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    Career Change

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved IT Careers
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    • scottalanmillerS
      scottalanmiller
      last edited by

      IT is a huge field, full of massive diversity. Helpdesk is one area, systems administration another, all kinds of database careers out there, then there is networking, business intelligence, application support, many management roles, desktop support, deskside support, and on and on.

      http://www.smbitjournal.com/2017/01/standard-areas-discipline-within/

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • scottalanmillerS
        scottalanmiller
        last edited by

        So things to think about.... do you like working with people, do you hate working with people? Do you like being on call and having a predictable schedule (mostly?) Do you like being given a flexible schedule but expected to be really productive? Do you like a broad variety of tasks, or do you like to get to really focus and go deep on a single thing? What tech do you like, what is fun, what is boring?

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        • stacksofplatesS
          stacksofplates
          last edited by

          I have a degree in classical guitar. Now I’m definitely not anything to compare to but you don’t need a degree to make it. The only things degrees like CS do is possibly get you a job at places you don’t want to work.

          We have a co-op that’s studying “computer engineering” (whatever that is) and they have no idea what’s going on. A lab and experience will get you much much further.

          scottalanmillerS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • scottalanmillerS
            scottalanmiller
            last edited by

            When thinking about going into IT, think about ways that you can outpace and outperform the run of the mill rabble. This is what will really give you the leg up, so to speak. While there are loads of IT folks out there with degrees or years of experience, the truth is is that the majority of people in the field (or claiming to be in the field) aren't very good at it and only manage to scrape by with work because they are employed by shops that have no idea what good IT should look like and/or a lack of good options to turn to should they be eliminated. If you learn your stuff and do a good job, you are set.

            Some ways to really set your self apart...

            • Write, a lot. Start a blog or something documenting your educational journey. Make something for a potential employer to see.
            • Get social. Obviously you figured this out, here you are. But don't just post once in a while, make it a lifestyle. Post first thing when you get up, last thing before bed, keep it open all day. Ask questions about anything and everything. Get involved in discussions about anything and everything. Interact with your peers non-stop all of the time. Post about your projects, your successes, your challenges. Get feedback not just on the big questions, but the little ones, too. Run everything by us, and don't just ask "what button do I press to do X", ask "what do you think about this product, technology, or idea?" Have the big discussions like a business or philosophy class.
            • Lab it. Make a home lab, make it so awesome that any job you ever get will be ashamed of how much more and better you do things at home than they do at work.
            • Volunteer. Know a non-profit that needs help? Volunteer. Get real world experience and help the community.
            • Read books. Remember those paper things with the glue on one side? Use them. They present ideas and concepts in a beginning to end way that online articles rarely do. They might not be current, but contrary to the popular slogans, IT doesn't actually change very fast. People only think that because they try to memorize simple answers instead of learning how things work. Learn how things work, and there is very little need to keep up from day to day - there might be new names for things, but the actual ideas aren't new.
            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
            • scottalanmillerS
              scottalanmiller @stacksofplates
              last edited by scottalanmiller

              @stacksofplates said in Career Change:

              I have a degree in classical guitar.

              Strangely enough, I was a classical guitar major as well. And orchestral trombone.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • scottalanmillerS
                scottalanmiller
                last edited by

                Even though I've attended six universities, and have multiple degrees, and impressive GPAs, all of that was for me personally and I don't put any of them on my resume. If a potential employer was to be impressed by me having those things, I wouldn't want to work for him. Nothing wrong with having them, of course. But if someone filters me out because I don't pass their "HR filter", good, saves me from wasting my time or worse, accidentally accepting a job working for idiots. I've been to college, I know how easy it can be. The last thing that I want to do is work for someone who thinks it was hard and thinks that it must be hard universally - which implies he wasn't book smart and lacks common sense and failed to just memorize how to hire well. It's an unbelievably embarrassing statement for a company to make about its impressions of itself.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                • scottalanmillerS
                  scottalanmiller
                  last edited by

                  The obvious tool that you will need to use to start telling employers that you have bridged the gap between the science world and the business one, is industry certifications. I'm not a huge fan of certs themselves (even though I write them) but I am a pretty big fan of the process that you go through to properly get a cert. Certs are best as a means of guiding you through a learning process.

                  I'm a big believer that anyone starting in IT should consider starting with the CompTIA Network+ (and never the A+) as a base level of knowledge that everyone should have. After the Net+, then look at a certification path that makes sense for your desired career path. The Network+ is really the only "general purpose" IT cert and is, in many ways, more of just demonstrating that you are a general purpose power user and ready to start your IT learning.

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                  • dbeatoD
                    dbeato @Denis.d
                    last edited by

                    @denis-d said in Career Change:

                    Hi everyone, wanted to hear your opinion on my situation. I finished college with a chemistry degree , and worked in the industry now for several years. Got really tired due to no job stability, low pay, and no honest chemical companies. I have been thinking of transitioning to IT for several months but honestly I am scared to make the move due to my education not being in IT, or computer science. I am thinking that by pursuing certification I would be able to prove to an employer that I have some technical knowledge. But I am just not sure. What are your thoughts? Can I make it in IT with a chemistry background? Will this path be much tougher then having a relevant background?

                    Yes, you can make it on IT. I have seen many helpdesk coming from Business Degree, Engineering and more become IT Helpdesk. There are many good IT companies but you might find many software and companies in general that are not all honest..

