Forums > General Discussion > Network Engineering
CerealBh
1 post
20 Jan 2011 at 3:10 p.m. UTC

HI, well i have been looking for a job in the network engineering/administration but all the job opportunities i feel that i am ill prepared, I have my CCNA, have takin the netacad class for CCNP Switch but have not taken the test, and am currently studying up for my CCNA Security. My dilemma is that most jobs want experience that i have no expertise in, ie. Exchange, Active Directory, DNS, Ghosting, what is the best way to learn some of these skills that would make me not only a better Tech, but make me a must have for any network admin/engineer job. I have thought about Net+ and MSCE certs to try to learn more about above topics, but once again this is all theoretical knowledge and no real hands on which is my biggest fear. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
WizeOne
3 posts
20 Jan 2011 at 7:10 p.m. UTC

Unfortunately without hands on experience it going to be tough for you. Most people I know are taking some type of internship or help-desk position with hopes of that leading to an engineering opportunity. One thing you will realize very quickly is studying the material and taking the test does not in itself prepare you to be a network engineer. One really needs the hands on experience. Unfortunately a book can not teach you that. I would recommend reaching out to local schools or businesses for job shadowing with engineers. Explain that you are a new to network engineering and looking for experience. This could help you stumble upon an opportunity.

Good luck with your search!
deepakarora1984
16 posts
27 Jan 2011 at 8:25 a.m. UTC

After completing CCNP your chances of finding job will be much higher. So look at it from that prospective. CCNP and JOB together on the other hand may make life tough.

I am not sure though why people still consider quantity of experience over quality of experience for most of jobs.

HTH... Deepak Arora

http://deepakarora1984.blogspot.com
cjstrick
2 posts
12 Apr 2011 at 6:19 p.m. UTC

I work for a company that recently released a CCNA/CCNP/CCIP professional due to lack of experience. The guy knew his stuff but, still it was not enough to make up for his lack of knowledge in every other area of networking (i.e. - storage, VM, MS and desktop support). It seems that people are acquiring these high level skills and as such are being hired by companies that assume that since they have those higher level skills, that they must also have the associated lower level skills, and that is just not the case.

My advice for you is to figure out who you want to be. Do you want to be solely a network engineer that works the most difficult cases or more of a jack of all trades who can get in there and just figure stuff out.

If you want to be the former, then apply at some place like cisco or find a headhunter that understands what you want to be so they can help place you.

Otherwise be content with finding a part time or volunteer job (I worked at the local Red Cross for free for 6 months before being hired full time in my current position) and gaining those other associated skills that will make you more than a one trick pony and thus more valuable to a potential employer.

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