How to get into Network/IT

[omenicious]

Associate ISA's are telecom analysts at my department. Make sure you factor all of your years of IT related experience... you might be falling just short of the requirement threshold. I think 2-3 years is the magic number (I'd aim for the 3).

[KALIDAWG8996]

I seriously think the IT business went to hell because of all these "needed" certifications and requirements. I remember back in the mid 90's when I was on my 9600 baud modem and everything I learned was self taught. It only matters what you know...not what a piece of paper says about you.

[jmlivingston]

I remember back in the mid 90's when I was on my 9600 baud modem and everything I learned was self taught. It only matters what you know...not what a piece of paper says about you.

Unfortunately that piece of paper is what many companies use to measure what you know, especially for people just entering the field. Once you have 5, 10, or 15 years of experience that changes, as that experience can be directly reflected on your resume (and through your network of professional relationships).


John

[6172crew]

Here is a little update:

I started working on the 2008 Microsoft stuff MCTS and server after while I keep looking for work. The MS material was already paid for and I have access to testing material along with some other things to help me through the certs.

I stopped by Travis and Martinez VAs while I was looking at a room for rent and found some good intel on Fed jobs. Region 1 (west coast, Alaska and Hawaii) VA offices are going with Cisco across the board. They are replacing all the other vendors and are working on hiring management/supervisors for this shakeup off all IT type departments.

They dont do things like in the civialian job market and have the telco side separate from the network which is seperate from storage and programming.. They dont have a jack off all trades but they do have help desk but these departments do not cross into other departments and they dont share info and I get the feeling its for self preservation and job security.

I spoke with a guy who said they are moving to VOIP and cannot find any Cisco voip people. The person I spoke to was the telco guy and looked like he had been there for awhile, he said there is no positions open until management spots are filled and he would know more on the 9th.

He was nice enough to give me a card and said I could email him to find out about changes.

I also found out that most of the IT staff started in a clerk/admin spot before landing a IT slot. The younger OIF vet I talked to said he filed paperwork for 2 years before getting his spot. I asked him what he did in the Army and he said Satcom. Seemed like a nice guy and was willing to give me some solid advise on fed AV type jobs.


On the other side (civilian) I have received one job offer for 90/100 resumes/application I have sent out. The network consulting job was installing a switch, router and POE battery in a office with 2 hosts and no printers. I did get a chance to change the name of the vlan on the switch so I can claim some cisco time on my resume.