«

I was wondering if anyone could offer some input for me please. I recently
completed my MCSE 2003 certification, and for the last 2 months or so have
been trying to acquire some sort of entry level admin or tech position to get
my foot in the door so I can prove myself and display my talents. For
whatever reason I am not receiving hardly any feedback from anyone. I have
applied to a ridiculous amount of positions here in Charlotte, NC, and
nothing. Should I be looking for specifics? Is there something else I need
to do? Any advice from fellow Microsoft professionals would be greatly
appreciated. I quit working to achieve my goals with MS, and now I need to
find work and FAST. Thanks!

"Wes Arnold" <Wes > wrote in message
news:0618AD42-C825-45DB-A6D6-:

> I was wondering if anyone could offer some input for me please. I recently
> completed my MCSE 2003 certification, and for the last 2 months or so have
> been trying to acquire some sort of entry level admin or tech position to get
> my foot in the door so I can prove myself and display my talents. For
> whatever reason I am not receiving hardly any feedback from anyone. I have
> applied to a ridiculous amount of positions here in Charlotte, NC, and
> nothing. Should I be looking for specifics? Is there something else I need
> to do? Any advice from fellow Microsoft professionals would be greatly
> appreciated. I quit working to achieve my goals with MS, and now I need to
> find work and FAST. Thanks!

http://certguard.com/articles.asp?articleID=14
http://certguard.com/articles.asp?articleID=9

In short, it is great you earned your MCSE 2003. But by your own
admission; you have no experience. Currently you have invested in a
piece of paper. Certifications are meant to validate experience. They
are not meant to achieve and THEN get experience. You are claiming that
you are an experienced Systems Engineer for Microsoft Server 2003
technology. Keep plugging away with your job search. I do hope someone
gives you an opportunity to prove yourself and display your talents. But
without experience, it may be a long road.

--
Michael D. Alligood, MCITP, MCTS, MCSA, MCDST
The I.T. Classroom - http://www.theitclassroom.com/
CertGuard, Inc. - http://www.certguard.com/
Microsoft Exam Security Newsgroup -
microsoft.public.certification.exam.security

So then explain this to me. How does someone gain a position in networking
without establishing some sort of training in the field? I have a degree in
Computer Engineering which has done me aboslutely squat. I've tried to apply
for work with that, and time and time again employers would tell me they are
looking for someone with certs. So I go and get them, and now you tell me I
should have experience and validate that with the certs. What this is
telling me is that I should have been able to obtain a position without ANY
previous experience or education first and then use further education to
prove what I've physically done? Are you saying that I had a better chance
to land the job with ZERO credentials? Listen, I'm not looking for a
full-blown Admin or Engineering job. I agree I don't have the working
experience. What I'm looking for is an entry level position such as a tech
job or even a paid internship so that I can apply the knowledge I've gained.
See knowledge is the key t o all things. Once given a chance to get in the
door, I can guarantee beyond a shadow of a doubt I stand to do nothing but
impress. I don't care where I have to start. I'm just looking to start
somewhere. If there is any validity to your response, then the IT field in
general does not make sense. I met numerous people at the Training Center
who came in from high-end financial and IT companies who had postions in IT
and were being sent in for their A+! Come on, but that's a joke. I've been
working on boxes for over 15 years. I can pretty much do anything with my
eyes closed. So if these people can obtain work, so can I. Not to mention
those who come in with Admin titles looking to obtain their MCSA/MCSE who
come to find out how much they really never knew. This is knowledge that I
now possess prior to the work force. Seems like a better acquisition for any
company. Lastly, I have to add that while obtaining these certs, I found
myself assisting the "proven" professionals with questions and answers in
relation to their studies. I became a great help to the training center in
respect to these specializations.


"Michael D. Alligood [CertGuard, Inc.]" wrote:

