MackyNaija:

Congrats Sir, I fit bet half of my nyansh say na Amzn you get! No ask me how I take know

E get how you go package yourself, you go see Director position. Why?
Depending on your current role, Leaving a 100,000+ employee company with worldwide impact to go work for a sub-1000 employee company having a single or two locations can fetch you a Director position.

As I usually say - once a manager, always a manager except you choose to demote yourself.

After I got this current role, I became fully sold on the idea that everything is about what you believe you are worth and how you package + present yourself.

Nah... That Amazon no suppose qualify as FAANG... They don't pay well like others.

neurosci:


How much python do you think is necessary, if you don't mind me asking? For me, python was a walk in the park until I got to linked lists, bid-0 and recursion. Do you think one needs to go that far?

Python is quite a big program.. I think the basic(if .. else, modules etc) is what is needed since you are technically not a coder; also there are other programs for automation so it depends on the company. For example, I got into my present company using the small python I know but getting here, I noticed they use PERL and bash for all their automation so I have to starting learning.

MackyNaija:

Short story...

Over the last two weeks, I was tasked with creating a dashboard on Jira for tracking quality issues - never done this before ..

But from experiences creating charts in Excel, I was able to crack this and create two beautiful tables and a sweet pie chart.

New problem - the data I was working with had excluded 'canceled issues' but was still showing 'closed issues'...
We needed to only see 'Open', 'In progress' and Under 'Verify' issues...

Due to my little programming knowledge, I was able to look at the filter to see "status != Cancelled" and tried excluding 'closed issues' with...

"status != Cancelled and Closed", didn't work, got an error message...

Then I tried
"status != Cancelled AND status != Closed"
It worked!
Na so I jejely leave am, wash my hand comot.

I got perfectly working Dashboards that were presented to the Quality Mgr, Engineering Mgr and Director of Engineering!


Morale of the story?
Everybody including non-science students and awon instagram, abeg learn basic programming. It can help your life!

True.. At the rate things are going if you don't know basic programming you won't get a job in tech field. I did a faang interview recently and got the offer.. The questions were centered on automation. My advise is.. No matter your interests in tech, try and learn python.

My best thread so far on nairaland.com... Even when you are here you still need some info on this thread to navigate this America.... News update... I finally found my self in one of the FAANG
I go sit down here for sometime... Before I move begin find manager work for one small company....

Next info I need now is how to invest and diversify... I go soon tire for this 9-5.

Electroweb:
@Mackynaija, @Zendman, @Predstan,@Bossman
I noticed on LinkedIn that these American companies prefer US citizens or persons with green card for employment. They don’t want to employ individuals that require work permit / authorisation. How were you guys able to navigate this challenge to get your first job?
Thanks

Been a while... Yes you are right some companies need the greencard or blue passport before they employ you. I just feel it depends on the policy of the company and also some companies don't understand the immigration policy so they might not want to go through the stress. On the other hand, there are thousands of companies that will gladly employ you just with your OPT provided you scale through the interview. Infact majority of big companies employ without greencard or blue passport because they have immigration department that handles those process if needed.

For me... My wife is a US citizen and we met while we were in school(I was her teaching assistant) and got married before I graduated, she was able to help me get my greencard.. I guess I was lucky, it is usually not rosy like that ..

In summary.. provided you are in IT, you go always get something provided you know what you doing... also with special strategy.. you can get your greencard/blue passport easily.

Predstan:


I was interviewed at Intel last week. The first interviewer was a Chinese(the Project Manager) and asked a lot of questions from technical to behavioral questions. He complimented that I did well. 2 days after that interview, I was called for another interview with an Indian (the team lead). I was grilled for 3 hours. This time, the questions were more technical and he keeps pushing them out to me. Write a code to search a byte in a Buffer, write another to send and receive a socket information.

The stress of interviewing with these top companies is just so much. I’m waiting for my cool rejection email because that Indian guy was not satisfied with my overall performance but hopefully they will consider it’s just an internship.

Boss MackyNaija. How have you been?

Sometimes is just luck.. Pray they accept you for internship.. that will really be cool. It is difficult (but not impossible) getting into these big companies but when you get it .. you are a made man.

