IT Guys and Gals, Step inside!

So I know my career in Fire/EMS cannot/will not last forever (15 years now) and I have always wanted to have something in my back pocket to fall on that I could do if I got injured. I have always enjoyed IT related things, and now I know I am not a genius when it comes to computers, but I am pretty dang savvy.

If one was to obtain A+ Cert, and some Microsoft certs, I guess the possibility of getting a help desk job would be the beginning spot?

This is all playing a hypothetical world, but it would be nice to know I have something in my back pocket if need be.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

Depends on what you're looking to do. I know people who are semi-technical doing tech and sales support. Personally I do web and mobile development and know a few folks to do the same. Certifications play a larger/smaller role depending on what niche you're aiming for, but in general the knowledge is good.

Have you considered security and/or networking? Those are personal interests of mine. If you're in DFW there are PLENTY of companies around looking for tech.

Did you graduate from Tech? UT here. Don't ask me what's wrong with our FB team...or what crowd of students who get on the field on Saturdays that we call a team.

 

Our FB team was big time hit or miss this year, but next year will be a whole different story....Be looking at Big 12 champs


Security and Networking is interesting to me, and I have tooled with the Idea of studying up and taking the Cisco Certs for either/or. I know a lot of places want you to have a degree in it, but I hope if I can snag the Certs, that If time comes I can slide in the door.I think its just one of them deals where I want to just get whatever I can, and have it resting there, and possibly use it as a side gig to gain experience. So whether it be security/networking or web development, and helpdesk I really dont care.

 

I'm not too familiar with Cisco's requirements now, but a while back they relied very heavily on their certs...to the point where a degree barely mattered. If you wanna go the Cisco route...certs are definitely required. The software dev route doesn't care too much for certs. If I were interviewing 2 people, one with certs and one without, I'd still give the job to the one who had a better understanding of dev concepts.

 

This is what has been told to me by the IT guys that operate our systems...They all started out low with A+ or similar, gained some knowledge and boom they are in the big show.

 

Little bump for the night crowd

 

Which MS certs have you gotten? A+ is good general knowledge. Do you know more specifically what you'd like to end up doing? Might want to try some classes at comm. college to test the different waters and see what you like most. I started college in electrical/computer engineering, but after time and money spent I found that I liked the software design and algorithms more than the hardware, so I switched to CS.

 

I like building stuff, thus why I have built multiple high horsepower cars and off road trucks, and naturally it has transitioned me into tinkering with computers. I've done some C++ stuff, and I reeeeally dig graphic design even though I can't draw for shit on paper I can design some wicked things in my head. Local community college near me has a ton of certs I could get, or I can snag em online. I'm a book nut so staring for hours at a screen about these certs wouldn't be too terrible. I really dig the mobile stuff especially since a lot of things are going that route.

A guy I envy is the software installer and trainer for our mobile charting system. Dude comes in, installs it on the tough books, teaches how to use it and on to the next city. I want that damn job bad one day!

 

If you're interested in Networking then you can always get a Network+ certification. It, like the similar Cisco cert (CCNA), focuses on the OSI model. The Cisco cert, on the other hand, tends to focus on the Cisco way of doing things. Though I've spent years supporting and managing systems from the 800 pound gorilla, there are a lot of companies moving away from Cisco since it's so darn expensive!

If you're interested in security, one of the best security certifications is the CISSP certification.

 

Do you think anyone would hire some fella with just the CISSP cert with little background? Like I said above, I will try to make this a second gig here and there so I can at least show some experience if the time comes to make it the main gig

 

There is currently a sizable shortage of qualified IT security people right now. If you had a CISSP certification you could very likely find yourself a job in that industry. It might not be a top paying job but it'll likely pay a lot better than help desk.

 

if i recall correctly (and i should because i need it) cissp requires 5 years on the job experience. there's a jr cissp version out there tho. if you want to work in info sec it's pretty much a requirement. even tho SANS GSEC cert tests your technical skill more than the CISSP does (from what i've heard, i haven't taken either) and the cissp has the name recognition with smaller companies. larger ones will know and recognize the GSEC certs.

IT security is growing rapidly. very good field to get into, i've been in it for almost a decade and recommend to anyone thinking of getting into IT to focus there (well and Networking too). that said my goal is to get cissp, gsec in the next year. i'm way overdue for both.

 

Yup! Just looked it up and you are correct!

https://www.isc2.org/cissp-how-to-certify.aspx

Fortunately the experience only has to be in one of the 8 domains specified and it's possible to get a partial experience waiver.

 

strong work on the info folks, I really appreciate it

If anyone has any other info, keep it coming!

@jtweezy tell me more about the Mobile stuff you are involved in....

 

I retired & now have a second career in electronic security systems for the state military department.
The department supplements the National Guard & their needs for ESS.
It is all about cctv, access controls, ids. They have all the courses you need at PEC.
Some networking knowledge, certs are certainly helpful. My past career was a signal officer & network engineer.
That was many moons ago though.
I really like this job because everyday is different. Tests your knowledge & there is always $$ in the budget.

 

I've done both Android and iOS. The mobile stuff I do is on the side of my primary job projects. It really is a different world when you start developing for mobile devices. The environment and ecosystem changes dramatically with the different sensors and all the secondary data you gain from not being hard wired to a connection point.

 

Being you live in Dallas look up a company called CyrusOne. They are a data center company based there. You could look into being either in a NOC type environment or a DC tech installing servers, cabling, Hard drives, PCI components. Both of those jobs usually have lower job requirements. I am a DC Engineer for a VERY large internet company. I love what i do and I get up and move around all day and it exposes you to all type of IT. So if you want to change paths you will have a good foundation. The other thing that is nice is once you have a solid background it is easy to move to somewhere else because it is a smaller group of people. The pay is usually pretty well depending on the company. The company I work for is based in the PNW so i get paid their wages and made $75k which is pretty solid for a 26 year old without a college degree.

 

here here

 

Here is my advice for people wanting to break into IT on the infrastructure or support side - start with a Network + cert. It's simple enough that you don't need a deep background, fundamental enough that you will use the knowledge you gain in any IT role, and it will lay groundwork for other certs that you want to pursue in the future.

Don't worry about the CISSP or even the CCNA right now. Those are tough certs to get (I am a CISSP, CCNP, PMP) and you shouldn't get distracted by non-actionable things at this stage.

Next, find a part time job or a gig somewhere where you can start to use your IT chops, learn and build confidence. Look for contracting gigs. They are lucrative and get you a ton of experience in short order.