Career change and CCNA

arkonte76

arkonte76

arkonte76

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2 Jul 2015
Posts
5
Hi, I wanted to know if someone has been in the same situation as me. I am in my 40s and currently studying my second year of BSc (Honours) in Computing and IT with The Open University. I chose the Networking path and I recently have got the CCNA certified. I am working in a completely unrelated job with IT but my aim is a career change. Even though I have made my own home lab to get hands on experience, I don't have working experience in networking.

Is it possible at my age to work as network engineer? I have applied for a few jobs in cwjobs.com but no answer... Another question is what to include in my CV as a CCNA certified with no working experience in this field.

Thanks.
 
> s it possible at my age to work as network engineer?

100% yes.

What stage are you at in your current career? If you have progressed through the ranks in a non-networking discipline then I'd expect to take a pretty big hit financial if you start form the bottom again.
 
I know a few older folk working in networking, seems pretty common.

I don't see myself working in programming for more than like 10 years, hopefully, I'd like to end up doing networking like you or more sysadmin/devops stuff.

How hard is it to get your CCNA? And did you do it through the open university? It's something I've looked up a few times but it's a bit costly to do myself.
 
Older, not old!

Still I'd hope to not be a code-drone much past 35-40. Kinda bored of it already at 25.
 
Hi Mr. Stu, I am currently working part-time, although I have worked in finance as manager in the past. I know I have to start from the lowest positions but is not a problem for me, the only concern is about my age and my lack of experience.

Thank you Napaim, I passed the CCNA after completing the OU module. It is quite hard but with the Knowledge that I acquired from my studies (the CCNA module is quite intensive) and learning the stuff with my home lab (highly recommended), you shoud not have a problem.

Any suggestions about how to build my CV?
 
Bear in mind that networking's great while everything works. However, it can get pretty stressful that small percentage of the time that things go horrendously wrong so if you don't like having to think on your feet and fix things under pressure then it'll do your head in (being engineering, you'll be 3rd line). :p

Try and work at a company that will pay to build redundant systems otherwise you're in for a world of pain. :)
 
Better to have experience also. Ccna wont instantly sort you put with a job. They will still be causious. But if you have one good. If you have one or even better CCNP and can back up with experience. Great!

Im doing my CCNP at the moment but have 10 years experience in networks (security mainly) with routing and switch, and more recntly load balancing / web traffic management

Networking can be a pretty stressful role. Especially under pressure when your role is at hosting level, and your customers (other businesses/companies) rely on your networks.

Exam wise be quick,time is of the essence,answer quick and accurate, there is no marking or goimg back. how to lab stuff and troubleshoot stuff.
 
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Your lack of experience means you'll be stuck doing 1st line for a year or so, if you don't mind that then go for it.

I'm actually looking for a NOC Engineer at the moment, drop me an email if you're interested - ocuk at bryan-janes dot co dot uk. I'll reply with the job spec and if it's something you fancy you can send me over a CV.
 
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Janesy B said:
Your lack of experience means you'll be stuck doing 1st line for a year or so, if you don't mind that then go for it.
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Thank you for your reply Janesy B, I don't mind to do 1st line support if that means experience. I have applied at least 10 1st line support vacancies through cwjobs but no answer at all after a week. Maybe my CV is not good enough, I have just included my CCNA certified and my former experience in the last 10 years in unrelated fields. Should I be more especific and include the protocols I know and other related knowledge?
 
arkonte76 said:
Thank you for your reply Janesy B, I don't mind to do 1st line support if that means experience. I have applied at least 10 1st line support vacancies through cwjobs but no answer at all after a week. Maybe my CV is not good enough, I have just included my CCNA certified and my former experience in the last 10 years in unrelated fields. Should I be more especific and include the protocols I know and other related knowledge?
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Personally I don't care for CVs that say TCP/IP, OSPF, BGP. EIGRP, MPLS blah blah but do fill it out. I think it's just the experience, remove your age from the CV if it is there. People shouldn't discriminate but they do. See my edit BTW.
 
arkonte76 said:
May I ask you where did you start? Help Desk? Network engineer?
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Nearly everybody will start on the Helpdesk, I still do some but mostly Level 3 stuff now. I did the CCNA first before having a Job, loved it, but I don't do much in depth networking now. Bit of a jack of all trades at the moment.

Where I work we do outsourced IT management for client companies from sole traders, to 200 user sites, as well as our own Cloud based solution. Lots of different Technologies to play with, love it.

Nate
 
Nate--IRL-- said:
I was 33 when I made the Switch into IT. Age is not a barrier.
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This. I moved into IT (development) in my late 30's.


OP: It's probably worth having some detail on your CV, as I understand that some recruitment companies use keyword filtering to assess which CVs they look at in detail.

Finally, there's a whole thread of CCNA information that you might find useful here.
 
I really don't understand the desire to get into IT these days. I do still enjoy my job for the most part but I'd get out if I could afford the pay cut of starting again!

Saying that, my life priorities have changed in the ast couple of years and I just want more time off!
 
Narj said:
I really don't understand the desire to get into IT these days.
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why not? Plenty of very well paid jobs, growing industry... the world is only going to need more people who can code, understand technology etc.. If you can combine that with skills in say maths/statistics then there is plenty of work out there and not enough people to do it.
 
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