What the #$%& is IT?

[fire hazard]

So, I'm going to school next fall and I'm not sure what I want to be when I'm all growed up. I was thinking about maybe a job in IT since I build my own computers and I have an interest stuff like that. Problem is, I don't know what a career in IT consists of. I tried searching the rest of the internet for some info but couldn't really find anything. All I've gathered from here is that an "IT job" could be a lot of different things... i think.



P.S. If anyone wants to throw out career suggestions be my guest. I have a TS/SCI so maybe jobs where that would benefit($$) me.

 

[shortylickens]

MOSTLY
setting up computers and networks, then managing them.

BUT
daily it consists of helping people who are too dumb or lazy to hit F1.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Go into network security.... since you already have TS/SCI.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

just take your clearance, get a govt job, and sit in the cafeteria until you retire.

what are your interests? math/science? language? history? you dont need to go to a 4 year university to do tech support, but if you want to be a scientist or engineer, you might want to.

building a computer = IT/sys admin
building a CPU = engineering
installing software = IT/sys admin
writing software = computer science

 

[Joseph F]

I'm in the same boat as OP as I'm not sure what I want to do when I'm older. I think that I want to design CPU architecture but I sure as fuck know that's never going to happen so I'll probably wind up getting an IT job.

 

[fire hazard]

just take your clearance, get a govt job, and sit in the cafeteria until you retire.

what are your interests? math/science? language? history? you dont need to go to a 4 year university to do tech support, but if you want to be a scientist or engineer, you might want to.

building a computer = IT/sys admin
building a CPU = engineering
installing software = IT/sys admin
writing software = computer science

My fav subject was always history. Could always get interested in it more than other subjects. The thought of doing "tech support" forever makes me want to stick sharp objects into my face though.

Go into network security.... since you already have TS/SCI.

Sound like it could be interesting. Are there just "Net Security" courses available at schools?

 

[Spikesoldier]

if i could do it over again (and go into the tech field), i would go into IS/Information Security. Lots of money to be had there presently and in the future.

i had this advice given to me about eight years ago and wish i took it.

 

[edro]

You will definitely get a good amount of diverse responses on here.
Your job greatly depends on the size of the company.

The larger the company, the more specialized your job will be and the more skilled they will want you to be in that segment.
The smaller the company, the more you will have to know a little about everything, and do it all too.

 

[Nintendesert]

IT sucks. It makes you a very angry and depressed person. Use your TS/SCI to work for Wikileaks.

 

[Avalon]

Information Security and Web Development, or Enterprise level network/sys engineering.

 

[wheresmybacon]

just take your clearance, get a govt job, and sit in the cafeteria until you retire.

what are your interests? math/science? language? history? you dont need to go to a 4 year university to do tech support, but if you want to be a scientist or engineer, you might want to.

building a computer = IT/sys admin
building a CPU = engineering
installing software = IT/sys admin
writing software = computer science

This is pretty much it right here ^.

If you have security clearance and have used a computer before, you can get hired as a sysadmin in Afghanistan (on contract) making a billion dollars an hour.

 

[Joseph F]

IT sucks. It makes you a very angry and depressed person. Use your TS/SCI to work for Wikileaks.

Fuck Wikileaks and Fuck Julian Assange!

 

[Texashiker]

This,

IT sucks. It makes you a very angry and depressed person. Use your TS/SCI to work for Wikileaks.

Dealing with people who forgot their password on an almost daily bias gets old.

Having to read about everything all the time gets old.

People asking why windows does stuff gets old - like changing the default printer.

Its the "trying" to stay up with technology that gets very, very, very old. I should have become a lawyer as much as I read about tech stuff. And even then its difficult to stay up on stuff.

Then there is the new stuff coming out. Someone called me the other day and wanted help setting up their wireless for an ereader. I dont even have an ereader, much less know how to set up the wirelesss for it.

Then there is the stupid stuff, like 1 wireless device not working with the wireless access point level of security. So you have to lower the security settings to get the device on the network. Knowing that your wireless is not as secure as it was. So why can't companies make devices that work together, I do not know.

The other day I was setting up a new Dell server running 2008 r2. Internet Explorer refused to download a file because it did not have a security certificate. But I needed the file to get the printer to work. I wanted to throw the server through the window and scream I was so pissed off.

IT is probably the WORST field you can go into!!!!!

You like building computers? Fine, do it as a hobby.

 

[wheresmybacon]

This,



Dealing with people who forgot their password on an almost daily bias gets old.

Having to read about everything all the time gets old.

People asking why windows does stuff gets old - like changing the default printer.

Its the "trying" to stay up with technology that gets very, very, very old. I should have become a lawyer as much as I read about tech stuff. And even then its difficult to stay up on stuff.

