Changing my career, back to my love: IT (help!)

[Matt10]

Hey OS bros!

So, after a while in admissions for a university, and essentially hitting the ceiling (career, financially, spiritually) and I'm feeling a change now. I'm 29, with a family, and need to ensure my next career path is long term.

So, I'm going back to my "love" of computers. I just don't know where to start. Reading up on certifications have truly confused me. Articles explaining how to get started have confused me.

So I know some questions will come up from those of you who are interested in helping - so here is what I can answer...

1. What experience in IT do you have?
- I worked in Telecom, served as tech support and help desk for about 5 years combined. I am also going to school for a BS in Management information systems - although I do plan on transferring to another university at some point.

2. What area do you wan to focus on?
- An area that is in-demand and has room to grow. I understand VmWare is strong area to focus on these days - but seems to have A LOT of pre-requisites to get through.

3. What environment do you want to work in?
- Honestly, after working where I am now. I want a professional, corporate environment. I never thought I'd say that - but the last couple of years has been everything short of professional/ethical. I'm the director and even then people don't listen to how they sound - it's just not for me. I need more structure.

So that's all I got. Thanks for those who are willing to reach out, I look forward to hearing your thoughts. I just need to get out of what I'm doing and focus on my "love"

[Stu]

Re: Changing my career, back to my love: IT (help!)

I've never put much stock in certifications but I know some places require them. This may be a regional thing but in New England having a degree is more important than certs. As a hiring manager I'm more interested in a person's experience and personality than their academic credentials. The biggest thing I look for is somebody who can learn new technology with minimal training or supervision.

VMWare is a great technology but I think you'll have a tough time getting that type of job without experience. Your best bet is to work your way up through the ranks: Help Desk -> Desktop Support -> Server/Network Support. After you reach that level you can specialize into a specific technology like VMWare or go into a management track.

I know you are looking for more structure now but keep in mind if you work at a larger company that has a team for each function it may take longer to advance because you will have less exposure to the higher level technology. At a smaller company you have more of an opportunity to work hands on with the higher level stuff.

[Matt10]

Re: Changing my career, back to my love: IT (help!)

I've never put much stock in certifications but I know some places require them. This may be a regional thing but in New England having a degree is more important than certs. As a hiring manager I'm more interested in a person's experience and personality than their academic credentials. The biggest thing I look for is somebody who can learn new technology with minimal training or supervision.

VMWare is a great technology but I think you'll have a tough time getting that type of job without experience. Your best bet is to work your way up through the ranks: Help Desk -> Desktop Support -> Server/Network Support. After you reach that level you can specialize into a specific technology like VMWare or go into a management track.

I know you are looking for more structure now but keep in mind if you work at a larger company that has a team for each function it may take longer to advance because you will have less exposure to the higher level technology. At a smaller company you have more of an opportunity to work hands on with the higher level stuff.

Awesome, Stu - thanks, man.

I'm going to work my way up through the ranks (have a couple of job interviews next week for tech/desktop support). I am also going to be enrolling into the local community college that has various certifications I can get. I figure I might as well learn in person rather than read a book, practice myself - I really can't afford to screw it up considering how much some of the certs cost on the front end.

Great point about the smaller company set up - I will definitely keep than in mind with who I'm meeting with next week.

[mattsb84]

Re: Changing my career, back to my love: IT (help!)

Figure out what you want your niche to be (infrastructure, security, helpdesk, etc) and start working towards that in some way now. Getting your foot in the door is step one, but after that, have an idea how you want to grow. Most companies will support you if there's some kind of benefit to them (and if you have a competent manager). Would be a good thing to think about before you start interviewing.

Agreed with the above on personality/experience. Certs are nice, but dont mean much if you don't have the experience to back it up. Plus, lets be honest..there are a ton of braindump sites for certs, so passing one isn't terribly difficult. I actually had one woman tell me thats what she did..thanks for the honesty! I don't even care about a degree really.

[dales]

Re: Changing my career, back to my love: IT (help!)

IT Security is another good area of focus these days. As others have said, certifications aren't the biggest deal in the world. But getting the degrees will help for earnings as HR people will look at your education and use that, to some extent, as a basis for what you are able to develop into.

[bkrich83]

Re: Changing my career, back to my love: IT (help!)

IT security is rapidly growing. There's a strong demand for it.

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[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: Changing my career, back to my love: IT (help!)

Look around the corner from where you are at now. My small university that barely had 10,000 students staffed all of their IT in house. You already have your foot in the door.

[Matt10]

Re: Changing my career, back to my love: IT (help!)

Thanks guys, I got a couple interviews lined up next week. I re-did my resume and am going to enroll into a new university tomorrow.

My ideal position would be to merge into the IT field with my current university/job - but I'm a bit over that place now.

I think once I get one of these positions that I interview for, and reacquaint myself with receiving phone calls, multi-tasking and less putting out fires that I do now; then I can see exactly what area to focus.

Thanks again, guys! I'll keep you updated with how things pan out. Wish me luck - keep your prayers. I need to get out of this position I'm in now.