Adventures of a new grad (A.S.)

ehnde · March 2011

Got a potential/tentative offer as a NOC technician (my dream job) for a large SP 2nd/3rd shift pending graduation, but the job is 2 hours from where I live and out of range of what my fiance would consider reasonable from where we are right now.....but it pays $20/hour. I'll have to talk to her about it.

This prospective offer had more to do with being a CCNA than having a degree.

I'm sitting at 14 job apps for now.

networker050184 · March 2011

You don't need the official military preference, all employers that I've come across love employees with military a background. They bring discipline and a "mission first" attitude to the job.

If you were an E-5 in the military and worked in IA there is no reason you should have to work for $30k. Maybe you aren't selling your background well enough? When I got out as an E-5 I had no problem at all finding work with good pay.

You might just have to suck it up and move though. You have to go where the work is, it won't come to you.

it_consultant · March 2011

ehnde wrote: »

Got a potential/tentative offer as a NOC technician (my dream job) for a large SP 2nd/3rd shift pending graduation, but the job is 2 hours from where I live and out of range of what my fiance would consider reasonable from where we are right now.....but it pays $20/hour. I'll have to talk to her about it.

This prospective offer had more to do with being a CCNA than having a degree.

I'm sitting at 14 job apps for now.

Thats where I would go. The experience would really be beneficial to you; NOC experience is not that easy to come by and I am impressed that you got the job offer before you even graduated. You must have really wowed in the interview.

518 · March 2011

ehnde wrote: »

Got a potential/tentative offer as a NOC technician (my dream job) for a large SP 2nd/3rd shift pending graduation, but the job is 2 hours from where I live and out of range of what my fiance would consider reasonable from where we are right now.....but it pays $20/hour. I'll have to talk to her about it.

This prospective offer had more to do with being a CCNA than having a degree.

I'm sitting at 14 job apps for now.

Good luck, sir!

At least you're only moving within 2-hours of where you currently are. Had a friend who needed to jump start a career in Networks. He accepted a 3-year contract for a defense contractor and was assigned in Horn of Africa. He came back to stateside this year as a Network Engineer and work close to where he lives now. Just gotta do a little bit of sacrifice.

ehnde · April 2011

17 job applications now.

I've had one serious phone interview, but a follow up interview is needed and I've heard nothing yet. It was for ATM/PoS repair and that's maybe not as close to I.T. as I'd like to be.

Some of the job titles I've applied to are Systems Admin Assistant, Network Analyst, and I.T. Specialist.

I found one really nice looking job on usajobs.gov and my resume is searchable on there now.

The calls have gone from 1 call a day down to one every other day.

I saw millworx posting about putting up an Ad on craigslist. I don't have as much to offer, but I just might try that when it gets closer to crunch time if I still don't have an offer

(no prostitution, just as an I.T. person).

VAHokie56 · April 2011

I you want to do cisco I would take the NOC job. You may have to bite the bullet on the travel but the experience you will gain is priceless in terms of your career.

ehnde · April 2011

VAHokie56 wrote: »

I you want to do cisco I would take the NOC job. You may have to bite the bullet on the travel but the experience you will gain is priceless in terms of your career.

I'm concerned that the recruiter I spoke with was just gathering resumes, but I'll push for that job! I'd take any NOC job I could get within a 2 hour radius North or East of here, and 1 hour South or West. Don't see too many of them on the job boards, though. Cisco is the way I'd like to go.

Repo Man · April 2011

Good luck man.

Was gone for a few months and it looks like you got your CCNA in that time. Pretty impressive.

ehnde · April 2011

21 applications.

The last two job applications were MAILED! And not electronically

Found some listings on usajobs.gov that went to a Navy site. (DoD contractor jobs) This Navy website was so obfuscated I was unable to log into it so I gave up and used their snail mail application process.

79 more to go.

ehnde · April 2011

26 job applications.

The job market for I.T. is not that great here in Western Kentucky/Southern Indiana. I'm worried. I spend a bit of time in #cisco on freenode, and some of the guys in there told me if I really want a good shot at a networking job, I should be applying for jobs across the Nation. That's not possible because of complicated family relations (cannot move because of kids, but I'm not going to get into that....)

On the DoD job applications I've been shooting for Ft. Campbell, KY, VA jobs in Louisville and Evansville, Crane Indiana (Home - NSWC Crane Internet Home) and have also selected Iraq/Afghanistan when listed as a possible location.

