IT is too d@mn broad!

Ok, about to go on a Miller lite induced ramble, so bear with me. Or, if you don't want to, click that little arrow up there that's pointing to the left. You've been warned.

Most of my experience in IT is in the telecom/satellite communications world. It's pretty cool, but I'm always peeking over to see what the other IT guys are doing. For that reason, I purposely got A+, then Net+, and am now working on Sec+, so I can get a feel for the different fields and see which one I like best (not that I'm a newbie to IT, but am new to certifications).

AAAAAH! I like them all! I mean, anything can get old, that's why I got into IT in the first place, so things would be ever-changing as I work best under pressure and LOVE change, like I'm sure most of you do.

I guess my discussion point is: "Why are you in the IT field you're in, and do you plan to stay, or are you a rolling stone?" Is the grass greener on the other side, or is it just a psychosis we have that we need change so we're always looking at other IT fields? Anyone else feel this way? I figured that posting these questions here would be best since:

A. most of us are in IT (or want to be) so we have to be good at dealing with change; and
B. we're cert addicts, which means that we love having new, different mental stimulation.

What is our deal?????

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Comments

Mrock4

IT people seem to be a different breed than the workforce. Most people I meet (notice I said *most*..not all) in IT share a lot of the qualities I have.

I'd describe my IT experience as varying to a certain degree (from application support, to helpdesk, to telecom, to strictly Layer 3 cisco stuff, to now multi-vendor layer 2 stuff......but with all the changes in there, my sights are set pretty solid at what I want.

I am sure with the changing industry, my ultimate goal will end up a little different, but it won't be too far off.

Coors lite, or bust!!

scheistermeister

Personally I am IT because there is so much you can do. Funny thing is I want to be in networking and even got my CCNP... But I have not had one realy networking job... Somehow recently I have fallen into the world of Point Of Sale units. No clue how a recuiter associated POS with the CCNA or CCNP, but that is where I am. Do I like it? Eh, it'll do for now. Do I want to continue doing it? For now at $40 an hour I wouldn't mind doing it for a while but would love to get a hold of a real networking job.

aidan80

I thinking along the same lines as you, looking at others measuring up.. etc CompTIA stuff back home (Ireland) wasn't really there that I noticed too much. I mean what I had was good enough to get in the door as a technician. Over here of course I need the A+, N+ and now working on the MCSA just to get back in that door. I'm currently out of the IT filed as there's just no real work in this area and what is available now is paying nothing and offering crap or no benefits next to working in an office.

I was in the Technician field because I liked it, it changed as you said always a new thing new software/hardware or a new problem. I was never bored at seeing how someone's 5 year old could kill their expensive dell, compaq, gateway.. etc lol I liked the challenge, the thinking the taking it apart in your head finding the problem then doing it for real even if that was just connecting the USB cable that someone pulled out!

A. Yes I'm fairly good now at dealing with change, I've gotten used to it like it or not!! lol
B. I know the cert addict feeling, it almost got the better off me but I'm saying no till I get another job in the field after the MCSA. I don't want to be a paper alphabet of no experience lol

dynamik

learningtofly22 wrote:

Ok, about to go on a Miller lite induced ramble, so bear with me. Or, if you don't want to, click that little arrow up there that's pointing to the left. You've been warned.

I opened a new tab, so that's not an option. What do you suggest I do now?

learningtofly22 wrote:

A. most of us are in IT (or want to be) so we have to be good at dealing with change; and

I want to work with something that changes and constantly challenges me. I couldn't stand being something like a math teacher. Some people enjoy that stability and consistency; I'm not one of them. I know people who are, and they can't understand how I can do what I do.

learningtofly22 wrote:

B. we're cert addicts, which means that we love having new, different mental stimulation.

To be fair, I'm a fan of all kinds of stimulation (can that be my inebriated comment?). I like certs because they provide a certain measure of my ability in a certain area. It's nice to have a way to gauge my skills. That's why I'll probably dedicate just as much time to certs that I deem to be just for fun (i.e. CEH) as big career boosters like the popular MS and Cisco certs.

learningtofly22 wrote:

What is our deal?????

What's my deal? What's your deal? Miller Lite? Gross

scheistermeister

dynamik wrote:

I want to work with something that changes and constantly challenges me. I couldn't stand being something like a math teacher. Some people enjoy that stability and consistency; I'm not one of them.

If I wasn't in IT I would probably be a machinist, gun-smith, welder or mechanic, but honestly those can also be ever changing and working on something different as well...

