I completely understand what you're dealing with. I'm a CCNP, and I'm fortunate to be doing Network Engineering/Unix infrastructure administration for an AT&T subsidiary in No. Virginia. However, I'll probably be looking elsewhere in the not too distant future so that I can broaden my exposure to some technologies that we aren't using here but that I need hands-on time with to increase my networking skills. I'm prepared to meet with a hostile experience as employers weed out all but the brightest Engineers on the market. I'm certain that some of them will weed me out, too!
Here's something I try to include as a selling point when I interview and I hint to it in the objective statement of my resume: I consider myself very fortunate to truly enjoy the work that I do, and the more of it I can get my hands on, the better. I'm sure to tell them that I have a well-formed lab in my home. If something stumps me, I go and beat my head against a router in the evenings until I understand it. This is not a 9-to-5 occupation for me. From an employer's prospective, finding someone who is passionate about the work they do is very important, especially considering that Network Engineers tend to endure some not so ideal working conditions (cold data-centers, lots of travel, weird hours, etc.) A person who does this work solely for the money is more of a liability than an assett. One piece of advice that I have for you, especially in the tough job market we are currently experiencing...Never describe yourself as a CCNP, CCDA with, as you put it, "a little router experience". This may be a completely true fact, but to an employer, a statement like that completely nullifies your certifications and all the hard work you have put into them. After all, hands-on is what it's all about in their eyes. The job-hunting game is much like selling cars; you have to make the customer (in this case your prospective employer) think that the car (you) they are looking at is the hottest thing on the road. I'm not saying that you should make up skills that you don't have (dishonesty almost always come back to haunt you (especially on a resume or job interview)), but certainly don't advertise the fact that your certifications were gained through books and classroom training alone (not that this is the case for you). If you have a can-do, can-learn-anything kind of attitude, you might just get them to see past some of your short-comings (like lack of years of experience). When I started my current job, I was an MCSE and brand-new CCNA who barely knew what OSPF or BGP stood for, let alone how to design and administer a network that uses them. The guy who interviewed me told me after I had been hired that I was chosen over another candidate who had a little more experience than me because I expressed such enjoyment in my work and a strong willingness to do whatever it took to become fluent in the technologies they were using. He said it was apparent that this was a career, not just a paycheck to me. Sorry, I know that this is way OT, I just thought it was important to point out that you may be making an impression that you don't want to make, and that confidence and passion on an interview (and your resume, for that matter) might be just the ticket to get you past some of the hurdles in front of you. Best of luck in your search and my apologies to the list for the lost bandwidth. Kelly Cobean, CCNP, CCSA, ACSA, MCSE, MCP+I Network Engineer GRC International, Inc., an AT&T company -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of x Sent: Wednesday, April 03, 2002 9:12 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Are all the Cisco jobs for CCIEs? [7:40328] I live in the US. I have been casually looking for a new job while I have been working on my CCDP and CSS-1. I already have the CCNP, CCDA, MCSE, CNE, Unix experience, a little router experience, VPN conncentrator 3005, hands on switch and PIX experience. I have put all this on my resume. Am I missing some certification or training? It seems like all the Cisco related jobs require 5+ years of hands on experience or a CCIE. This creates a chicken and the egg problem for me. I want to get more hands on experience than my current job offers to prepare for the CCIE, but in order to get the experience you need to be a CCIE. I realize the economy isn't very good right now, but where are the junior level Cisco positions? How did the current CCIEs become CCIEs? How do I get a job that works with Cisco products, without alot of experience or a CCIE? Just Frustrated... __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - online filing with TurboTax http://taxes.yahoo.com/ Message Posted at: http://www.groupstudy.com/form/read.php?f=7&i=40463&t=40328 -------------------------------------------------- FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
