The next step in my IT Career
Discussion
Freakuk said:
What about architecture? Still very technical and demanding but less hands on, the future is cloud so MS certification will probably have a shelf life. I'd be looking at AWS and Azure right now, maybe even get yourself into security which is just getting bigger by the day.
OSCP ?https://www.offensive-security.com/information-sec...
Olivera said:
I put zero time into tech outside of work and haven't failed to make 6 figures per year for the last ten years working in IT, and that's in non management, with no excessive hours.
Concentrate very hard on core technical skills and you can do very well in IT.
Are you saying you have never done anything work related outside of your standard job hours, or to learn on your own to develop your career? Even if that's true, I expect you recognise that you are en exception rather than the norm and have probably been in the right place at the right time a few times during your career. People starting today certainly can't expect to clock off at 5 and do nothing until 9 the next morning, every day, and still have that meteoric rise up the career ladder. At least in any sort of technical discipline.Concentrate very hard on core technical skills and you can do very well in IT.
Olivera said:
I put zero time into tech outside of work and haven't failed to make 6 figures per year for the last ten years working in IT, and that's in non management, with no excessive hours.
Concentrate very hard on core technical skills and you can do very well in IT.
^this. Concentrate very hard on core technical skills and you can do very well in IT.
ITIL and a hundred other bunches of letters will get you nowhere, everyone has them. Core skills are what matters. Being the goto person and a sound understanding of the underlying business matters rather than just being an IT nerd are the key to the big bucks.
As said, pick a specialism and become very good at it. Being a generalist can get you to 3rd line but after that you might struggle to find a higher wage. Your service desk job won't give you enough experience to call yourself an expert in anything so you should expect to study out of work (at least in the short term) for vendor certs, foundation degrees, or whatever else gives you an edge. If you can shadow someone at work that might help. Staying in the same place long enough can also work; as long as you're continually developing and taking on more responsibility you will be the natural choice to move to 2nd line when someone quits. Also service desks are usually quite hot on ITIL so they may put you through the foundation course.
CompTIA Network+ is probably a good intro if you fancy yourself as a network engineer. CCNA will be the next level up and pretty much everyone who wants to be a network engineer has one which is why certs alone won't get you anywhere. Some employers value them more than others though so they can help. There are also junior roles out there where you're working for a fairly low wage doing grunt work but your employer might pay for your qualifications, or at the very least be supportive and allow you time at work to study.
As you're in IT already you should have an idea of what sort of work you fancy. If you're unsure have a look on jobserve or dice for jobs in your area then read all the job descriptions and think to yourself whether you could see yourself doing that job. You might fancy being a business analyst or a test analyst or a project manager or a service delivery manager or a network engineer or a linux system administrator or a technical architect or one of dozens of other roles. Also think about the market for your future job - if you specialise too much (e.g. a niche BI product) you may find that the only jobs are contract ones that pay well but are quite scarce and therefore involve lots of time away from home. Don't forget that some of these jobs aren't the least bit technical (e.g. PMs) but they can do that role in a different industry. You say you like configuring switches but now imagine doing it for only 10% of your time because the rest of your time is spent diagnosing problems, doing paperwork, sitting on CAB calls, etc..
This is more or less how it went for me as a generalist Windows infrastructure 'engineer':
1st line > 1st line > 1st line > foundation degree > 2nd line > vendor certs > 3rd line > 3rd line contractor
CompTIA Network+ is probably a good intro if you fancy yourself as a network engineer. CCNA will be the next level up and pretty much everyone who wants to be a network engineer has one which is why certs alone won't get you anywhere. Some employers value them more than others though so they can help. There are also junior roles out there where you're working for a fairly low wage doing grunt work but your employer might pay for your qualifications, or at the very least be supportive and allow you time at work to study.
As you're in IT already you should have an idea of what sort of work you fancy. If you're unsure have a look on jobserve or dice for jobs in your area then read all the job descriptions and think to yourself whether you could see yourself doing that job. You might fancy being a business analyst or a test analyst or a project manager or a service delivery manager or a network engineer or a linux system administrator or a technical architect or one of dozens of other roles. Also think about the market for your future job - if you specialise too much (e.g. a niche BI product) you may find that the only jobs are contract ones that pay well but are quite scarce and therefore involve lots of time away from home. Don't forget that some of these jobs aren't the least bit technical (e.g. PMs) but they can do that role in a different industry. You say you like configuring switches but now imagine doing it for only 10% of your time because the rest of your time is spent diagnosing problems, doing paperwork, sitting on CAB calls, etc..
