Well I have done the final interview for the Network Security position. They called my references and yesterday asked for my SSN so they could run a background check. If they like what they see hopefully I will get an offer by the middle of next week. I told them my salary range and they didn't bat an eye at it. I also told them my start date, which they also didn't have a problem with. This would be such a good move for my career.....
I also worked my first two days at my weekend job. I have been doing training during the week so I can get up to speed. The datacenter is sexy! I mean, I was seeing equipment that I could only read about. I actually touched a 500k switch. It was incredible. I want to learn more about DCs so I am going to go through the DataCenter Fundamentals book http://www.amazon.com/Data-Center-Fundamentals-Mauricio-Arregoces/dp/1587050234/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275116611&sr=8-1 and the APC datacenter university program. Hopefully these will bring me up to speed about DCs as a whole.
If everything works out, I should be moving to Cincy in a month or two. These next few months should be exciting. I want to move, complete the Security+ and LPIC-1 and start my new life in a new city. This blog should get pretty interesting. Stay tuned!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Well I got offered another job on Friday. I really want to take it but the pay isn't enough and the hours wouldn't be guaranteed. I am going to give the guy a call later today and see if he will let me work on his cisco/linux stuff when he needs the help. Things are starting to look up. I had a few interviews last week and I am hoping the job I really want comes though.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
work situation
Oh yea I should post that I have a new job. I will be working as a Network Support Associate for a local data center company starting next week. The job is a weekend job (Friday and Saturday) but I will do my training starting next Monday. It will be pretty cool.
All in all I am still trying to find something new for weekdays. My current job does NOT pay enough and I really need some benefits. I have an interview for a computer tech position at a local credit union that I really want. If possible, I would like to walk out of that room with the job but we will see. My plans for the Summer are to work 7 days a week. 60-65 hours weeks sounds like a lot but I have done it before. We really need to catch up on our bills.
My other plans are Security+, LPIC-1, MCP, and maybe a CCDA. My overall goal is to refine my skill to a high level and study my butt off before fall quarter.
All in all I am still trying to find something new for weekdays. My current job does NOT pay enough and I really need some benefits. I have an interview for a computer tech position at a local credit union that I really want. If possible, I would like to walk out of that room with the job but we will see. My plans for the Summer are to work 7 days a week. 60-65 hours weeks sounds like a lot but I have done it before. We really need to catch up on our bills.
My other plans are Security+, LPIC-1, MCP, and maybe a CCDA. My overall goal is to refine my skill to a high level and study my butt off before fall quarter.
Interviews
I went on the first of 4 interviews this week. I think it went pretty well. The place is for a small outsourcing IT company the primary works with small businesses. I would get exposed to a variety of different systems (including linux and cisco). IT seemed ok. I got a good vibe from the guy I was working with.
I have 3 more interviews this week. Its funny, I feel like the interviews are representations of my past, present and future. One is with a Help Desk (past), one is a Computer Technician for a large credit union (present, this is the job I really want) and one is for a Network Security Admin (future). Lets see how this all plays out in this coming week. I really want the Computer Tech job so that I can learn my craft better and sharpen my security knowledge. I want to park it somewhere for a little while. My true IT job stints have all been (execpt for 1) for about 8 months max (due to contracts and stuff) so I would really like to sit somewhere for at least a year and learn some things. There is only so much you can lab out you know?
I have 3 more interviews this week. Its funny, I feel like the interviews are representations of my past, present and future. One is with a Help Desk (past), one is a Computer Technician for a large credit union (present, this is the job I really want) and one is for a Network Security Admin (future). Lets see how this all plays out in this coming week. I really want the Computer Tech job so that I can learn my craft better and sharpen my security knowledge. I want to park it somewhere for a little while. My true IT job stints have all been (execpt for 1) for about 8 months max (due to contracts and stuff) so I would really like to sit somewhere for at least a year and learn some things. There is only so much you can lab out you know?
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
updates yet again
This is becoming a very depressing blog.
