What Should I Do Next?

Get This:

I am a "Technical Support Specialist I" at a State University making 26k plus I work part time at a call center for BellSouth ADSL Sales (relax I am a Inbound Agent, I don't call anyone), as a source of extra spending money.

Rather than explaining everything I should just give a resume, and see what you think.

Objective
To find a new and challenging position in an organization that will benefit from my initiative, capabilities, and contribution. I am especially interested in a position with the potential for advancement and increased decision making responsibilities.

'

Start Of Resume

Experience
State University
Technical Support Specialist/Help Desk
Some City, TX, USA
August 2000 - Present

-Assisted Students maintain their systems.
-Supervised Student works with phone support related to technical issues.
-Helped develop new methods of combating computer viruses as well as spyware/adware.
-Assisted both students and faculty in the Library computer lab using both PCs and Macintoshes.
-Diagnosed and repaired both hardware and software problems in PCs.
-Experience in all Windows platforms including Windows 95, 98, 98SE, Windows 2000, and Windows XP.
-Maintained a network of more than 300 computers running mostly Windows XP, and diagnosed network issues.
-Extensive experience in computer support both in person and virtual environments.
-Providing phone support with Trackit help desk ticket software.
-Supervised works that consisted of up to five help desk agents.

Call Center Incorporated
Customer Support/Sales Agent
Some City, TX, USA
March 2004 - Present

-Assist customers with placing ADSL orders for BellSouth Telecommunications.
-Provided customers with solutions to problems.
-Directed calls to appropriate departments when needed.

Education
State University
BS
Some City, TX
Major: Political Science/General Business
Achieved a Bachelors Degree in Political Science and a minor in General Business with emphases in International Business.

References Available Upon Request.

'

End Of Resume

Now the question. I have applied to several positions in the past (primarly to see what happens) and I have received very little response. I wanted to know where do you think my weak points and how should I improve?

Second, I was wondering how do I get some Law Firm experience. Since I feel this is the best place for money right now.

Third, I would like a job that would require some travel (around the US and abroad), since I feel that it will be fun to see the world alittle. What positions in the IT world can provide this.

I have tons of experence but for some reason I can't really get to much into it. Is there something I am missing? Esp on my resume.

Thanks.

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Comments

viper75

Well from my point of view your resume looks good, but it does not look like you have any experience with servers and Cisco. What I see in the IT job market right now is a lot of demand for server platform work and Cisco work.

If I was an employer and was looking for someone to do level 1 support I would consider you and would call you in for an interview, but if I was looking for someone to do level 3 network support; cisco, microsoft servers, and wireless I would probably look for someone else.

Given the position you want you're going to need a little more experience doing more network support. Try to also get an understanding of Cisco networks, wireless, and server installation an configuration. Law firms generally want someone that has experience and good understanding of networks and security.

I have never tried to get into a Law Firm, but I hear that lawyers can be hard to work with.

"Please don't take what I just said the bad way, it's just what I see in your resume and what the job market wants."

Oh forgot to mention some Certs. will also help too.

Best of Luck to you!!!

dogboyaa

No! Fair from I want more constructive critizim. Do you think I should start with A+ to prove I am competent. (given that I have a degree in Political Science and Businuess...i figure it looks strange for me to be in the IT field)

Then maybe get the Cisco certs? (I know very little about this)

ajs1976

dogboyaa wrote:

Second, I was wondering how do I get some Law Firm experience. Since I feel this is the best place for money right now.

Are you sure you want to work with attorneys?

Looks like you have experience. Five years is a good amount. Even though your degree is in a non-IT field you still have a degree. Looks like you are missing certs.

Since you have that much helpdesk experience, I would skip A+ and N+, and go right to the MCSA/E, CCNA, security stuff.

viper75

dogboyaa wrote:

Then maybe get the Cisco certs? (I know very little about this)

It will not hurt you to have the A+ cert. Being that you know very little about Cisco you may want to consider going for your N+ plus too. The N+ cert will give you entry level knowledge of networks which you can then build on from there, good foundation for Cisco certs.

