I'm all in.....Desktop Support to Network Engineer

I've been waiting for an opportunity like this for a long time and I'd rather risk it and lose, than play it safe and wonder what could have been.....

I just accepted a job offer with Lockheed Martin as a Jr. Network Engineer for the US Army Corp of Engineers Data Center. Assuming my interim clearance is granted I'll be starting in 2 weeks. The sub I'm working for will be sponsering me for a Top Secret Clearance at that point. The only hitch is that I have to pass the CISSP within 6 months of starting. So, it looks like my studies will be taking a different direction soon.

I've wanted to do serious networking from the time I went through the Cisco Academy in 2004, but my skillset always landed desktop/systems type jobs. Well I finally got an opportunity to work in a serious Cisco environment and I'm not going to let it pass me by. I'm very concerned about the CISSP, but I'd rather give it everything I've got and fail than turn down the opportunity out of fear.

I was told that my CCNA put me a cut above other candidates. So, I definitely got my money's worth out of that one. The Security+ didn't hurt either.

What a way to celebrate my 1 year membership anniversary on this forum. I owe much of where I am right now to the knowledge and advice that I've recieved here. Thanks to everyone that makes TE the valuable resource that it is.

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Comments

networker050184

Awesome man! Congrats and good luck with the CISSP.

veritas_libertas

Very cool!

Bokeh

Awesome! Now get back to studying for that cert!

ibcritn

Congrats!

Good Luck!

earweed

Awesome new! Best of luck in your new position.

Bl8ckr0uter

Congrats! How the heck do people find these government jobs? lol

btowntech

Bl8ckr0uter wrote: »

How the heck do people find these government jobs?

Government or contractor positions, which are you referring to?

btowntech

You going to have to move to Vicksburg? Only reason I ask is because I use to live in Meridian and remember seeing a few job postings for that area with the Army Corps of Engineers. Best of luck to you and just remember that you can do anything you set your mind to.

xenodamus

Bl8ckr0uter wrote: »

Congrats! How the heck do people find these government jobs? lol

A staffing agency actually just called me out of the blue. They found my resume online, which wasn't even up to date, and walked me through the interview process. Pretty crazy.

My employment situation looks kinda like this:

Army Corp of Engineers
contracts
Lockheed Martin
contracts
AllStaff Technical Solutions

I'll be a full time employee of AllStaff with medical, vacation, the whole 9 yards. Kind of a strange situation if you ask me. My interviewer said several of them have been working there 10+ years, the contract just changes hands every 3-5.

btowntech wrote: »

You going to have to move to Vicksburg?

I'm just going to make the drive. I actually live a little ways outside of Jackson so I'll be driving over an hour. It won't kill me though. When you live in rural MS you get used to driving long distances to get anywhere.

Bl8ckr0uter

btowntech wrote: »

Government or contractor positions, which are you referring to?

Both. I have been trying to find a gov or contract job for a few years now.

xenodamus wrote: »

A staffing agency actually just called me out of the blue. They found my resume online, which wasn't even up to date, and walked me through the interview process. Pretty crazy.

My employment situation looks kinda like this:

Army Corp of Engineers
contracts
Lockheed Martin
contracts
AllStaff Technical Solutions

I'll be a full time employee of AllStaff with medical, vacation, the whole 9 yards. Kind of a strange situation if you ask me. My interviewer said several of them have been working there 10+ years, the contract just changes hands every 3-5.

That's awesome. Sounds like a cool gig.

Dakinggamer87

Congrats on new job!!

jahsoul

Congrats!!! I guess we should have a Jr. Network Engineer association..lol. I just took a job as a Jr. LAN Engineer with General Dynamics and I start the 14th!!!

Bl8ckr0uter

jahsoul wrote: »

Congrats!!! I guess we should have a Jr. Network Engineer association..lol. I just took a job as a Jr. LAN Engineer with General Dynamics and I start the 14th!!!

Damn congrats. Man how are you guys doing this? lol

Hypntick

Bl8ckr0uter wrote: »

Damn congrats. Man how are you guys doing this? lol

Seriously. I'd kill for a Jr. Admin or Jr. Networking type gig. Anything aside from this help desk hell i'm stuck in.

jahsoul

Bl8ckr0uter wrote: »

Damn congrats. Man how are you guys doing this? lol

Thanks!!! Read the sig my friend....

It's all in being at the right place and the right time man.

Bl8ckr0uter

jahsoul wrote: »

Thanks!!! Read the sig my friend.... It's all in being at the right place and the right time man.

Maybe. I am wondering if I am not marketing myself enough or something. I don't know. GD is been on my apply list for awhile now....

jahsoul

Bl8ckr0uter wrote: »

Maybe. I am wondering if I am not marketing myself enough or something. I don't know. GD is been on my apply list for awhile now....

I don't even think I market myself. I saw the job, I put in for it and 2 interviews and 2 weeks later, I am getting ready to start. I feel like Kanye on College Dropout (Yall don't know my struggle/Yall can't match my hustle..) I remember something you posted last year that I apply to professional career. (You gotta be willing to do what the other's won't)

kurosaki00

gratz man!
lockheed martin! That will be hella good for your experience.

again, gratz!

BradleyHU

Bl8ckr0uter wrote: »

Both. I have been trying to find a gov or contract job for a few years now.

lockheed martin
northrop grumman
SAIC
general dynamics
pratt & whitney

USAjobs.gov

edzy

Congrats

xenodamus

Well, bad news....my interim clearance was declined. They want to do the full investigation before making a decision and I'm not sure if the job offer will wait on that.

I'll be waiting to hear from the recruiters that made the job offer regarding how this will affect my ability to be hired.

To anyone hoping to work for a gov't contractor or agency in the future, I recommend you google SF86 for an idea of what they'll want to know about you. I think that was quite possibly the longest form I've ever filled out.

xenodamus

Looks like I won't be able to fill the position they offered me. That team needed someone ASAP. On the bright side, the sub is still going to sponsor me for the clearance investigation since they know I can get a job if they can get me the clearance. They fill alot of positions at that same location and want to get me my secret so they can market me for future jobs.

I'm still happy with the outcome overall, though. I wasn't looking forward to cramming for the CISSP. Now I can start looking over the information at my own pace just in case I need it for future positions.

N2IT

xenodamus wrote: »

Well, bad news....my interim clearance was declined. They want to do the full investigation before making a decision and I'm not sure if the job offer will wait on that.

I'll be waiting to hear from the recruiters that made the job offer regarding how this will affect my ability to be hired.

To anyone hoping to work for a gov't contractor or agency in the future, I recommend you google SF86 for an idea of what they'll want to know about you. I think that was quite possibly the longest form I've ever filled out.

Been there done that my friend. It sucks no question about it. I've had several different clearances and they will investigate your friends, co workers, family, etc. It's a long drawn out process.

earweed

Sorry to hear the news but since they are looking at you for future positions it's a good thing. That SF 86 form is a real bear and they check everything. Once you get that clearance you're GOLDEN though.

it_consultant

Its almost not worth it. When you join the military its easy if you didn't get into trouble as a kid. When you get older and things happen, the process gets longer and much more invasive.

fredlwal

How can one go about in receiving a security clearance , do you always have to be sponsored by someone or can you pay an agency to do the background check?

xenodamus

fredlwal wrote: »

How can one go about in receiving a security clearance , do you always have to be sponsored by someone or can you pay an agency to do the background check?

As far as I know the only ways are to be sponsored by a company who wants to employ you, or get one while serving in the millitary.