Well I found out yesterday that I missed out on 2 jobs. The first was for a Network Engineer and the second was for a backup admin. Both were with different parts of the same recruiting company. Both said they wanted someone with more experience. This is getting old. How the fuck am I suppose to get experience without a real IT job? I mean seriously, if no one will hire you, how is it suppose to happen? Whose dick/pussy do you have to suck/lick around here to get gainful employment? Fuck..... My piece of shit job I am working will not schedule me for calls and I haven't been able to find anything better. Well tomorrow I am suppose to meet with this VP for a weekend job but it is only going to pay about 150 dollars more a week than unemployment so I will HAVE to find an additional job.
I have been in a really bad mood for obvious reasons these last couple of days. This is starting to take a real toll on my sainity. I see people posting to me, "Stay positive and move forward" or "hang in there" and I feel like telling them to go fuck themselves. Not because I am mad at them but because its like , you have no advice for me and no answers so I don't want to hear it. I want a job bad. And no not just any job, an IT job and I think I deserve it as well. Its funny the structure that employment brings to your life. Stupid things like having to get up at a certain time or having to be somewhere at a certain time help make sense of the 24 hours in a day. I find myself missing the job that I hated so much. I don't know what to do anymore. Its like I feel myself losing my grip, my structure, like a play doh falling out of its container. Like I am slowly but surely falling out of my mold and I don't know how to stop it. I wasn't build for this at all.
I have been seriously thinking about the army and I think my wife is coming around about it. Guess I better hit the weights and start running again. Who knows, in a year I might be on Active Duty, that is, if the army will have me.
I am going to go try to talk to his recruiter at Accenture about a position in Cincy. To be honest, I am just going to walk in there and say hey, who is recruiting for this job because I want it (not in those words). What have I got to lose anyway, my prides nothing more than a stain on the floor, a space once occupied now empty and almost gone.
Well I found out yesterday that I missed out on 2 jobs. The first was for a Network Engineer and the second was for a backup admin. Both were with different parts of the same recruiting company. Both said they wanted someone with more experience. This is getting old. How the fuck am I suppose to get experience without a real IT job? I mean seriously, if no one will hire you, how is it suppose to happen? Whose dick/pussy do you have to suck/lick around here to get gainful employment? Fuck..... My piece of shit job I am working will not schedule me for calls and I haven't been able to find anything better. Well tomorrow I am suppose to meet with this VP for a weekend job but it is only going to pay about 150 dollars more a week than unemployment so I will HAVE to find an additional job.
I have been in a really bad mood for obvious reasons these last couple of days. This is starting to take a real toll on my sainity. I see people posting to me, "Stay positive and move forward" or "hang in there" and I feel like telling them to go fuck themselves. Not because I am mad at them but because its like , you have no advice for me and no answers so I don't want to hear it. I want a job bad. And no not just any job, an IT job and I think I deserve it as well. Its funny the structure that employment brings to your life. Stupid things like having to get up at a certain time or having to be somewhere at a certain time help make sense of the 24 hours in a day. I find myself missing the job that I hated so much. I don't know what to do anymore. Its like I feel myself losing my grip, my structure, like a play doh falling out of its container. Like I am slowly but surely falling out of my mold and I don't know how to stop it. I wasn't build for this at all.
I have been seriously thinking about the army and I think my wife is coming around about it. Guess I better hit the weights and start running again. Who knows, in a year I might be on Active Duty, that is, if the army will have me.
I am going to go try to talk to his recruiter at Accenture about a position in Cincy. To be honest, I am just going to walk in there and say hey, who is recruiting for this job because I want it (not in those words). What have I got to lose anyway, my prides nothing more than a stain on the floor, a space once occupied now empty and almost gone.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Same old, same old...
Well its the same old bullshit as last time. Applying for jobs, nothing materializing. I actually went on two interviews, one job I didn't get, and one job no one knows what's going on. I continue to apply but I feel like, what's the point. They want experience I don't have, certifications I can't get because I don't have any money for them, and ultimately it seems hopeless. I have strongly considered the military as a way out and now I am starting to think it is the only way out. Why oh why didn't I just do Microsoft certifications instead of Cisco. My CCNA and CCNA Security mean nothing to anyone because they want the CCNP or CCIE or they want a CCNP and MCSE. I am starting to feel fucked beyond belief and that I cannot live up to the promise I made to my father in law, to take care of his daughter.
