Certification in preparation for contracting (SAN Storage/Sys Admin)

Raul

Hi,
I am 25 and have 3.5 years industry experience - 1.5 years as a server admin and 2 years in SAN/Tape Storage. I am MCSE 2003 certified, ITIL foundation certified, have 2 EMC SAN certifications and a 1st class honours degree in Computer Science. I also have experience with NetBackup but no certification.

Although there are excellent perks and benefits to my current job, I think my base pay is quite poor and the company are slow at increasing pay in general. I plan on starting out contracting/consulting in maybe 2-3 years time so I want to get as much out of my current job before I move on. I could do more EMC certifications but I think 2 is probably enough for the time being. My current employer will pay for all my training/certification.

I am thinking more along the lines of a CCNA. Is it worth pursuing considering I already have an MCSE? Is it too much hassle with little reward? I don't plan on working in networks itself but I am sure it would do no harm to know a little bit if I go contracting. It would require a lot of work from me because even though I know the basics of networking, I have never really worked with Cisco equipment.

I am interested to hear from more people on this. I realise I am lucky to have my current job but ultimately I want to be self employed (ideally working in Storage). I want to be in a good position when I am ready to leave. What is the best way to prepare for contracting or consulting? Should CCNA be next step?

Static M.e.

I am thinking more along the lines of a CCNA. Is it worth pursuing considering I already have an MCSE? Is it too much hassle with little reward?

Yes, it definately is. When you see any of the Job specs CCNA is cisco experiance is always mentioned.

If I were you I would get some VMware certs. Its couples well with any SAN certs and alot of the time poeple will look for both, as in they will roll out VMware with a SAN rather than a NAS. The VMware certs are also highly sought after too.

The only "problem" per say with them is that you HAVE to attend a VMware course for every Cert you want, hence me not having any

What is the best way to prepare for contracting or consulting

Cert yourself up to the hilt, remember when you go Contracting YOU pay for all the courses, you also lose pay for every day your off. So a VMware course that runs for 5 days costing 2k will actually cost you around 3k because you will lose 1k in wages.

Also start reading up on LTD companies vs Sole trader. Tax is also very important as in how to write stuff off to tax.

Raul

Thanks Static. That's pretty much the way I am thinking. VMWare will be coming into my company very soon and I definitely plan to go after that certification. My company will pay for that also.

I am going to take a break on study until the new year and if VMWare is in place, that will be the next certification I do. If not, I will probably go with the CCNA.

I have a fair idea on the taxation side of being self employed. I have done a lot of research on it plus my father is self employed.

Are you contracting or consulting yourself? If so, what is your opinion on the current market?

Kali

I'd echo the above.. VMware + Storage specialists are very much in vogue at the moment and there's a lot of contracts out there. 2/3 years down the line, who knows... but it's definitely what's paying now (I got my current job on my VMware/Netapp certs).
I'd add the CCNA if you have an interest in networking, as it will definitely give you a good all-round base then... and companies love all-rounders, especially in contract positions where you have to hit the ground running and once your initial work ends you're more likely find yourself thrown on something else (rather than being a one-trick pony with no further use).

Raul

Thanks Kali. I emailed a recruitment agency about 3 weeks ago about a Storage job they had which said up to 65K. I never really had any intention of going for it but just thought I would see would they be interested in hiring me based on my qualifications.

They were very very keen for me to go for the job. They have since emailed several attractive looking jobs since - some contract and some permanent. Now I know recruitment agencies are full of it at the best of time but they seemed to think that there is a huge demand for storage admins especially ones with the relevant certifications. I have told them to stop calling me because I am fed up having to leave my desk but asked them to email and that I would reply if interested.

Kali

Sounds good. Just go for it.. you don't like it, hell get another job! you're qualified and in-demand! Just be aware that some contract positions may require immediate starts if that's the road you want to go down... probably weigh up the market with an interview for a permanent role first though, see what they would actually require of you day-to-day (rather than what the recruitment agent say).

Raul

I am not ready to leave my current job just yet. I get to travel the world with it and I know I may never get the chance to do again in another job. I have always had a travel bug and it is great to be able to get it out of my system with work (for free ). I can also work from home and there is flexi time in place. I still feel I have lots to learn in this company and they will pay for all my training.

I think I will stay at least another year if not two. I just want to use that time to get as much out of the job as possible.

I appreciate all the advice given to me here and it has basically re-enforced my ideas.