USMC exit 1

[nlm9802]

Hello all,

I am currently almost 3 years into my 4 year enlistment in the Marine Corps as a "small computer systems specialist". Basically I have worked with NT the first 2 and a half years, and 2000 pro this past 6 months, additionally I know exchange 5.5 pretty much inside and out, I've deployed on ship with the servers, helped set up while deployed, and am getting ready to go to some more classes.
My question would be, where should I fine tune my skills to get a decent paying job "on the outside"? The classes I am going to next are 2000 server and exchange 2000. I'm also reading up on Linux on the side.
I'm still not positive that I won't reenlist, their retention bonus usually stands around 30-35k.. but their regular pay just cant compete...
I'd like to work in a NOC or as tier2/3 support for a decently established company. Should I look into going to some router classes? or become more adept in the win2k/exchange2k area?
I appreciate any responses.

-Nick

 

[MasterRacker]

If you stay with systems admin and want to move forward you will have to add MBA type skills so you can learn how to tailor the sytems help the business. The potential pay is higher since it leads to management eventually, but the path is also longer. If you're more of a gearhead type and just love to play with technology for its own sake, add routers and networking. This would give you a path to stay purely technical.

The pay can be good in either area. Go with what you enjoy. Jeff

I haven't lost my mind - I know it's backed up on tape somewhere ....

 

[Guest_imported]

I manage a group of 4th level support techs in a large company (4500 IT professionals). Our company is somewhat centralized, so there is a fair amount of specialization. This means that the folks who work on Exchange don't get to mess with the hardware or the routers. Same for the network guys. So, for our environment, I would advise someone with your skills to a) keep on top of the information in your specialty (Windows OSes for example), b) learn about other disciplines that touch your speciality (networking, some of the key applications that run on your OSes, etc.), and c) learn about IT best practices in PC-based computing. This last one means learning to understand what 99.9 availability means and how to get there. In a consulting outfit or one that was decentralized, you'd need to be more skilled in those peripheral things like networking, security, hardware, etc. because you'd actually have to set them up. Hope this helps....

 

[FredWagner]

With your skill and experience combination look for an outfit with a smallish IT department - 5 to 15 people, where you could use all of your skills, or manage others in running the IT shop. Think of Law Firms, Small Manufacturing firms, CPA firms. Talk to some recruiters in the area where you want to live when your hitch is up. Also consider small city government operations. Decide where you want to live, then talk to IT folks in that area. I'm retired Air Force myself, bought the first 48 Z-100's in SAC the year before I transitioned to the real world,since then have been doing PC and network support, some application development. For small shops, get familiar with hubs, switches, and routers, so you can handle the whole works.

Fred Wagner
frwagne@ci.long-beach.ca.us

 

[nlm9802]

I appreciate the help gents. I am looking for either a larger company where I can be specialized in Exchange/NT/2k
or a smaller company where I can cover everything with some support. However the smaller company should be at least somewhat established. I'm not interested in getting a job for 110k a year just to be laid off 4 months later because they go under. I'd much rather have a stable 65-70k a year job where I just have to worry about making myself more knowledgable, not about getting the axe.

I still have 9 months left, but I have started working on my resume, filling in spots where I am lacking, and poking around looking for "in's", people who are in a position to recommend me to their bosses. I will begin to get really serious about getting a job secured around the march-april timeframe. I appreciate the advice and look forward to more.

Thanks again,
Nick