IT Jobs in Australia for an MCSE / CCNA

NullZer0

Note to mods: Please excuse me if I've posted this in the wrong forum. I've thought about it for a while and decided this was the best place for it. Feel free to move!

Hey guys,

Myself and the GF are hoping to give Australia a go this time next year for 6 months - with a view of securing employment and sponsorship.

I currently work in IT and I have and MCSE (2003) and CCNA, I'm also hoping to achieve the new Win Server 2008 certifications before I go.

I have a reasonable amount of experience in a multinational/multisite environment administering active directory, VMware and the usual day to day stuff (including experience with a smaller software company in Dublin as a systems admin - windows).

Total Experience: just over 2 years.

Just wondering should I find it hard to get a job? - I don't have a degree.
I've never been stuck for work here - ever!

I'm just afraid of getting to Oz and not being able to get a job!

I'd also like to know the average rate of pay for someone with both MCSE and CCNA working as a network/system admin with 2 years experience in Australia - is it significantly more/less than here?

I'd appreciate advice from anyone that has learned from experience or anyone that may be researching something similar.

All comments/suggestions welcome!

NullZer0

Any information at all?

Faith

There's dozens of other threads in this forum answering your questions, even several on the front page. Please read through them before needlessly bumping your own thread.

/edit: In fact, you've already got a thread on the topic of moving to Australia. Did you really need two?

NullZer0

Sorry but I don't feel there are.
There are posts answering questions about jobs seeking/available jobs/IT jobs etc but I feel my question is more specific and I am looking for a more specific answer.

If I felt that I had already answered my question by searching I wouldn't have taken the time to post here.

Coileach dearg

I'm not sure if I replied to you already in another thread but anyway here goes. I was in a similar situation you are in now (I had ~2 years IT experience). I moved to Sydney and found a job as an IT Test Analyst within about 3 weeks of getting here. I have no idea what MCSE and CCNA are, all I had before coming out here was an IT degree but I'm not sure if having a degree is all that important. There are plenty jobs in IT here in Sydney at the moment, you would have no difficulty in getting one.

There seems to me more contract positions than anything else at the moment. The way it works is, you get interviewed by an employment agency, they line up an interview with their clients and you go from there.

Good luck, whatever you decide to do.

Xavi6

Not having a degree won't count against you over here. Potential employers will be more concerned about what visa you are on and how long you can stay in the job i.e. they won't hire you if you're on a one year visa and can only work in the same job for 6 months.

You say you are only initially coming for 6 months? Well I personally would not mention that in an interview.

In my experience, no one from Ireland has ever been short of work in Australia once their visa is a good one from the employers perspective.

NullZer0

Coileach dearg wrote: »

I'm not sure if I replied to you already in another thread but anyway here goes. I was in a similar situation you are in now (I had ~2 years IT experience). I moved to Sydney and found a job as an IT Test Analyst within about 3 weeks of getting here. I have no idea what MCSE and CCNA are, all I had before coming out here was an IT degree but I'm not sure if having a degree is all that important. There are plenty jobs in IT here in Sydney at the moment, you would have no difficulty in getting one.

There seems to me more contract positions than anything else at the moment. The way it works is, you get interviewed by an employment agency, they line up an interview with their clients and you go from there.

Good luck, whatever you decide to do.

Thanks for that!
Sounds interesting - Contract isn't usually a bad thing.

MCSE - Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer.
CCNA - Cisco Certified Network Associate.

Xavi6 wrote: »

Not having a degree won't count against you over here. Potential employers will be more concerned about what visa you are on and how long you can stay in the job i.e. they won't hire you if you're on a one year visa and can only work in the same job for 6 months.

You say you are only initially coming for 6 months? Well I personally would not mention that in an interview.

In my experience, no one from Ireland has ever been short of work in Australia once their visa is a good one from the employers perspective.

Its a relief to know that!
I was hoping this was the case.

The six month thing is not something I plan on mentioning!

Thanks guys

ibh

iRock wrote: »

MCSE - Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer.
CCNA - Cisco Certified Network Associate.

