It's been a long road but I have finally achieved my goal of becoming a network engineer!
I started my IT journey in 2011, at first I honestly didn't even know if I was going to be able to get this career off the ground, as notated in one of my old posts (and first) on this forum:
http://www.techexams.net/forums/jobs-degrees/71973-starting-wish-i-hadnt-looked-section.html#post581684
I managed to snag some low level certifications and hit the proverbial pavement. After a few months I finally found a small managed service provider that was willing to hire me (for a whopping 12 bucks an hour!) and was quickly tossed in to the fire. During this time I spent my off time studying what I could, and started to realize that I always gravitated toward networking, I couldn't put my N+ book down! I decided at this point that this was what I wanted to do and decided to take the CCNA plunge.
After about 9 months of studying (on and off) I was finally able to attain my CCNA, I took a long hiatus in that nine months, I would say I spent about 4 solid months of actually studying. This new certification allowed me to move on from the small MSP that I had been working (for about 2.5 years at this point) in to a position with a medium sized corporation. At this point I was applying for network jobs and had originally applied for a Network Admin position but was told that I didn't meet the qualifications but was told that I would be a good fit for the help desk, I was told that I would be considered in the near future for the position after some grooming.
After about a year at this position I started to realize that I wasn't moving any closer to my goal of becoming a network engineer and I wasn't being given the exposure that I would need to put some solid experience on my resume. So I rewrote it with as much focus on networking as I could, I took my experience from my previous job and the one I was at and focused the experience as much as I could on the networking aspect without lying, also bolstering my knowledge and certification experience.
I ended up moving on to a "Network Engineer" position with a small health care company, this actually ended up being a NOC job (with one week required overnights per month...ugh). This job did have
some networking aspects to it but it was mostly configuring small networks to deploy for our clients, all carbon copies of one another and all simple layer 2 networks. I quickly realized that I wasn't going to get much in terms of experience here, BUT, I had a title now...back to the resume!!
After less than a year at the most recent position I started trickling my resume out there, I had a few promising interviews but ultimately was let down more than I care to admit. I realized that I wasn't preparing properly for these interviews, I didn't take them seriously enough and it was costing me. I got a call one day from a place that I had thought to be a recruiter, she asked to schedule a phone interview, and I kind of brushed it off asking to schedule something next week, by this time I was being very selective with recruiters as they were wasting my PTO with interviews and meetings. I got a call the next week and half way through the interview (which I didn't bother to prepare for) it dawned on me...this was an ACTUAL network engineer position, for an ACTUAL company, I turned on the charm and won a second interview. I pulled out all the stops, researching the position and company preparing myself for the tough questions that lie ahead (even spent $400 on a suit!) and prepared for the interview. During the interview I was immediately called out on all of the technologies and protocols that I had listed on my resume, I was asked "What
actual experience do you have with these?" I decided I had to sell myself and not my experience, so I did. I explained to them that this job is the job that I have been working toward for the last 5 years, I demonstrated my eagerness for new challenges and my passion for technology.
Honestly when I left I didn't feel great about the interview, I had been let down so many times before that I guess I just expected a call in a few days with the bad news. Instead however, I got a call the
same day and was extended an vitiation to come work for them...I can't even describe how good that felt, this really has been a dream of mine.
I am on week 3 and coming along fine, they seem willing to work with me on my lack of experience but I am working extra hard to show that I am dedicated and have the skill set necessary to be efficient in my role. This position has everything that I was hoping for, VOIP, Layer 3, MPLS, BGP, Sites around the globe, etc. I am loving life right now and I have met my 5 year goal (financial and career).
Sorry for the book, just wanted to share my whole experience for those who may be starting out in this field. My humble advice would be to avoid shortcuts as well as plan and set goals. I had A LOT of disappointment during my journey but I took it in stride and kept pushing. I kept my nose in books, listened to networking podcasts, labbed, and just did what I could to get people to recognize me. The hardest part of IT is getting the initial experience, few people want to take the risk of hiring a green horn, but they are out there and it can happen.
WOOT!!!
