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Trying to get into the IT industry

R

rxtrom

Senior member
I just need some quick advie on how to get into the IT industry. I am an accountant for a public firm. I decided that money is not everythig and want to do something I love to do. I figured I would start with my hobbies and see if it is possible to get a job doing one of them. I have a accounting degree, but nothing computer related. I am a big time hardware modder and know alot about O/S apps and databases such as access and sql, networking is nothing new to me either. My question is how does someone get into the IT field w/o a degee, who will give me a chance to prove myself? What do companies look for?

Just looking for some advice.

Thanks in advance.

BTW I live inbetween allentown and Philly, PA
Just in case someone knows of an opportunity.
 
Originally posted by: akubi
accounting to IT is a step backwards imo

not just money wise but also job stability, etc...
Click to expand...
Agreed. You have to really find a niche to stay in IT and truly be happy. The toughest part about it is the industry changes all the time....there's no such thing as GAAP for computers and you're always cleaning up after programmers and vendors that don't do their jobs.

One thing I can honestly say... However you break into it if you go that route....stay away from the end user. 95% of those jobs are dead-end jobs with no opportunity for advancement.
 
just be ready to pay your dues for a few years... go get whatever tech support job pokes it's head at you first. Then go get certified out the wazoo... and start looking for better positions that utilize your certs.

Expect to spend 5-7 years before you get a job you actually like in IT.

-Max
 
far be it from me to try to discourage anyone from chasing their dreams but... keep computing a hobby, trust me on this.
 
Originally posted by: y2kc
far be it from me to try to discourage anyone from chasing their dreams but... keep computing a hobby, trust me on this.
Click to expand...

I agree, the only time i touch my PC at home anymore is when i am on call and have to get up at 3am because a stupid sql job failed or one of the crappy programs our developers wrote is hung on a record...

keep your hobby your hobby do not turn it into your job. The luster and excitement will wear off fast and you will hate your job and your hobby.
 
Originally posted by: MisterJackson
Run motherfvcker...RUN!!!!
Click to expand...

yep. i'd say don't even bother.

but if you really want to, you'll only most likely end up getting grunt work tech support jobs. probably a major pay cut.

most people in IT want out desperately, at least most of the people on here anyway.
 
Originally posted by: mrchan
advice getting into the IT industry? don't.
Click to expand...


QFT...

"Once you start down the path of the dark side, forever will it dominate your destiny. Use what you have learned, save you it can!!"


I would say since you live near philly, check into the state civil service program as an IT Technician/Trainee (which only requires that you have taken 12 credits of computer classes). You'll most likely have to work in harrisburg, but its the best place to start that i can think of. It usually has a starting salary of about 32k.
 
Seriously, if you want to do something like this, keep your job, and apply as a intern-type position for little or no pay. Real world experience = 10x whatever degrees or certs will give you. I can't count the number of paper-certs that I've come across that can't install a printer...

So, don't quit your current job, but see if you can pick up some hours somewhere to get the feel...
 
Maybe try to figure out what you want to do?

IT in general is a huge industry. It's like saying "I want to get into banking".

Stay away from anything PC related - it's a dead end with very little pay and no advancement.

Technical project management is good and has plenty of room for opportunity. IT people that can meet the needs of the business and be a businessman first go a long way. Plus you don't have to be technical at all. Normally the more technical you are the less opporutnity you have. And conversely the more business knowledge you have the more opportunity you have.

With your accounting background you could get into IT auditing which is hot due to all the sarbox stuff going on.
 
Don't be a computer monkey. I took a job out of college doing technical project management, which has more space for advancement than if I just took an entry programming or tech support job. Look at large companies who rely on IT and see if they have any Leader Development programs.
 
Originally posted by: spidey07

With your accounting background you could get into IT auditing which is hot due to all the sarbox stuff going on.
Click to expand...

That's what I was going to say...

My friend started in accounting, moved over to IT auditing, then into IT security. This was over a period of 15 years, mind you.
 
I was also thinking about making the transition...currently working fulltime in accounting (making decent $) and part-time as IT director for my church. I figured that since I enjoy the IT side so much more, I should do it fulltime.
 
Originally posted by: ATLien247
Originally posted by: spidey07

With your accounting background you could get into IT auditing which is hot due to all the sarbox stuff going on.
Click to expand...

That's what I was going to say...

My friend started in accounting, moved over to IT auditing, then into IT security. This was over a period of 15 years, mind you.
Click to expand...


Or a company implementing SAP...
 
Originally posted by: rxtrom
I just need some quick advie on how to get into the IT industry. I am an accountant for a public firm. I decided that money is not everythig and want to do something I love to do. I figured I would start with my hobbies and see if it is possible to get a job doing one of them. I have a accounting degree, but nothing computer related. I am a big time hardware modder and know alot about O/S apps and databases such as access and sql, networking is nothing new to me either. My question is how does someone get into the IT field w/o a degee, who will give me a chance to prove myself? What do companies look for?

Just looking for some advice.

Thanks in advance.

BTW I live inbetween allentown and Philly, PA
Just in case someone knows of an opportunity.
Click to expand...

Unless you like answering helpdesk calls at 15 dollars an hour.. run far away...
you have an accounting degree go make some real money.
 
Originally posted by: CVSiN
Originally posted by: rxtrom
I just need some quick advie on how to get into the IT industry. I am an accountant for a public firm. I decided that money is not everythig and want to do something I love to do. I figured I would start with my hobbies and see if it is possible to get a job doing one of them. I have a accounting degree, but nothing computer related. I am a big time hardware modder and know alot about O/S apps and databases such as access and sql, networking is nothing new to me either. My question is how does someone get into the IT field w/o a degee, who will give me a chance to prove myself? What do companies look for?

Just looking for some advice.

Thanks in advance.

BTW I live inbetween allentown and Philly, PA
Just in case someone knows of an opportunity.
Click to expand...

Unless you like answering helpdesk calls at 15 dollars an hour.. run far away...
you have an accounting degree go make some real money.
Click to expand...

if you're lucky
most i've seen lately have been offering about $10-12
 
Originally posted by: dquan97
I was also thinking about making the transition...currently working fulltime in accounting (making decent $) and part-time as IT director for my church. I figured that since I enjoy the IT side so much more, I should do it fulltime.
Click to expand...

IT director for a church? What did you do, hook 2 computers up to the internet?
 
The IT industry is a tough cookie. You have parts that are very easy to get into (tech support/help desk) and then you have things that take a bit of work to get into (mid-upper level software developement / management).

I consider myself lucky. I started out selling PC's @ a local mom and pop shop right after graduating high school. I left there to go work at a warehouse posting items on eBay (it was mainly reverse logistics, some of you may be familiar with the place, they sold on eBay as BuyEssex).

This job wasn't even IT related, but it paid a bit better than the retail job that I had. (I'm also going to a local community college for a CIS degree by this time). The company was starting to venture into a open to the public retail store project which they pulled me into because I had previous experience.

It was there that I wrote a drawer countdown module for the POS that the companies IT department had written. Keep in mind I wasn't asked to do this, I just did to make my life easier. The IT director got a hold of it, liked what he saw, and offered me a junior position that they had just open up. I took it immediately.

1 1/2 years later and I'm now a mid-level software guy for an HR company here in town. It pays over double what I was making @ my previous job, and will easily carry me on to the next level. Moral of the story, if you want it bad enough, something will open up for you, and when it does, you need to stick with it if you want things to work out in the long run. I've never been happier.
 
Thanks for all the input, although not what I was expecting.
Anyone have any good experiences in the IT field?
 
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