It sounds like the market you are living in is oversaturated. Having similar
experiences while living in Des Moines, Iowa, my solution was to go where
the work is (in my case Kansas City)> It has been stated by numerous people
on this list previously and not to beat a dead horse...but, early in your
career as an <insert job title here> it is to your advantage to be mobile. I
was originally able to get into the IT field with only experience and no
certifications because of this and now have a position that allows me to
troubleshoot voice and data circuits Cisco, nortel, Marconi, and Fore
equipment. The company I am working for provides me with an extensive
library of CBT's to choose from at my leisure. They also send their
personall out to classroom training on a regular basis. This coupled with
the numerous opportunities for advancement and cross training within the
company (tuition reimbursement and stock options too!) made this an easy
choice for me to come on board with them, even though it required me to move
for the 3rd time in 3 years. If you are are relatively new in the field
and/or lacking a degree (much like I am), you want to get in and start
working yesterday (of course, today will do also), I would suggest you adopt
the mantra that I have..... "mobility=advancement/opportunity". If you can
adapt this sentiment (and not all can, we all have different circumstances),
finding employment with your new <insert brand name here> certification will
be greatly simplified. FYI, in my case the CCNA was what attracted their
attention to me (achieved while working on MCSE). Good luck to all the job
seekers out there and DO try to be as mobile as you can...it will most
certainly help you in your search.
Gragg Vaill
MCP CCNA
NOS Contractor
Sprint ION NOC
Overland Park, Kansas
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of
Denis A. Baldwin
Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2000 11:09 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: I passed CCNP. Some Wisdom
This is a point that I would like to make emphasis on. Here in Michigan, I
know many people who have the standard respected certs (A+/MCSE/CCNA) and
are averaging $55-65000 a year. Note that most of these people have these
certs and 5 or so years of experience. In California, the same jobs tend to
net you $75-85000 a year, but you have to consider that the cost of living
is incredibly high out there. Another point that needs to be made (and the
wall that I and a friend of mine have run into numberous times) is that
employers (at least in Michigan) still need you to have a degree. I walked
into an interview with my A+, MCP, I-Net+, Network+ and 6 years of real
world experience and go turned down because I was 16 credits from having my
degree. The interviewer was kind enough to let me know that I qualified in
every thing they ask for except the degree, saying that a minimum of a
bachelors is needed. None the less, the person they did hire @ $61,000 a
year had 6 months experience at an ISP and only his bachelors. This just
goes to show that the piece of paper still needs something.
Denis
> You will not make 70 grand a year just for getting
> your MCSE. You will not get 90 grand a year just for your CCNP. And I
> doubt you will get $120 grand a year when you get your CCIE. Somewhere
> around half of this is realistic for the MCSE or CCNP. The only possible
> things that will get you close this amount of money is an added college
> degree, many years of experience or living somewhere that the cost of
> living is double compared to the rest of the country. Sorry if this ruins
> your dreams of getting rich quick, but is better someone told you before
> you spend the time and money.
_________________________________
FAQ, list archives, and subscription info:
http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html
Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
_________________________________
FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html
Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