Combat zones or other types of 3rd world deployment areas are a possible choice on a 1 year contract. Does anyone know where to find more of these types of jobs? What's most appealing about this type of IT work is that my family wouldn't need to move. Maybe after a year had passed there would be more IT jobs in my area. At least I'd have more experience.

3 more weeks till school is done and I have my A.A.S.

Pishof · April 2011

ehnde wrote: »

26 job applications.

The job market for I.T. is not that great here in Western Kentucky/Southern Indiana. I'm worried. I spend a bit of time in #cisco on freenode, and some of the guys in there told me if I really want a good shot at a networking job, I should be applying for jobs across the Nation. That's not possible because of complicated family relations (cannot move because of kids, but I'm not going to get into that....)

On the DoD job applications I've been shooting for Ft. Campbell, KY, VA jobs in Louisville and Evansville, Crane Indiana (Home - NSWC Crane Internet Home) and have also selected Iraq/Afghanistan when listed as a possible location.

Combat zones or other types of 3rd world deployment areas are a possible choice on a 1 year contract. Does anyone know where to find more of these types of jobs? What's most appealing about this type of IT work is that my family wouldn't need to move. Maybe after a year had passed there would be more IT jobs in my area. At least I'd have more experience.

3 more weeks till school is done and I have my A.A.S.

I know what you mean about this area. Luckily, after years of experience in a couple school corps I've joined the "education club" and have the ability to move just about anywhere and pick up a k-12 job rather easily. Problem is the pay's generally weak compared to private/for-profit sectors and recent budget cuts aren't helping.

I'm working on picking up a high dollar/hr contract for a small engineering firm in Owensboro just so I have some spending cash. Of course, that might only be a few hours a month and taxes will be killer on 1099 but it'll keep me afloat.

Turgon · April 2011

ehnde wrote: »

if I really want a good shot at a networking job, I should be applying for jobs across the Nation. That's not possible because of complicated family relations (cannot move because of kids, but I'm not going to get into that....)

Dont. I was on a forum once where a poster was adamant that you move where the work is at any cost and essentially people out of work were basically just lazy by not doing so. I say you have to assess your own personal commitments very carefully before you saddle up and ride out. There is a financial and personal cost to moving far from your home and social network and if you have dependents there such as kids, sick or older people it often isn't practical to move anywhere far from your residence.

Have your tried contacting all the local IT firms? Drop by well dressed with a CV and business card with a web address on it and put a website up offering your services. I think you could get picked up with that approach even if it is part time.

ehnde · April 2011

Pishof wrote: »

I know what you mean about this area. Luckily, after years of experience in a couple school corps I've joined the "education club" and have the ability to move just about anywhere and pick up a k-12 job rather easily. Problem is the pay's generally weak compared to private/for-profit sectors and recent budget cuts aren't helping.

I'm working on picking up a high dollar/hr contract for a small engineering firm in Owensboro just so I have some spending cash. Of course, that might only be a few hours a month and taxes will be killer on 1099 but it'll keep me afloat.

Good luck! I feel that there are I.T. jobs in Owensboro (good paying ones) for those with enough experience and educations. The average I.T. job I see in that area wants a B.S. and 5 years of experience. Hope you get your contracting job!

ehnde · April 2011

Thank you Turgon! I was hoping to hear something like that

I'm in the running for a NOC job one hour from us. It's a 6 - 12 month contract. I feel the experience is too valuable to pass up, even though it's something of a short-term position. Wife will be an LPN by the time that contract would end, so our financial outlook would be a little better and I could afford another job hunt.

This job would be via a recruiter.

So here's a hypothetical scenario....you see a job you want. It's listed on career builder via direct hire, Manpower (a staffing agency), and also a recruiter contacts you about this same job. How would you go about applying? All three methods, or one particular one?

Turgon · April 2011

ehnde wrote: »

Thank you Turgon! I was hoping to hear something like that

I'm in the running for a NOC job one hour from us. It's a 6 - 12 month contract. I feel the experience is too valuable to pass up, even though it's something of a short-term position. Wife will be an LPN by the time that contract would end, so our financial outlook would be a little better and I could afford another job hunt.

This job would be via a recruiter.

So here's a hypothetical scenario....you see a job you want. It's listed on career builder via direct hire, Manpower (a staffing agency), and also a recruiter contacts you about this same job. How would you go about applying? All three methods, or one particular one?

Go direct first.

