CCNA - IT Jobs????? please read

Author

IT Jobs????? please read

sammyloco

2002-06-06, 9:06 am

I have recently graduated with an AAT and also completed the CCNA course semesters 1-4 which was part of the degree. Although I haven't taken the actual 607 yet, I didn't want that to stop me from at least applying for IT jobs. My problem is, I can't find a single Information Tech job. Is anyone else having this problem? Is the economy that bad that absolutely no companies are posting IT jobs? And the jobs that do have IT positions (none of which are networking) require at LEAST a bachelors and 126 years of on the job experience! Not to mention every job now wants you to have an MCSE. I just don't have 10 grand to dish out only to find it just as difficult to find a real job!

This is very dissapointing, considering how the college I went to buttered up the Cisco program like when you graduated employers would be knocking down your door. Are networking associates really that worthless right now? I know I need to add the CCNA to my resume, but I just don't see any entry-level networking jobs anywhere even if I did have it! Are any other graduates or CCNA's experiencing this? If not, what route did you take? The whole purpose of pursuing networking for myself and many of you I imagine is to begin a better career or to move up in the field you are in, not just to say you have a cert. My point is I know somebody else has to be going through this too.....????

BTW, what happenned to ExamCram?

wirechild

2002-06-07, 1:12 am

Sadly enough what you are seeing is the way it is for now and the distant future. I have 10 years experience in IT field and 7 with high end networking gear including Cisco and I am not getting any call backs and very seldom see any new job postings any where. I only recently was let go, but I have been actively looking for the past 3 months. Some of the jobs I have sent my resume to have told me that around 600 resumes in a week since posting the job.

It is not my salary either because I have already lowered my requirements down to half what I was making and I am also willing to relocate anywhere except China at my cost and would even consider China

I just cancelled my CCIE Lab as I don't want to spend the $3000 until after I Know I am going to stay in this field.

Good Luck!!

wirechild

2002-06-07, 1:13 am

Oh yeah ExamCram went bankrupt and shut their doors.

tknterry

2002-06-07, 1:47 am

Wirechild, did you work for ExamCram? Your story is very sad and unfortunately typical among thousands in the IT world these days. I began studying for a possible change in careers a few years ago while working full time in a hospital as a respiratory therapist, as I have been doing for about 20 years. I was considering a change just out of boredom and because IT has always interested me. Since I began studying IT, of course, the IT market has all but collapsed and I am now very thankful that I already have this good old steady job (Its not so bad after all

. Im still pursuing CCNA and probably MCP after that since Ive already payed for the program, but its doubtful if I will ever actually work in the IT field now, unless perhaps i transfer into the IT department of the hospital someday. By the way, Im taking the CCNA exam later today at 1 PM CST. I wish you the best in your future wirechild and hope someone sees your knowledge and experience as valuable as it is and hires you. ---------Terry

bfattima

2002-06-07, 7:57 am

IT is so sad these days, I've been looking for an IT position for two years now, but no luck. The economy is just getting worse and worse, hopfully thing will get better but we are the people who suffer, and it's true every position you find out there asking for 10, 20 years expereince???
So good luck to all of us.

ciscoteacher

2002-06-07, 8:55 am

Sad but true. I teach in a Networking Academy, and the only students who have been successful in their job searches have had multiple certifications. The job market in NC is really bad right now, as I am sure it is all over.

My suggestion to you would be to take at least one MS exam to obtain your MCP certification. No need to fork over the big bucks for MCSE for an entry-level position. Find out if there are any businesses in your area who would let you intern or volunteer to get some experience. You would be suprised how many professional organizations (lawyers, doctors) need a part-time IT person and don't even know it!

