Mentorship in IT
CyberJosh95
Member Posts: 53 ■■■□□□□□□□
Going to try to keep this as short as possible...
How do you guys feel about mentorship in IT? I feel as if that's what I am lacking. I've been working in an Network/Infrastructure work center for the past 3 years and am the lowest/youngest member on the totem poll. I have worked hard to gain knowledge in the career field by attending classes, seminars and obtaining certifications on my own. My co-workers all to seem to be complacent in their roles because of the job security and could care less about the development of the younger people(myself). Every time I mention to them that I am getting ready to test for a new certification, they ask me why am I worrying about that since I have a decent job already. I motivate myself and feel the urge to "grind hard" until i am at the level that i would like to be in my career ,but they do not seem to want to help motivate or help guide me in the right path. So, I come here to TechExams for motivation and guidance. Is it bad that i have to come online for guidance? I just want some type of mentorship.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
How do you guys feel about mentorship in IT? I feel as if that's what I am lacking. I've been working in an Network/Infrastructure work center for the past 3 years and am the lowest/youngest member on the totem poll. I have worked hard to gain knowledge in the career field by attending classes, seminars and obtaining certifications on my own. My co-workers all to seem to be complacent in their roles because of the job security and could care less about the development of the younger people(myself). Every time I mention to them that I am getting ready to test for a new certification, they ask me why am I worrying about that since I have a decent job already. I motivate myself and feel the urge to "grind hard" until i am at the level that i would like to be in my career ,but they do not seem to want to help motivate or help guide me in the right path. So, I come here to TechExams for motivation and guidance. Is it bad that i have to come online for guidance? I just want some type of mentorship.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Comments
Nothing wrong with coming online for mentor-ship. We all do it to some degree. If there is no one in your work place that will provide feedback or show you something new i suggest you find some local groups on MeetUp and join them or join the local chapters for the so many certifications out there. ISACA for example, has local chapters everywhere and they have meetings on a monthly basis, you have to pay to be a member its like $185 a year but you dont have to be certified in anything ISACA to attend. I'd go with the MeetUp groups first though if you want personal and face to face talks.
Instead, you should build a professional network from multiple sources where you can crowdsource your advice. Forums, LinkedIn groups, Twitter lists, subreddits, Slack channels, professional societies, conferences ect... so many that I can't even list them all.
You seem like a smart guy, you don't need a mentor to hold your hand, you need to surround yourself with like minded professionals that will motivate you to be a better version of yourself so that you can find your path (sounds like your coworkers are not in that category).
Best of luck.
2020: GCIP | GCIA
2021: GRID | GDSA | Pentest+
2022: GMON | GDAT
2023: GREM | GSE | GCFA
WGU BS IT-NA | SANS Grad Cert: PT&EH | SANS Grad Cert: ICS Security | SANS Grad Cert: Cyber Defense Ops | SANS Grad Cert: Incident Response
Mentoring in IT can be tough. Go too low and you'll encounter the answers you did. Go too high (executives) and you'll find answers you can't use. I'd say your mentors should be at least two levels above you but no more than four. They have to have some relevant insight where you want to go but their perspective has to be such that they can actually understand where you are and where you want to go.
They're trying to to convince you not to study and develop your skills because you're threatening their complacency. They will feel bad for not improving their own skills.
Solution #1: do not tell them anything. keep quiet about your personal development
Solution #2: at the same time, always be willing to help and always ask to be involved in whatever project that's happening.
Solution #3: Start thinking of your next job, work towards it. Keep quiet.
Keep moving in the direction you want to go. Keep yourself current and keep gaining more knowledge. No one can take that away from you.
All the hard work eventually pays off in more than one way, be it advancement, a new job that will value what you bring, etc....
Good luck, and don't let the "lifers" keep you down.