Geetar28 · April 2011

ehnde, You probably have already heard of this but over in Ft. Knox, they "were" hiring like mad...unfortunately I think most of the jobs went to the original contractors form out of state....

Haven't looked online for quite a while, but every once in a while something pops up over there for IT. They just built a huge HR building. I would think that those jobs were posted on usajobs.gov. I put in for a few of them, but wasn't qualified ...and didn't know a soul over there to get a foot in the door...

Good Luck to ya...KY is pretty tough for finding jobs in general...IT even mre so.

ehnde · April 2011

Geetar28 wrote: »

ehnde, You probably have already heard of this but over in Ft. Knox, they "were" hiring like mad...unfortunately I think most of the jobs went to the original contractors form out of state....

Haven't looked online for quite a while, but every once in a while something pops up over there for IT. They just built a huge HR building. I would think that those jobs were posted on usajobs.gov. I put in for a few of them, but wasn't qualified ...and didn't know a soul over there to get a foot in the door...

Good Luck to ya...KY is pretty tough for finding jobs in general...IT even mre so.

Where did you wind up working? Ft. Knox is too far East for me, unfortunately. I did have a recruiter call about Ft. Knox, though. I've been applying for jobs on usajobs.gov mostly in Louisville and Crane, IN (I'm able to go about that far North, just not East).

Xcluziv · April 2011

ehnde wrote: »

Thank you Turgon! I was hoping to hear something like that

I'm in the running for a NOC job one hour from us. It's a 6 - 12 month contract. I feel the experience is too valuable to pass up, even though it's something of a short-term position. Wife will be an LPN by the time that contract would end, so our financial outlook would be a little better and I could afford another job hunt.

This job would be via a recruiter.

So here's a hypothetical scenario....you see a job you want. It's listed on career builder via direct hire, Manpower (a staffing agency), and also a recruiter contacts you about this same job. How would you go about applying? All three methods, or one particular one?

I'm with Turgon on this one. Go direct because you have a better chance of remaining there than if you were contracting

P.S just added you on LinkedIn

Geetar28 · April 2011

ehnde wrote: »

Where did you wind up working? Ft. Knox is too far East for me, unfortunately. I did have a recruiter call about Ft. Knox, though. I've been applying for jobs on usajobs.gov mostly in Louisville and Crane, IN (I'm able to go about that far North, just not East).

I'm in Elizabethtown. Working at a Manufacturing plant. I had a couple recruiter types call me up about Ft. Knox, but honestly I think they didn't have a clue what they were even looking for and just filling quotas.

I was able to get a resume to a couple of people actually in IT there at FT. Knox and they thought the resume was great etc etc...and told me where to apply and how to word it...but it never panned out. I got so GD busy at work that I wasn't able to pursue the job with as much "vigor" as I would have....

I would assume Bowling Green is prob. too far east too? Craigslist sometimes has some promising looking IT jobs for BG.

ehnde · April 2011

Geetar28 wrote: »

I'm in Elizabethtown. Working at a Manufacturing plant. I had a couple recruiter types call me up about Ft. Knox, but honestly I think they didn't have a clue what they were even looking for and just filling quotas.

I was able to get a resume to a couple of people actually in IT there at FT. Knox and they thought the resume was great etc etc...and told me where to apply and how to word it...but it never panned out. I got so GD busy at work that I wasn't able to pursue the job with as much "vigor" as I would have....

I would assume Bowling Green is prob. too far east too? Craigslist sometimes has some promising looking IT jobs for BG.

Bowling Green is really growing. Probably because of it's proximity to Nashville. The latest census shows that Bowling Green is now the 3rd largest city in the state. Even though Bowling Green is a grey area (almost out of range for me) I'm really thinking about it. I've applied to a few jobs there, not too many though.

Bowling Green is going to keep growing. Anyone in our area would be likely to have *some* luck looking for jobs there.

ehnde · April 2011

27 job applications. I'm at a standstill...cannot find anymore I.T. jobs to apply to.

The recruiter that contacted me about the network analyst job submitted my info today. Turns out it's an ISP

Part of the job description says "Demonstrated knowledge of EMS systems such as Cisco Transport Manager or Nortel Preside" and I don't know what either of those are. They also want someone that already has NOC experience.....so I'm not going to hold my breath.

boxvic · April 2011

I read through this thread and you said you got your degree at Madisonville CTC?

I'm from Whitesville, just on the other side of Owensboro bordering Ohio County. Small world! I graduated (twice technically) from Owensboro Community and Technical College.

