Just the Beginning | UPDATE | TheBuffNerd

Talk more about getting into contracting and how you did it.

i would like to help and get my experience up dm me if you need me to start the process to help

I see Dead Space in the background 🙂

I am currently working on my Comptia A+ cert and currently searching for an entry level helpdesk role. Its really cool to see some updates though. Do you recommend starting as a contractor helpdesk or a full time position, I'm not too desperate to get a job right now with my studies, but I still see that experience is king.

Are they hiring for the admin positions under you?

All I learned from contracting was that our contractors in Afghanistan made an obscene amount of money doing jobs that honestly we could have done ourselves (granted this was intel not IT), so if you can get a gig overseas and you're willing to put yourself in that position, I personally think the tradeoff can be worth if your goal is to just make bank. Considering doing it myself after I graduate college since I already have the experience / clearance. Have you looked into overseas opportunities for networking? I'm still new to the IT side of the house (just now starting the CCNA) so maybe you know about opportunities I don't.

Getting a little discouraged I would love to get a part time to gain experience but feels like there is no such thing as part time in I.T. and my financial responsibilities wont allow me to take the paycut Helpdesk roles offer. I'm making around 70k currently (non I.T. related job) and I know I would be crazy trying to demand 70k with no experience in I.T. but if I can get anywhere near 60k atleast I'd find a way to make it work but job interviews are telling me I'm asking for too much for no experience. FYI my background consist of 6 certs CompTIA A+ Network+ Sec+ CCNA AWS CCP and ITILv4 I'm also going into my last semester for my bachelors and working on my Project +. My education has to account for something and I'm starting to feel like it was all worthless no one wants to give me a chance at the salary I think I'm worth honestly.

I’ve scheduled my CCNA for August 31st because of your channel. Thanks ​​​@TheBuffNerd7539

I got JNCIA certified right after the CCNA, very similar outside of the specific Juniper syntax. Juniper syntax is very Linux-y is how I put it XD. It looks weird at first but afterwards I was thinking it made a lot more sense than cisco syntax. The firewall settings are easy to catch on to if you are familiar with coding, it's kinda in the "if then" formatting. I like the "commit" options it has as well.
I'd like to hear if you are still eyeing down specific certs, or you are in the learning mood and will just do certs if your employer requests you to. I have my eye on 3 more certs and thats all I am going to try to do personally, besides CISSP when I have the years needed. I'm in that learning mood now, I don't want to take any more boring multiple choice exams, I just want to learn!

Also, I must mention I am getting my gains up, benching 220lbs currently for reps 💪

Keep making more videos. I have been inspired by your videos, and good luck, man :) I also recommended looking at the CISCO Live convention this year in Las Vegas, NV

Contracting work is very interesting to know about, thank you for the video!

Your shirt is amazing.

Just rolled out 6 2130 FTDs with 2 hardware FMC 1600s in HA. Mostly for vpn remote access for 2800 remote employees. Also using ise for posture scanning and group policy auth profiles.

Trying to knock out my CCNA man. I've been procastonating.

Going on Project+ rn, the driest cert I've ever taken. trying to finish my Bachelors with WGU before I get out of the military and potentially my CCNP. I'll be getting out with Networking experience and my education

Quick question how do you stay in shape when studying for all these certs?

It's good news that even the CCNP is just a starting point, because that means we'll never get bored during our career! Thanks for your videos, all the best to you.

well that's why u don't get hung up on 1 vendor, yea cisco is great but companies are gona entertain other vendors becuz of cost, get real familiar with Aruba, Juniper & Ciena, im on vendor "dates" with their reps all the time, Aruba mobility controllers & waps are far more easy to implement than cisco & it's half the cost & they offer free vouchers for their certs, in the ISP world it is mostly Juniper followed by Ciena and because of IEEE/IETF/RFCs the concepts are same but syntax/terminology is different, so learning wise u are good lol and value wise it is gona increase ur salary knowing different brands