I'm no computer nerd so i'm not too sure what those qualifications are worth, but the g-friend is in IT and worked in Australia albeit with a Degree qualification. I'm pretty sure she mentioned both of those things as being very important in Australia and is now studying for some Microsoft exams.

She found that in the IT department she worked in, they were not really all that interested in Degree's. They were more concerned that you were able to do the work. They also offered her sponsorship (4 years) within a week of starting her job so there is definately a demand for good staff long term.
I think she was earning about $1200 gross per week in Sydney.

NullZer0

ibh wrote: »

I'm no computer nerd so i'm not too sure what those qualifications are worth, but the g-friend is in IT and worked in Australia albeit with a Degree qualification. I'm pretty sure she mentioned both of those things as being very important in Australia and is now studying for some Microsoft exams.

She found that in the IT department she worked in, they were not really all that interested in Degree's. They were more concerned that you were able to do the work. They also offered her sponsorship (4 years) within a week of starting her job so there is definately a demand for good staff long term.
I think she was earning about $1200 gross per week in Sydney.

Wow sounds good... the more I hear the more i want to go.

Basically the above certs are the industry standard that the majority of people (working in certain IT roles) achieve regardless of having a degree or not. The certs mean " I can get the job done and do it right" basically.

Some Cisco Certs are looked at more highly than a Phd in Computer science disciplines.

Thankyou for the info - every bit of feedback is helpful.

Mahatma coat

Dont Fvck about with employers tho, be straightfoward and upfront about the thing, a good pitch in an interview would be to go for a 3 month trial tipe gig, if you like the job, and they like you, go for sponsorship.

the mines are cryin out for teh people too, they have lots of computerised stuff and if you work for 88 days out there you should qualify automaticaly (well with some forms) for a second year on the backpacker visa, then you can hunt around for sponsorship proper with a bit of cash in yer pocket.

NullZer0

Mahatma coat wrote: »

Dont Fvck about with employers tho, be straightfoward and upfront about the thing, a good pitch in an interview would be to go for a 3 month trial tipe gig, if you like the job, and they like you, go for sponsorship.

the mines are cryin out for teh people too, they have lots of computerised stuff and if you work for 88 days out there you should qualify automaticaly (well with some forms) for a second year on the backpacker visa, then you can hunt around for sponsorship proper with a bit of cash in yer pocket.

Have you got any more info on this?
I'm not sure I understand what/where your refering to but I'm interested!

Mahatma coat

I know a few guys that run largeish mines, they need workers, I'm fairly sure it can be made to count as 'outback' work and therefore qualify for the extra year

NullZer0

Sounds like something worth looking at

Timmy_d

Hi lads,would a degree and CCNA be enough to get an I.T job over there,unfortunately i have no I.T experience would this really go against me do ye think?...id love to go over there to get the experience...

Mahatma coat

A Pulse will qualify you for a job in IT over here, Knowin what yer doin will keep you a job and get ya sponsored

NullZer0

Mahatma coat wrote: »

I know a few guys that run largeish mines, they need workers, I'm fairly sure it can be made to count as 'outback' work and therefore qualify for the extra year

Timmy_d wrote: »

Hi lads,would a degree and CCNA be enough to get an I.T job over there,unfortunately i have no I.T experience would this really go against me do ye think?...id love to go over there to get the experience...

I'd say do the CCNA right away and then see what your options are.
If you can subnet you can pass the CCNA!

Its getting to the stage where certain companies have to employ x amount of Cisco Certs to gain certain discounts/benefits from Cisco... so you have a good chance.

I wouldn't just limit myself to the CCNA though... take a look at the IT certification forum on boards (I dont want to go off topic here).

Timmy_d

Agh that sounds like the very opposite to ireland so with regard to getting your foot in the door of first I.T job...not finished my degree until next year but great to hear all the same...am seriously considering it:)

Timmy_d

iRock wrote: »

I'd say do the CCNA right away and then see what your options are.
If you can subnet you can pass the CCNA!

Its getting to the stage where certain companies have to employ x amount of Cisco Certs to gain certain discounts/benefits from Cisco... so you have a good chance.

