More advanced career in IT......?????

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Hi, first post on certforums and could really do with some big help!!!....I was thinking about an MCSE course and here is my experience in the IT world..... I have 11 years experience working for The Ministry Of Defence in:

Military Data/Voice Communications (User Accounts/Security/Circuit Configuration etc etc...)
Satellite Communications
NVQ II in Communications
Basic knowledge of repairing/replacing pc's boards/psu's/peripheral's/screens/keyboards etc etc.....
Software removal/installation (Windows XP/Vista)/Anti-Virus/Drivers/BIOS/CMOS
I am security cleared.

I have also just completed a 2 week Dii (Defence Information Infrastructure) course on Server Maintaining including:

Nodes/Power Up/Down
SAN Operation/Maintenance/Recovery
CISCO 3750/2811 Switches/Operation/Maintenance
HP Server DL380 (Wintel)/Operation/Maintenance
Sun Netra Server
Unix Server
NetApp FAS2050
Windows Server 2003
Computer Associates Services
Core Servers/Routers
WAN/LAN/WIM/WUM
PuTTY
RADIA
RAID
UAD'S
Backup Server Laptop
UPS
Steelhead (WAN Optimizing)

I completed the above course in preparation for my next deployment, which shall be for 4 months working at Server Maintainer level on a onboard network of approximately 30 UAD's. During this 4 month period I shall also be trained to Administration Services Manager level, using Netcool/NetApp/Radia/Sharepoint/Sandbox/Windows Server 2003/IPS/Sanctuary/SCCI/Incident Management.

After my 4 months experience working within the above network I hope to have achieved a good level of experience working on Networking at Maintenance and Management level.

It is at this point I shall be looking to undertake a SELF-STUDY course (Or even during this 4 month period). My current salary is around £30K a year, but I work away for 8 months a year (Navy) and I want to be at home with family more now...so any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Many thanks in advance!

 

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My advice would be that with that experience you could easily walk into a role as a data center engineer (with the multitude of different vendor experience you have people would probably snap you up), another type of role that you would probably do well in is with a reseller (I wouldn't suggest a manufacturer as I think that would probably hold you back to one product base, with a reseller you have the opportunity for multiple vendor experience).

As far as self study is concerned, unfortunately the entry level certs are probably pointless so I would go with the vendor certs (NetApp NCDA or the Cisco CCNA).

One thing for you to consider is whether you want to go down the data center route or change direction, my only concern with that would be whether you would be bored if you changed the area of IT that you would work in (the Server, SAN\NAS, Networking experience you have really should give you a wide range of projects that you could work on).

 

Cheers for your advice Simon, I have a couple of further questions if I may? Firstly do you mean I should easily walk into the role of a data centre engineer with my current experience, or after I have had the 4 months working with the network?

Secondly, I may sound a bit naive here, but could you please further explain the 'reseller' role, I don't understand what area of IT that applies to, i.e it's involvement in IT software or just the engineering/maintenance side of things!

Again, many thanks

 

To be honest you should be able to walk into a job with HP/EDS/ATLAS or another Security Cleared position on a lot more money than £30k. I worked for HP doing a similar position (or at least I was meant to but thats another story) but walked away from it as it didn't suit me but you have a lot more experience than I do in that type of environment and there are usually jobs for your skills up and down the country. Get in touch with Project People (agency) who deal with them for jobs (not the only agency mind you).

If you want to get away from military then you should as Simon says get a job with your skills.

 

You need the experience, I could do a course but without the experience I wouldn't be any good at it.

A reseller does exactly what it sounds like, it resells products (both hardware and software as well as services) to the end user (usually a business rather than Joe Bloggs). Whilst vendors can and do sell directly to an end users it's more likely that the client will have gone out to market to see what the other vendors have to offer, so whilst you may get a good deal directly from a vendor (Dell, HP, Cisco) you're more likely to have a better idea of what other vendors have on offer by going to a reseller.

As a technical consultant with a reseller you will be expected to learn about all of the products that they (as a reseller) offer, that could be a pre-sales or post sales support role as well.

Entry level roles for people normally coming into IT usually covers Service Desk work (call taker, 1st and 2nd line), however as you wouldn't really be 'coming' into the IT industry you would just be changing sectors (a forces career into either Public or Private sector), that means it 'should' be easier for you because of what you're already doing.

 

Mike & Simon

Apologies for not thanking you both sooner for your advice, I've been away. I have absorbed your advice and shall use it to assist me in my quest!!!...Again many thanks!!! DD