So I am about to finish my Associates in Computer Networking and as such am doing a LOT of job hunting. One of the main problems I am finding is that most of the jobs require 3+ years experience with things I am very excited to learn but haven't had the opportunity to be exposed to.

How do I find a job that will teach me Sysadmin/Networking skills when I have a good foundation but no actual experience? I am depressingly looking towards Help Desk type jobs that will teach me nothing having to do with my goals.

Nobody wants to take someone with a lowly AAS and no real world experience (besides 2 years of basic tech support). I have the drive, and the ability to pick this stuff up so fast I know it but I can't seem to break into it.

Halp, I is depressed today.

infinity21

Canada6683 Posts

March 02 2010 04:21 GMT

Did you try calling the managers personally? You can repeat what you said here and see if they're willing to take you. Do a lot of follow-up and personal (face to face or phone) interviews and maybe you'll get lucky.

Sadistx

Zimbabwe5568 Posts

March 02 2010 04:22 GMT

How do I find a job that will teach me Sysadmin/Networking skills when I have a good foundation but no actual experience?

Unless your dad is the CEO of the firm, you don't. No one is going to hire a fresh AA with no experience straight for a sysadmin position.

Everyone starts at help desk. Get that job, become buddies with the sys admin that runs the network, learn from him for 6-12 months, etc. Then you have a legitimate reason to put real world experience in your field on your resume.

leetchaos

United States395 Posts

March 02 2010 04:26 GMT

On March 02 2010 13:22 Sadistx wrote:

Show nested quote +

I've been at the help desk for 2 (mind numbing) years, and while your idea sounds really great, it doesn't always work out that way, our departments are very divided and not much chance for me to get buddy buddy with systems people and prod them into teaching me something. And then once I have the knowledge to actually be useful how to I convert that into resume experience?

I suppose there's a good chance that this is the way its done though.

leetchaos

United States395 Posts

March 02 2010 04:49 GMT

What I need a job that utilizes my skills while feeding me bits of stuff to learn, but what job is that?

Rekrul

Korea (South)17174 Posts

March 02 2010 05:05 GMT

when my brother got out of college he was working a shitty IT job

then one day there was a huge mass network problem in the whole building and the head IT guy couldn't fix it

then my brother raised his hand to the CEO and was like i think i can fix it! then fixed it

instant promotion to head IT guy

lol gosu

Aerox

Malaysia1213 Posts

March 02 2010 05:06 GMT

Still send in your resume to those companies. Sometimes, they don't advertise the job vacancies because they fill the jobs by reference from known people or from the resumes HR keeps without having to advertise on papers(saves money). The latter situation is where you want to position yourself where you'll have a better chance than those not submitting at all.

illu

Canada2531 Posts

March 02 2010 05:16 GMT

On March 02 2010 14:05 Rekrul wrote:
when my brother got out of college he was working a shitty IT job

then one day there was a huge mass network problem in the whole building and the head IT guy couldn't fix it

then my brother raised his hand to the CEO and was like i think i can fix it! then fixed it

instant promotion to head IT guy

lol gosu

This is the gold reply.

Sadistx

Zimbabwe5568 Posts

March 02 2010 05:21 GMT

And then once I have the knowledge to actually be useful how to I convert that into resume experience?

You put it on the resume. Bullshit about stuff. If you're applying for a good position they will give you aptitude tests, which you should easily pass, since you have the knowledge. Then act like a confident arrogant asshole and you'll get your sysadmin job.

Grobyc

Canada18410 Posts

March 02 2010 05:29 GMT

#10

I'm going to college for networking too ^^

After my program it's relatively easy to get a job here though, especially since the majority of network technicians are about the retire in the next couple years.

I'm going to be doing co-op next year, so I'll have a job for 8 months, and if they like me then there's a good chance they'll let me keep working for them. Can you do anything like that at your school?

StorrZerg

United States13922 Posts

March 02 2010 05:49 GMT

#11

I got my internship by going to a military job fair (well military guys retiring looking for cooperate gray jobs)
I tagged along with my dad, mainly just looking for job hunting experience.

Ended up practically being the only college kid there, ended up finding a company that was moving and needed IT help, so I got to work over the summer, and i'll be working there again this summer. Woot

Cambium

United States16368 Posts

March 02 2010 05:50 GMT

#12

I know a lot of companies have Jr Sys Admin positions. These jobs mostly involve installing/reformatting computers, setting up physical server racks, etc. But you get to work with people with a lot of experience and background, and eventually, when one of them leaves, and the company feels that your skills are adequate, they'll promote you. Then it's easy from there.

Maybe try looking for jobs more fitting of the "Jr" description?

leetchaos

United States395 Posts

March 02 2010 06:09 GMT

#13

On March 02 2010 14:50 Cambium wrote:
I know a lot of companies have Jr Sys Admin positions. These jobs mostly involve installing/reformatting computers, setting up physical server racks, etc. But you get to work with people with a lot of experience and background, and eventually, when one of them leaves, and the company feels that your skills are adequate, they'll promote you. Then it's easy from there.

Maybe try looking for jobs more fitting of the "Jr" description?

This type of thing would be ideal, be in the right environment. Definitely trying to hunt these types of jobs down.

GrayArea

United States872 Posts

March 14 2010 03:06 GMT

#14

I feel like you do in your OP. I'm trying to hunt jobs too, hopefully I can get something. It's like you know you are capable of learning and working hard and doing the work, it's just that there is no opportunity for you to do it.

mahnini

United States6862 Posts

March 14 2010 03:39 GMT

#15

you gotta work your way up. they aren't going to hire some just out of college scrub to manage their network where downtime can mean hundreds of thousands of dollars lost.