> "Wes Arnold" <Wes > wrote in message
> news:0618AD42-C825-45DB-A6D6-:
>
> > I was wondering if anyone could offer some input for me please. I recently
> > completed my MCSE 2003 certification, and for the last 2 months or so have
> > been trying to acquire some sort of entry level admin or tech position to get
> > my foot in the door so I can prove myself and display my talents. For
> > whatever reason I am not receiving hardly any feedback from anyone. I have
> > applied to a ridiculous amount of positions here in Charlotte, NC, and
> > nothing. Should I be looking for specifics? Is there something else I need
> > to do? Any advice from fellow Microsoft professionals would be greatly
> > appreciated. I quit working to achieve my goals with MS, and now I need to
> > find work and FAST. Thanks!
>
> http://certguard.com/articles.asp?articleID=14
> http://certguard.com/articles.asp?articleID=9
>
> In short, it is great you earned your MCSE 2003. But by your own
> admission; you have no experience. Currently you have invested in a
> piece of paper. Certifications are meant to validate experience. They
> are not meant to achieve and THEN get experience. You are claiming that
> you are an experienced Systems Engineer for Microsoft Server 2003
> technology. Keep plugging away with your job search. I do hope someone
> gives you an opportunity to prove yourself and display your talents. But
> without experience, it may be a long road.
>
> --
> Michael D. Alligood, MCITP, MCTS, MCSA, MCDST
> The I.T. Classroom - http://www.theitclassroom.com/
> CertGuard, Inc. - http://www.certguard.com/
> Microsoft Exam Security Newsgroup -
> microsoft.public.certification.exam.security
>
>
>

It's a lot like trying to get your first credit card.

You say you live in Charolette eh? Shot me an email. I live in the
Greensboro area and I have contacts with several recruiters in the area. I'd
be more than happy to send you to one or two of them for something entry
level. I don't check the gmail account listed on this post everyday, so it
may be a few days till I get back to you but please feel free to send your
contac info and I'll see what I can do.

Good luck, and congrats on the cert.

--
..rev

"It is the mark of an educated man to be able to entertain a thought without
accepting it"
~Aristotle
..
"Wes Arnold" <> wrote in message
news:B4CD2023-B017-4597-8CB2-...
> So then explain this to me. How does someone gain a position in
> networking
> without establishing some sort of training in the field? I have a degree
> in
> Computer Engineering which has done me aboslutely squat. I've tried to
> apply
> for work with that, and time and time again employers would tell me they
> are
> looking for someone with certs. So I go and get them, and now you tell me
> I
> should have experience and validate that with the certs. What this is
> telling me is that I should have been able to obtain a position without
> ANY
> previous experience or education first and then use further education to
> prove what I've physically done? Are you saying that I had a better
> chance
> to land the job with ZERO credentials? Listen, I'm not looking for a
> full-blown Admin or Engineering job. I agree I don't have the working
> experience. What I'm looking for is an entry level position such as a
> tech
> job or even a paid internship so that I can apply the knowledge I've
> gained.
> See knowledge is the key t o all things. Once given a chance to get in
> the
> door, I can guarantee beyond a shadow of a doubt I stand to do nothing but
> impress. I don't care where I have to start. I'm just looking to start
> somewhere. If there is any validity to your response, then the IT field
> in
> general does not make sense. I met numerous people at the Training Center
> who came in from high-end financial and IT companies who had postions in
> IT
> and were being sent in for their A+! Come on, but that's a joke. I've
> been
> working on boxes for over 15 years. I can pretty much do anything with my
> eyes closed. So if these people can obtain work, so can I. Not to
> mention
> those who come in with Admin titles looking to obtain their MCSA/MCSE who
> come to find out how much they really never knew. This is knowledge that
> I
> now possess prior to the work force. Seems like a better acquisition for
> any
> company. Lastly, I have to add that while obtaining these certs, I found
> myself assisting the "proven" professionals with questions and answers in
> relation to their studies. I became a great help to the training center
> in
> respect to these specializations.
>
>
> "Michael D. Alligood [CertGuard, Inc.]" wrote:
>
>> "Wes Arnold" <Wes > wrote in message
>> news:0618AD42-C825-45DB-A6D6-:
>>
>> > I was wondering if anyone could offer some input for me please. I
>> > recently
>> > completed my MCSE 2003 certification, and for the last 2 months or so
>> > have
>> > been trying to acquire some sort of entry level admin or tech position
>> > to get
>> > my foot in the door so I can prove myself and display my talents. For
>> > whatever reason I am not receiving hardly any feedback from anyone. I
>> > have
>> > applied to a ridiculous amount of positions here in Charlotte, NC, and
>> > nothing. Should I be looking for specifics? Is there something else I
>> > need
>> > to do? Any advice from fellow Microsoft professionals would be greatly
>> > appreciated. I quit working to achieve my goals with MS, and now I
>> > need to
>> > find work and FAST. Thanks!
>>
>> http://certguard.com/articles.asp?articleID=14
>> http://certguard.com/articles.asp?articleID=9
>>
>> In short, it is great you earned your MCSE 2003. But by your own
>> admission; you have no experience. Currently you have invested in a
>> piece of paper. Certifications are meant to validate experience. They
>> are not meant to achieve and THEN get experience. You are claiming that
>> you are an experienced Systems Engineer for Microsoft Server 2003
>> technology. Keep plugging away with your job search. I do hope someone
>> gives you an opportunity to prove yourself and display your talents. But
>> without experience, it may be a long road.
>>
>> --
>> Michael D. Alligood, MCITP, MCTS, MCSA, MCDST
>> The I.T. Classroom - http://www.theitclassroom.com/
>> CertGuard, Inc. - http://www.certguard.com/
>> Microsoft Exam Security Newsgroup -
>> microsoft.public.certification.exam.security
>>
>>
>>