My first round interview went well that was why they called for a second and final interview. Everything was fine until the last Indian guy came (the first two were nice).. he started asking me network design critical questions like I was the one who invented routing protocols (for a position that only needs three years prior experience ) , and I was already exhausted. Even the white guy that interviewed me on network automation specifically said I am the first candidate to actually answer all the automation questions in detail.

I see a lot of Nigerians on LinkedIn working as senior engineers and managers in these big companies.. I wonder if they do interviews abi dem dey hide

Boye33:



Thank you so much for your simplification and clarification.

pardon me, I still have few questions
.

--This is the first time I am hearing of Ansible, how does it work and how and where can I learn it. I picked up python while working on data science, though I am only familiar with the data science related libraries.
.

- I'll definitely need your assistance, I have come across the GNS3 simulation software in my study, but haven't been able to practice on it. How can i get them sir?
.

- Apart from the networking industry, what branch of networking is in demand in other industries as well. I don't want to streamline my chances to only the networking industry.
What path can I follow to achieve this?

Thanks so much for your replies once again.
.

Happy Easter

Sorry ... being busy...

1. Ansible is built off from python. It is quite easy to learn as each device have their playbook which makes change management or configuration easy especially when you have multiple device to configure

2. Send me a mail .. I can forward you the links to the images.. I think I still have the google link.

3. Networking is huge.. SDWAN and cloud is kind of leading at the moment.

Meanwhile in other news... got a call from Facebook for an interview for Sr. network engineer position.... to cut the long story short after grueling 5 hour final stage interview ... the next email I saw was "we are sorry...." I was down for like 2 days.. I really needed that job.. but it is well. This America no easy at all .. I look forward to a day where I will be interviewed by a Nigerian. How can three Indians out four interviewers interview me .. I really don't think it's fair. This a debate and something needs to be done else to get work for all these big four companies person gat get brain like Albert Einstein. It is well.

This have always been my issue with these FAANG.. they spend a lot of time drilling you during interview and still send you rejection. Might not apply to any of them for now till I get my CCIE lol.

Boye33:



Hello
I am a recent graduate of electrical engineering. I am currently interning with an ISP company in Nigeria.
I seem to be enjoying the work after months of dabbling into so many things (Data Analysis, Machine learning ) because I don't know which one would open the door.
I am currently preparing (taking tutorial videos) to take the ccna certification so I'll have more qualifications but I don't seem to know where to go from there.
Rather than work on the front end of networking, connecting routers and switches, I would like to develop myself on the backend, like configuration and so on.
How can I go about this, what certifications and areas do I need to work on for these?
thanks.

Technically nothing like front end or backend .. just depends on the role. For entry level you have to start with what I call "plug and play" .. that is the switch and router have been configured by the oga at the top all you need to do is just to go to the data center and plug the cables in to add the device to the network.

As you continue to grow in the field you join the oga at the top and start designing, planning and configuring those network devices. It is a good thing you are preparing for CCNA, that will really accelerate you to the top. While working on CCNA don't forget to learn automating tools like ansible, python etc. in reality no one actually configures on router command line anymore.. everything is now automated especially in large data center build.

So start with CCNA but don't be a "certification grabber" make sure you learn and become an expert in CCNA topics before going to the next level like CCNP... I have seen NIgerians here who think they can just use dumps and pass and expect a big job.. most end up disappointed because ohibo no send your certificate and you end up exposing yourself because by the time they ask you mid-level question which a CCNA holder should know and you fumble with your CCNP on your resume.. na so so you will hear from us you go dey hear.

if you need assistance and images with setting up EVE-NG, GNS3 or CISCO VIRL.. let me know .. I have almost 50gig of different images, na naija internet go determine if you fit use am. Cheers

DAramis:
To the thread owner, thank you for the wealth of information which you have shared so far. Just like other threads in Travel section, I have gain one or two useful information. Please my question is this:

Apart from Networking that seems relatively easy to learn (but difficult to enter), which other field of IT that might pay modestly and easy to learn? If possible, non programming (heavily) based IT course.

I already tried learning programming (self study) but it is not easy. As for data science, I am going to brush up my knowledge on excel first before anything else but kept it in view.

Any other IT knowledgable person can still answer my question.

