Question for all network administrators

[ivwshane]

Ok here's the deal. I'm in the process of completing my MCSE and will hopefully get a MCDBA. I'm doing this in hopes of starting a career that will hopefully lead me to lot's of opportunities. My background so far has been with retail with my last job selling computers. As I am studying for the MS tests I'm practicing what I can with my home setup but I'm beginning to realize that there is so much to learn and the only real way to learn it is by being hands on. My question is what type of jobs/positions should I be looking for and where should I be looking? I would like to find a place where I will be able to get hands on experience that will allow me to find better more rewarding jobs. I guess I'm looking for a goal and a way to reach it.

 

[bozo1]

Well, most of us started out on a Help Desk. Boring and usually fairly low paying but you do learn a bunch of stuff. Best bet would be to start out on a helpdesk with a larger company and hopefully there will be room to grow there. I played the help desk game for about 3 years before moving up. Level 1 for a while, Level 2, etc. MCSE means nothing without the practical experience behind it.

 

[ivwshane]

So where do I look? and what's going to make me look hireable? And what do you consider low paying?

 

[bozo1]

All depends on your area. I'd say somewhere around $30K.
Try checking your local paper, online want ads - monster.com, etc. I find Excite's job search thing to be good - it pulls jobs from many websites into one list.

I'm sure some others will chime in with their thoughts.

 

[netsysadmin]

I agree with starting out at the help desk...an MCSE is not much unless you have years of experience to back it up....most people assume that you are gold one you have your MCSE...experience is the key!!.....one tip I will tell you is get as many computers at home as you can and network the sh!t out of them...try everything you can...build a domain..multiple DC's...DNS servers...etc...practice practice practice...know matter how good you think you may be...the real world in networking is waaayyyy harder...here are a bunch of job sites to check out...keep in mind with the economy so bad the job market is pretty saturated with network people right now...it will take some time and hard work to find a good job and the pay may not be as high as you would like...I have seen Help Desk jobs going for $25,000 a year....good luck

www.flipdog.com
www.monster.com
www.computerjobs.com
www.dice.com
www.hotjobs.com

John V.
Network Administrator
MCSE

 

[ivwshane]

Yeah that's what I've been doing for the last year, just setting up and configuring my own network and trying out as many things as I can but I feel like I've hit a brick wall. I feel like I can't think of anything else to try or I just don't see how certain things are used or can be useful, that's why I want some real world experience now.

I live in the California Bay Area (which is very expensive) so I hope I can start off making more than $25,000.

 

[Santa]

I am sure if you look around in the newspapers and some of the online sites these guys mentioned you will find some Help Desk positions for 30K+ easy in your neck of the woods.

Best thing to do is to not go into them cocky though but open to learning because Microsoft's way (the way you have learned) is not always the right way.

Go in with your experience but be humble and allow the veterns to show you the ropes. This will gain your report with them and lead to trust.. which leads to better jobs.. ect..

 

[Abzstrak]

also, dont assume that you'll get a job in a 100% microsoft shop... there is alot out there other than windows and knowing the rest of it I think is alot harder... making everything work together is even more fun ;-)

I agree with the other guys, helpdesk..... but I would suggest maybe a medium sized company or a company that is struggling with too small an IT dept budget. This alot of times allows you to wear many hats you normally wouldn't be "allowed" to if you were in a larger shop until U had more experience. It will often leads to much more experience not to mention that underbudgeted departments often have more problems that need fixing than you'll ever see anywhere else.

good luck

also, you'll prolly just have to deal with the fact that pay is going to suck.... maybe get some roommates?

 

[DocPepe]

Speaking from my experience.... This the route I took... I started working in IT at 19 as a Help Desk noob (don't take that the wrong way its a real learning experience) 2 years ago.... In my two years there I have completed the following in order

Comptia: Network +, A+ (Great Entry Lvl Certs)
Microsoft: MCP, MCSE (And Yes... They are right without experience people like to refer to you as a paper MCSE)
Compaq: ASE (If you work in larger companies you understand why I have this ;-) Compaq Servers Rock)
Cisco: CCNA, CCDA, CCNP (Cisco is the way to go =P)

I'm now 21... getting ready to turn 22, and in two years have gone from a Help Desk Assistant to Network Engineer. So it is possible... and I would have to agree with everyone about the just getting your hands dirty, and learning everything you can. As far as a goal and how to reach it.... If I was you I would knock out my Network +, and A+ both tests are relativly easy and give you the baseline knowledge that any IT manager is looking for in a Help Desk person. With that under your belt I would say that you'll probably be able to find an entry level job in no time... However I think bozo1 has been spending too much time at www.salary.com if he thinks an entry lvl person is going to be making $30,000.00 a year.... Personally I would say just over $19,000.00 starting out... Good luck to ya, and if you need anymore information feel free to post, and I'll do my best to answer