First of all, congratulations on your Server 2003 certifications!

You know, for a lot of people, getting that first job in IT is really tough.
I write specifically on this subject for Certification Magazine and we get
questions about this all the time. There is no doubt about it, you have
conflicting opinions out there on how to get into IT. It used to be in the
90s that if you had a certification, you were in. Its not that simple
anymore.

My advice?

Get the certifications (check!).
Build the experience.

In the short term, dont be afraid of contract work and recruiters.
Aggressively pursue contract opportunities. Sure, its not the permanent job
that we would all love to have right out of college but right now experience
is key in the post-dot-com-bust era. You can use a series of contract
opportunities to earn a little bit of money per contract (even though the
benefits may be non existant) but more importantly to boost a series of
enterprise-class jobs that hone your skills and put you in a position to gain
the critical experience you need. Often, because many more established
technologists avoid contract work, the bar to get into an initial set of work
with them is lower and they are more readily able to consider entry-level
talent.

You also need to be realistic. A degree and couple of certifications isnt
going to move you into a job making 75k right away when the average entry
level salary is still in the low 40's.
--
Wayne Anderson
http://blog.avanadeadvisor.com/blogs/waynea/


"Wes Arnold" wrote:

> So then explain this to me. How does someone gain a position in networking
> without establishing some sort of training in the field? I have a degree in
> Computer Engineering which has done me aboslutely squat. I've tried to apply
> for work with that, and time and time again employers would tell me they are
> looking for someone with certs. So I go and get them, and now you tell me I
> should have experience and validate that with the certs. What this is
> telling me is that I should have been able to obtain a position without ANY
> previous experience or education first and then use further education to
> prove what I've physically done? Are you saying that I had a better chance
> to land the job with ZERO credentials? Listen, I'm not looking for a
> full-blown Admin or Engineering job. I agree I don't have the working
> experience. What I'm looking for is an entry level position such as a tech
> job or even a paid internship so that I can apply the knowledge I've gained.
> See knowledge is the key t o all things. Once given a chance to get in the
> door, I can guarantee beyond a shadow of a doubt I stand to do nothing but
> impress. I don't care where I have to start. I'm just looking to start
> somewhere. If there is any validity to your response, then the IT field in
> general does not make sense. I met numerous people at the Training Center
> who came in from high-end financial and IT companies who had postions in IT
> and were being sent in for their A+! Come on, but that's a joke. I've been
> working on boxes for over 15 years. I can pretty much do anything with my
> eyes closed. So if these people can obtain work, so can I. Not to mention
> those who come in with Admin titles looking to obtain their MCSA/MCSE who
> come to find out how much they really never knew. This is knowledge that I
> now possess prior to the work force. Seems like a better acquisition for any
> company. Lastly, I have to add that while obtaining these certs, I found
> myself assisting the "proven" professionals with questions and answers in
> relation to their studies. I became a great help to the training center in
> respect to these specializations.
>
>
> "Michael D. Alligood [CertGuard, Inc.]" wrote:
>
> > "Wes Arnold" <Wes > wrote in message
> > news:0618AD42-C825-45DB-A6D6-:
> >
> > > I was wondering if anyone could offer some input for me please. I recently
> > > completed my MCSE 2003 certification, and for the last 2 months or so have
> > > been trying to acquire some sort of entry level admin or tech position to get
> > > my foot in the door so I can prove myself and display my talents. For
> > > whatever reason I am not receiving hardly any feedback from anyone. I have
> > > applied to a ridiculous amount of positions here in Charlotte, NC, and
> > > nothing. Should I be looking for specifics? Is there something else I need
> > > to do? Any advice from fellow Microsoft professionals would be greatly
> > > appreciated. I quit working to achieve my goals with MS, and now I need to
> > > find work and FAST. Thanks!
> >
> > http://certguard.com/articles.asp?articleID=14
> > http://certguard.com/articles.asp?articleID=9
> >
> > In short, it is great you earned your MCSE 2003. But by your own
> > admission; you have no experience. Currently you have invested in a
> > piece of paper. Certifications are meant to validate experience. They
> > are not meant to achieve and THEN get experience. You are claiming that
> > you are an experienced Systems Engineer for Microsoft Server 2003
> > technology. Keep plugging away with your job search. I do hope someone
> > gives you an opportunity to prove yourself and display your talents. But
> > without experience, it may be a long road.
> >
> > --
> > Michael D. Alligood, MCITP, MCTS, MCSA, MCDST
> > The I.T. Classroom - http://www.theitclassroom.com/
> > CertGuard, Inc. - http://www.certguard.com/
> > Microsoft Exam Security Newsgroup -
> > microsoft.public.certification.exam.security
> >
> >
> >

