What area of IT do you work in?

[DT4K]

I'm a consultant specializing in SharePoint and work from home 100% of the time. SharePoint is currently a hot area with a huge shortage of qualified consultants and ERP is another area that is hot and can always use skilled consultants.

Very true. My resume has "familiarity with Dynamics AX" on it and I get calls almost every day for AX consulting jobs.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Stuffing envelopes never sounded so good.

 

[shortylickens]

Gay midget porn.

 

[blackdogdeek]

I'm a software developer for an electronic trading group in an investment bank.

The money is good and the hours are pretty good in our group but that is not the norm. I know at other banks, they all stay late and usually eat dinner at work, but the money is good there, too. I'm currently contracting so vacation isn't an issue except that I don't get paid for time off. Working from home is allowed on occasion as long as no one abuses it. I typically work from home a few days a month, usually either when we've had a release the night before and I've been up monitoring to make sure everything works ok or if there is some obligation at home where my presence helps. There is the usual stress from software development as the dev cycle draws to a climax with releases but it's a little more magnified here because production issues could mean losses of millions of dollars. As a contractor, I don't need to wear a blackberry but I know full-time people do in case support issues escalate beyond tier 1. That means they may have to respond to emails during off-hours or even log in to help with issues. The work itself isn't difficult. I find most of my work consists of organizing people and things for releases.

The biggest downside is that I am easily replaceable at any time.

 

[Arkitech]

Any suggestions on the best way to get started in virtualization and backups? Do I need certs to get my foot in the door?

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I am not into sports so much, but our guys are on the sidelines just making sure the network doesn't go down...better than front row seating. 🙂

That's one thing (actually, about the only thing 🙂 ) I miss about my old job -- AA passes to arenas/domes, sideline seats, and free admission to some huge sporting events.

 

[alkemyst]

Any suggestions on the best way to get started in virtualization and backups? Do I need certs to get my foot in the door?

Usually certs are required. NetApp, EMC and the typical MS lineup.

If you have a buttload of experience and references that can help, but most companies today want to see a cert with all those that claim they can do it/have done it and then can't.

 

[Robert Munch]

SCCM consultant/administrator pay is really good and opportunities to work from home or on site depending on the role. Issue that i'm currently facing is that there are fewer "full" time perm gig's instead more contract with 6+ month duration's.

I'm looking to transition into a programming role down the road when time permits.

 

[nageov3t]

Any suggestions on the best way to get started in virtualization and backups? Do I need certs to get my foot in the door?

internally, we'll bring any entry-level help desk/windows admin on staff if we think we can train them and they're willing to work a crappy shift for awhile.

hiring from the outside, yeah... certs and/or +5 years experience (substitute either for having a recommendation from an existing employee)

 

[Spineshank]

Voice.