This is more or less how it went for me as a generalist Windows infrastructure 'engineer':
1st line > 1st line > 1st line > foundation degree > 2nd line > vendor certs > 3rd line > 3rd line contractor
A broad range of knowledge is desirable, but not strictly necessary or required for many roles.
Depends on what interests you - as others have said you must have a passion for what you are doing (yes even in IT you can have passion) and with that passion comes the drive to learn, gain experience and develop yourself. Several times in my career i've paid for my own courses and development because a company would not invest and it's enabled me to leap several steps at a time. No point waiting around for your boss to get budget, you have to make it happen - if you are that driven.
Another perspective to take - look at which skills in the industry are in demand now.
If you were open minded - i'd say that the security industry is desperately short of good security engineers, GCIA/GCIH/Ethical hacking/ Forensics/ incident response type roles. These are not something you drop into - you need some(!) relevant experience of course, but it's something to aim for.
Also look into Containerisation/Docker type platforms, or software orchestration (automated processes will be in massive demand shortly, Chef/Puppet/Ansible type skills will be valuable i'm certain).
Or, given the state of Cyber security, maybe think of analytics roles, using security intelligence, big data platforms like Hadoop etc.
I'd be very wary about going down the route of specific vendor qualifications . If that vendor's tech is no longer the norm - you've suddenly got a low value skill.
Example - i was a leading EMEA expert in Lotus Domino servers about 10 years ago and made decent money travelling all over the world fixing issues and consulting on architecture. Where would that get me now?
CCNA - i personally wouldn't value this as you are competing with too many other people (especially from IT qualification heavy countries like India- where they seem to be able to study in their sleep!). If you want the fundamental networking skill - fine but accept it as this and not a differentiator on your CV.
CISSP - i'm mixed about this certificate but it's the new 'MCP' - seen as a minimum by some.
Comp TIA type qualifications - not sure that these are really valued outside of Support type roles. Look at a qualification relevant to where you want to get to, not the role you are doing now, or even the next step. Look further.
As in many industries - you don't just need the technical knowledge, you must have an appreciation of business. Don't get stuck in the typical IT silo, go out and meet colleagues and understand their needs and frustrations about IT. Developing those relationships is paramount to getting on (in almost any job, not just IT) but to solve many IT issues you need the appreciation of what makes people and companies work.
Before any of this sounds too pressured, i'd reassure you and say maybe more than many industries, the ability to side step and take a different path with your career is very possible (and likely) within IT. So don't get too hung up on having to pick the right path straight away. But when you do choose something, give it your all.
Sly makes some very good points that I agree with.
I've not come across many senior people in IT that I respect who care about certifications. If you need to learn about the technology do so, it may come with a cert, but don't do it just for the cert. There are far too many paper MCSE's, and CCNA's becoming just as bad, for it to be held in much regard. The only time certs are really relevant is PS providers who need to 'prove' their 'consultants' are experts.
Equally, specialising in anything has had its day in my opinion, certainly when you are starting out. The industry has been trending towards generalists for quite some time, (think DevOps etc), and only the very biggest companies will need someone to perform one specific function. If this is you, you have just ended up silo'd and limited. With modern infrastructure, cyber security and business demands, you really need a very solid set of skills and acumen across a number of areas in order to be relevant. Even that security consultant you hire who specialises in whatever you are asking him to do, will probably be perfectly competent building a VMWare cluster or setting up an Active Directory environment.
I've not come across many senior people in IT that I respect who care about certifications. If you need to learn about the technology do so, it may come with a cert, but don't do it just for the cert. There are far too many paper MCSE's, and CCNA's becoming just as bad, for it to be held in much regard. The only time certs are really relevant is PS providers who need to 'prove' their 'consultants' are experts.
