What Do I Qualify For?

[DazeTheOne]

Im on the verge of getting out the military and been serving as an "Information Systems Tech" for the past 3 and a half years. I know a lot of the things we do in military doesn't exactly translate well so I was curios to what jobs I actually will be able to qualify for when I finish up my contract. Here's some of the things I've done:

-Configure ACLs on ASA Firewall and Routers/Layer 3 Switches
-Configure web access policies/access lists on threat management gateway
-Troubleshoot layer 2 switch access port configurations(vlans, duplex, speed)
-Add MAC addresses on Cisco ISE and policy for MAC address.
-Add and remove Cisco VoIPs, network printers, and window 7 workstations to the network
-Random installation of client applications
-administrative tasks on Active Directory such as account creations, folder permissions, add workstations to the domain, creating mailboxes..

As you can see my experience is pretty limited but somehow I was hoping I could leverage it enough to land a job in the networking side of IT . I also have a Top Secret/SCI and plan to move to DC area. heard that's a leg up out there.

Thanks in advance.

[deanwebb]

Ristau can talk about the market in greater DC area. If you like the firewall and ISE stuff, bill yourself as a network security guy.

Leave out the stuff about AD and Windows - that's for the sysadmins and desktop guys. Leave it TOTALLY off your resume. Focus on all the network stuff you did, list skills at the top, and have us look over your resume to help spiff it up. My resume sucks, your resume sucks, everyone's resume sucks, so we all should be in the business of keeping an eye on each other's resumes.

[icecream-guy]

There is alot of opportunities here in DC.  Traffic is a nightmare.  if you've got the TS/SCI you have an advantage above others. you still may need to gain SCI approval from your fed (waiting) before you can start. 

cost of living can be a challenge.  some areas are super fancy ($$$) others not so ($)
there's 2 ways to live around here, pay to commute, or pay for housing.

There are probably 4 main areas: 

East side of DC  got  Aberdeen, Andrews AFB, Fort Belvior, NASA  etc

In MD, jobs in Silver spring, Bethesda  up and down the I-270 technology corridor, rockville, gaithersburg, germantown, Frederick, more east via 70 in MD, Columbia, then there Baltimore too.

In VA,  mclain, tysons corner, arlington, herndon, Reston, Sterling, Ashburn etc.

Downtown DC, 

Each of these areas are not really commutable to the other due to the traffic, I would suggest finding a job and living nearby.
I live and Frederick MD and commute 25 miles to Rockville takes about an hour in rush on a good day 90 mins+ on a crash day
As most people around here I drive outside of rush hour, takes me 30 minutes commute if I'm at work by 6AM.

I'd say yeah, go for the networks. keep the admin stuff in the back pocket JIC, you will be tailoring your resume and cover to fit the job, so if the job calls for it, put in, you may want 2 resumes,  one with, one without.

[DazeTheOne]

There is alot of opportunities here in DC.  Traffic is a nightmare.  if you've got the TS/SCI you have an advantage above others. you still may need to gain SCI approval from your fed (waiting) before you can start. 

cost of living can be a challenge.  some areas are super fancy ($$$) others not so ($)
there's 2 ways to live around here, pay to commute, or pay for housing.

There are probably 4 main areas: 

East side of DC  got  Aberdeen, Andrews AFB, Fort Belvior, NASA  etc

In MD, jobs in Silver spring, Bethesda  up and down the I-270 technology corridor, rockville, gaithersburg, germantown, Frederick, more east via 70 in MD, Columbia, then there Baltimore too.

In VA,  mclain, tysons corner, arlington, herndon, Reston, Sterling, Ashburn etc.

Downtown DC, 

Each of these areas are not really commutable to the other due to the traffic, I would suggest finding a job and living nearby.
I live and Frederick MD and commute 25 miles to Rockville takes about an hour in rush on a good day 90 mins+ on a crash day
As most people around here I drive outside of rush hour, takes me 30 minutes commute if I'm at work by 6AM.

I'd say yeah, go for the networks. keep the admin stuff in the back pocket JIC, you will be tailoring your resume and cover to fit the job, so if the job calls for it, put in, you may want 2 resumes,  one with, one without.

Ill take note of that. Im not too worried about rent yet , ill be moving in a family members house in Stafford,VA while I get things straighten out.

I was more wondering what type of positions should I be aiming for? Obviously im not going to be looking into a network engineering position yet.

[icecream-guy]

seems like you got enough of the skills for a jr to medium level NE position.
either that or look at NOC positions.


https://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=network&l=Stafford%2C+VA

like this
https://amstechnologies.catsone.com/careers/index.php?m=portal&a=details&jobOrderID=9142136&ref=indeed

or
https://atlas-tech.hrmdirect.com/employment/view.php?req=536962&jbsrc=1014

or
http://capriccio.applicantstack.com/x/detail/a2fdmv30ymf9/aaac

[deanwebb]

I was more wondering what type of positions should I be aiming for? Obviously im not going to be looking into a network engineering position yet.

You have 3.5 years' experience, you can get into junior engineering jobs, maybe even find a guy desperate for a mid-level that's willing to grow you into the role. Security people will be even more desperate than routing and switching people. If you so much as know that 802.1X is a thing, you have a highly sought-after skill.