But I would recommend for you to start to work in getting some certs if you want to land good IT jobs.

Knowing Cisco and Microsoft is almost required these days in order to land a good paying job.

xevious

Your experience covers Microsoft and supported applications, so from a certification perspective - stick with MSCE. This leverages what you know.

1. You should rewrite your resume to include your 'deployment' experiences. i.e. Managed workstation upgrade from 98 to XP across 300 nodes serving as technical lead and project coordinator. Try to give the presence of being a lead techy.

2. Law firm experience? apply and hope for the best.
3. Travel? apply with an IT consulting firm. Because of your 'deployment' experience, they may send you with a team to different sites and perform upgrades (i.e. win98/2k to XP).

Good luck.

filkenjitsu

Here is what you should do:

Start a Master Program online with either of these schools-

Capitol College - Masters of Science in Network Security

Nowrwich - Masters of Science in Information Assurance

Both schools are NSA certified and both school have you take the CISSP at the end of the degree program (16 to 27 months to complete program) I actually heard that if you double up on classwork you can finish your masters with Capitol in 12 to 14 months.

Now, while you are doing this, get A+, N+, MCSA, MCSE (if you want), CCNA. Then at the end of your program online you will get your CISSP. Then you will be set. Then you can work for a law firm with those security, scholastic, and networking credentials.

Imagine this:

Dogboyaa, BA, MS, CISSP, MCSA, CCNA -- all in 2 years or so.

Capitol College capitol-college.edu
Network Security

Master of Science - 30 credits
COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE
Credits
Required Courses 18 Credits

NS-670 Network Systems Security Concepts 3
NS-673 Secure Information Transfer and Storage 3
NS-677 Malicious Software 3
NS-679 Vulnerability Mitigation 3
NS-680 Perimeter Protection 3
NS-682 Internal Protection 3
Elective Courses 12 Credits
Choose four courses below. Two must be NS courses

MBA-655 Managing the Global Virtual Organization
3
NS-611 Wireless Network Security
3
NS-621 Applied Wireless Network Security 3
NS-671 Legal Aspects of Computer Security and
Information Privacy
3
NS-674 Security Risk Management
3
NS-675 Computer Forensics and Incident Handling
3
NS-684 Complementary Security
3
SM-563 Managing Information Systems
3
SM-567 Telecommunications and Computer
Networking
3
SM-587 Law and Regulation of E-Commerce
3

Norwich: Masters of Science in Information Assurance: www.msia.norwich.edu

The National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security jointly designated Norwich University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education.

The case study is a unique consultancy project. You will analyze an organization’s computer system and provide both yourself and the organization with invaluable analysis and recommendations. In doing so you will provide the organization with the equivalent of consulting services that can cost up to $200,000.

You will become a successful alumnus in 18 to 27 months (depending on your program start date).

The Master of Science in Information Assurance requires six six-credit seminars for a total of 36 credits.

At the end of the 36 credits of coursework, you and your classmates will converge on the campus of Norwich University for a week-long residency and graduation. The residency occurs in June each year, one of the best times for a getaway to northern New England and the Green Mountains of Vermont.

This program engages highly-experienced teachers and experts from the IA industry as online faculty, guest lecturers, and speakers at the residency. You are learning from the best.

filkenjitsu

Norwich classes:

Semester One:

Foundations of Information Assurance
Seminar 1 (GI510)
Management Concepts and Skills
Seminar 2 (GI520)

Semester Two:

Prevention: Technical Defenses
Seminar 3 (GI530)
Prevention: Human Factors
Seminar 4 (GI540)

Semester Three:

Detection and Response
Seminar 5 (GI550)
Management of Information Security and Hot Topics
Seminar 6 (GI560)

scot_donecker

Hey man, you may have done work on networks and computers, but you need a certification to make it mean anything. Just think if you were an employer, "you've maintained a network of 300 computers...troubleshooted both hardware and software problems on computers", thats not solidified or backed by any profesional credentials. I've networked computers, I've built computers, I've troubleshooted both, and I didn't know even the tip of the iceberg until I took IT Essentials I, got my A+ certification, and started work on my Network + Certification.

