What to go with a CCNA?

I'd like to move into some other computer IT field other than pure networking (like what I'm doing now), but not so far away that my CCNA isn't of any value and won't contribute to keeping my salary up. But I can't think of anything else to pursue (networking is really all I've been in). I would love doing the desktop support end of things, but I understand those positions pay quite a bit lower than networking (I make about 40k a year now and need to go higher). I need a job where I could make 50k a year, even if I wouldn't make it right away or go lower than 40k (I have a family).

Any suggestions?

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Comments

FloOz

honestly im quite shocked you arent making 50k or over since you have your ccna and are a newtwork engineer.

dave330i

CCNA is useful for virtualizaion.

Iristheangel

pruspeter wrote: »

honestly im quite shocked you arent making 50k or over since you have your ccna and are a newtwork engineer.

It's not shocking at all. It more depends on experience and location, not the certification.

radix

how about pairing it up with windows or *nix administration?

Cat5

pruspeter wrote: »

honestly im quite shocked you arent making 50k or over since you have your ccna and are a newtwork engineer.

I never said I was a network engineer, although I'm in advanced network support (there is a difference). I do have quite a bit more experience now than when I got my CCNA in '07, but it doesn't seem to have translated into a better salary. I only make 40k/yr and I have no benefits here as a never-ending contractor (I also have a family to feed). I would find something better, but jobs are scarce. I do this because it pays the bills, but I'd rather do something else in IT (or web design), but nothing else will pay me as much.

I think I'd like to do wireless, but a home lab is brutally expensive and I'd be starting out as a newbie and not even making what I am now.

drkat

DST is gonna pay much lower.. try like $28-32k? depending on your area. That's the whole reason I got out of DST was to move into more salary and the networking definitely did it.

I'd look into some sort of *nix or something that can compliment each other.

pinkydapimp

CCNA Security is pretty easy to pass and alot of your CCNA knowledge will help. I would grab that real quick.

m3zilla

So the reason why you want to move away from network is because you need to be making above 50K?

Cat5

m3zilla wrote: »

So the reason why you want to move away from network is because you need to be making above 50K?

I didn't say I wanted to totally move away from networking - only just routing/switching and nothing more. I find voice/wireless interesting, but I have no hands-on experience with them, and I don't want to spend kaboodles of time and money getting a cert in something just to discover that no one will hire me because I don't have real-world, paid exerience with either. I *could* study and get a CCNP cert, hoping to make make more money, but in my current job role it wouldn't get me a higher salary.

m3zilla

I'd like to move into some other computer IT field other than pure networking (like what I'm doing now)

I didn't say I wanted to totally move away from networking - only just routing/switching and nothing more.

You want to move away from a pure networking job, but want one that only focus on routing/switching? If you can't get above 50k at your current job, then find a new job. If you don't think you can get a voice/wireless job without hands-on experience, what makes you think you can get jobs in other fields of IT, in which you also have zero experience?

Slowhand

If you're wanting to stay within the routing and switching world, then I'd say you should be looking at a couple of things. First off, definitely go for the CCNP, then you might want to think about heading towards something more service provider oriented. The only reason I recommend the SP route is that you're pretty much guaranteed to be away from wireless, and very likely away from voice-technologies, if you're doing routing and switching work for a datacenter or and ISP. (They'll generally want voice specialists to do their VOIP stuff for them, and wireless isn't usually seen as much there.) Up next, I would strongly recommend brushing up on your Linux/UNIX skills. Perhaps start with Linux+, then move towards the RHCSA/RHCE path. Having a solid foundation in *NIX goes hand-in-hand with network engineering in most parts of the world.

If you're wanting to get away from networking altogether, then perhaps going for Microsoft's MCSA path isn't a bad idea. Your networking skills would serve you well in the sysadmin world, and you'd definitely be away from having to muck around with anything VOIP or wireless-related, aside from the occasional reset of a WAP or kicking a SonicWall appliance, or something along those lines.

DarthVader

You might find it more lucrative to spend time concentrating on your primary competency (Networking) For example, you can command more salary as a CCNP rather than CCNA.
If you want another cert to show you are well rounded, it's time for you to enter the security arena.

A CCNP can make WAY more than 50k, depending on location and experince. just saying

Cat5

@Slowhand and DarthVader, nice advice, thanks. Slowhand, I had thought once before of getting an MCSA. So a system administrator would be the job to go after if I obtained an MCSA, eh? I'll have to look into that. I hope these employers would accept an MCSA and not demand an MCSE instead.

@m3zilla, observe Slowhand and DarthVader's way of replying instead of your abrasive criticism. You're either going to be ignored or responded to in kind with those kinds of responses.

m3zilla

I apologize if I came off rude, but come on, I'm not here to hold anyone's hand or sugarcoat my response because I'm worried about hurting your feelings.

I made 2 posts on here, I'm not sure what criticism you're referring to. I merely pointed out the contradiction in your posts. You want to leave networking, yet you want a switching and routing job. You don't think you can get a job without hands on experience, yet you want to switch field and try your luck there.

bdub

What I would do if in your situation is go for some MS certs and then look for a job with a smaller company as either THE Sys Admin/Sys Engineer or on a small team. In that kind of role you typically wear more hats, get to learn more and usually the smaller companies do not look for the highly experienced guys, with your experience and some certs would do the trick and you'd be able to make at least what you make if not more (depends on the area).

Somnipotent

agreed with the Microsoft certs... those admins who have CCNAs tend to get a bit more $$$. Most MS Admins I know don't know too much about the routing and switching side of the house and it comes in handy.

m3zilla

I don't know too many admins that holds a CCNA either, but that's probably because most admins I know work in larger companies, where you're required to be experts at one specific area. Companies looking for sys admin with a CCNA are generally smaller shops, and even then, it wouldn't be easy to land it with just a MCITP or MCSA and a CCNA. They want hands on experience, Exchange, SQL, etc.

If the goal is to make more money, there's no point in switching field. Going for the MS cert would take at least 2-3 months, and it'll be even longer to find a company that would hire a sys admin with only networking experience.

bdub

Well it sounds to me like the OP has hands on experience, just that its on the networking side. With some MS cert(s) I dont see any reason why the OP would be unable to get into a sys admin position that requires some network configuration and skills. There are many companies (at least around here) in which a sys admin role is not just a systems role as many do not have separate teams.

No one is saying the OP is going to land a sr engineer role or something.

m3zilla

How do you figure that? From his post, the OP says his current job is pure network, and networking is all he has really done. I'm not saying he wouldn't be able to land a job as a sys admin, but it would hard to do so with so many other experience sys admin out there.

I'm also from MN so I know what the job market is like. From my experience in MN, if a company is looking for a jack of all trade, they place more emphasize on the "sys admin" part of the job, than the "network" part.

Devilry

Where are you located?

I think you need to simply tidy up some skills with some certs, and look for a new gig. If you have been doing this since 07 and have CCNA.. go grab a new cert and you should easily jump over 50k.

I am in a low COL area, and was about that with fairly basic level of experience and no certs.