Where to find good jobs?

Pantlegz

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2007
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Basically the title says it all, I graduate in December will be ready for A+ MSCE CCNA(maybe security) N+ basic entry level certs but... I need a job to take any of these. I've been told most companies will give you 3-6 months to get the certs if you're fresh out of school, any truth in that? Also if anyone knows decent places in the midwest, from Lincoln NE to Austin TX and basically anything in between. Or anywhere to search for jobs, currently have a robert half technology account(doesn't seem too good for me) and monster.

Any suggestions for someone getting into the industry in general would be appreciated as well :)
 

Jamsan

Senior member
Sep 21, 2003
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Never heard of companies allowing time to complete certs. You either have it or you don't. You can mention that you're working toward XYZ certs during the interview (if you get that far).

As far as good job search sites, you there's Dice, Monster, Career Builder, yahoo hotjobs, indeed, simplyhired, etc. If you know of company's in your area as well, you can check their individual websites for any postings.

Edit: 3-6 months is a pretty aggressive time line for getting all of those (especially MCSE - 7 or so exams).
 

Emulex

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2001
9,759
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maybe a sales position entry level might offer that.

you would become a paper ccna/mcse. Would not let that near my network with a 10 foot pole.

I've had some CCIE's that couldn't upgrade the firmware on a simple 7604 :(
 

drebo

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2006
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Most companies don't care about the certs if you have the experience and know-how.

That said, check school district and local government websites. I had a county here offer me a good full-time job when I didn't even have my BS yet.
 

Crusty

Lifer
Sep 30, 2001
12,684
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Originally posted by: Emulex
maybe a sales position entry level might offer that.

you would become a paper ccna/mcse. Would not let that near my network with a 10 foot pole.

I've had some CCIE's that couldn't upgrade the firmware on a simple 7604 :(

That's why certs are pointless unless you have the experience to back them up... and when you have the experience you don't need a cert to show what you know :p
 

Pantlegz

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2007
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Originally posted by: Jamsan
Never heard of companies allowing time to complete certs. You either have it or you don't. You can mention that you're working toward XYZ certs during the interview (if you get that far).

As far as good job search sites, you there's Dice, Monster, Career Builder, yahoo hotjobs, indeed, simplyhired, etc. If you know of company's in your area as well, you can check their individual websites for any postings.

Edit: 3-6 months is a pretty aggressive time line for getting all of those (especially MCSE - 7 or so exams).

I had planned on either A+, N+ and CCNA or MCSE depending on the situation.

Originally posted by: Emulex
maybe a sales position entry level might offer that.

you would become a paper ccna/mcse. Would not let that near my network with a 10 foot pole.

I've had some CCIE's that couldn't upgrade the firmware on a simple 7604 :(

I am looking for something entry level or fairly low level, the only issue with certs is the money required to take them, I know most everything I need to know for them now I just can't afford to take them. I also know that I have a good reference from one of my instructors which may help a little I dunno...

I'll check out the sites given and see if I have any luck, thanks :)
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
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Originally posted by: Emulex
maybe a sales position entry level might offer that.

you would become a paper ccna/mcse. Would not let that near my network with a 10 foot pole.

I've had some CCIE's that couldn't upgrade the firmware on a simple 7604 :(

CCIE's don't deal with such routine tasks. That's for the techs to handle.

OP - just go to monster or dice.
 

JackMDS

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 25, 1999
29,552
429
126
Originally posted by: Crusty
.. and when you have the experience you don't need a cert to show what you know :p

This is Diminishing.

Just like many employers ask for a College Degree even if it is Not relevant to what the employee suppose to do.

So it is in many Computer elated Tech./IT Jobs.

Yes you can still find a Job with No Cert, but the number and of offers is getting smaller by the day.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Originally posted by: JackMDS
Originally posted by: Crusty
.. and when you have the experience you don't need a cert to show what you know :p

This is Diminishing.

Just like many employers ask for a College Degree even if it is Not relevant to what the employee suppose to do.

So it is in many Computer elated Tech./IT Jobs.

Yes you can still find a Job with No Cert, but the number and of offers is getting smaller by the day.

A large percentage of positions REQUIRE the cert plus a degree. It's not optional.
 

xSauronx

Lifer
Jul 14, 2000
19,582
4
81
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: JackMDS
Originally posted by: Crusty
.. and when you have the experience you don't need a cert to show what you know :p

This is Diminishing.

Just like many employers ask for a College Degree even if it is Not relevant to what the employee suppose to do.

So it is in many Computer elated Tech./IT Jobs.

Yes you can still find a Job with No Cert, but the number and of offers is getting smaller by the day.

A large percentage of positions REQUIRE the cert plus a degree. It's not optional.

ive noticed that as well, looking through various job postsings. i was determined to get my ccna to start anyway but my plan now is to go ahead and start my bachelors after i finish my associates, because so many positions require that, as well.
 

RebateMonger

Elite Member
Dec 24, 2005
11,586
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Originally posted by: spidey07
A large percentage of positions REQUIRE the cert plus a degree. It's not optional.
A while back, we were looking to hire someone. We didn't REQUIRE a certification, but specified that it was preferred.

It was amazing how many people either tried to lie to us or told us how "they could easily pass" a certification test, but hadn't bothered taking one. It wasn't like we required a dozen tests. Just one test would have done the trick to show they were actually committed enough to follow through with their training.
 

Emulex

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2001
9,759
1
71
you can get mad vouches for cert's but you get slammed in a technical interview with real world scenarios that bust your balls.

CCIE's need to work too :) pay for their visa status :) the update of firmware was part of a larger process and if someone is willing to pay $250/hr they will send one out. never the less the failure to figure out such a simple task was to example real life book-smart testers have no value to me.

go intern somewhere or work for an ISP while you get your degree. ISP's will hire anywhere and you'll get broad general knowledge of networking and sys admin with enough spare time to do your homework
 

cmetz

Platinum Member
Nov 13, 2001
2,296
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Good jobs don't "exist", they are created for you. You have to know people inside who want to hire you, and will figure out how to create a position into which to hire you.

If you're not there, you didn't do the (people) networking you should have. Did you do an internship or summer jobs? Did you do user groups, ACM/IEEE, competitions, community groups, etc.? That's where you meet people and they get to know you, and those people are who you email when you're looking for a job.

If you don't have that, you'll probably just need to find "a job" to start, and the first thing you should do once you land is start building a good (people) network for your career. It's quite common for folks to change jobs after about a year out of school.
 

JackMDS

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 25, 1999
29,552
429
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Originally posted by: drebo
Most companies don't care about the certs if you have the experience and know-how.

This is really Not accurate.

Some of the issues are Not even IT related but rather insurance, and liability needs.

If there is troubles, the Liability Carrier does not care about how Smart and Know-How is the Tech.

They want to see Cert. Techs. Meaning someone that is Legally Cert. by a 3rd party organization to do the Job (even if you and I know that many Cert Techs are not by definition Good Techs).