Another piece of advice; if you want in the IT field and want to be great at the job you intend to get, than you need to want it bad enough to work months even years to gain the knowledge and experience these jobs require. The main mistake I see people make is they feel they have ran across everything in the book, so they should get the job because they think they can do anything. But the fact is that you don't know much of anything until you commit to it enough to at least pass a certification test. Trust me there is a world of technical information that you will never ever know until you study up for it and learn it.

My advice for you is to try commiting to at least the A+ Certification and if you think you don't really like IT teching after that, than find something else.

p.s. Try the A+ practice tests on this site, it will give you a look at the types of things you'll need to know for the exams, and where you stand as of now.

Just trying to help...

dsa1971

dogboyaa,

If I was you I would see if there was anyway to move up in rank at your current employer. A state university gig is pretty good if you want a stable job that is not going disappear anytime soon. Start on some certs like A+, Network+ and talk to you boss about either some more responsibility or just talk to him/her about your plans on getting some certs and what sort of position you would be interested in.

Ten9t6

Are you sure you want to work with attorneys?

AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! I have done quite a bit of work for Law firms.....and I can tell you they are a PITA. I will not do it again unless I am making more than them. They want to put more into their cars and houses than they do their systems. And on top of that, most of them "THINK" they know more than everyone about everything.

But, back to your situation. You have experience.....like others have said, start getting some certs.

nknk417

You have a BS and it really doesn't matter for what, it gives the option into managerial position once you gain some experience and certifications. However, you need the certifications to get out of Tech Support and move more into Network Administration. My suggestion, create yourself a home lab, buy yourself some good Microsoft Cert Books, and spend the next year in getting your MCSA.

It will be a pain, these certs are somewhat hard to pass, but once you do you will basically have the necessary tools to land you a pretty good job in IT. And once you land that job you will be moved up the ladder much quicker and to higher positions because you have the BS career. But if you can't commit that one year to get at least your MCSA, then I suggest you move on to another degree.

I am not the kind that says that you need to eat, sleep and obsessively think about IT all the time, but you at least need the things that employers are looking for...and for network admin position they want certs and experience....for IT managerial positions they want certs, experience and degree. You are on your way and I think you should try your darnest to get certified and I am sure good things will come.

JDMurray

filkenjitsu wrote:

Here is what you should do:

Start a Master Program online with either of these schools-

Capitol College - Masters of Science in Network Security

Nowrwich - Masters of Science in Information Assurance

Both schools are NSA certified and both school have you take the CISSP at the end of the degree program (16 to 27 months to complete program) I actually heard that if you double up on classwork you can finish your masters with Capitol in 12 to 14 months.

Don't forget Capella University (www.capella.edu) for Information Security. They are also NSA certified, and their on-line Masters in InfoSec program was the first to be recognized by the (ISC)2 as fully compliant with the ten domains of the CISSP. Taking two classes a quarter you can get your Masters degree in 18 months. A typical NSA Standards-compliant degree completion plan (for 2005) looks like this:

TS 5004 Technical Communications TS 5005 Master's Learner Success Lab TS 5111 Overview of Enterprise Applications TS 5120 Project Management for Technology Professionals TS 5130 System Development Theory and Practice TS 5150 Enterprise Application Testing TS 5160 Business Foundations TS 5270 Cyber Threats to Enterprise Security TS 5271 Network Security Solutions for the Enterprise TS 5508 Enterprise System Security TS 5525 Project Risk Management TS 5531 Security Management Practices TS 5532 Secure System Development and Cryptology TS 5990 Integrative Project