Contract to contract

It would all depend on what you can bring to the table. A net admin will be paid as a Net Admin (probably the powest paid NetAdmin).

A Net Adimin with other skills, programming, website design, graphics design, hardware diagnosis/repair, security knowledge etc. can demand a higher salary based on what he brings to the company and which of his abilities is required to do the job.

Don't sell yourself short, what you may take for granted, someone else may see as a valuable skill for their company. If you can help resolve Windows issues, it's a skill, many can't. If your people skills are above average, this is also a skill. Write down everything you know (related to computing and working with people)in list form and then start putting it all together as a viable skillset.

Ability will in turn create a higher salary.

Once onboard, your skills can generate your raises.

What I used to do was even if I knew how to do something, I'd keep it quiet when problems arose and let the company pay for outsourcing. Eventually I said I could do these things, but wasn't willing to take on the added responsibilities at my present salary. Comparing my propsed increase with the cost of outsourcing usually got me the raise.

Good luck to you and have fun with it,

OM

For some reason certification can get you through the door when years experience cannot. Let's be honest, certification gives you exposure. Experience gives you knowledge. Certification may get you in the door but you'll still need to be a good technician/engineer. Experience gives you knowledge outside the classroom and will help in your long term employment. Having an acronym behind your name will not keep you employed long if you don't have any experience.

Obtaining your MCSE can actually be obtained in 1 to 2 weeks. It doesn't carry as much weight as someone who has been to medical school but currently HR is not IT savvy, so, certification does get you in the door.

I'm a living example. I have 25 years of experience, I program daily in approximately 12 languages, 25 overall and I've been out of full time work for almost 2 years. I've worked in most fortune 500 companies in the city where I live when working with a VAR for 7 years but I do not have a lot of certifications and have lost opportunities because of that. I'm quite capable and have never given up on any project in my career but you can't show them how great you are unless you can get past the front door.

Dealing with a recruiter or someone in HR without certifications to your credit is a lost cause. Sometimes HR writes the employment ad and requires a certification for everything you will be doing. If you do not have a lot of certifications, dealing with the person hiring directly is your best approach. It also helps if someone you know works where you want to work and they can personally deliver your resume to the hiring person. This puts you at the top of the stack and gets you noticed.

You'll find out every recruiter you talk to will want to modify your resume and here is the secret on that. If the position is Network Security, do not put your emphasis on your development skills unless it relates to security, i.e. C/C++ in a *nix environment. Target [modify] your resume to the position being offered. You're a salesman. You're selling yourself. Would you hire you? Work on your interviewing techniques. Interview someone in your industry and see how they respond. Discuss it and then switch. All athletes need to practice. When the President gives a speech, he reviews what he is going to say and he practices until he feels comfortable with it and then he delivers the speech. DO NOT let your testing procedure be in front of your potential employer. Boyscout motto!

Good luck and let me know if they're hiring! (O:=