                    I have been in IT for 11-12 Years and I only have an Associate Degree in Information Technology. The most important part is to have experience which you will find by doing helpdesk, testing systems on your own and finding opportunities.

                    It shouldn't be tougher, since you have critical thinking and have the ability to resolve problems you are just applying to a different career.

                    You also should start looking for experience before getting into a certification, that way you are already in the path.

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                    • NerdyDadN
                      NerdyDad
                      last edited by

                      I actually have a degree in IT, a Master's in fact, but it looks like I'm more of the exception to the rule than the rule itself.

                      You really don't need a degree to start in IT. Helpdesk is not entry into IT. It is another field of IT.

                      I'll quote Scott from above on some things. Start a home lab. You don't have to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on hardware and licenses. You can spend $5-10/month on Vultr or Linode, get a vm with Fedora or Debian Linux and begin building stuff.

                      If Linux isn't you're thing, then you might want to check out VyOS for networking and switching, or get yourself some Ubiquiti equipment and do a small network at home.

                      JaredBuschJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                      • EddieJenningsE
                        EddieJennings @Denis.d
                        last edited by EddieJennings

                        @denis-d said in Career Change:

                        I have been thinking of transitioning to IT for several months but honestly I am scared to make the move due to my education not being in IT, or computer science.

                        Fear is the greatest paralytic of all. If it interests you, jump on in! As far as education and formal training, you will find that participating in communities like this will teach you far more and different things than you will find in a course.

                        In my opinion you'll find that your self-training + community of experienced will keep you on the right path of thinking.

                        Despite all of that, I can empathize with your fear 100%.

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                        • JaredBuschJ
                          JaredBusch @NerdyDad
                          last edited by

                          @nerdydad said in Career Change:

                          I actually have a degree in IT, a Master's in fact, but it looks like I'm more of the exception to the rule than the rule itself.

                          You really don't need a degree to start in IT. Helpdesk is not entry into IT. It is another field of IT.

                          I'll quote Scott from above on some things. Start a home lab. You don't have to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on hardware and licenses. You can spend $5-10/month on Vultr or Linode, get a vm with Fedora or Debian Linux and begin building stuff.

                          If Linux isn't you're thing, then you might want to check out VyOS for networking and switching, or get yourself some Ubiquiti equipment and do a small network at home.

                          I too have a Masters in IT (will be paid off in 3 months finally), but I got that later in life when I was at AT&T and looking to move out of the Union and into Development.

                          Also IT from that college doens't mean IT. It means anything to do with a fucking computer.

                          wirestyle22W 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                          • F
                            flaxking
                            last edited by

                            Have you thought of Development? I'm sure Chemist + Dev will be a killer combination for some companies. Getting your first Dev job might be harder than getting your first IT job though.

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                            • ObsolesceO
                              Obsolesce
                              last edited by

                              Is it IT you like, or programming / software engineering?

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • coliverC
                                coliver
                                last edited by

                                I completed the majority of a master's program from a respected college in NY... But after looking at the numbers I was surprised to see that, in IT, master's degrees actually earn less, on average, then people with no formal education.

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                                • ObsolesceO
                                  Obsolesce
                                  last edited by

                                  I've read articles of people with PhDs who can't buy houses because they have a million dollar education debt... Fine if you are a medical field doctor making a quarter million a year... but those aren't the only PhD holders...

                                  I can imagine that a Masters degree is very expensive too.

                                  So you need to make a lot of money to off-set the costs of having to pay back your school loan.

                                  scottalanmillerS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • ObsolesceO
                                    Obsolesce
                                    last edited by Obsolesce

                                    I still have 10 months left on my school loan, but I'm not making big payments either... the interest is so low it didn't matter much.

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • wirestyle22W
                                      wirestyle22 @JaredBusch
                                      last edited by wirestyle22

                                      @jaredbusch said in Career Change:

                                      @nerdydad said in Career Change:

                                      I actually have a degree in IT, a Master's in fact, but it looks like I'm more of the exception to the rule than the rule itself.

                                      You really don't need a degree to start in IT. Helpdesk is not entry into IT. It is another field of IT.

                                      I'll quote Scott from above on some things. Start a home lab. You don't have to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on hardware and licenses. You can spend $5-10/month on Vultr or Linode, get a vm with Fedora or Debian Linux and begin building stuff.

                                      If Linux isn't you're thing, then you might want to check out VyOS for networking and switching, or get yourself some Ubiquiti equipment and do a small network at home.

                                      I too have a Masters in IT (will be paid off in 3 months finally), but I got that later in life when I was at AT&T and looking to move out of the Union and into Development.

                                      Also IT from that college doens't mean IT. It means anything to do with a fucking computer.

                                      What school did you get your degree from?

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • scottalanmillerS
                                        scottalanmiller @Obsolesce
                                        last edited by

                                        @tim_g said in Career Change:

                                        I've read articles of people with PhDs who can't buy houses because they have a million dollar education debt... Fine if you are a medical field doctor making a quarter million a year... but those aren't the only PhD holders...

                                        Quarter million is a terrible income for a PhD. LOL. That's a great example of how doctors could never justify the time and cost of school.

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                        • ObsolesceO
                                          Obsolesce
                                          last edited by

                                          Obviously depends on what kind of medical doctor you are:

                                          0_1515613397564_9e0f27cc-d65d-46d2-8d2b-0a777394f298-image.png

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                                          • scottalanmillerS
                                            scottalanmiller
                                            last edited by

                                            Considering the salary range for IT with NO degree... IT can do way better.

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
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