I wouldn't just limit myself to the CCNA though... take a look at the IT certification forum on boards (I dont want to go off topic here).

i know iv been looking through,was thinking of tearin into server 2008 sure it cant be a bad cert to have anyway...

Mahatma coat

Australia, Well Queensland anyway and WA is fairly strong, is in the midst of both a resoursces Boom and a Dire skills shortage,

if you qualify at home then you can, actualy I'm not sure about this what are teh replacements for AWA's or are they still good?, basicly write yer own cntract. you will have to comit to a minimum of 2 years work four in some cases, but if you do it right yer settin yerself up to live in OZ from the start

BraziliaNZ

There are plenty of jobs for people on working hol visas in IT in the big cities anyway, they usually pay about $25/30 an hour unless you are specialising in something like programming or networking etc. I would imagine you wouldn't get a job in a high-end area unless you had experience, or were a super-braniac nerd, the grass isn't as green here as some are making out. As for the mines, I am sick of working in an office, how do I get a mining job in WA or QLD? My bro lives in WA and want to go maybe next month, but would move to QLD too, am visiting there this weekend. I can't find any websites advertising, I mean I want a no-brainer dish-washing job or something, but I heard they give those jobs to the locals or abos etc. When you say they're crying out for people in the mines, people to do what?

Mahatma coat

Oh the mining Jobs are still office Jobs, its just that the office becomes a Portakabin with iffy aircon somewhere in the red centre.

I'm not fully up on the Tech side of the mining game, I was out doing Logistics for a relocation when I was workin out there, but they have a fairly large IT staff in most of these places, as most of the surveying is done with computers, so there are servers and networks anyway

but seriously even the Sh1tkickers out in the mines make $40+ an hour

BraziliaNZ

maybe but I know a good few people who went out west to get mining jobs and none of them got any due to being foreign and not being chemical engineers etc. There are plenty of uneducated people in Ozzy to snap up the dumb-ass jobs in the mines that pay well without the need of immigants out to make a quick buck so they can piss it away in Thailand or wherever!

Mahatma coat

thats odd cos I've sent a few boys out to my mates mine and they've all got starts.

Like I said I'm not up to date on exactly what the mines need, but I'd say if you were a competent with networks and servers n the like it should be handy

alternatley if yev got a HGV ticket and are any way handy with a chainsaw I've work in the forests

Timmy_d

how much do u need in your bank account these days before heading over to oz,was it something like 3k?

BarryCreed

cousin is ozzie, and a spark, and made/makes some serious money on the mines, but was telling me it's brutal to work there, 45 degrees, NOTHING to do when you finish work, nearest pub/town could be 3 hours drive. works long days, but good to save cash i reckon.

i was out in kalgoorlie last year, and wouldn't be able to stick the heat there, and I wasn't working in it. It was unreal heat and humid...40 odd degrees...

Mahatma coat

out around cloncurry it can get over 50 degrees, there is absolutley nothing to do besides drink overpriced beer under management supervision, they get drug tested regularly,

Timmy_d

how much do u need in your bank account these days before heading over to oz,was it something like 3k?

jank

Some Cisco Certs are better then a PHD

Like the CCIE which is in a different planet to the CCNA in fairness.
I think some people are placing too much faith in certs.
IMO they are only there to back up on the job expereince.

Any monkey can go out and testking a few certs, but can they do the job?
Most of these people are found out in interviews anyway, or in the job after a few weeks.

I know of at least one guy who's CV looks brilliant (NASA experience!) but after about 6 months in Cork got blacklisted by all the recruitment agencies because he was dangerous on a network (he didnt have a clue at all!).

Would you put a bluffer, bull$****ter in charge of a multi million euro network where downtime could cost a company millions. Well this is what happened. He was escorted out by security after 3 days in a certain contract lol

This guy is now banned for life from Cisco certs..
Be very carefull when doing certs.

I have heard similar stories elsewhere. Sure, sell yourself, be confident but dont over sell as it could really **** you up long term.

Not saying this is what going on but some people think certs are the be all and end all.

Sorry for going off topic.

