How do i get an IT tech type job???

[PremiumG]

Jzero, can i ask you some stuff about your job?

- do you enjoy what you do? Do people treat you ok?
- what are some of your daily tasks?
- do you work with an IT team or are you like the whole IT department.
- how much did you start off making w/ zero experience and just your degree?
- do you have to keep updating your skills to stay current? like having to take tests for the current certs that people are looking for?

I was at a seminar a while back and they said that security admins and certs are the rave now and they get 70+k a year.

 

[DougK62]

Originally posted by: PremiumG

I was at a seminar a while back and they said that security admins and certs are the rave now and they get 70+k a year.

Well of course they're going to tell you that. They want your money.

Wages aren't as high in IT as they once were, but it's FAR from the wasteland that some in this thread are making it out to be.

 

[bozack]

Originally posted by: PremiumG
how plausible is it that I should make 6 digits by 10 years in the field of hardware?

my CS buddies who did software programming started at 40k+ a year. I don't mind starting off w/ a lower salary in hardware but if the potential is not there.. then i don't know. Maybe i should do software even though I was pulling out hairs at every lab I did.

nope, not in a million with the way things are going....I currently do biotech support have four years experience and I don't make near 6 figures, just a little over half that, unless I move into management (which is very difficult) my earning potential will be at best 80K, management generally is 90-120 at this company....

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: PremiumG
Jzero, can i ask you some stuff about your job?

- do you enjoy what you do? Do people treat you ok?
It's a lot of fun. Very fast paced. People treat me ok most of the time...until they want something I won't give them :evil:
- what are some of your daily tasks?
Auditing, writing policy, applying patches, granting access to resources, setting up and monitoring intrusion detection systems, disaster recover planning, that kind of stuff.
- do you work with an IT team or are you like the whole IT department.
I manage a team of 2 other people. We are a subdivision of an IT department of some 25 people. We strictly handle information security.
- how much did you start off making w/ zero experience and just your degree?
I started off at $46k but I had worked internships with the company for the last 4 years and had a ton of experience. Unfortunately, I can't say much for no experience other than the fact that our help desk is the springboard for full-time work these days, but the pay is pretty low, I think. Mid 30s if I had to guess, and that's after working as an intern at $11/hr for at least 3 months.
- do you have to keep updating your skills to stay current? like having to take tests for the current certs that people are looking for?
Currently I have no corporate requirement, but I am working on an SSCP certification just for my own benefit. After I have the SSCP I'll work on CISSP.

I was at a seminar a while back and they said that security admins and certs are the rave now and they get 70+k a year.

Security is a big watchword and it's good money, but it's hard to break in with no experience. Both of my team members worked with the company in other capacities for at least a year before they could even entertain joining my team.

There's no quick, easy job, and there is certainly very little downtime in this field.

 

[bozack]

The two I agree with the most are:

I'm a Network Admin and I went back to school for my masters in elem. education. IT is pointless work and it means nothing. The industry died and MS makes the O/S's so easy that no experience at all will be acceptable. It's worthless.

and

I've been doing the IT thing for going on 7 years now, it has to be one of the most thankless jobs ever, all you get is people bitching with their repetitive issues over and over, I've come to realize that I enjoy computers and even working on them, I just don't enjoy the assholes that come along with the support side of things. If I could do it over now, I would probably have become an engineer of some sorts.

Unless you are building a base to move into project management, IT support is a waste of your life, it is truly thankless and no matter what kind of experience you have there will always be someone better who will work for cheaper than you...

Personally I am going to move into either sales or some form of customer service that is on a more personal level, while I like the tech aspects of the job I enjoy the customer service aspects alot more, and seeing how much sales reps make and or HR people it is clear that IT support is a non rewarding position...

 

[Cal166]

Got my job in sophmore year of HS thru an IT teacher.

Back then I mostly trouble shoot my own computer and was good at it. Learned everything else with this company.

Been with this company for 7 years. The first 4-5 years was great! Co-workers were young and fun. They were all fired and am the only one left. Now its boring, as you can see am typing right now on AT. I hardly come in now because there's nothing to do. Now am like a Tech on Call.

Am a Network Admin and I also desktop support for this mid size company for the past two years.

Graduating this May with a B.S. in Telecommunication.

The company is willing to take me in full time and train me to be a Project Manager, different field+new experience.

Wish me luck guys!

 

[yllus]

Originally posted by: PremiumG
all you guys that do technical support, how do i bust into one of those careers? You know like fixing other peeps computers in the office, updating their software, backing up their stuff, etc. etc.

Tech support is as much of a career as secretarial work is. You can't build a life around it, unless you're possibly the head tech guru at IBM's 3rd party tech support solution headquarters.

I have a degree in computer sci now and only A+ cert.

Who the hell cares about low-end certifications when you've got a legit 4 year degree?!

Should I pursue more certs or experience? I have no experience and it seems a lot of people want that. My buddies w/ the same degree as I, they program software now. I dont like programming, its too hair-greying. I like messing w/ computer insides and stuff, lol. How do i get more of a hardware related job?

CS != programming. I'm doing a software engineering slant myself, which is basically a lot of coding (which I personally enjoy) plus team management plus uber problem solving. My secondary is in networking and security which is just huge right now and probably will stay that way for a while. Any interest in those areas?

If the job market just isn't biting for you, deliberate going back to school for computer or electrical engineering (CE or EE). This will throw you in the world of designing hardware, which may be more your style.

Finally, let me say this straight out. The days of easy money in the computer industry are over. What we're faced with now is a huge glut of unemployed, qualified individuals. Globalization is finally tilting the scales back against North America, and a lot of the "easy" jobs are flooding overseas; some of the more involved jobs, too. Your 4 year degree will only put you on a minimally equal footing with other graduates who have a clear focus on the industry niche they're after so expect a lot of competition.

Evaluate whether or not you really have an interest in computer science and whether or not you should seek around area of work or not - you don't necessarily have to junk your CS degree, a 4-year degree still says "I can learn!" to employers. It doesn't sound like you're a CS person though...it sounds like you joined the program in the height of the IT boom and were looking for mid to high 5 figures for fixing computers and stringing patch cable. Don't get trapped into something that you won't enjoy.

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: bigalt

Originally posted by: blazert40
I've been doing the IT thing for going on 7 years now, it has to be one of the most thankless jobs ever, all you get is people bitching with their repetitive issues over and over, I've come to realize that I enjoy computers and even working on them, I just don't enjoy the assholes that come along with the support side of things. If I could do it over now, I would probably have become an engineer of some sorts.

you are aware of how the bitching people view you, right?

It depends, really. Some customers love you when you get stuff done properly and on time, and will properly reward you for your hard work. Other customers will bitch and complain no matter what. Some of the jerks are hotshot programmers who think they can do my job better than I can, while others are moronic project managers who think I have nothing better to do than wait on them hand and foot all day. Needless to say, those customers end up at the bottom of my priority list.