Looking for IT Career advice

quote:

---

So I'm also toying with the notion of staying with them for the long haul.. but alot of the work is pretty brain numbing haha

---

My opinion is that I'd stick with them for a little while. Sounds like you have opportunity to get higher pay if you show commitment.

Also, the grass isn't always greener going from Job A to Job B. Every job, even if you're a multi millionaire who doesn't have to work will have mundane and boring days. I like to think that you have those so you know what good days are and when to enjoy them.

Now, it never hurts to put out feelers or submit resume's to jobs that you think you'd absolutely love, however, it sounds like you have a pretty good gig and have room to get more $$$.

Time to level up on some certs. CCNA, VMware, Microsoft, PMP, or whatever tech interests you.

Get three years under your belt in the industry, from there you can go in any direction. Less than three years experience is seen as entry level.

quote:

---

Is Help Desk > Sys Admin > IT management a good path?

---

Yes. But I would go Help Desk -> System Admin -> Cluster Administration -> Then Management. It is hard to manage IT today with our any experience in virtualization.

You wanna move up or make more money? Learn enterprise Linux, look for jobs that apply skill sets in that area and become an expert. Certs will get you a job but won't keep you in one so learning hands on before you fill your head with a bunch of stuff you really don't need to know day-to-day would be optimal IMO.

I would not want to be in IT mgmt as you're usually directing people that know way more than you and basically are putting your career in their hands when things go wrong....and something will go wrong.

I'd also consider a heavy focus on cloud platforms and learn them well. Find entry level non help desk jobs related to those and grow until you get where ever you wanted to go.

I've worked in the field my entire life and have made it to a place where I don't deal with people and just have fun projects to do...unless something blows up.

Finally - best place to get exposure is at a MSP. Long term it will kill you but could be the place where you find that thing that peaks your interest.

Edit -

One more thing - Focus on your soft skills. You would be shocked at how terrible those are in the field in general. If you are just slightly above average with them you'll get further than someone with an equal skill set.

Study for certs at your brain numbing job until you've got another entry job down your specialization pathway.

I'd also say to anyone in IT, but especially someone starting out in this day and age, be very cautious of burnout. More and more people are working themselves to the point of mental breakdown due to covid and other factors. It can happen very fast in this industry if you don't maintain your work and home life balance.

I personally used to put in at least 60 hours if not more a week, but never again. Not long ago, I took a few days off and totally and completely unplugged for probably the first time in my career. It was some of the most enjoyable days off I've ever had.

quote:

---

I'd also say to anyone in IT, but especially someone starting out in this day and age, be very cautious of burnout. More and more people are working themselves to the point of mental breakdown due to covid and other factors. It can happen very fast in this industry if you don't maintain your work and home life balance.

---

+1 for this, IT companies in this remote work age, tend to avoid hiring new techs and pile tons of work on the ones they already have.

I know that's true for every industry, but it just feels like it hits ours a little bit harder.

Above all, make sure you take some time off.

I would commit myself to 1 year. Use that time to get some more certs under your belt to pad your resume.

My first job out of college I gave my employer my word that I would commit to 1 year with that company. I busted my arse and ended up second highest in production for the year (ticket closes + all the other weighted metrics). Several managers tapped me on the shoulder to let me know I was going to be promoted. I found out at the last minute that I had been passed up by someone who had a closer friendship with the higher ups outside of work. My job search started that day and by weeks end I had accepted a position with another company that doubled my pay. 1 year after that I accepted another job that greatly increased my pay and now make more than 3 times the amount I was making right out of college.

The guys I left behind had been languishing at that lower pay for years and were all laid off when the company was bought out.

Don't be like those guys. It's too early in the game for you to settle. It does matter to employees that you have demonstrated you can maintain stable employment for a length of time but dont get complacentand and settle. Pay your dues and search for greater opportunities.

Are you committed to the Help Desk/ sys admin side of things? My $.02 is that Help Desk is a decent career but on the lower side of the IT payscale. Seems like specializing in Networking or Security, learning development, or getting involved in the DBA side of things has a higher potential earning salary.