How to Express Interest to the Network Engineer

How do you go about showing interest in the networking department? I currently work for a company doing systems admin duties ( AD,Exchange, etc...) but i want to let the Sr. Network Engineer know that i am trying to pursue being a Network Administrator.

How do i go about letting him know that i am interested? I've only talked to this guy like once before; should i shoot him email request to speak to him? Or mabye email him telling him about being a CCNA and telling him that i'm interested in working on his team? They have a network support specialist that told me to show my interest( he said that they promote within the company), should i mention that i spoke with him?

Help!

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Comments

royal

Personally, I would send him an e-mail asking him if he has 30-60 minutes to set aside to have a meeting with you. Explain that the meeting is for career advancement regarding networking. When you meet with him, explain to him your goals and your passion for working with Cisco equipment and how you want to advance yourself. I would explain to him that you are CCNA, you have studied Cisco devices, and will continue to do so. He can't knock you for setting goals and wanting to pursue something you are interested in. Let us know how it goes!

buulam

Any chance on running into him more or can you create opportunities to chat with him on a personal level and build a bit of a relationship there? (a different kind of networking haha) Then at least if he says they don't have room at the moment, you still have a connection with him and he'll keep you in mind. I dunno just an idea.

Sounds like you're in a good spot though! I'm sure you'll be in there sooner or later

moss12

Aquabat I am eager to know what has happened ?

sprkymrk

Bring in donuts (or bagels) for your co-workers to celebrate getting your CCNA. Drop him an email and tell him he is invited to come have a donut and coffee since you thought he would appreciate the value of a CCNA to a budding network wannabe. Tell him you'd like his advice on how to continue to persue your goals of a career in networking rather than system administration.

Aquabat [banned]

I shot him an email telling him about where i am trying to go with my career and how i would be interested in working with his team. I haven't recieved a reply yet. The idea of trying to be more social with ihm is a great one. I also have a mentor type of relationship with the engineer that works below him, i think this will help them put a word in for me. I didn't ask to meet with him, i just said that if he would like to discuss this further with me to pleas contact me.

Thanks for all of your help guys, i will let you know!

shednik

aqua,

have you given up the search and just tryin to move departments?

Aquabat [banned]

how is this email???

Hi XXXX,
I spoke to XXXXX last week; i would like to express interest in working with your team in a Network Administrator/Routing and Switching role. I am recently Cisco CCNA certified; and am currently working towards Cisco CCNP;XXXX has also been a bit of a mentor to me. If there was a position available, or you would like to meet with me and discuss about this further. Please contact me.

Thank you sir,
Bryan

Aquabat [banned]

***UPDATE**

The Sr. Network Engineer asked me what i was doing this sunday. He is reloaded the 4507 flash through rommon TFTP and he asked me if i want to come in a watch him, not getting paid of-course. I jumped at this!!!! This will get my foot in the door and get my name up there hopefully, developing a mentor situation like this will be perfect!!! i'll tell you guys how it went.

seraphus

Nice work! Go get 'em!

royal

Good job. A lot of people would like like, "Awww, I gotta come in on Sunday and not get paid for it..." It is great that you are doing this and shows initiative. And trust me, the more initiative you show, the more he will see how determined you are and how you are a good worker. This will definitely help you get to where you want to be in time. Keep up the good work and congrats on the next step towards achieving your goals!

dynamik

Alright, way to go!

The mentoring situation is ideal for both parties. As you said, even though you're not getting paid, you're getting experience and recognition. You'll also form a better relationship with him because it will be based on something meaningful (the exchange of knowledge).

Aquabat [banned]

yes! and i've never seen a 4507R in action before

hehhehehehe

sprkymrk

Bring donuts with you on Sunday!

buulam

Great opportunity. Ask lots of questions!

