RE: Experience with this list.

From: Spencer, Ed M. -ND (Ed.M.Spencer.-NDat_private)
Date: Tue Jun 05 2001 - 10:39:25 PDT

  • Next message: Jim Appleman: "Looking in Northern Virginia"

    My recommendation is to apply for those positions if your experience level
    is even remotely close to what's being asked for.  I often find is that if
    there is a senior level position open there may be a lower level position
    open as well (especially if they have a promote from within policy but
    require external applicants to fulfill specific requirements).  Working
    through a contracting agency (staffing agency, professional services
    organization, etc.) can help as well.  They often obtain request for
    applicants that aren't shown in the papers/web.  Especially if the staffing
    company has multiple people already in their database that has the necessary
    skill requirements.
    
    Alternatively, apply for a position where security is a secondary duty and
    leverage that experience to move to the security field over a period of time
    if that's where you really want to be.
    
    As for agencies, I've worked through a number of them (some excellent, some
    good, some bad, some worse than bad) and for the most part am please with
    the results.  It allowed me to more than triple my income in 2 1/2 years,
    earn a number of certifications through OJT, and get experience that I
    continue to leverage for the benefit of my employer, contacting agency, and
    myself.  If you don't mind the 'lack of security' (is there job security
    anymore?) contracting is great.
    
    As for the list, I only recently joined and I assure you, after I take my
    CISSP exam in July (and hopefully pass) I'll be posting my resume when my
    current contract ends.
    
    Good luck with the search!
    Ed Spencer
    MCSE/MCT/CNA/A+/Network+
    Security Analyst - IS Security
    Renaissance Worldwide, Inc. - Walt Disney World
     
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    -----Original Message-----
    From: Frank Scott [mailto:runestarat_private]
    Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2001 12:47 AM
    To: securityjobsat_private
    Subject: RE: Experience with this list.
    
    
    Well on all the positive notes out there I figured what the heck..
    
    I've been in the telecommunications business since 1994, but have been 
    working on the Internet since 1990, and before that communicating via BBSs. 
    My problem with finding a job now, is lack of certifications. Lack of money 
    to get the certs. I'm a bright young relatively speaking individual who has 
    been working security issues for one of my pervious employers for close to 
    five years. The issues were basic, UCE tracking and TOS abuse issues, but 
    I've become quiet well at greping log files and determining trends. Nothing 
    like getting 1000 reports of the same UCE to try and filter even after the 
    offender had been dealt with. My question is someone with my experiences 
    could do well in the security field, but I'd be starting off at the ground. 
    Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a lot of ground level positions open 
    in this field. It's either senior or Architect level positions only. I 
    don't feel I'm at that level, and feel I'd be short changing a manager if I 
    tried to apply for those jobs. Could anyone give some advice to someone who 
    is looking to get into this field who has some experience in it all ready 
    but nothing stellar?
    
    Here's most of my resume in case anyone is interested. I left out the 
    contact info, email me if your interested I guess.  I didn't want to post 
    the whole shinding and all my contact info. Needless to say if your 
    interested email me and I'll fire off my contact info.
    
    Frank G Scott
    runestarat_private
    
    Network Operations Center Engineer / Technical Support Engineer
    
    Proven Operational and Technical Expertise in the field of Computing
    
    Technically-sophisticated and operational savvy internet professional with 
    a long term career reflecting strong leadership qualifications coupled with 
    a "hands on" approach to learning in-depth systems. Maintaining a focus on 
    customer quality care while being very aware of the bottom line. Superior 
    record of delivering world class customer support and network managing 
    simultaneously in a large-scale international environment. Team based style 
    of work ethic with excellent interpersonal/communication skills.
    
    
    Network Monitoring / Escalation Procedures / Team Leadership / Scheduling / 
    Call Center Operations / One on One Training / Vendor Escalations / Quality 
    Customer Care
    
    Professional Experience
    
    Network Management Center Engineer, Navipath, 800 Federal St, Andover, Ma 
    Feb-2001-March 2001
    
    Recruited to work the Overnight weekend shift at this world class dialup 
    access provider. Worked closely with the team lead on the shift in on going 
    training, reactive and proactive monitoring of their international network.
    
    The job included the following duties:
    
    * WAN monitoring
    * Ascend TNT troubleshooting
    * SS7 VoIP troubleshooting
    * Escalations to Vendors
    * Enabling/disabling DS0,DS1,DS3s
    * Extensive work via electronic mail
    
    ZipLink Internet Inc., 900 Chelmsford St, Lowell, Ma
    June 1995-Nov 2000
    Network Operations Center Engineer
    June 1998-Nov 2000
    
    Recruited from within the company to work exclusively with the Network 
    Operation Center. Started within the department from it's inception. 
    Watched and participated in the growth of the division from day one. Duties 
    and responsibilities grew from a strict monitoring/escalation procedure to 
    actually working the issue fully in the department.
    
    The job had the following duties:
    
    * WAN monitoring
    * Ascend TNT monitoring
    * Alcatel ASX 1600 monitoring
    * Bay networks BCN5300 monitoring
    * Abuse email tracking and resolutions
    * Shift scheduling
    * Configuring network monitor devices
    * Use of console devices via modem
    * Creating trouble tickets, follow up
    * Escalations to internal employees
    * Enabling/disabling DS0,DS1,DS3s
    * Escalations to vendors
    
    Senior Technical Support Specialist, ZipLink Internet
    June 1995 - June 1998
    
    Promoted from the from the ranks of the Technical Support Specialists to 
    become a senior member of this group. Worked closely with departmental 
    management, making sure the second shift ran efficiently. The goal of the 
    department was to answer all calls within 2 minutes of hold time. Worked 
    with the PBX system making sure all the incoming call queues were answered. 
    Call coached representatives on shift, making sure they were operating 
    efficiently. Presented several weekly and monthly call performance reports 
    to the Manager of the Call Center.
    
    The job had the following duties:
    
    * Troubleshooting dialup issues
    * Technical lead for team
    * Answered within 24 hours emails coming into support, billing, info, 
    sales, email boxes
    * Created several reports based on call statistics and email statistics
    * Tracked Spam Email complaints
    * Shift break / lunch scheduling
    * Tracked tickets that needed escalation
    * Worked with billing system
    * Creating trouble tickets, follow up
    * Escalations to internal employees
    
    Technology Used while with ZipLink Internet Inc.:
    
    * Free BSD
    * Linux
    * Solaris
    * Ascend TNT Command Line Interface
    * Alcatel ASX Command Line Interface
    * BCN5300 Command line linterface
    * Xyplex remote modems
    * Microsoft Windows 95-Windows 98
    * Windows NT 4.0
    * What's up Gold
    * NOCOL
    * MRTG
    * Microsoft Office 97
    * Coolworld Billing solution
    * Aspect PBX Command interface
    * Various email, news, web browsers
    



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