CCNA definitely is useful to have. It is the foundation on which you build additional skills. Many folks in IT haven't taken the time to learn networking. It shows in their troubleshooting. You can be an asset either as a junior network engineer in a large shop or as THE network engineer in a small company. Your marketability improves if you have additional skills in the sysadmin area. (Unix, MS) Finding a job: The Catch 22 is that companies want to hire folks with experience and one needs a job in order to gain experience. Everyone needs networking. In addition to commercial companies there are schools, governments, hospitals, and etc. If your job hunt extends for awhile look for opportunities to gain experience even if there is little or no pay. There are many small organizations that desperately need folks with IT skills yet have no budget. Churches, religous schools, charities, Third party political campaigns, Boy/Girl Scouts all come to mind. There may be part time jobs working for your local town/county government and/or library. Tell everyone that you are looking for a job. The contacts you make may lead to your next job.
People skills are part of any job. If you can convince someone who is clueless and cheap to spend money you will be a success. First impressions are important. Some companies have dress codes. Others have unexpressed expectations. Most likely the person hiring you will be quite a bit older. What may seem normal to someone your age may appear to them to be hoodlum clothes. Right or wrong that's life. Business casual is good. (A side story) My boss comes to work in jeans, unpressed shirt or T-shirt, cowboy boots, and usually needs a haircut. He is also a PhD and a heck of a manager. He is respected for his skills and results. He does dress for the occasion for out of town visitors. I'm quite sure that he wore a suit when he was hired. Sign up for the [EMAIL PROTECTED] list. Good luck in your job hunt. > -----Original Message----- > From: Ross Wood [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Saturday, March 09, 2002 7:01 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Help me get my first networking job [7:37721] > > > Hi everyone, > > Can anyone give me some advice on getting my first networking > job. > Kind Regards > Ross Wood. Message Posted at: http://www.groupstudy.com/form/read.php?f=7&i=37754&t=37721 -------------------------------------------------- FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