Hello Wes,

A lot of our guys came in through tech placement services like Robert-Half.
I've never used them myself, but it could save some time and stress. I
think they also help with resume and interview skills.

In the mean time, treat job-hunting as the career. Smile, meet, shake hands,
follow every lead, send every resume. Pretty soon you'll work yourself out
of that job and into one you want.



> So then explain this to me. How does someone gain a position in
> networking without establishing some sort of training in the field? I
> have a degree in Computer Engineering which has done me aboslutely
> squat. I've tried to apply for work with that, and time and time
> again employers would tell me they are looking for someone with certs.
> So I go and get them, and now you tell me I should have experience and
> validate that with the certs. What this is telling me is that I
> should have been able to obtain a position without ANY previous
> experience or education first and then use further education to prove
> what I've physically done? Are you saying that I had a better chance
> to land the job with ZERO credentials? Listen, I'm not looking for a
> full-blown Admin or Engineering job. I agree I don't have the working
> experience. What I'm looking for is an entry level position such as a
> tech job or even a paid internship so that I can apply the knowledge
> I've gained. See knowledge is the key t o all things. Once given a
> chance to get in the door, I can guarantee beyond a shadow of a doubt
> I stand to do nothing but impress. I don't care where I have to
> start. I'm just looking to start somewhere. If there is any validity
> to your response, then the IT field in general does not make sense. I
> met numerous people at the Training Center who came in from high-end
> financial and IT companies who had postions in IT and were being sent
> in for their A+! Come on, but that's a joke. I've been working on
> boxes for over 15 years. I can pretty much do anything with my eyes
> closed. So if these people can obtain work, so can I. Not to mention
> those who come in with Admin titles looking to obtain their MCSA/MCSE
> who come to find out how much they really never knew. This is
> knowledge that I now possess prior to the work force. Seems like a
> better acquisition for any company. Lastly, I have to add that while
> obtaining these certs, I found myself assisting the "proven"
> professionals with questions and answers in relation to their studies.
> I became a great help to the training center in respect to these
> specializations.
>
> "Michael D. Alligood [CertGuard, Inc.]" wrote:
>
>> "Wes Arnold" <Wes > wrote in message
>> news:0618AD42-C825-45DB-A6D6-:
>>
>>> I was wondering if anyone could offer some input for me please. I
>>> recently completed my MCSE 2003 certification, and for the last 2
>>> months or so have been trying to acquire some sort of entry level
>>> admin or tech position to get my foot in the door so I can prove
>>> myself and display my talents. For whatever reason I am not
>>> receiving hardly any feedback from anyone. I have applied to a
>>> ridiculous amount of positions here in Charlotte, NC, and nothing.
>>> Should I be looking for specifics? Is there something else I need
>>> to do? Any advice from fellow Microsoft professionals would be
>>> greatly appreciated. I quit working to achieve my goals with MS,
>>> and now I need to find work and FAST. Thanks!
>>>
>> http://certguard.com/articles.asp?articleID=14
>> http://certguard.com/articles.asp?articleID=9
>> In short, it is great you earned your MCSE 2003. But by your own
>> admission; you have no experience. Currently you have invested in a
>> piece of paper. Certifications are meant to validate experience. They
>> are not meant to achieve and THEN get experience. You are claiming
>> that you are an experienced Systems Engineer for Microsoft Server
>> 2003 technology. Keep plugging away with your job search. I do hope
>> someone gives you an opportunity to prove yourself and display your
>> talents. But without experience, it may be a long road.
>>
>> --
>> Michael D. Alligood, MCITP, MCTS, MCSA, MCDST
>> The I.T. Classroom - http://www.theitclassroom.com/
>> CertGuard, Inc. - http://www.certguard.com/
>> Microsoft Exam Security Newsgroup -
>> microsoft.public.certification.exam.security

