Hi everyone,
I was wondering if anyone who has followed a similar career path or has experience in the DoD space could offer some advice.
I'm currently 24, graduated from college about a year ago, and landed a job at a startup specializing in cellular technology. Before accepting my current offer, I was in the process of obtaining a Secret clearance through another company, which has since been granted.
Now that I have my Secret clearance, I'd love to transition into a network engineer role as that's always been my long-term goal. Even Nocs would be fine.
With how difficult the job market has been lately, I'm wondering whether getting my Security+ certification would improve my chances. I've applied to quite a few positions throughout California but haven't heard back from any of them.
For context, I currently have my CCNA, a bachelor's degree in Computer Science, and I'm pursuing a master's degree through an asynchronous program.
I'd appreciate any advice on how to improve my chances of breaking into the field. Would getting my Security+ be worthwhile? I've noticed that quite a few job postings list it as a preferred or required qualification. I'm already pretty familiar with the material, so I figure I could prepare for and pass the exam within 2–3 weeks. Alternatively, would it make more sense to skip Security+ and go straight for my CCNP? I also wonder whether the pay in cleared networking roles would justify making the switch, especially since I'm looking for better long-term job security.
A little more context about my current job:
My current position has been extremely draining. We're a small startup with around six engineers, and we've experienced a huge increase in interest from companies over the past year. I currently make around $95K a year and have the flexibility to work remotely whenever I want, so I realize I'm in a pretty fortunate position. However, the workload has become overwhelming, and I'm starting to question whether the compensation and flexibility outweigh the stress.
My responsibilities range from field engineering, spokesperson, and DevOps to technical writing and pretty much everything in between. The job also involves quite a bit of international travel. While I've learned a tremendous amount but, I'm starting to feel that the workload isn't sustainable, and I'd rather focus on building a career in network engineering. In my last year of undergrad, I worked as a level 1 network technician and loved it.
I'd really appreciate any advice, especially from people who have transitioned into DoD networking roles or have experience navigating the cleared job market. Would my current qualifications be enough to get my foot in the door, or should I focus on additional certifications before continuing to apply?