CC
MackNaija
Zendmann1
TEODIN

Most guys I have met in IT field usually start with Desktop support>>>Systems Admin >>> then move to either Devops, Network engr, security etc... so if you are looking for easy, then start with Desktop support.. here in the U. S is usually around 45k per year(depend on location)... but at the rate they are automating stuff now .. they will soon automate desktop support out of existence .
To qualify for desktop support role.. just start with how to press computer keyboard, then learn Microsoft, active directory so you can reset user password and unlock account lol ...

TEODIN:

Boss you just finish work..very nice write up.. which course did you have your masters in?

studied information and telecom systems

Cousiim:


Please guys, I am in a serious dilemma, I got msc offers for both cybersecurity and data science. I'm in a serious state of confusion as my brother and some close friends say cybersecurity better buh I feel like data science is. Pls advice me so that I can accept one of these offers ASAP.

cc zendmann1 : mackynaija

My own opinion>>> Both are cool career... but personally for me I prefer cybersecurity for the prestige and how cool it is.. couple with less stress. Data science pays well and it is easy to enter as an entry level with little or no experience, but cybersecurity is difficult to get into as an entry level applicant and with you being a foreigner you have the problem of security clearance, but then anything is possible. So I will suggest you go for the one you like but don't forget to stay this country for months without job no be joking matter... so opt for data science.

Drenimarcus:



Sir, are you talking about networking or data analytics?

Software is hard without a tutor. Self learning is hard o. The little python I am teaching myself, I have headaches from it

If you really love networking I think you should go for it. Personally I think it is stable with less stress. You will begin to enjoy it once you have a lot of experience. Although, it is quite difficult to break into with less experience but with time you will definitely like it.

Software is cool but if you are not in any of the FAANG you are paid as much as anyone else and God save you if covid-20 comes out you are likely to loose your job.

I started straight out of masters in 2018 with 19$/hr with no experience in networking. My first job was as desktop analyst which I did for three months and wrote my CCNA then got a job for 60k.. as an entry level network engr. I worked there for a year then got another one for 100k but the stress level was just too much and it was customer facing so I quit after six months after getting my CCNP then got my current job for 95k with 10% yearly bonus. I really don't do much even though it is huge data center and telecom company.. it will take a serious natural disaster for any of the data center to go offline so for now less work.

Thanks to Covid-19 I now work completely from home. As not to get bored I got a second entry level job with a different company which I only do at night.. no stress and pay ain't bad(about 70k working as a non-exempt employee with excellent benefits)....


Here is the issue with software.. even though they make more money they also undergo more stress and except you work for a software focus company or FAANG you are likely to loose your job... half of the software and business analyst in my telecom company lost their job during the height of covid-19 because finance was cut.

I suggest you continue with networking but make sure you always get at least one certification a year.... and if possible buy a very good laptop install EVE-NG or GNS3 then begin to lab.. there are a lot software image and tutorial out there.. then learn python and make sure you learn atleast one cloud.. for me I suggest AWS. Even though is not easy trust me you will eventually enjoy it.. and if you are a citizen ... after few years in networking move to security (target jobs with security clearance) and the world will be yours.

MackyNaija:

Back to this discussion, for several months, I have been seeing network engineer postings for salaries around $50k and I am shocked about how they could be paid 'so little' for skills my head tells me are quite complex.

So I found other iterations of the field that pay more:
Hardware development, hardware validation, systems development, hardware test etc.

Go to Amaz0n jobs + Find careers + Aws + teams...
Check job descriptions under these teams: 1. Hardware Development, 2. Security and 3. Systems Development


People trying to break into Networking or Cybersecurity are of the opinion that it calls for numerous certifications and years of experience.

If you want to make money in networking jobs.. try and get experience in configuration of relevant network devices .. like CISCO ISE, Fortigate, normal cisco routers and switches, others are infoblox for DNS and DHCP.. from there learn network side of cloud especially GOOGLE and AWS because large companies use them here as main cloud carrier. Top it off with certifications. You should be able to secure jobs that pays 110k in moderate cheap states like TX, NC and VA.



In all sha...me sef wan switch to data analytics... this network engineer no dey too pay .. my colleagues in the same company earn almost twice what I make from the company... guys in cybersecurity and data science are really balling here.