The thing that makes me so pissed is that I am not looking for a handout. I am not an idiot and I am willing to work hard anywhere I work but no one is willing to give me a chance. No one is willing to hire me. No one. Its like when you growing up, people say work hard and go to school and you will go far but they never mentioned what happens if no one is willing to give you the chance to work hard. This job market is utter bullshit and I thought that "IT" is a growing field. I am not some guy fresh out of Tech Cert School looking for a 80K job. I have work experience. I have put in time but no one gives even half of a fuck. When did it get this way? When did entry level positions require 4-5 years of experience and 6-7 high level certifications and knowledge? When did companies decided to stop investing in employees? When did benefits stop being standard?
I don't know what else to do honestly and I am willing to put my life on the line to make sure she stays fed. So yea, I am probably going to go to some branch of the military, most likely Army or Air Force. The Army has a program that I am interested in call the 25n (basically networking and linux) under communications. I am about to go running now, with conviction.
The thing that makes me so pissed is that I am not looking for a handout. I am not an idiot and I am willing to work hard anywhere I work but no one is willing to give me a chance. No one is willing to hire me. No one. Its like when you growing up, people say work hard and go to school and you will go far but they never mentioned what happens if no one is willing to give you the chance to work hard. This job market is utter bullshit and I thought that "IT" is a growing field. I am not some guy fresh out of Tech Cert School looking for a 80K job. I have work experience. I have put in time but no one gives even half of a fuck. When did it get this way? When did entry level positions require 4-5 years of experience and 6-7 high level certifications and knowledge? When did companies decided to stop investing in employees? When did benefits stop being standard?
I don't know what else to do honestly and I am willing to put my life on the line to make sure she stays fed. So yea, I am probably going to go to some branch of the military, most likely Army or Air Force. The Army has a program that I am interested in call the 25n (basically networking and linux) under communications. I am about to go running now, with conviction.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
updates
Well I went on two interviews last week. Still no word back from either one. In the mean time, I have been seriously considering the Army Reserves, Air Force Reserves, or National Guard. I am thinking about going for a 25N (a networking position). I looked at the standards for the fitness and I know that I would need to get back into my high school wrestling shape. I have decided to develop a program that will do this for me.
I want to implement this over the next four months, starting tomorrow.
Step 1: Reduce caloric intake to 1700 max
- I know I have been eating much more than this but I want to basically eat a very protein rich diet, raise veggies, meat, and fruit, and reduce breads and sugars to nearly nothing at all (unless it is naturally occurring). I want to try to cut all of the bad fats out of my diet.
Step 2: Run
- I am going to do the couch to 5 k program, but I am going to double it (once during the day and once at night).
Step 3: Pushups/Situps/
- I plan to start with a lower number and slowly build myself up to doing 200 pushups and 600 situps a day.
Step 4: Lifting
- Two days a week I am going to bench, curl, leg press, and preachers curl my brains out. I have a bench and weights in my house so I should be able to do this easily.
Step 5: Weigh ins/Check ins
- For my ideal height and weight, to get the most points on the physical exam, I would need to do about 75 pushups in 2 minutes, 80 situps in 2 minutes, and run 2 miles in 13 minutes. Naturally my goals are 90 pushups, 90 situps and run the 2 miles in 12:30. So that is what I am working towards and why. I will be sure to keep everyone posted.
I want to implement this over the next four months, starting tomorrow.
Step 1: Reduce caloric intake to 1700 max
- I know I have been eating much more than this but I want to basically eat a very protein rich diet, raise veggies, meat, and fruit, and reduce breads and sugars to nearly nothing at all (unless it is naturally occurring). I want to try to cut all of the bad fats out of my diet.
Step 2: Run
- I am going to do the couch to 5 k program, but I am going to double it (once during the day and once at night).
Step 3: Pushups/Situps/
- I plan to start with a lower number and slowly build myself up to doing 200 pushups and 600 situps a day.
Step 4: Lifting
- Two days a week I am going to bench, curl, leg press, and preachers curl my brains out. I have a bench and weights in my house so I should be able to do this easily.
Step 5: Weigh ins/Check ins
- For my ideal height and weight, to get the most points on the physical exam, I would need to do about 75 pushups in 2 minutes, 80 situps in 2 minutes, and run 2 miles in 13 minutes. Naturally my goals are 90 pushups, 90 situps and run the 2 miles in 12:30. So that is what I am working towards and why. I will be sure to keep everyone posted.
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