Equally, specialising in anything has had its day in my opinion, certainly when you are starting out. The industry has been trending towards generalists for quite some time, (think DevOps etc), and only the very biggest companies will need someone to perform one specific function. If this is you, you have just ended up silo'd and limited. With modern infrastructure, cyber security and business demands, you really need a very solid set of skills and acumen across a number of areas in order to be relevant. Even that security consultant you hire who specialises in whatever you are asking him to do, will probably be perfectly competent building a VMWare cluster or setting up an Active Directory environment.
I've recently completed an Azure cloud infrastructure exam 70-533 (I'm 1st/2nd/3rd line support in a small-ish business). My thinking is it's an emerging Microsoft technology, used very widely round the world and it could open doors to both better work and more money.
My aim would be to move more into a system architect role and move away from support as I progress.
My aim would be to move more into a system architect role and move away from support as I progress.
Azure / AWS / Google Cloud stuff is worth a look I think.
I'm kind of similar. Chucked my toys out of my pram to my boss yesterday - although I'm a developer (11 years and counting now - time flies).
Debating going into pre sales (I can do the technical side and I'm ok on the customer side - maybe need to work on it a little). We'll see how it all pans out!
I'd not go near Prince 2 with a s
tty stick if it helps though!
I'm kind of similar. Chucked my toys out of my pram to my boss yesterday - although I'm a developer (11 years and counting now - time flies).
Debating going into pre sales (I can do the technical side and I'm ok on the customer side - maybe need to work on it a little). We'll see how it all pans out!
I'd not go near Prince 2 with a s
tty stick if it helps though!
I would look at the following areas:
Cyber Security
Automation
Cloud
Devops
Lots of opportunities in these areas going forward. Build a decent home lab. Get interested in something and just build and learn - all of the training you need is online and free, Most of the tools and applications required are free as well - going on courses to learn IT in 2017 is outdated.
If you can secure an interview and talk at length, in detail and (crucially) enthusiastically about some home project then this will set you above most of your competition.
Cyber Security
Automation
Cloud
Devops
Lots of opportunities in these areas going forward. Build a decent home lab. Get interested in something and just build and learn - all of the training you need is online and free, Most of the tools and applications required are free as well - going on courses to learn IT in 2017 is outdated.
If you can secure an interview and talk at length, in detail and (crucially) enthusiastically about some home project then this will set you above most of your competition.
rsbmw said:
To be successful in IT you have to have a passion for it. The amount of guys I have seen with huge potential (aptitude) who just don't get anywhere because they don't put the time in outside of work to understand the technologies, industry etc is criminal. If you're interested enough to the put the hours in, you'll go somewhere. If you have both the aptitude and passion, that's the winning combo.
^^ basically this IMO.You can, to some degree, try to teach people soft skills which is an often overlooked part of the role, but I don't think you can teach someone to have passion and enjoy the job they do.
I'm a geek, and frankly I'm proud of it because it means I more or less get paid to do my hobby.
I work with some people who are similar, and I work with some who walk in at 8am and walk out at 5pm and don't do anything at all beyond what they're paid to do.
@OP I'd be curious what sort of stuff you do to learn new things as I do think Help Desk is an area where your skills can stagnate unless you either push yourself to learn new stuff or you have others in the department who involve you in their areas.
I'm the CIO for a large international company and in skip level meetings and town halls, this type of question comes up. I'll do my best to explain what are the options in my company:
- Technical career path - gain skills which are invaluable (you need to look ahead as to what is happening in the industry) Right now I would suggest cyber security and data/analytics as the ones for the next few years.
- Functional/career path - specialist in an area of IT e.g. infrastructure (not just voice or video or basis) or Supply Chain and make sure that you are on the biggest/best/most business value add projects. You need to know more than just the technical process and the business process. Learn the impact of something not working e.g. if a manufacturing line is down for an hour, it means that $50k of stock is not made which has a profit of $10k and disrupted 2 large customers
- Managerial - You need the 2 above to make you successful as a manager and you need to prove leadership skills e.g. volunteer to do stuff for the whole IT dept
The above is general, but when we talk talent, we need to know people have the core skills. Then comes the intangible stuff which makes you leadership/managerial talent. Some things which set people apart are:
- They communicate what they want in their career and set out a plan which they ask for support on
- They communicate with senior IT and business leaders as if they are peers and they communicate regularly. This communication might be about the project, or it might be about last Saturdays footie or anything which shows they are ok talking with leaders (It's not sucking up, it's showing org maturity)
- Deliver on time every time and tell people in advance what they will get from the project/support work they are doing. IT teams are typically poor at communicating what they are going to do, asking for help, costing, time predicting that the business and IT leaders get really annoyed.