If you can't go as far east as Louisville, then your best bet will be Evansville, though there seems to be a lot more business jobs in Evansville than IT. The IT and technical hubs in Kentucky are in Louisville and around Lexington. There are a lot of DOD contractors around Lexington. Unfortunately they are typically short term positions and they look for people with higher degrees and/or experience.

Are you registered with Owensboroworks.com? You have to have a college degree or passing WorkKeys scores to register there. It isn't a normal job search site though, it is a worker database that registered companies can search. It hasn't done me a lot of good, but it can't hurt right?

Right now I'm focused on either getting some certifications and looking for work in Louisville, or hoping to use my Engineering Technology degree to shoe-horn my way into a job with one of the aluminum plants in Hawesville.

I'm working part-time in the IT department as a computer operator with the City of Owensboro right now. We don't have any openings, but if one comes up anytime soon I'll let you know. Granted I'd be applying for it too, but your credentials blow mine away.

ehnde · April 2011

boxvic wrote: »

I read through this thread and you said you got your degree at Madisonville CTC?

I'm graduating May 4th. My classmates voted me most likely to be employed

28 job apps now.

boxvic wrote: »

I'm from Whitesville, just on the other side of Owensboro bordering Ohio County. Small world! I graduated (twice technically) from Owensboro Community and Technical College.

I was there (Whitesville) just a couple months ago doing a printer install for a bank. It is a small world!

boxvic wrote: »

If you can't go as far east as Louisville, then your best bet will be Evansville, though there seems to be a lot more business jobs in Evansville than IT. The IT and technical hubs in Kentucky are in Louisville and around Lexington. There are a lot of DOD contractors around Lexington. Unfortunately they are typically short term positions and they look for people with higher degrees and/or experience.

Incidentally the last couple of jobs I've applied for were in Evansville. I don't think I'd found any I.T. jobs at all in Owensboro. If I had a million bucks or 3 I'd open a datacenter there!

boxvic wrote: »

Are you registered with Owensboroworks.com? You have to have a college degree or passing WorkKeys scores to register there. It isn't a normal job search site though, it is a worker database that registered companies can search. It hasn't done me a lot of good, but it can't hurt right?

That's right, it can't hurt. I had not previously heard of this site. Thanks for mentioning it, I'll register. I've heard the unemployment rate (some news article somewhere) that the unemployment rate for people with degrees is much lower than it is for those with only a high school diploma/GED. I won't count on that site helping, but the way I see it the more arrows you shoot at the target, the more likely you are to hit the bullseye.

boxvic wrote: »

Right now I'm focused on either getting some certifications and looking for work in Louisville, or hoping to use my Engineering Technology degree to shoe-horn my way into a job with one of the aluminum plants in Hawesville.

If you get your CCNA, there is a NOC in Louisville that hires 4 or 5 times a year for Tier I Network Analysts. I've thought about going there, but they don't have anything at this moment. If you get more certifications, or a more advanced degree....either way you can't go wrong!

boxvic wrote: »

I'm working part-time in the IT department as a computer operator with the City of Owensboro right now. We don't have any openings, but if one comes up anytime soon I'll let you know. Granted I'd be applying for it too, but your credentials blow mine away.

Glad you have a job, too bad it's not full-time! I see OMHS (the hospital) hiring for IT jobs every now and then (few times a year) but those jobs are VERY hard to get. I've gotten 5 or 6 rejection letters from them over the past year. I'm thinking they typically only hire those with a B.S. in IT and experience. My motto is "apply anyways".

Good luck to you and it's good to hear from you!

boxvic · April 2011

Yeah, the hospital has some crazy expectations. I think they would rather leave a job open than fill it with someone who doesn't meet every one of their expectations. I applied for a job as an electronic tech there working on medical equipment, I met all of the requirements except previous medical equipment repair experience (and who in Owensboro has that?), and I never heard a thing from them.

Pishof · April 2011

boxvic wrote: »

I read through this thread and you said you got your degree at Madisonville CTC?

I'm from Whitesville, just on the other side of Owensboro bordering Ohio County. Small world! I graduated (twice technically) from Owensboro Community and Technical College.

If you can't go as far east as Louisville, then your best bet will be Evansville, though there seems to be a lot more business jobs in Evansville than IT. The IT and technical hubs in Kentucky are in Louisville and around Lexington. There are a lot of DOD contractors around Lexington. Unfortunately they are typically short term positions and they look for people with higher degrees and/or experience.