Contract Work... take Entry level Desktop support, in field site support,
anything to get in the door!

"Wes Arnold" wrote:

> So then explain this to me. How does someone gain a position in networking
> without establishing some sort of training in the field? I have a degree in
> Computer Engineering which has done me aboslutely squat. I've tried to apply
> for work with that, and time and time again employers would tell me they are
> looking for someone with certs. So I go and get them, and now you tell me I
> should have experience and validate that with the certs. What this is
> telling me is that I should have been able to obtain a position without ANY
> previous experience or education first and then use further education to
> prove what I've physically done? Are you saying that I had a better chance
> to land the job with ZERO credentials? Listen, I'm not looking for a
> full-blown Admin or Engineering job. I agree I don't have the working
> experience. What I'm looking for is an entry level position such as a tech
> job or even a paid internship so that I can apply the knowledge I've gained.
> See knowledge is the key t o all things. Once given a chance to get in the
> door, I can guarantee beyond a shadow of a doubt I stand to do nothing but
> impress. I don't care where I have to start. I'm just looking to start
> somewhere. If there is any validity to your response, then the IT field in
> general does not make sense. I met numerous people at the Training Center
> who came in from high-end financial and IT companies who had postions in IT
> and were being sent in for their A+! Come on, but that's a joke. I've been
> working on boxes for over 15 years. I can pretty much do anything with my
> eyes closed. So if these people can obtain work, so can I. Not to mention
> those who come in with Admin titles looking to obtain their MCSA/MCSE who
> come to find out how much they really never knew. This is knowledge that I
> now possess prior to the work force. Seems like a better acquisition for any
> company. Lastly, I have to add that while obtaining these certs, I found
> myself assisting the "proven" professionals with questions and answers in
> relation to their studies. I became a great help to the training center in
> respect to these specializations.
>
>
> "Michael D. Alligood [CertGuard, Inc.]" wrote:
>
> > "Wes Arnold" <Wes > wrote in message
> > news:0618AD42-C825-45DB-A6D6-:
> >
> > > I was wondering if anyone could offer some input for me please. I recently
> > > completed my MCSE 2003 certification, and for the last 2 months or so have
> > > been trying to acquire some sort of entry level admin or tech position to get
> > > my foot in the door so I can prove myself and display my talents. For
> > > whatever reason I am not receiving hardly any feedback from anyone. I have
> > > applied to a ridiculous amount of positions here in Charlotte, NC, and
> > > nothing. Should I be looking for specifics? Is there something else I need
> > > to do? Any advice from fellow Microsoft professionals would be greatly
> > > appreciated. I quit working to achieve my goals with MS, and now I need to
> > > find work and FAST. Thanks!
> >
> > http://certguard.com/articles.asp?articleID=14
> > http://certguard.com/articles.asp?articleID=9
> >
> > In short, it is great you earned your MCSE 2003. But by your own
> > admission; you have no experience. Currently you have invested in a
> > piece of paper. Certifications are meant to validate experience. They
> > are not meant to achieve and THEN get experience. You are claiming that
> > you are an experienced Systems Engineer for Microsoft Server 2003
> > technology. Keep plugging away with your job search. I do hope someone
> > gives you an opportunity to prove yourself and display your talents. But
> > without experience, it may be a long road.
> >
> > --
> > Michael D. Alligood, MCITP, MCTS, MCSA, MCDST
> > The I.T. Classroom - http://www.theitclassroom.com/
> > CertGuard, Inc. - http://www.certguard.com/
> > Microsoft Exam Security Newsgroup -
> > microsoft.public.certification.exam.security
> >
> >
> >

[nerry]

Hey Rev, I am considering moving to the Greensboro area. How's the IT industry there as far as entry-level goes? I have a contact with Gilbarco Veeder-Root so I may peruse that opportunity