Anyone work in IT?

We also tend to hire employees that have potentially less experience, but good attitudes and room to grow.

However, we hired someone around a year ago- interviewed well, was able to demonstrate beginner to intermediate level C# competency. Nice person, didn't quite fit the company culture, but didn't hold it against them. Turns out they couldn't do anything that Chat GPT couldn't do. It was a big eye opener, and we now specifically include questions about the applicants' views and relationship with AI technology.

It was real bad though.. they were copy and pasting completely different languages (C++ and Python answers from GPT) into a C# application... couldn't understand why they weren't working. Thinking about it now, we should probably add a few questions about being able to identify languages from small code snippets...

 

I spend a lot of time between the 44%, the 20%, and 11%... in that order.

 

I was an IT in the NAVY, got out, got my associates in IT Security. Was doing some support contract work while doing my degree, ended up liking support, stuck with it. Started at $21/hour in 2013 after my degree, was paying $450 in rent at that time so life was amazing.

I make $91k now. Level 2 support with some Level 2A support as well mixed in. I love what I do. It's easy for me. I can eat my breakfast at my desk. I rarely work late or OT. I work for a major infrastructure company who has offices in just about every large city in America. We design bridges, freeways, railroads, airport runways, tollways etc.

It's a great field. It's always changing so you have to be nimble. Work is pretty plentiful in every large city, some cities more than others.

When I lived in Tampa, the jobs were everywhere. The pay as great. I really picked a good city for IT.

But there are many places where you can get work. You have to be prepared to live close to a large city if you don't now.

Contract work should be easy to come by if you're just starting out. Robert Half Teksystems Apex etc. Many people will say these agencies suck, sometimes they do, but it really matters if you get a good headhunter. RH tends to get better paying jobs than the others. If just getting a foot in the door matters, you make some sacrifices. Then when you are ready you can move onto getting a direct hire job.

 

I live in Data Center Alley/place where 70% of the world's internet passes through. Competition is high, salaries are high (unfortunately not mine though ).. because of proximity to DC. Im a L2 help desk/sys admin. Been with my company for 2.5 years, but started working in 2012. Have an associates degree in graphic design and a couple low level certs. I 1000% believe experience matters more than certifications.

My department has 7 people including the CIO. Its pretty laid back, although this year has been pretty busy because we are getting a company wide certification to be more competitive in the federal contract market. Days/weeks/months are flying by and im not able to enjoy the things I used to as much anymore. Could be that im getting old and tired too.

But I have generous benefits and can take off whenever. I think ill stick around here for a few more years

 

Don't let your security clearance go to waste once you become civilian. Find a .gov contractor job - having certs and/or field relevant degree will help. Potentially good money in IS, especially in the threat intelligence, forensics and ethical hacking fields. For most government jobs you're required to have a current Security+ cert and many times a Network+ cert too. I'd recommend working on getting your CISSP which can be a pain because you'll need another CISSP to endorse you, but it is probably the best security cert to have going into the job market.

I've been in IT since 1997 after getting out of the Navy. Been a Network Engineer since 1999 and my current speciality is RF focusing mainly on ISM and 802.11. I started out in Security at my current job and learned a lot in that role. I attribute my success in finding a job nobody else in the field wants to do, but is interesting and fun for you. I love what I do and the company I work for.

 

I've been interviewing and picking up contractors who are probably coming in around $70/hour from their agency. I base that on the last time I did a contract back in 2013. They are all in their 20's. If they are working out, then it's usually 12 months on contract and then get converted to FTE. If they have an H-1B issue and they are good then they might fast track to FTE.

Certifications were helpful when I first got into the field. But I stopped doing them and it's all experience now. I went to a CISSP bootcamp with the cert exam. In the end I was disappointed with the material. I think it's good for managers. SANS classes and certifications are great if you're looking into cybersecurity. Which you should be looking into anyways.

 

Arizona is promising, there is a semiconductor company is build their factory in Phoenix

https://www.tsmc.com/static/abouttsmcaz/index.htm

 

I'm working and committing suicide today (sarcasm) - I've got a 60+ boomer in my office this morning with a new laptop so that means, "walk me through every step of using this new computer...."

Shoot me. lmfao

AND she's from Florida and looks the part. She should be at the Lakes or whatever sipping a Frappe not working. Her perfume was so strong I thought the entire office was going be knocked out like the Heavens Gate cult.