I have been thinking this over a lot lately. Basically, I am frustrated with the IT industry. And by IT, I mean information technology as in servers, networks, databases, and computer support. For the past 4.5 years, I have worked as desktop and helpdesk support for a few different companies, including Enron, Swbell, and a couple of non-fortune 500 ones. In each company, I hit a ceiling that I could not break. Every time I was told I was not promoted beyond desktop/helpdesk because I had no server or network experience. I was told to go get certifications, which I did. I guess it was bad timing, but after I had completed the certs or classes I was asked to, it was so said that such certs and classes were no longer useful. I guess the braindump effect where certified techs had no clue what they were doing. So I used a couple of headhunters to find me an entry level network or server job. No luck after about a year. All the job offers were helpdesk or desktop for no more than $15/hr. I spoke to each of my bosses, and I always got highest or very high marks on my quarterly or yearly assessments, and none of them could offer a legitimate reason why I was being passed on for promotion. BTW, this happened to a lot of my friends too, so I know I am not alone. Any of you in the IT industry (as I define it) probably know what I am talking about. Unless you are in the right place or know the right person, getting promoted in IT is very difficult. It often has little to do with ability, as I often knew more about fixing a problem than the level 2 techs I was sending tickets to. But alas, mine and my comrades aptitudes went largely unnoticed. This has been my experience anyway.
I think one way to alleviate this would be to develop a legitimate 4yr degree in servers, networks, computers, et al. I am currently finishing my associates in Unix administration (straight A's, one B so far) and will graduate in December. The sad thing is, I don't know where the job offers are going to come from. I cannot find any jobs at school for my degree, and the job placement center is a joke. I think the resources a bigger school has would help entry level techs find work more easily. First, you could take intern programs like any degree plan. My cousin, an EE at TI in Dallas that makes $80k plus, got his experience as an EE intern and then made a good living straight out of college. Why can't we do this in the IT field? Another friend of mine took an intern in Business MIS, and when she finished here degree, started making almost $50k and is now making about $60k. Also, more companies target 4 yr school grads than associates degree grads. I would take a 4yr IT degree if one existed, but I cannot find it. So I will probably also have to finish my bachelors in MIS also before I will get a legitimate job offer, because I lack experience in Unix or server administration.
This is a very tough catch 22 that many IT people face. I think because IT is relatively new compared to other areas like accounting or engineering, that a 4yr degree hasn't been developed. But I for one think it would be a great way to legitimize a field considered by many to be childs play, when in fact many network administrators know this is not true. Any agreement or am I alone in my thinking?
I think one way to alleviate this would be to develop a legitimate 4yr degree in servers, networks, computers, et al. I am currently finishing my associates in Unix administration (straight A's, one B so far) and will graduate in December. The sad thing is, I don't know where the job offers are going to come from. I cannot find any jobs at school for my degree, and the job placement center is a joke. I think the resources a bigger school has would help entry level techs find work more easily. First, you could take intern programs like any degree plan. My cousin, an EE at TI in Dallas that makes $80k plus, got his experience as an EE intern and then made a good living straight out of college. Why can't we do this in the IT field? Another friend of mine took an intern in Business MIS, and when she finished here degree, started making almost $50k and is now making about $60k. Also, more companies target 4 yr school grads than associates degree grads. I would take a 4yr IT degree if one existed, but I cannot find it. So I will probably also have to finish my bachelors in MIS also before I will get a legitimate job offer, because I lack experience in Unix or server administration.
This is a very tough catch 22 that many IT people face. I think because IT is relatively new compared to other areas like accounting or engineering, that a 4yr degree hasn't been developed. But I for one think it would be a great way to legitimize a field considered by many to be childs play, when in fact many network administrators know this is not true. Any agreement or am I alone in my thinking?
But maybe that will filter down into TX soon. 
Facebook
Twitter