*Warning - Long*
Just some quick background info on me. I have been working with computers since 1987. I have no formal training of any sort, no college, no degree and no certs. Everything I have learned has been by doing actually doing it. My first PC was a Tandy 1000 SX in 1987. I worked private security for five years. I have been in IT for about a year.
I went to a high school that offered a four year business program on top of all the typical high school classes. Many of the classes I took in HS were actually college classes that I have credits for. I hated school and never went to college because of it. The people I went to high school with that went to college are just not finishing ? they are broke and can?t get a job, not to mention in debt up to their eye balls. Some of them have upwards of 100k in student loans.
Right out of high school I did private security for about five years. The job was a lot of fun and paid well but there was no where to go in it, or so I thought, so I left. I learned so much about people and safety working this job. I was lucky enough to see ?the real word? as I call it. I think about how I was before that and laugh. I applied at a rather large banking software company that will remain unnamed and was hired on as a Domain Admin in their IT department in 2005.
I have been doing IT full time on a professional level for about a year now - and I hate it. Nothing we do is challenging or stimulating. I am unable to move up to a senior position because I lack formal education - even though some of our guys with BS degrees and a million certs. are complete morons who can't remember their domain account password.
So I am feeling sort of stuck. I am paid VERY well, even more than some of our degree holding Admins because of my skill set. I also have a higher title than some of them as well. I think this has stirred some animosity towards me and has kept me from being involved in some projects. Where can I go from here?
So I have the fancy new car, and a fancy new truck, and all the coolest toys, I am getting ready to buy a very nice home in a middle-upper class area, a wonderful wife, no kids. I feel like I have accomplished everything and there isn't anything else to do?
I am not sure if I even want to stay in IT. Everyone tells me to go to school for something. I was thinking maybe Law School. Despite being paid very well in IT there isn?t much money in it. Even our managers seem to top out at about $100k/year. If I stay with my company and top out my salary range I will be there in five-six years, but it just doesn?t seem worth it.
Does that make sense?
Anyone else in a similar situation?
Just some quick background info on me. I have been working with computers since 1987. I have no formal training of any sort, no college, no degree and no certs. Everything I have learned has been by doing actually doing it. My first PC was a Tandy 1000 SX in 1987. I worked private security for five years. I have been in IT for about a year.
I went to a high school that offered a four year business program on top of all the typical high school classes. Many of the classes I took in HS were actually college classes that I have credits for. I hated school and never went to college because of it. The people I went to high school with that went to college are just not finishing ? they are broke and can?t get a job, not to mention in debt up to their eye balls. Some of them have upwards of 100k in student loans.
Right out of high school I did private security for about five years. The job was a lot of fun and paid well but there was no where to go in it, or so I thought, so I left. I learned so much about people and safety working this job. I was lucky enough to see ?the real word? as I call it. I think about how I was before that and laugh. I applied at a rather large banking software company that will remain unnamed and was hired on as a Domain Admin in their IT department in 2005.
I have been doing IT full time on a professional level for about a year now - and I hate it. Nothing we do is challenging or stimulating. I am unable to move up to a senior position because I lack formal education - even though some of our guys with BS degrees and a million certs. are complete morons who can't remember their domain account password.
So I am feeling sort of stuck. I am paid VERY well, even more than some of our degree holding Admins because of my skill set. I also have a higher title than some of them as well. I think this has stirred some animosity towards me and has kept me from being involved in some projects. Where can I go from here?
So I have the fancy new car, and a fancy new truck, and all the coolest toys, I am getting ready to buy a very nice home in a middle-upper class area, a wonderful wife, no kids. I feel like I have accomplished everything and there isn't anything else to do?
I am not sure if I even want to stay in IT. Everyone tells me to go to school for something. I was thinking maybe Law School. Despite being paid very well in IT there isn?t much money in it. Even our managers seem to top out at about $100k/year. If I stay with my company and top out my salary range I will be there in five-six years, but it just doesn?t seem worth it.
Does that make sense?
Anyone else in a similar situation?
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