NullZer0

jank wrote: »

Like the CCIE which is in a different planet to the CCNA in fairness.
I think some people are placing too much faith in certs.
IMO they are only there to back up on the job expereince.

Any monkey can go out and testking a few certs, but can they do the job?
Most of these people are found out in interviews anyway, or in the job after a few weeks.

I know of at least one guy who's CV looks brilliant (NASA experience!) but after about 6 months in Cork got blacklisted by all the recruitment agencies because he was dangerous on a network (he didnt have a clue at all!).

Would you put a bluffer, bull$****ter in charge of a multi million euro network where downtime could cost a company millions. Well this is what happened. He was escorted out by security after 3 days in a certain contract lol

This guy is now banned for life from Cisco certs..
Be very carefull when doing certs.

I have heard similar stories elsewhere. Sure, sell yourself, be confident but dont over sell as it could really **** you up long term.

Not saying this is what going on but some people think certs are the be all and end all.

Sorry for going off topic.

This is going a bit off topic so I don't want to go into this in detail.

Yes I am referring to the CCIE which I am currently preparing for at the moment. For me the CCIE is a biproduct of learning (rather than learning just for the Exam and practical) - I can't see how material like you mentioned could get you through a practical exam like the CCIE.

Its also a bad thing to assume that people would use such materials - which would lead me to think you do (purely because of the tone/nature of your reply).

Any certs that I have achieved have been the product of personal work experience, study and lots of late nights studying.

jank

iRock wrote: »

This is going a bit off topic so I don't want to go into this in detail.

Yes I am referring to the CCIE which I am currently preparing for at the moment. For me the CCIE is a biproduct of learning (rather than learning just for the Exam and practical) - I can't see how material like you mentioned could get you through a practical exam like the CCIE.

Its also a bad thing to assume that people would use such materials - which would lead me to think you do (purely because of the tone/nature of your reply).

Any certs that I have achieved have been the product of personal work experience, study and lots of late nights studying.

I passed my BSCI there 2 weeks ago. I attending a Cisco academy course over 4 months working on routers, did a $hit loads of sims and bought 3 books to reference what I learned. It was a very tough exam but i got there in the end.

I didnt accuse you of "testkinging" your way through exams please do grant me that the same courtesy

Also, can i refer you to a comment i made.

Not saying this is what going on but some people think certs are the be all and end all.

My Rant/Point is what i have personally seen and heard from people i trust. That is the reason why employers do not put so much weight into certs any more.

Oh and regards the CCIE, i have heard of one guy who had 2 CCIE's with little or no expereince with comm's. Yet this guys then wants to walk into a 100k a year job.LOL! NOTHING is more important then experience.

which would lead me to think you do (purely because of the tone/nature of your reply).

This makes no sense to me at all ad this is what my rant is about!

By the way how much on the job experience do you have with Cisco Networks?

NullZer0

jank wrote: »

I passed my BSCI there 2 weeks ago. I attending a Cisco academy course over 4 months working on routers, did a $hit loads of sims and bought 3 books to reference what I learned. It was a very tough exam but i got there in the end.

I didnt accuse you of "testkinging" your way through exams please do grant me that the same courtesy

Also, can i refer you to a comment i made.



My Rant/Point is what i have personally seen and heard from people i trust. That is the reason why employers do not put so much weight into certs any more.

Oh and regards the CCIE, i have heard of one guy who had 2 CCIE's with little or no expereince with comm's. Yet this guys then wants to walk into a 100k a year job.LOL! NOTHING is more important then experience.


This makes no sense to me at all ad this is what my rant is about!

By the way how much on the job experience do you have with Cisco Networks?

Sorry if I took your response up the wrong way.
Please excuse me.

To get a CCIE with little of no experience would be pretty hard - I would imagine you would have to buy a "fake Cert" - even then you wouldn't get a real CCIE number.

Maybe he did have little or no experience/knowledge... but I would doubt it very much!


My experience is not really relevant but seeing as you asked I have 4 years of pretty heavy experience with Cisco/VOIP technologies on a daily basis. 2 Years Windows Experience (in a corporate environment) and 4 years Red Hat / Unix (in a corporate environment also).