This was also back in 98 when VPN was still mostly just a buzz word . In one months time though, I was able to roll out the VPN with minimal inconvenience to the users. Microwave T1s and Ricochet modems. While I have no desire to be a telecomm admin, I was at Standard and gained a significant amount of experience in WAN technologies, troubleshooting and working with telcos. Standard is a 24x7 operation, so every install or change to any system has been in a production situation.
Every system failure is therefore critical.
High stress and long hours has been the game from day one. My stay at the BPU was short. I spent most of my time there preparing install guides for new contractors and troubleshooting serious networking problems over token ring and Microwave T1 lines. I did some basic AS400 trouble shooting and a lot of NT server work. July 97 to Feb 98 I was an on site tech for Computer City in Overland Park.