Slowhand

dynamik wrote:

To be fair, I'm a fan of all kinds of stimulation (can that be my inebriated comment?).

Forget it, buddy-boy. That one's going to haunt you forever.

Psoasman

I have a great job doing helpdesk / operations support. I eventually want to get my BA, MCSE and work up into Network Security, but right now I am getting experience...and having a lot of fun.
I would focus on what interests you and pursue education / jobs down that route. I know we can specialize a lot more now due to widening fields of opportunity.

Slowhand

Alright, joking aside, I do have some thoughts on this thread.

In my experience, I've been drawn to IT, engineering, and the sciences for the very reason learningtofly22 stated, the ever-changing challenges. As someone who uses both my left brain and right brain interchangibly, (and sometimes, it hurts,) I'd go crazy if I had to be subjected to the same tedium all day, every day. The reason I work in IT right now is because it was easy for me to get into, and I had an interest in working first with computers, then with basic networks, and on to bigger and better things after that. The reason I'm shooting for what I'm shooting for in school is because I want to jump ship from IT and get into electrical engineering, (I plan on going far enough that I can create my own explosive disasters, as opposed to fixing others' distasters, like I do now).

That being said, and knowing that I love what I do and what I plan on doing for the reason of being challenged in new ways every day, there is one other thought that lurks in the back of my brain: someday, I'll burn out. Staying on the bleeding edge of every new technology, every new scientific breakthrough that has to do with my field, and assimilating all this knowledge for my own use will be tougher and tougher as I get older, and at some point I'm going to want to relax for a bit and not work so damn hard. For that reason, I'm using my interest and skills within the realm of IT to help me pay for school, and I'm going to go to school until they give me a doctorate and kick me the hell out. This is also the same reason why I'm leaning towards a more generalized degree, as opposed to focusing on computer science. I'd probably like to teach someday, (can you imagine unleashing me on poor, unsuspecting students?), and that day will probably come when I'm all worn out from keeping ahead of the curve and I'm ready to settle in and enjoy 'retirement'.

So, IT, along with similar fields, aren't for everyone. You have to enjoy the adrenaline-rush of keeping one step ahead of the tidal wave we call obsolescence, and you have to be quick on your feet as well as your brain, in order to survive, let alone prosper, in this line of work. Basically, you have to be as nuts as the rest of us. Of course, it's always good to have a back-up plan for the future, for when your brain begins to smoke and you're ready to stop tap-dancing on technological landmines.

Pash

Your right it is a non stop rollercoaster in all honesty. I passed the CCNA in dec 06 and have barely touched any cisco gear over the the last year and a bit. The amount of diversity and exposure i have got is silly. Everything from security to BCP design, networking, voice. In all honesty i dont like what im doing atm, i feel exposed to too many client environments and half day support mixed in with project work is too much for my head.

I wanna go into security but im gonna have to get the experience to progress.

Mrock4

Just kind of curious...I'm wondering if any of you guys had the same experience..

In school, I was a mediocre student, at best. Note this was due to lack of attention to what I was doing, not lack of ability. I did zero homework, and slid through highschool strictly off of my testing ability (which is pretty good)..but definitely didn't apply myself. Got out of high school..and soon noticed that the only thing to which I truly excelled in a technical manner was computers/networking. My mind seems to be one-track in a sense...throw chemistry labs, or advanced algebra in front of me, I'll be screwed....

It almost is kind of annoying..I get family saying things like "you're smart blah blah"..but truthfully, I think it's the other way around. I am blessed I found this field, or else I don't know where I would end up. I'd probably be on the other side of the drive-thru window.

jbrown414

I hate mundane jobs even though my current job is one. It's an entry level job repairing broken PCs and printers. Same thing almost everyday. I'm using it as experience while I study for what I really want to do. I really want to get into database administration. Once I find a job doing that, I'll probably work on learning a programming language and see where it goes from there.

gojericho0

I like the broadness. If you get bored or want a new challenge you can basically make a career change and still be in the same field

snadam

Mrock4 wrote:

Just kind of curious...I'm wondering if any of you guys had the same experience..

In school, I was a mediocre student, at best. Note this was due to lack of attention to what I was doing, not lack of ability. I did zero homework, and slid through highschool strictly off of my testing ability (which is pretty good)..but definitely didn't apply myself. Got out of high school..and soon noticed that the only thing to which I truly excelled in a technical manner was computers/networking. My mind seems to be one-track in a sense...throw chemistry labs, or advanced algebra in front of me, I'll be screwed....

