IDK Where To Go From Here

I'm entry level. Extremely entry-level - I only have 6 months of experience working for a company doing IT work. Everything else IT related I've done has been on my own - either self-study, on the side for money, or for friends/family.

I recently got the CCENT and was working on the ICND2. However, looking at the job market around me (North NJ, NYC area) I don't see any entry-level networking positions. I honestly just want to get some hands-on experience to compliment the few certs I currently hold and any certs I'm looking to get in the future.

Still, I'm too entry-level to be considered for a vast majority of the jobs in my area - even Help Desk and Desktop Support. As just about everyone else starting out in this industry proclaims, I can't get the experience I want because I don't already have experience - the Catch 22 I hear about daily.

I originally was studying to take the ICND2 640-816 in Sept. But now I'm doubting that being a good idea. I'm doubting I'd be able to land a position that would give me experience w/ Routing and Switching and I'd just end up forgetting everything I learned. I'm not a stranger to skill fade.

What would be a better idea to land a Help Desk / Desktop Support role that would give me hands-on experience? I feel like the Microsoft certs and the skills that come along w/ them are better geared for those types of roles. Should I be looking towards Win 7/2008 certs? Should I try getting evaluation licenses to some commonly-used ticketing software such as Remedy? Go thru CBT series on Outlook and MS Office? Try to get intimately acquainted w/ Norton Ghost and other backup software?

I'm rambling but I simply don't know what I should be doing at the moment to try to land a more technical job. And at the same time, even if I learned all these skills and got a MS cert or 2 or 3, none of that would be reflected on my work experience sections of my resume - would they even help me?

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Comments

kohr-ah

Entry level networking you want to look for a NOC job is what I would consider entry level networking to get some experience for that. Even if you dont meet the qualifications still apply for it. You'd be surprised. All you have to do is get the opportunity to show them your ambition and a lot of times it will go a long ways.

If you want to do Help Desk / PC Desktop Tech then I'd do 1 MS operating systems Cert. (Unless you want to be a windows engineer). So like Windows 7. That way it compliments your A+. Ghost is very easily learned and Office I woudn't bother with CBT Nugget training videos on that. You can learn office from google quickly but as a PC tech I wouldn't even bother.

Nutsacjac

DoubleNNs wrote: »

snip

Finish up the CCNA and find a NOC(there are a few in NYC, I heard Bloomberg was hiring from a friend, I'd love to work there). Ignore the experience and apply anyway. If you nail the interview you'll be fine.

A ticketing system/Ghost you can pick up in a day.

DoubleNNs

Nutsacjac wrote: »

A ticketing system/Ghost you can pick up in a day.

That's what I thought as well. But previous experience in similar bullets make up the requirements of almost ever job ad I see.

Nutsacjac wrote: »

Finish up the CCNA and find a NOC(there are a few in NYC

Most NOCs I see have ridiculous amount of prior experience needed. To the point where I often don't have anymore than a single bullet on the entire requirements list.

darkerz

6 months in and you want to look elsewhere?

Do self study, learn soft skills and go above & beyond in your current job, if you can, for at *least* 1-2 years before making a move.

Or, land it with a NOC and watch that income sky rocket if you play your cards right in 3-5 years. (My approach, I like it, 401k's - responsibilities 'yo)

Ismaeljrp

Go for the full CCNA, and the NOC. I think you should just apply anyway, I see people on this forum mention how they get entry jobs right outta high school with just a semester of computer repair or something like that. Don't pay too much attention to the listed requirements, sure pay attention, but half the stuff they put on there are just like a little kid asking santa for all the toys he can possibly dream of. Companies tend to just post a wish list of skills and experience, if they always hired just based on that, they wouldn't have any employees.

NotHackingYou

Recommend sticking with your job and finishing that CCNA.

JoJoCal19

6 months is hardly enough time to "pay your dues". A minimum of 1 year, up to 2 years. In the mean time like others have said, knock out the CCNA. After that maybe a specialization within the CCNA. Then start looking for a NOC position or junior network admin position.

asurania

Step1 . Finish of your CCNA
Step 2. DO your MCSA Windows Server 2012
Step 3. Keep on Looking.
Step 4. IF you don't have a degree... Look at WGU

Just keep working on your cert, keep on looking
I also suggest a professional written Resume, and A premium Linkedin Membership - make sure you keep adding recruiters. The premium membership also allows recuiters to contact you for free. I have over 100 recuiters on my profile...so i get contacted 2 to 3 times a week....

W Stewart

Nothing wrong with leaving after 6 months if the job isn't worth it. I worked my IT first job at a crappy call center doing Dell tech support with no real advancement opportunities and no opportunities to learn anything that would get me where I wanted to be in my career so I left after 6 months for a linux tech support position and never looked back.

I would recommend finishing you CCNA because it's always good to have a strong foundation of networking knowledge whether your going into networking or not. If you're having trouble getting into networking then do as a few others mentioned and look for a NOC job since that seems to be where a lot of networking professionals start. If you're not able to land a NOC job then consider learning some windows server and/or linux and looking for a job at a small business somewhere where you'll be able to get your hands on everything. Most importantly, be open to opportunities at this point in your career. Some of those opportunities might set you up to be where you want to be in the future and you may even find that your interests change as you get exposed to new technologies.

Ismaeljrp

W Stewart wrote: »

I would recommend finishing you CCNA because it's always good to have a strong foundation of networking knowledge whether your going into networking or not. If you're having trouble getting into networking then do as a few others mentioned and look for a NOC job since that seems to be where a lot of networking professionals start. If you're not able to land a NOC job then consider learning some windows server and/or linux and looking for a job at a small business somewhere where you'll be able to get your hands on everything. Most importantly, be open to opportunities at this point in your career. Some of those opportunities might set you up to be where you want to be in the future and you may even find that your interests change as you get exposed to new technologies.

This is great advice. It's something I've been thinking about recently, as entry networking jobs are harder to come by this year, meta-searching, I've found Systems jobs outnumbering Networking jobs almost 5 to 1 overall.

coreyb80

asurania wrote: »

Step1 . Finish of your CCNA
Step 2. DO your MCSA Windows Server 2012
Step 3. Keep on Looking.
Step 4. IF you don't have a degree... Look at WGU

Just keep working on your cert, keep on looking
I also suggest a professional written Resume, and A premium Linkedin Membership - make sure you keep adding recruiters. The premium membership also allows recuiters to contact you for free. I have over 100 recuiters on my profile...so i get contacted 2 to 3 times a week....

Good info. I've wondered to myself if the premium Linkedin membership would be worth it.

NicWhite

I agree with those that say that you should go forward with your CCNA certification studies. Don't worry about the knowledge going to waste because you will always be able to review and come back up to speed. It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. And continue to look for a better position, who knows you may get lucky.