I passed my BSCI 2

[Giant99]

I passed my BSCI

I felt my head turning to concrete in the last few days of fevered study but I did it. 844 points.

I couldn't work out one of the simulations, it was one of the first questions and after that I was sure I had failed but continued regardless. And it paid off.

On to the BCMSN...

 

[unclerico]

Oh and one last thing (where's the damn edit button!!), be honest about the tasks that you did if you are moving one job to another. One of the people that I interviewed for this particular position I had worked with in the past at a different company. The roles and responsibilities that the claimed to have at that company were not even close to what he actually did. His integrity was immediately called into question and he was eliminated from the process. You just never know who you will be interviewing with!!!

I hate all Uppercase... I don't want my groups to seem angry at me all the time! =)
- ColdFlame (vbscript forum)

 

[richinnameonly]

To all...please don't misunderstand me. I've spent my time in the trenches, and know the difference between passing an exam and being qualified for a job. My problem is two stages:
(a) getting a resume past the HR screen -- which means presenting all your paperwork, whether earned by exam or by cast-iron seat pants; and
(b) convincing the hiring managers -- who are, like yourselves, resentful of the paper cert crowd -- that gaps in my knowledge are understandable gaps that can be solved with a "?" keystroke or an O'Reilly command guide....and are NOT indicative of an attempted cover-up.
I, too, was once a hiring manager for programmers, and I had my own techniques for sorting out candidates and assigning "trust". In this newer world, however, the gap between HR and technical pro's seems to have been worsened, not aided, by the whole certification process.
I AM a telecom pro, who is reentering the field after a long absence. That means honesty, integrity, talent, and experience. The CCNA, et al, mean that I took the trouble to begin updating my skills to get back in -- NOT that I took a cheap exam to get my ticket punched. I have no other way of advertising that fact to the world with any success (like the bias against non-degree holders), so I did what was necessary to get in, and now I've got to face the resentment of people who think all newbies are the same....
SHEESH! Not all books can be judged by their covers!

 

[Giant99]

I am trying to break out of 1st line support into networking and I am finding it very difficult.

I have no networking experience and I don't say I do when applying for a job. When I am asked questions in interviews I answer them honestly and I do not try to make out I'm something I am not.

By getting the CCNA and now passing the BSCI I am showing that I am committed, driven and have ambition.
If I didn't have these certs when applying for jobs I would have nothing to show the strength of my desire to get into the networking world.

I work hard and I learn quickly. In my current job I am consistantly month after month in the top 3 of a large team.

I am stuck in the situation of cannot get a job without experience, cannot get experience without a job.
And I do not expect to get anything but an entry level position when I have passed my CCNP.

 

[unclerico]

rich, nobody here is accusing you of being a paper cert holder. We are moreso reflecting on our experiences in dealing with people that are.

Giant, where are you located??

I hate all Uppercase... I don't want my groups to seem angry at me all the time! =)
- ColdFlame (vbscript forum)

 

[Giant99]

Hello Unclerico

I am in London, England.

There are lots of networking jobs advertised. The minimum they ask for is two years solid experience so finding jobs to apply for is a task in itself.

 

[CiscoGuy33]

Giant,

You said -

"I am stuck in the situation of cannot get a job without experience, cannot get experience without a job."

I have posted this link before - if you live, eat and breathe networking like Scott Morris does - you will have more than enough "experience" just setting up your lab and working it, doing consulting on the side until you get "the Job" -

http://smorris.uber-geek.net/lab.htm

E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[issofunky]

richinnameonly : A thanks for a great post...GREAT TOPIC!!!!

"The gap between HR and technical pro's seems to have been worsened" = Yes, understatement. Also keep in mind 10 years ago HR wasn't HALF the size or function that it is today. That field is growing (health care aggrevations)

They might not know what a "SAN" is...but they can make sure your Dr. can help you live long enough to tell the client how much they'll pay you to implement it.

ALSO be cautioned that HR can also intentionally play dumb
when they aren't....we have to be careful of that.
I play dumb with my peers...to see if they know or if they're willing to dig for answers on their own...or (more often) because I've already put that answer in writing and they'd prefer I recite it to reading it on their own time ("how DNS works" comes to mind)

HR wants to see if you CAN talk to a non-technical person (at all) clearly, and simpley with out just rattling off catch words...or losing patience with a dumb question.

Tech jobs are ALL ABOUT hearing both smart and "dumb" question and making it into a BOTH a high-level simple correct inquiry and providing a concise pragmatic answer.

Even if you know (inwardly) 100% detailed steps from start to finish....THAT is a yawn-interview waiting to happen.

in short...best to ALWAYS handle that situation with grace.

 

[burtsbees]

I am the only paper cert people actually like around here...

/

tim@tim-laptop ~ $ sudo apt-get install windows
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: Couldn't find package windows...Thank Goodness!