Aquabat [banned]

***UPDATE***

Cisco 4507R

Unmounted 2nd supervisor engine and ran a copy tftp bootflash
reloaded and went into rom monitor, upgraded prom

remounted 2nd supervisor engine and pulled out the first supervisor engine and ran a copy tftp bootflash
went into rommon and upgraded prom, reloaded again and ran a squeeze mem.

ran a no boot system flash boot flash: and then a copy run start.

checked What's Up Gold server and ORION, checked SNMP community string

***

totally awsome!!!!!, then sat next to him on a conference call for about 20 minutes

good day!

shednik

SO.....now tomorrow in the office you are going to tell me how much you hate your job then huh? haha or you won't shut up about today.....keep lookin tho and i think sprkymrk has a thing for donuts how bout everyone else??

sprkymrk

shednik wrote:

keep lookin tho and i think sprkymrk has a thing for donuts how bout everyone else??

Darby and Kaminsky!

http://www.techexams.net/forums/viewtopic.php?p=140226#140226

royal

Aquabat, any update?

moss12

aquabat anything new ?

Kaminsky

DarbyWeaver wrote:

I had a massive project and there was this guy named "Justin".

He was "THE BEST" guy on the helpdesk and his manager loved him so he got the promotion to the Desktop team.

Kewl he just got the promotion like last month.

==============================

So I mention to someone about the horrid condition of our wiring closets and my partner explains nothing would EVER get done about it. He tried.

The next day I'm told to measure the cabling and order cables - I got like $5k to get some cables ordered and get to work.

I'm told I can have "Justin" if I need him.

A CIO of the other side of the house comes down from Philly to meet her team.

We all go to lunch at this small Italian restaurant.

I meet "Justin" over lunch and find out he has a passion for cabling and networking over some small talk with his manager.

Turns out Just has 8 years experience and some of his first experience was cabling for a couple of years.

So...

I was favorably impressed with Justin, his humility, and most of all his desire to learn and be available on a Saturday Midnight to 6am in the Sunday morning...

Just got 8 hours of time with me in the BLOODY trenches, side by side, curing a bad situation and making it look like a professional cabling job...

He got time to work and talk about everything under the sun - mostly work related about the task at hand - but I got a chance to know him too.

The boy did not complain once.

He's 26 and is hungry for the field, like me at his age.

Obviously we bonded.

So I'm going to help Mr. Justin get his CCNA and I happen to "know" there might be a position open for a "Jr. Network Admin" assistant to me basically any time I mention the need for one.

So...

Being as I just met a guy who is smart, knowledgeable, motivated and did EXACTLY what I wanted, the way I wanted in to be, in the middle of the night and beyond...

I think I found my guy...

Now the position I have in mind would be probably a 20-40 thousand dollar rise for Justin...

But with a winning attitude like his...

Why would I go anywhere else...

His old manager loves him, his new manger loves him, and he just made one hell of the best impression on me I have ever seen...

Doing the **** job on a cabling plant that needed some TLC...

Soooo...

Plainly I am impressed...

Do something like this for your Network Engineer and I'm sure he'll take a second look at you.

Now...

I'm gonna ensure this guy gets the training he need and I'm going to mentor him myself...

I'm "THAT" impressed.

I can use a guy like that.

We have rules before we can promote again, but if I get him some credentials... and be willing to put my neck out for the guy...

... Miracles can become reality.

==================

Well that is my take.

I love seeing initiative and unbridled enthusiasm at work and in the more junior crowd.

Guys/Gals who are looking for a break and are not afraid to ask for it - are my HEROS.

Just reading back posts.... You can't get a better "old hand" advice to a new "would love to be" than this one....

If your that keen about this game that you could do this and not just do a "hey i'm now working in IT... my hours are only 9-5" and realise why we actually have a job in the first place, then this post will only inspire you on to good things.

Appologies DB, this story is too good advice to be lost in a conversation about doghnuts... (mmmm doghnuts mmmmm)

Darthn3ss

So I'm going to help Mr. Justin get his CCNA and I happen to "know" there might be a position open for a "Jr. Network Admin" assistant to me

I'm available and willing to relocate.

Plantwiz

Aquabat wrote:

***UPDATE**

The Sr. Network Engineer asked me what i was doing this sunday. He is reloaded the 4507 flash through rommon TFTP and he asked me if i want to come in a watch him, not getting paid of-course. I jumped at this!!!! This will get my foot in the door and get my name up there hopefully, developing a mentor situation like this will be perfect!!! i'll tell you guys how it went.

OUTSTANDING!

Way to take the 'gift' and show you do really mean you are interested in 'more'!!

Great work!