Hi All,
I have passed my MSc Forensic Computing and Security from the University of Derby. But i have not managed to get a job for me neither in Forensics Area or in Desktop Support though i have 4 years of work experience supporting Microsoft Outlook ,Windows Xp , AD, Be spoke applications in a corporate environment.
Everyday i search for entry level jobs in Compliance/IT Information Security Officer /Quality Assurance but they all need 1 year minimum experience followed by certifications like IT Audit, ISO27002 etc, ENcase , FTk etc.
So what is the point of doing a Masters Degree when one can get job by doing certifications..
Please advise.
Kind Regards
Sumit
Hi Sumit,
I think your first carrier track is lecture/ teacher in forensic computing or security in graduate university/ polytechnic or research in that area in many research place.
Or you can try your correct position in other company…
From any person maybe can suggest other think ?
Thanks.
Regards,
Bimo
So what is the point of doing a Masters Degree when one can get job by doing certifications..
Many people do MSc.'s as they would like to continue studying (and research) in their particular field, not because it's a minimum requirement for a job.
If you are having difficulty in finding a role, even in 1st line support, then perhaps review your CV?
I have found when applying for different positions, I needed to omit various things - so you don't appear "too overqualified" for the role.
It turned out my colleagues omitted similar information from their applications too…
As of right now there are tons of people like you and I that have BA's in CF. But the pool of people that have their Master's is smaller. WHich wold make you stand out more.
I am enrolled for my Master's now as well.
Don't forget that CF is a very small field so think outside of that also. Incident Response IT Security, Cyber Security, Network Security, Jr IT Admin, E- Discovery are all hints to be used in a job search.
@Bimo - Very Nice Advice.
@alastairfay I been to uni career development centre and they said my cv looks fine . i dont know what to do now (
@Joshsevo Very nice advice and giving me keywords this is what i was looking for and wondering here and there and even in the uni no one told me about this (…..
Thanks to all of you.
I am thinking of going for my Msc in CF but i have already been promised a job in Angola with BP. so my advice is for you to look outward in other countries and not UK. there are more better opportunities overseas than here.
@leoibra Thanks for the advice . I am an Indian and have done my Msc from England.. i am still looking for job in england and the market is too dry here.. I shall take your advise and see if i can find work in any other country and any company who can hire me. Many Thanks Again.
Hi Sumit,
First off, it is important to differentiate between your MSc degree/curriculum and the plethora certifications that are available out there. Your master's curriculum provided you with foundational knowledge that will help you throughout your career. Certifications, however, will likely teach you mastery within a certain topic (e.g. CISSP, CHFI, CEH) or a certain software tool (e.g. EnCE or AccessData ACE). It's may recommendation that students complete their foundational education (a University BSc or MSc) then focus on certifications that are relevant for the field of work.
Although your University degree may not seem relevant at this point in your career, you will find it more valuable down the road when you begin to compete for upper-level positions. It is then that you'll have a leg-up on both education and certifications, thus making you more marketable as a candidate.
Hang in there and don't undervalue what you already have, and continue to build your skillset through training and certification. You are on the right track.
@brunty11 Thanks for the valuable advise. I understood now the difference between Msc and Certifications. I have applied more than 200 helpdesk jobs but i dont hear from them . Sometime they just say i am overqualified. This really makes me feel low and other people like me who have experience as well as relevant degree. Sometime i just feel that i could have done MCSE stuff and atleast by now i would be working in a Helpdesk and not being jobless.
I would like to go for certifications but it all depends when i will be getting some IT related work and can look forward to do certifications.
Many thanks once again for the valuable advise. please feel free to advise me
@brunty11 Thanks for the valuable advise. I understood now the difference between Msc and Certifications. I have applied more than 200 helpdesk jobs but i dont hear from them . Sometime they just say i am overqualified. This really makes me feel low and other people like me who have experience as well as relevant degree. Sometime i just feel that i could have done MCSE stuff and atleast by now i would be working in a Helpdesk and not being jobless.
I would like to go for certifications but it all depends when i will be getting some IT related work and can look forward to do certifications.
Many thanks once again for the valuable advise. please feel free to advise me
Where does it say you are required to include your MSc qualification?
I left out my A-Levels to apply for my first helpdesk IT role. With little qualifications to move onto better jobs, I was a suitable candidate for answering the telephones.
If you're too overqualified, they assume you will move on at the first opportunity (could be 2 months or 1 year) either way, they don't want you to move on, as you cost them money in training and recruitment)
Tailor your CV to the job position - you're not lying on your CV by *excluding* information (apart from criminal convictions, etc).