Masters graduate

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Hi
Im new to this forum and would like some advice.
I graduated in the summer with a Masters in Computer Network Security Im looking to get into employment and have been struggling.
I was considering getting some certifications but after studying for 5 years at university and getting two degrees its disheartening that this does not seem to be enough.
What would you advise i do? Any help would be appreciated
Regards
Arj

 

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You're going to find out very quickly that your degree is going to be trumped by experience. Especially in an area such as Network Security. You'd be best looking at Graduate schemes right now, either that or applying for entry IT positions. Your in a bad spot that a Network Security role is quite a specialist position and a position that really requires experience for an employer to trust you. Depending on what road you want to go down in IT, certifications may not help you either. Right now, experience is what you need, experience in any sector of IT.

 

What country are you in?

 

Agreed. Network security isn't a field you just jump into with a lot of theory-based knowledge and no previous practical IT experience.

 

Think your best bet is to look for a grad scheme or look for an entry level consulting position! I work providing support for a large consultancy and see loads of top level grads coming in with no experience and earning 5-10K more than me from the offset! I cant agree with you being in a "bad position" but you may have a job getting started! In 5 years time you should be in a "great position" as long are you are adaptable and understand the direction you want to go in! How about studying an entry level professional cert to compliment your CV such as the Comptia Security+, this may also provide more of a practical security aspect than your previous studies! It may be worth seeing whether the Armed forces have any applicable positions!

 

Yeah i have gathered that the experience seems to be key but thats just the problem no one seems to want to give me any, i have applied for everything. Graduate roles, junior roles etc
I do not know what to do, i have been applying and some companies dont even tell you that you have not been accepted, i do want IT experience im looking for anything to get me on the ladder. Im living in Preston, Lancashire in England and there is not much in this general area but i am looking elsewhere.
I was considering doing some sort of certification but which one first there are alot of them and will this help me get into the field?
As for 5 years down the line that feels like a long way at this present moment!

 

Could it be your CV? upload it and let us have a gander at it. How many have you applied for roughly?

 

Im not sure how many i have applied for its alot definitely in terms of graduate schemes they could be 10-15, jobs themselves 20-30.

yeah i think I will have to upload my cv.

 

Current climate with no experience you could be looking at needing to apply to 100's of positions, ensure your CV is A1 then get applying, also think of other ways to approach employers and stand out from the pack.

Best of luck !

 

Thanks for that, i have been applying to loads i will continue to do so!

Here is my CV, the one i first started with is vastly different to this following feedback from various people.

 

You need more work experience. Any work experience.

Your CV is not very attractive either.

University's should give a lot more help to graduates when it comes to this stuff.

 

I appreciate this, criticising me is not going to make me feel any better im sure you got a kick out of it but it was of no benefit to me

 

Arj, most universities DO help with this stuff, have you spoken to your Universities careers service ? Have you asked for advice and any jobhunting services they might be able to provide ?

 

I have had an awful experience with my university regarding the career advice my tutor was great but the careers service was poor. Advice i have been getting has been from my tutor and i have been adapting as i go for example asking companies why was on not successful and so on.

 

Apply for loads of jobs, any jobs even if it is not related. The more Interviews the better.

Take away the "Pass" and "Ord" of your degrees, it would look better with out them.

2007-2009 Liverpool John Moores University, Computer Network Security MSc, Pass
2003-2007 Liverpool John Moores University, Information Systems BSc, Ord

 

Thats what im weighing up whether to apply for any old job, but i want to at least be in IT i dont know if having a year in say a sales job will benefit me with an IT role later on despite the experience

 

This version is just an example of how you could make it look better.

So many more things you can do to a CV this only took me a couple of minutes.

 

Ok so the basic gist is to make it snazzier and stand out more? funny because my university careers advised against this! lol
I appreciate your help, sorry for mouthing off, its been a long depressing day

 

your CV is very open, i feel that this should be more direct and state what interests you and the kind of job you are looking for! I have a couple of CV's (for applying for different types of roles). Are you considering any further proffessional certifications that would show some sort of direction such as a CCNA/MCSA?

 

Yeah i hear what your saying at first it was like that then i was told to keep the CV more open, i mean i could tailor my cv to match individual jobs.
I wanted some advice regarding the CCNA would i be advised to go get that qualification? some people on this forum have been saying it can hamper you if you do not have any real experience i would like to get it in a job if possible