Network Administrators - Advice for graduate?

[Deago999]

So i need some advice -
Im 5 weeks away from graduating from my 3 year NQF 6 Diploma (on a degree level) in Network Management (Diploma in Information Technology in Network Management) - it covers some NQF level 7 subjects -
I have 14+ distinctions and finished high school a year early as well as some minor part-time job experience. (Not IT related)

Now its time to step into the real world - Ill have a matric certificate, this NQF 6 diploma -
What should I do?
I live in Cape Town so salaries are a bit lower than Johannesburg, but my question is -
Do i settle for an internship/help desk job and get around R5-8k but get no job satisfaction/waste time getting experience and complete the MCSE/N+/A+/Cisco certs (MCSE and A+ I know already i just need the piece of paper to prove it - or does my diploma do that for me?) until I can get the job Im qualified for or do I jump into the deep end and apply for a Network Admin job and be unskilled from there?

Its just some big decisions need to be made and I need some advice/direction as to what to do!

 

[Gtx Gaming]

Gain some experience first. That's the route i went ,paid off for me at the end of the day.

You will need to get your MSCE ,before you can get a decent network admin job . You will probably lucky if you get a job that pays 10k here in CPT without MSCE . With MSCE you can aim for a 20k job.

 

[Stratt]

So i need some advice -
Im 5 weeks away from graduating from my 3 year NQF 6 Diploma (on a degree level) in Network Management (Diploma in Information Technology in Network Management) - it covers some NQF level 7 subjects -
I have 14+ distinctions and finished high school a year early as well as some minor part-time job experience. (Not IT related)

Now its time to step into the real world - Ill have a matric certificate, this NQF 6 diploma -
What should I do?
I live in Cape Town so salaries are a bit lower than Johannesburg, but my question is -
Do i settle for an internship/help desk job and get around R5-8k but get no job satisfaction/waste time getting experience and complete the MCSE/N+/A+/Cisco certs (MCSE and A+ I know already i just need the piece of paper to prove it - or does my diploma do that for me?) until I can get the job Im qualified for or do I jump into the deep end and apply for a Network Admin job and be unskilled from there?

Its just some big decisions need to be made and I need some advice/direction as to what to do!

I don't agree with with the post above. As a network admin you do not need any MS certs. Cisco and Juniper certs are extremely advantageous. I doubt that you will be able to step into a network admin position with no experience, even with the qualifications. At this point I would advise that you take any job related to networking and stick with it for at least a year. Everyone has to start somewhere. Most network admins that I know, including myself started out as a tier 1 support technician and progressed from there.

 

[Deago999]

I don't agree with with the post above. As a network admin you do not need any MS certs. Cisco and Juniper certs are extremely advantageous. I doubt that you will be able to step into a network admin position with no experience, even with the qualifications. At this point I would advise that you take any job related to networking and stick with it for at least a year. Everyone has to start somewhere. Most network admins that I know, including myself started out as a tier 1 support technician and progressed from there.

ITs what me lecturer said too - I have basically done the MCSE, I have all the knowledge as I did the work in class, i just dont have the paper.
So you rate I just either do an internship or helpdesk for a year and then progress?

 

[Azerael]

Getting the papers is a good idea. You will need the hands on experience of course too. As was pointed out earlier MCSE is more Systems side... N+, Cisco and Juniper is Networks.

Hopefully with your first job you can figure which you prefer.

 

[Stratt]

ITs what me lecturer said too - I have basically done the MCSE, I have all the knowledge as I did the work in class, i just dont have the paper.
So you rate I just either do an internship or helpdesk for a year and then progress?

If you have already studied all the required material and can write the exams without much prep, then why not you might as well write the MS exams. As for networking, vendor certs are not mandatory but advantageous. Cisco used to and still have very valid material and great amounts of theory in their curriculum. Unfortunately lately I have come across many people who simply brain-dumped the exams, this sucks for the rest of us who actually studied our asses off. This is very clear in an interview though, or technical assessment.

I would advise attempting to get into a IT position as soon as possible, preferably as close to the field you want to be in. Then, while working, do your certs part time after work on your own. This way, you maximize on XP and getting certs without wasting away years. I know of too many people that studied for 3 years or more and still can not find a job, because they have no experience. Keep your expectations realistic, at best the company you start for, is not really going to reap much rewards for the first six months. This is not book keeping, you wont be productive from day 1.

Unfortunately these days most companies wont touch you without experience.

 

[Deago999]

If you have already studied all the required material and can write the exams without much prep, then why not you might as well write the MS exams. As for networking, vendor certs are not mandatory but advantageous. Cisco used to and still have very valid material and great amounts of theory in their curriculum. Unfortunately lately I have come across many people who simply brain-dumped the exams, this sucks for the rest of us who actually studied our asses off. This is very clear in an interview though, or technical assessment.

I would advise attempting to get into a IT position as soon as possible, preferably as close to the field you want to be in. Then, while working, do your certs part time after work on your own. This way, you maximize on XP and getting certs without wasting away years. I know of too many people that studied for 3 years or more and still can not find a job, because they have no experience. Keep your expectations realistic, at best the company you start for, is not really going to reap much rewards for the first six months. This is not book keeping, you wont be productive from day 1.

Unfortunately these days most companies wont touch you without experience.

Thanks for the advice - yeah i know experience is a big thing - the course Im doing allows me to put "Simulated Experience" on my CV, but whether that is actually going to get me anywhere is another thing. I definitely want to get the papers - probably do the MCSE and see how Cisco and Juniper - I currently hold 13 distinctions so im not afraid of the hard work and study .... im just afraid i get this qualification, and get a job and be like "I dont know what the hell im doing"

But I also "As you said" want to get a job closest to the field i want to start in whether its an internship in networking, or a basic admin job, im just worried there is not much progression if I accept/apply for a help desk job?