opposite actually. Jobs I wouldn't even consider I get contacted by recruiters about.

scaredoftests

It really doesn't matter what the recruiters think anyway. It is the person who hires you...

audio

scaredoftests wrote: »

It really doesn't matter what the recruiters think anyway. It is the person who hires you...

But it's the recruiters job to filter out unqualified applicants so you'll never get the chance to meet the HR people if the recruiter says "nope" right off the bat.

inverse_one

NetworkNewb wrote: »

Do you have the skills needed for those higher jobs? You can definitely go ahead and apply those jobs even if you don't have the required experienced. Get some advanced certs they are looking for and send the resumes out. You maybe surprised.

Yes, but as I've said the market where I'm at has a negative unemployment rate so they can really pick and choose candidates. I cannot move at this point. I do have my CCNA and MCSE certs and have worked in a limited sense all the technologies a lot of the jobs I see use.

DoubleNNs

if you have certs and the required skills, it might just be a matter of fixing up your resume.
Submit it here and have people critique it?

bpenn

Well, I got a job inquiry from a recruiter for a security engineer. I have many keywords on my resume that may have caused them to bite but I have never pentested a network, nor have I have designed a secure infrastructure. Sometimes I wonder if recruiters really know what they are looking for.

How do you guys land jobs you werent qualified for? Tell me your secrets.

NetworkNewb

DoubleNNs wrote: »

if you have certs and the required skills, it might just be a matter of fixing up your resume.
Submit it here and have people critique it?

Pretty much this, otherwise sounds like you got the skills/certs. Not really much anyone can do since the place you live doesn't have a demand for your position and you can't relocate. Think you would be high demand in a lot of places.

inverse_one

DoubleNNs wrote: »

if you have certs and the required skills, it might just be a matter of fixing up your resume.
Submit it here and have people critique it?

I just posted it in a new thread. Thanks for the advise

E Double U

bpenn wrote: »

How do you guys land jobs you weren't qualified for? Tell me your secrets.

I apply for jobs I am interested in and sometimes I land an interview. My current job required a minimum of three years security experience which included tools I never used. I applied having less than a year of SOC experience and told HR up front the areas where I lacked experience, but stressed that I could still learn those things. When the CISO interviewed me he skipped discussing my weak areas and had me elaborate on my strengths.

I apply for jobs above my current skills because I want to grow. If I meet all of the job requirements I will just be doing more of the same. I had security experience when I applied for the SOC, but had several years of networking. Had no hands on Cisco experience when I landed the NOC role, but still understood a few basics. I guess I just do well with making a good impression. My former NOC manager told me that technical skills can be taught so he focuses more on a candidate's personality.