- Don't assume that doing a good job will get you where you want to be. Being technically good is the entrance fee, the real skills are in communication (The best contractors do this really well)
- Go the extra mile - It's not about putting in 60 hours a week, but if I need someone to lead a people initiative and make it happen, stand up and do it. A person who has recently been made a director took on a "feedback" initiative where his only remit was "people tell me they don't get constructive career feedback, find a way to make this change"
- Don't be negative or gossip - None of us want negative people around us, so identify the problem and the solution and don't moan about it to anyone who will listen. And don't gossip, it makes you untrustworthy
- Believe in yourself and your ability and make it happen. Career development is between you, your manager and the company but you own it and you are the most invested, so make it happen
Just my ramblings on it, but happy to expand if it makes sense...... and note how little of the above was about technical skills. They are the price of entry
- Technical career path - gain skills which are invaluable (you need to look ahead as to what is happening in the industry) Right now I would suggest cyber security and data/analytics as the ones for the next few years.
- Functional/career path - specialist in an area of IT e.g. infrastructure (not just voice or video or basis) or Supply Chain and make sure that you are on the biggest/best/most business value add projects. You need to know more than just the technical process and the business process. Learn the impact of something not working e.g. if a manufacturing line is down for an hour, it means that $50k of stock is not made which has a profit of $10k and disrupted 2 large customers
- Managerial - You need the 2 above to make you successful as a manager and you need to prove leadership skills e.g. volunteer to do stuff for the whole IT dept
The above is general, but when we talk talent, we need to know people have the core skills. Then comes the intangible stuff which makes you leadership/managerial talent. Some things which set people apart are:
- They communicate what they want in their career and set out a plan which they ask for support on
- They communicate with senior IT and business leaders as if they are peers and they communicate regularly. This communication might be about the project, or it might be about last Saturdays footie or anything which shows they are ok talking with leaders (It's not sucking up, it's showing org maturity)
- Deliver on time every time and tell people in advance what they will get from the project/support work they are doing. IT teams are typically poor at communicating what they are going to do, asking for help, costing, time predicting that the business and IT leaders get really annoyed.
- Don't assume that doing a good job will get you where you want to be. Being technically good is the entrance fee, the real skills are in communication (The best contractors do this really well)
- Go the extra mile - It's not about putting in 60 hours a week, but if I need someone to lead a people initiative and make it happen, stand up and do it. A person who has recently been made a director took on a "feedback" initiative where his only remit was "people tell me they don't get constructive career feedback, find a way to make this change"
- Don't be negative or gossip - None of us want negative people around us, so identify the problem and the solution and don't moan about it to anyone who will listen. And don't gossip, it makes you untrustworthy
- Believe in yourself and your ability and make it happen. Career development is between you, your manager and the company but you own it and you are the most invested, so make it happen
Just my ramblings on it, but happy to expand if it makes sense...... and note how little of the above was about technical skills. They are the price of entry
This type of question comes up a lot.
I'd definately say learn about cloud, it will make you versatile as small companies are increasingly use this. Identity Management and also networking/security are good areas.
If I started my IT career again, I would go into these areas (I know a bit about Identity).
The good thing about these areas is that they are required, regardless of a company's posture to the cloud.
I'd definately say learn about cloud, it will make you versatile as small companies are increasingly use this. Identity Management and also networking/security are good areas.
If I started my IT career again, I would go into these areas (I know a bit about Identity).
The good thing about these areas is that they are required, regardless of a company's posture to the cloud.
As i'm currently researching this for work, something that will be increasing in demand in the near future - Deception technologies.
Network/data/application & Endpoint deception systems, emulators, honeypots, deception grids, baiting etc
Small chunk of cyber security market now, but it's growing rapidly.
Network/data/application & Endpoint deception systems, emulators, honeypots, deception grids, baiting etc
Small chunk of cyber security market now, but it's growing rapidly.
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