Entry level IT/Networking Jobs?

Advice, get certifications and start with the CCNA. Then go to CCNP if you want to be on the network side of things. I know many people who say the samething and any hiring IT managers, engineers...etc will have heard the same story.

Cisco is the king of the network world which means knowing those products/configurations/designs will be the easiest way since the jobs will be more plentiful. People argue 3COM, Jupiter...etc..etc and they each have a niche, but all-in-all Cisco certs/experience will provide the most opportunities.

No experience and no certs really limits your pickins in general.

It seems like I'm definitely heading in the right direction then. I do have some experience with setting up small networks, but nothing too big yet. I was just seeing if there were some help desk, or tech support positions out there. I appreciate your advice. Out of curiosity, what certs/experience do you have if you don't mind me asking?

Prosper, ceyko is spot on unless you have experience working for 2+ years.

I actually don't have a cert but was hired right out of college with an associates degree and have been here every since.

I'll actually be getting my network+ next week

ProsperSnake99 said:

It seems like I'm definitely heading in the right direction then. I do have some experience with setting up small networks, but nothing too big yet. I was just seeing if there were some help desk, or tech support positions out there. I appreciate your advice. Out of curiosity, what certs/experience do you have if you don't mind me asking?

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Mind you, certs are important in the modern market but what'll KEEP you at a job is experience and your work ethic.

I have CCNP, CCVP, CCDP and a CQS or two. Gonna start CCIE studies, just not sure about Voice or R/S.

I'm personally not a fan of the Network+/A+ certifications. They show general knowledge in those areas, buuuut...I feel they can decrease your value - for a Cisco networking gig. It helps to drink the kool-aid a little.

Werd, try getting your foot in the door at some hosting companies. Get your CCNA while you are employed, and try to move into security/networking if that's your ultimate goal. The ability to learn is key, being flexible, and you must be able to adapt fast. Good Luck!

< No certs here, knowledge is great but in this industry experience speaks for itself. If you have none, than yeah certs are great to have. I don't think the market is that bad, I lost my job last thursday and I've had 4 interviews this week alone with 3 different hosting/security companies.

Do you have a home lab yet?

The problem is that if all the jobs require experience, how do you start? Which is why I was making sure that me getting my certs was the right path, which hopefully it is.Thanks for all your help and input.

ProsperSnake99 said:

The problem is that if all the jobs require experience, how do you start? Which is why I was making sure that me getting my certs was the right path, which hopefully it is.Thanks for all your help and input.

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I started by accident at a job making $8 and hour. I made friends with the IT guy and when they opened up an IT Assistant position I was considered. I did low level Desktop Support for a few years and slowly moved up to a managment position making more money that I ever imagined I could... then I got laid off.

I was out of a job for 2 months before I found a contract gig doing low level Desktop Support. After a couple of months of that, I landed a gig doing telecom which was a very small part of what I was doing as a manager. Since then, I haven't been unemployed for more than two weeks at a time.