Dear What Am I Worth,
I'm a data management clerk working on the SAP system in the transportation and distribution department of a company handling inventory and shipping product to customers. I'm scheduled to graduate with an AA in computer information systems in May. I recently passed the Comp-tia A+ certification exam.
I've worked on PCs for the past four years as side-line jobs. I'm working towards Network+ and attending the Cisco academy at the college to get my CCNA.
My questions are: How can I find a job in the computer technician field and what kind of pay could I expect to find? What type of industry should I be looking to get into - private owned, corporate, contract? After I receive my Network+ and CCNA what kind of pay increases should I look for and what industry should I stick with?
Working towards certifications
IT Futures replies: Congratulations on working towards your CCNA – it’s a great qualification to achieve and adds value to your personal brand.
Your remuneration will depend on your exposure to complex networking issues. Your current experience with SAP is good general experience, but not strictly related to your Cisco and network aspirations. I would suggest a salary of $50,000 to start with, rising with practical experience.
A large corporate site seems the best option for you as you will receive exposure to complex technology within an environment more likely to be supportive than the needs of a vendor or contract environment.
Submit your question to What Am I Worth?