Then there is the new stuff coming out. Someone called me the other day and wanted help setting up their wireless for an ereader. I dont even have an ereader, much less know how to set up the wirelesss for it.

Then there is the stupid stuff, like 1 wireless device not working with the wireless access point level of security. So you have to lower the security settings to get the device on the network. Knowing that your wireless is not as secure as it was. So why can't companies make devices that work together, I do not know.

The other day I was setting up a new Dell server running 2008 r2. Internet Explorer refused to download a file because it did not have a security certificate. But I needed the file to get the printer to work. I wanted to throw the server through the window and scream I was so pissed off.

IT is probably the WORST field you can go into!!!!!

You like building computers? Fine, do it as a hobby.

IMO if you don't love it then, yeah, your take is accurate. I've been in IT since 97, working my way up from field tech through the ranks to systems engineer.

While certain parts of the job are mundane, any job is like that, and I personally LOVE technology so keeping up with the new stuff is fun. Often times what I do barely seems like work. It's like the greasemonkey: dude fixes other peoples cars all day long then gets home and heads directly into his garage to work on his own. That's me except with computers.

Now with that said, I've been in the field long enough to work with lots and lots of people who hate it and are just like what Texashiker describes in this quote here.

It could be that I've had enough different positions that it's been relatively fresh to me most of the time...I dunno I just know that I enjoy what I do, it pays pretty well, and it's easy. Much better than doing drywall, washing dishes, or roofing a house in the 100 degree heat.

 

[nick1985]

Just do what I did, get degrees in Anthropology and History and then land a job in IT

:thumbsup:

 

[Nintendesert]

Not sure college really helps in IT anyways, certifications and experience mean more.

 

[nonameo]

Honestly, I'd just do what makes you happy and be prepared to start at entry level in some unrelated field. If you're engrossed in your schoolwork then you don't have to worry as much about getting crazy women pregnant and/or developing wonderful things like alcoholism or drug addiction(note: I acknowledge alcoholism as a drug addiction but it has a different social connotation than say, a crack or heroin addiction. Or a pot addiction)

So...

1. do something that makes you happy
2. make decent grades
3. don't rack up tons of debt
4. learn to be happy with a modest income

 

[IndyColtsFan]

IT sucks. It makes you a very angry and depressed person.

This. I've been in IT for 15 years and I am looking to get out. It gets REALLY old REALLY fast. I'm working on my PMP and hope to bow out of IT in the next couple of years.

 

[zoiks]

Finish your schooling. If you are adept at computer languages, I suggest learning one of them. Try creating an app for your smartphone of choice. Learn new things and skills that employers look for and once you get your foot in the door, garner experience, derive a good salary and live a great life.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Not sure college really helps in IT anyways, certifications and experience mean more.

Certifications are OK, but the era of paper MCSE's kind of killed that one off. There are a lot of people with MSCE's out there, and maybe 10% of them actually know how to do more than plug in a mouse.

 

[HybridSquirrel]

Just do what I did, get degrees in Anthropology and History and then land a job in IT

:thumbsup:

:thumbsup:

 

[Tommy2000GT]

IT people are the bottom barrel of the computer industry but they act like that are hot as shit though.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

IT people are the bottom barrel of the computer industry but they act like that are hot as shit though.

I bet most IT people know which industry they work in (hint: not the "computer" industry), which is apparently a concept you don't grasp.

 

[William Gaatjes]

This,



Dealing with people who forgot their password on an almost daily bias gets old.

Having to read about everything all the time gets old.

People asking why windows does stuff gets old - like changing the default printer.

Its the "trying" to stay up with technology that gets very, very, very old. I should have become a lawyer as much as I read about tech stuff. And even then its difficult to stay up on stuff.

Then there is the new stuff coming out. Someone called me the other day and wanted help setting up their wireless for an ereader. I dont even have an ereader, much less know how to set up the wirelesss for it.

Then there is the stupid stuff, like 1 wireless device not working with the wireless access point level of security. So you have to lower the security settings to get the device on the network. Knowing that your wireless is not as secure as it was. So why can't companies make devices that work together, I do not know.

The other day I was setting up a new Dell server running 2008 r2. Internet Explorer refused to download a file because it did not have a security certificate. But I needed the file to get the printer to work. I wanted to throw the server through the window and scream I was so pissed off.

IT is probably the WORST field you can go into!!!!!

You like building computers? Fine, do it as a hobby.

Can you not use another browser ?

 

[nick1985]

IT people are the bottom barrel of the computer industry but they act like that are hot as shit though.

Busted by your IT staff cruising M4M postings?