I wish you the best of luck!

boomer4d

2002-06-07, 8:59 am

Ciscoteacher where in NC are you located I have been considering moving back when the time comes that I can escape here.

darthfeces

2002-06-07, 10:09 am

i'm currently pushing the envelope to make
more money at my current job. no intent to leave. told my boss that i'm not looking for 100-150k when i get ccie, just that I wanted to be treated "fairly". then i'll do security
because it's a natural progression.

we were in the process of building a "call center" when 9/11 happened and since then all new jobs have been frozen.
one of the call center guys had gotten his ccna and was earmarked for a network operator job and is still waiting ....
and that's internal !
for that job we got like 500 resume's

our cio stated experienced people were offering internships in order to get in the door because they were not working.
i've learned from my father, who left a 15yr job for a 150k job and was laid off after 2 yrs.
i'd rather make a little less and be happy ,then go for the gold and be miserable.

ciscoteacher

2002-06-07, 10:40 am

Boomer, I'm in southeastern NC.

boomer4d

2002-06-07, 11:01 am

hmmmmm.......I'm from around that area as well.

frank300zx

2002-06-07, 2:29 pm

As an IT manager for 10 years in "Silicon Valley", Two years ago I would have told you to get your CCNA, CCNP or even CCIE. Today I get resume from CCIE's who want to make 75K year and we still have no opening for them. I would say if you are young (19 through 26), go get a REAL college degree (B.S, preferebly MBA) in engineering if you really like high tech or better yet, concentrate on Medical profession. Even if you study plumbing you will have a better future than high tech. In high tech you work your butt off, and when you are in late 40's you are basically done for and out the door. I am in my mid 30 and can enjoy the time being but future is really scary for everyone here because many companies including mine would rather higher a cheap CCIE from India or Taiwan and offer themm 60K a year rather than paying a local boy 110K!!

Its a sad reality but true!!

mayize

2002-06-07, 3:10 pm

I agree, I'm getting my CCNA and then CCNP because I already have an IT job, their paying for it and there isn't anything really else to do. Everything is frozen, no new hires in two years and now we're looking at our third 20% total employee "right-sizeing" (at least according to CNN non of the bosses know anything).

I would suggest spending the money that you'd put into certification schools into a "real" college degree. I myself am looking for a spin off to get OUT of the busniess before I'm "right-sized" out of it without any prospects.

ciscowannabe

2002-06-08, 3:05 am

Well, I've seen alot of companies out-source their support personnel. Alot of jobs are being taken over by East Indians from what I see. Alot of comapnies are going abroad for their workers which has always astounded me.

Well, I guess I better head back to college for re-tooling. Don't you just feel sorry for all those people attending all these Cisco/MCSE Boot Camps and the ones investing in college courses. It's so unfair to lie to these people telling them of an IT shortage, when you're hiring foreign workers vice qualified American workers.

jeff_j_black

2002-06-08, 12:34 pm

US Companies that have not learned from Los Almos and 911 better watch it. They are sharpening a double edge sword. Depress the economy by passing up US workers for foriegn ones. Then further depress the economy when their business goes down the drain do to espionage or sabotage. Someday they'll need the US worker, hopefully we'll still reside in the US and be there to help them.

wirechild

2002-06-08, 4:30 pm

Jeff I could not agree with you more except I might not be in the US if I can find a job out side the country. How ironic does that sound

mikop

2002-06-08, 4:46 pm

I have to disagree with the comparision of 911 and los alamos situation. Most ppl have no political interest.

It is easy to look at foreigners as the scape goat. for instance, wen ho lee, not proven. For all we know, this may really be a simple case of not following procedure, which he claim most ppl there does not, be it american or foreigners... Let's face it, for us admins, how often do we follow our own procedures? we skips procedures we expect juniors etc to follow but we skip them ourselves.

Plus, he is 1 case, unproven. But we have a proven AMERICAN spy, of all places, FBI. Had wen ho lee and los alamos not happen, should we expect the call *don't hire american from within, they are not to be trusted*...

Believe me, I hate the trend wiht over sea hires etc, but I simply do not believe that it is valid to use these cases to justify the cause, as much as I agree with the cause.

To take this farther, I hate busines moving out of states (California, sillicon valley where I am). Wiht our high cost of living and the reflected salary, I can't blame them for moving out of state to midwest forexample. With the infrastructure, they can hire 2+ ppl for the salary of 1 person here...

but hey, we are all americans, so long live US even if california are screwed?

bcasey56k

2002-07-31, 9:50 am

With so many layoffs, so many new certified candidates and so many shrinking IT budgets the job market is seriously out of balance in favor of employers. At this point I'm looking for any job that comes with benefits. I'm actually mixing a bit of private consulting with several P/T gigs to get me by for now. As the stock market recovers budgets will return and hiring will begin to pick up, although not enough to entice any new career changers from migrating to the IT department.

Good luck to all.

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