Are you registered with Owensboroworks.com? You have to have a college degree or passing WorkKeys scores to register there. It isn't a normal job search site though, it is a worker database that registered companies can search. It hasn't done me a lot of good, but it can't hurt right?

Right now I'm focused on either getting some certifications and looking for work in Louisville, or hoping to use my Engineering Technology degree to shoe-horn my way into a job with one of the aluminum plants in Hawesville.

I'm working part-time in the IT department as a computer operator with the City of Owensboro right now. We don't have any openings, but if one comes up anytime soon I'll let you know. Granted I'd be applying for it too, but your credentials blow mine away.

Small world indeed, I'm currently living in Owensboro and moving to Evansville next month after my girlfriend graduates from OCTC. I've been to Whitesville a few times too.

In Hawesville a few years ago I remember seeing a tech admin job at the aluminum plant starting over 80k a year and upwards over a 100k with experience but that's a very rare job opening.

I have a friend who is 3rd shift support desk manager for Insight customer service in Louisville who's offered to get me a job there in the past but I had no interest in the misery of call center jobs.

Yes, Owensboro hospital is ridiculous but so is Deaconess and such in Evansville. They are all very picky rightfully so.

boxvic · April 2011

Pishof wrote: »

Small world indeed, I'm currently living in Owensboro and moving to Evansville next month after my girlfriend graduates from OCTC. I've been to Whitesville a few times too.

In Hawesville a few years ago I remember seeing a tech admin job at the aluminum plant starting over 80k a year and upwards over a 100k with experience but that's a very rare job opening.

I have a friend who is 3rd shift support desk manager for Insight customer service in Louisville who's offered to get me a job there in the past but I had no interest in the misery of call center jobs.

Yes, Owensboro hospital is ridiculous but so is Deaconess and such in Evansville. They are all very picky rightfully so.

Wow... never thought I'd run into two other people from the area on the same forum- let alone a tech forum!

Speaking of hospitals being picky, I applied for a computer operator job at the one in Henderson (St. Mary's?) a couple weeks back and haven't heard anything. I am literally working as a part-time computer operator right now; but apparently that isn't enough to even warrant a phone interview.

I wouldn't even mind getting on over in Hawesville working a potline. Decent pay for the area and it would provide me the income I would need to go back for my bachelors degree.

ehnde · April 2011

Amazingly I have still not found any new jobs to apply to, but a hospital help desk job I applied for has had a status update that shows I'm being actively considered and may be called for an interview.

A NOC job in Evansville I was hoping for is no longer a possibility - recruiter told me the ISP is closing the NOC there....just found out today and I'm really disappointed. There may be NOC positions in Lousiville, but from what I've been told they may come too late for me (mid summer).

It feels like the doomsday clock is ticking! I really don't want to go work as a waiter

...but I will for the sake of my family if it comes to that.

There is a recurring theme here I see: be willing to change your location.

veritas_libertas · April 2011

ehnde wrote: »

Amazingly I have still not found any new jobs to apply to, but a hospital help desk job I applied for has had a status update that shows I'm being actively considered and may be called for an interview.

A NOC job in Evansville I was hoping for is no longer a possibility - recruiter told me the ISP is closing the NOC there....just found out today and I'm really disappointed. There may be NOC positions in Lousiville, but from what I've been told they may come too late for me (mid summer).

It feels like the doomsday clock is ticking! I really don't want to go work as a waiter ...but I will for the sake of my family if it comes to that.

There is a recurring theme here I see: be willing to change your location.

That is something I'm going to have to consider if I want to move into security in the future. Unless your family is adventurous by nature than you will get some negative feedback. My wife keeps telling me it's fine if "I" want to move...

ehnde · April 2011

30 job apps now. 1 more week till I'm sitting on my bum doing absolutely nothing. Getting nervous...I hear McDonalds is hiring

ehnde · May 2011

Got a phone interview for another NOC position today. This is my first actual interview. Very excited!

I've been watching different application websites that I used to apply for different jobs, and I can see different HR departments reviewing my resume. I'm expecting at least two more phone calls this week. A few months ago I would have considered myself lucky to get about a $16/hour job around here, but it's looking like it'll be closer to $18 - $20 (assuming I get one of these jobs).

Linkedin is helping out alot (knowing who you'll be interviewing with).

Adventures of a new grad (A.S.)

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