Network Security Specialist $ ? 2

[kirnehator]

I'm currently going to school for a 18 month Network Security Specialist diploma.

what do you think one can earn after graduation?

here are some things that the course offers:

hardware, network fundamentals
client OS, desktop administration
server systems and administration
network infrastructure and architecture
programming for system administration
professional development
active directory infrastructure
exchange server
security administration
public key infrastructure
encryption and security architecture
advanced network systems
advanced networking with cisco
forensics interviewing and psychology
network exploits and vulnerabilities
penetration testing
computer forensics first responder

 

[mrdenny]

That depends on your experience and location. Look at salary.com for salary information in your area. With no experience you should expect to be at the bottom end of the pay scale.

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[kirnehator]

i checked it out mrdenny. there are so many to choose from... how do you ever pick the right one? IT does have a reasonable bottom end pay scale though

 

[gbaughma]

Well, according to thread654-1589767, you would make more money delivering pizzas, and not have to pay for college.



Just my 2¢

"What the captain doesn't realize is that we've secretly replaced his Dilithium Crystals with new Folger's Crystals."

--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[hinesward]

The first question you should ask is: "What do you really want to do?" If you are going into IT only because somebody promised you "big bucks," then you are sadly mistaken. Based on the nature of your question, it sounds like that's why you are doing it.

It also doesn't sound like you are going to a college or university. It sounds like you are going to a certification mill or perhaps someplace like Devry. If you are going to the first, they generally do care about their students and want their students to be successful. If you are going to the second, they do not care one iota about your success or failure. Recruiters for the certification mills will happily tell you that you are going to make "big bucks."

I have now been working in IT for 12 years. And I have had to fight hard just to get where I am now. I am making about $45,000 per year. I have never seen "big bucks" and wonder if I ever will. I've probably aged about 30 years in that time period.

I don't know what to say about "salary surveys." I think you should just get out there and talk to people who are already doing this work. You can also talk to even more people who used to work in IT and have left the profession.

I'm naturally also wondering how old you are. Since age discrimination starts when the worker hits 35 or so, that will definitely be a factor in how much you make and how long it takes you to find a job.

 

[hinesward]

By the way, I know a CISSP who has been out of work for well over a year.

 

[Thadeus]

I think it completely depends on circumstances at the moment you begin your search. Who you know at that time, what you are willing to put up with (from commute to low starting wages), who is dependant on your income...

I started too many years ago for my story to have much relevance, but I did just spend most of a year out of work in the hunt as it were. My company is in B2B communications software. When they hired me four weeks ago, they still had 65 positions open.
I commute an hour each way, which means the time I devote to work is on the order of 11 hours before clocking anything over an 8 hour work day... and over 8 hours is the norm so far.

I have the freedom to devote that much time at this point in my life. In 1991, when I had a new wife and baby, I didn't have time to look for a job. I had to get something asap and settled for a word processing position after 4 years of college.

So, it's more about your circumstances and your motivators when you hit the market.

As they always say, "Results may vary".

~thadeus

 

[hinesward]

Thadeus has brought up a fine point here. There are always jobs in IT out there. It's mainly because there are many undesirable jobs and workplaces out there. Companies that are "always hiring" are usually "always hiring" for very good reasons.

You will likely find something pretty easily if you are resignedith a lots of pain and suffering. And there are lots of people who are okay with lots of pain and suffering. Of course, they just lower the standard of living for everyone else.

 

[gbaughma]

I have learned over the years that there are essentially two mindsets out there in business.

Mindset 1 is "Do the minimum to get the job done." Those are the companies that run server software on desktop PC's, and hire "IT People" at $7 an hour.

Mindset 2 is "Do it correctly because IT is what keeps our business going." They're the ones who understand disaster recovery, mission-critical systems and MTBF.

You can migrate companies from mindset 1 to mindset 2... I have done it; but it usually comes with patience and education of the boss. Essentially you have to get them to understand what happens if the server goes "Poof".

The funny thing about it is that the companies who are offering the $7/hour for IT people usually end up having to pay someone big bucks to come in and fix things, after the high-school computer know-it-alls have really hosed things up. The companies that are "always hiring" are usually of mindset 1. It's never their own fault for not investing in IT, it's the string of under-qualified employees that they've gone through (by offering sub-standard wages).

I recently had a conversation with my supervisor at work about the need for more investment in IT. I have heard the company president call IT "A black hole that keeps sucking up money." And our company touts itself as a data management company.

One day (not that long ago), I simply went through the server rack with my boss. I pointed to each machine, said its age, and what it does. "This 5 year old machine handles Email, blackberries, iphones, and network logins. If it does, nobody can log onto the network or get email. There is no redundancy, and although the machine is backed up to tape, if it were to have a total failure, it would cost probably $4000 to get another one, and take probably two weeks to get it here and back up and running."

So I did that with each server... "This one holds all of the project files for the consultants. This one runs Citrix for the entire laboratory. This one is our web server." I didn't have to explain what would happen if each one went down, he was getting it; especially when he said "So, you mean if this one dies, the lab shuts down?" "Yup."

So I *think* I'm slowly getting them to go from mindset 1 to mindset 2. At least MY supervisor understands; whether or not that means the owner will invest, or I'll just be seen as an over-reactor, remains to be seen.



Just my 2¢

"What the captain doesn't realize is that we've secretly replaced his Dilithium Crystals with new Folger's Crystals."

--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[tcsbiz]

or I'll just be seen as an over-reactor, remains to be seen

The "over-reactors" are proven right at some point. Then, the ownership will complain mightily that IT didn't do its job. Some heads will roll, a lot more money will be spent than had it been spent up front, and, they'll go right back into regarding IT as a money pit.

The attitude is pretty common, unfortunately.

 

[ISPKing]

Skipping all the BS in the previous posts/

Without any experience, you are just a piece of paper. If you even get a call back from an interview, expect to be doing wicked lame and tedious work ( like malware removal) for roughly 25-30k. Tier 1 dose not count as experience unless it for P.R., but tier two may be seen as a sufficient start. Those so called Computer training schools are really looked down on in the I.T. world.

CCNP

 

[gbaughma]

Skipping all the BS in the previous posts

Just my 2¢

"What the captain doesn't realize is that we've secretly replaced his Dilithium Crystals with new Folger's Crystals."

--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[kirnehator]

I did some research in our local industry and The Okanagan Science & Technology Council (OSTEC), a membership driven organization, fosters an environment that supports science and technology initiatives by acting as a representative and advocate for the interests of members and the business community as a whole.

and they have quite a few IT jobs listed in the OSTEC job bank as well as other local resources. i think the outlook is good for the future.

http://www.ostec.ca/jobbank.asp