How CCIEs can survive these economic hard times

by Eman Conde

July 15, 2008 —

We have all heard the bad news about high gas prices, the mortgage crisis, recession scenarios, pandemics and layoffs. None of us are immune to the economic blues, but CCIEs are able to cope if they stay on their toes.

I would like to share some of what I have learned about how CCIEs can better survive and even thrive in this economic turbulence. Here's what my Career Diva, Eve Tahmincioglu has to say about the current economic climate and how it might affect you: "If we think the sky is falling we may be apt to make rash career decisions right now. We may be convinced to accept less pay or benefits because everything is falling apart, and oh, aren't we lucky that an employer has offered us a job at all." (See her complete article on the current state of things on her blog.)

I have recently been contacted by CCIEs who are feeling threatened by the economic downturn. It's true that Retail, Mortgage, Securities, Real Estate, Banking, Automotive, Pharmaceuticals, and some global partners have been affected by the economic strife. A few months ago several large financial institutions hurt by the Mortgage crisis began downsizing, and several CCIEs contacted me when they were told they would be losing their jobs.

Even this past week I had calls from a few more CCIEs who were on the cutting table from a major pharmaceutical and they were worried about the future. The stories are mostly the same. The size of the companies they worked for made them feel secure in their positions, after all enterprise network engineers are essential to any enterprise IT department.

Some of the CCIEs had been lulled into a false sense of security because of their roles and the size of the enterprise they supported made them feel secure. Several were actually contractors who had contracted for just a few months and found themselves still on the site 3 to 5 years later.

I asked questions like; "Why did you wait so long to get your resume together?"; "What have you done to prepare for some unemployed time?"; "Do you have a job search plan?"; "What are your career goals?"; "Have you let this situation change any of your career plans?"

It comes as a real shock to be told you are being let go, especially if you have been with the same company for a few years, but don't let it get you down! Not everyone is prepared to hit the job market with a fresh resume and some rainy day money.

The next decisions you make could help or hurt your career. Many CCIEs think it will be easy to simply pick up a contractor role, and to interview on the side in their spare time this may or may not work. Old wisdom said you needed to pound the pavement and scour the want ads, even post your resume on job boards. Remember to keep your career goals in mind as you make decisions of your targeted employers. Keep the eye on the prize and if that prize is to continue to recertify or add new certifications to your resume then give this next idea some thought.

Cisco Channel Partners usually provide financial support and incentives for CCIE certifications and training. If you are planning to keep that CCIE then a Channel Partner can usually keep your hands in the technology and in different environments. So the hum-drum of supporting the same old gear every day is avoided and you keep your skills sharp.

Many CCIEs think that working at a Channel Partner comes with living in hotels and airports; this is not the case for most of the roles I represent. Many channel partners are local and keep their resources within driving distance of home and the office.

My advice is to check out the Cisco Channel Partners and see what they have to offer. Keep in mind that while many large corporations are feeling the pain right now, most Channel Partners are still growing. Also consider that the US government expects that economic recovery will ride squarely on the backs of the entrepreneur and small businesses.

Regardless of the down turn, many Cisco solutions can save companies money and that keeps the demand up for the Channel Partners' resources, namely CCIEs.

Job Search Plan: Get out the old thinking cap and a sharp wooden pencil. The thinking cap will help you concentrate and the pencil is to stab yourself when you stray (or to make notes)! Start by assessing your current situation and this includes the salary and incentives. You want to make every career move a step up and only when there is a good reason should you ever consider a lateral move. Make a list (use the pencil here), of the good and the bad things you have in your most recent role. Then underline those items on your list that you consider essential in your next job; maybe even prioritizing them in case you have to eliminate any. Make a list of your career objectives, even retirement goals should be listed even if you are younger than 30.

Resume:: Is the resume in good shape? Get someone else to read it. This is one of the first things I examine before taking any other actions with a candidate. Just because a CCIE is smart does not mean the CCIE can write a resume.

Industry: What are the targeted industries or companies your search is going to cover? Many times Network Engineers will gain skills or qualifications for certain environments such as clearances, regulatory rules, or compliance knowledge which makes the CCIE more valuable in some areas than others.

Reach out to your network: There is no shame in sharing your situation with your network. CCIEs are great for networking with and if you hit some of the CCIE blogs or even LinkedIn. I use networks extensively for referrals and information, so I know they work well.

Roles/Titles: What are your targeted positions or titles? Make a list of these since you will see some responsibilities you are yearning for covered by these. If you are a CCIE looking for IPT/UC roles then you will be looking for a different title than a Security CCIE.

Growth: Yours and theirs! Look for a company that is poised for and has a history of growth. Get the support you need for professional growth on a plan or MBO.

Interview questions: What will you ask employers so you can compare them with each other? What is important to you to hear from a perspective employer? Remember if you don't ask the same questions each time you will not be getting the real value out of this exercise. Make a list (remember the pencil) of questions that are important in helping you discover information about a company that will help you make a decision. (What is the company's growth strategy? What differentiates it from the competition? How do they ensure a good work/life balance for CCIEs? Why do they need a CCIE? Is this a new role or a replacement? Why did the previous CCIE leave?)

Geography: In times of flux you might want to consider a completely different geography. CCIEs exist in a global market and the demands for CCIEs are international. So if the mosquitoes in the swamp near you are bugging you maybe a more arid climate is a goal. Tired of the snow for 8 months out of the year? Maybe a place with better balanced seasons is in order. Think about it because there is a demand for CCIEs virtually everywhere.

Salary: Talk about money with the right person. Since a potential peer might flinch when you start asking questions about cash. The right person is the department head or HR/Recruiter. If you are represented by a third party recruiter this should have already been established. Make sure it has since the interview will be a waste of time if the salary window is too small to fit you in (take the pencil and stab the recruiter). The economics of hiring a CCIE are changing along with demand. Some companies that were looking to hire too low are now hiring at a better price. Others are getting creative and tying the profits from presales activities into the compensation package of CCIEs who participate in the sales cycle.

When you go into the market looking for a job put your best foot forward, keep your chin up and be prepared to answer technical questions as well as sharing your personality. The technical and professional stuff is good but remember a team is built upon people and you want to open up and see your interviewer do the same. Always remember the ZZ Top song about sharp dressed men. Just like the girls, employers are crazy for a sharp dressed man! Clean shirt, new shoes And I don't know where I am goin' to. Silk suit, black tie, I don't need a reason why. They come runnin' just as fast as they can Coz every girl's crazy ‘bout a sharp dressed man.