1

Recently I parted with my old job in hopes of a better opportunity for myself. It is helpful for a monetary means, but not for what I like to do, I’ve had 4 years experience as a jack of all trades network admin for a smaller company, I get interviews, but I can never seem to get past the interview phase. I feel that it is because the only two certifications I have to my name is A+, Network+ & my associates degree which seems to have lost the value it was really worth when I get in a interview.

I’ve been out of trying for certifications for while since my last job was to be the net admin / sys admin, working two jobs for the pay of helpdesk. Now that I’m back into a relatively low end job, meaning not much to do, not very challenging with lots of spare time, I was hoping to get back into studying for a few certifications hoping it would just be extra padding for my resume.

Is there anything you guys would suggest for someone in my position?

5 Spice ups
2

If you are getting to interviews, it means your resume is not the issue. Do you feel like the interviews go well?

1 Spice up
3

I do, they always set me up to either one interview, or they never respond back to the first one after we agree to setup the interview.

4

Most employers have you go to at least 2 interviews, I had 3 at my last one.

If you are getting 1 interview or not even 1, there’s another issue.

I STRONGLY recommend that you look in your network. Talk to your friends and past and current IT colleagues about available opportunities. As I have said in several other threads, all of my excellent opportunities have been a result of personal connections.

That said, if you have no obvious opportunities, look at some certs that have something to do with the type of IT work that you actually want to do. If you dig server administration, look at Microsoft Server certs or maybe Server+. If networks are your bag, then look at CCNA. You will do far better in the long run if you do work you enjoy.

1 Spice up
5

Did I read that you left a good job and now don’t have one?

6

No, I left my old job which had more responsibility, and less pay for a job that had less responsibility and more pay, but not what I wanted to do. It was one of the signs that things just kept getting worse, and I decided to take a job that was more money, less responsibility, to get away from the stress that I was under, and was not paid to handle. It was a position of I held system administrator by organizational title, but paid as IT Helpdesk via HR. I worked for the experience being a college grad with a few minor certs.

I’m actually glad I left, my boss departed the same company less than a month after I did, along with 2 others of the IT staff.

7

I’ve been thinking about several IT certs actually, ITIL foundations was one that hit me since it’s now a thing I see more of in bigger organizations. Server+ I had also given some consideration to, I’ve been looking at my MCSE, but I’m trying to get something that’s the most bang for my buck given my situation of I’m poor until I get bills caught up. I’ve signed up for pluralsight to help get my mindset back into certs, and I’ve even started to pull my old network out of the closet to rebuild it, my last job had me at the point of every piece of IT equipment I owned was powered off in the closet, and not being used, all I did was read novels so I could destress. It took me quitting my old job, and starting this do nothing job to realize how badly burned out I was.

8

Ok- I understand. I was a bit worried about your sanity :wink:

Since you have the time, go for one of certs you mentioned. You might be able to knock it out quickly considering you already have A+ and N+.

I have always found that things seemed to get moving for me when I made moves.

9

I’m trying to, I suppose I’m still trying to shake off some of the crude I had from being stagnant so long. That’s one reason why I’m back into my projects, and pulling my gear back out of the closet practicing the best I can, I’m even upgrading when I have the funding.

10

err, did you leave on good terms ??

if so, could they possibly be the answer ? as they may welll need some IT now, and you are in a position to ask for a proper rate for the job too, and you would be most definiteley ‘hit the ground running’ :o)

OR, if you left on bad terms, and you are failing to get past interview stage, it MAY be they have poisoned the well as it were - not saying they have, as it is not something Co’s do, as it bites both ways

one other, have an HONEST discussion about your interview techique

do you turn up on time ? are you dressed well ? tidy / clean / sweet smelling - the whole enchilada :oP

they say interviews are won or lost in those initial first few seconds, so take any criticism from friends on the chin, and adapt to get the job

also training, MS have theor online virtual academy, lots of FREE courses, with online as you progress tests, they may not be street cred certs, but MS like them, and you can PROVE them by logging into the academy too

maybe start to look into Linux too, as that is ALWAYS going to be a worthwhile ticket to have

not free, but not too expensive, and all is provided to help you get into it from the get go

https://linuxacademy.com/

you have a degree, it doesn’t really help, but A+ / Network + show you have some ability at the beginner side of things, so not really worth looking into more as you already have experience, so maybe an MS cert to MCSA is the way to BEGIN, but IT is all about training, and staying current, not all want or see the need to re-certify, so there are a lot of MCSE NT4 / 2K3 out there as they have maintained presence within the system, and so are still current, but there is NO point in you bothering with old certs, so for what its worth, my 2c are to the links above, get a job you like and want to progess in, and then commence / complete the cert path that is best suited to the path chosen

11

Yep, I left with a weeks notice, on good terms, and they acted like I went to work for a competitor. I got the very nice police escort out, with the complete package of do not come back.

Always am at least a hour early for my interviews, dressed in a clean suit, neatly groomed, polished shoes, the whole nine yards.

I’ve been thinking about linux with the linux+ cert from CompTIA, as well as storage+ since I do have prior SAN experience. I’ve been looking into my MCSA for starters since it’s all neatly bundled up into 3 exams for you to take.

12

An hour early is a bit much. I hope you’re just making your presence known 15-30 minutes before the meeting, and not a full hour. 15-30 minutes says serious. 1 hour early (that they can see) is actually annoying and reeks of desperation. As one having hired people, if someone came an hour early (and they have), I was usually a bit turned off. Just awkward.

13

Well I aim for a hour for parking, finding space, finding office park, stuff like that. I find a hour usually gives me time to navigate places when I go there so as to not be in a dead run when I get there.

14

Right. I was hoping you didn’t mean waiting in the waiting room an hour early.

15

Nope, never doing that again, I find interviewing is a learning process… I’ve found the extra hour of time also lets me go slow, shake off some of the nerves, and just try to get in the right mind frame after dealing with all the other stuff to get there like traffic.