It almost is kind of annoying..I get family saying things like "you're smart blah blah"..but truthfully, I think it's the other way around. I am blessed I found this field, or else I don't know where I would end up. I'd probably be on the other side of the drive-thru window.

+1 I was a B/C Average in highschool. But once I started taking CIS courses in college, all A's...

Ive always considered myself academically 'dumb', but for some reason these courses come easy for me.

As far as IT being broad, thats a great thing! There is so much to choose from!!! You hate the hardware aspect, go software. You have programming, then do project management! While these are just examples, you get the point. You get to choose which direction you want to take YOUR career. Its much more difficult to do in most other industries.

PS: I also hate chem and Advanced math... :P

dtlokee

I generally chase what's new because I get bored easily.

dynamik

Mrock4 wrote:

In school, I was a mediocre student, at best. Note this was due to lack of attention to what I was doing, not lack of ability. I did zero homework, and slid through highschool strictly off of my testing ability (which is pretty good)..but definitely didn't apply myself. Got out of high school..and soon noticed that the only thing to which I truly excelled in a technical manner was computers/networking. My mind seems to be one-track in a sense...throw chemistry labs, or advanced algebra in front of me, I'll be screwed....

That is absolutely me. I'll give you an example. I'm taking a distance learning intro to law class because it fulfills one of my requirements. It's writing intensive and an insane amount of work. I can't work up any motivation at all. I'm seriously contemplating not doing any of the long essays in an attempt to maintain my sanity. I'd only lose 10% of my total grade and could skip the majority of the work.

If I'm interested in a topic, I do very well. If I'm not, I do poorly. My transcript is absolutely ridiculous. It's a mix of As, Bs, and Cs. The funny part is, I tend to do better in the more difficult classes (Calculus) than easier classes (Intro to Law).

learningtofly22

Whew, glad I'm not the only one.... that thought had been rambling around for a while - don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, just suffering from the "I want to learn EVERYTHING" syndrome. Although in telecom, I'm going to see what the Sec+ experience is like and determine if I want to go further in that direction. Although 2 different fields within Security, pen testing and forensics seem very interesting.

jbrown414

You're definitely not alone when it comes to wanting to learn everything. I always thought it was ADHD when something new came along. I would always want to buy books on what I would call my flavor of the week and surf the web for information on it. It got to the point where I had to tell my self to focus on one thing and get good at it then move on to next. If I lost interest in the "new thing" by then, something else would come along shortly.

undomiel

Currently I'm constantly hopping from learning Exchange 2007, studying for the RHCE, studying SQL, and learning VBScript and soon PowerShell. So I enjoy dipping my fingers into everything. As for how I came into IT, it was pretty much just to put food on the table. I still hold plans to eventually come back to being an art instructor and an artist. I moved up from tech support to systems administrator as swiftly as I could because I hated being on the phone. Then I discovered how enjoyable servers and network design is so I am now looking to delve even deeper into that. So now while I'm still in IT for a paycheck I'm also enjoying IT as much as I can.

L0gicB0mb508

I have studied in a lot of technical areas. It's crazy because, like you, I want a little piece of everything. I think I have finally settled into the security area. Sometimes though, I just want to break out the tools and run and terminate cable. I also used to hate Cisco stuff. I went through the networking Academy as an average B or C student. For some reason my entire attitude on it has changed, now I love Cisco stuff. I'm not sure what has changed my mind so much.

Mrock4

Don't get me started on Outlook 07'. I damn near mastered everything Outlook/Exchange during my 15 months in Iraq, and then along comes 07', and I look like a deer in the headlights.

I've found that my new job has my motivation so high during the day, that when I get off, I don't feel like studying. I've got 3 weeks to the day to take my BSCI, and I am NOT prepared at all. I'd say I'm about 20% ready. Not good.

BigTex71

learningtofly22 wrote:

Most of my experience in IT is in the telecom/satellite communications world.

That is where I started in the Air Force- Satellite and Wideband Coomunications. But I was in a Combat Communications group, so I worked extensively with the phone and LAN guys when setting up the communications on bare-base deployments.

learningtofly22 wrote:

AAAAAH! I like them all! I mean, anything can get old, that's why I got into IT in the first place, so things would be ever-changing as I work best under pressure and LOVE change, like I'm sure most of you do.

I agree totally. I love a challenge and to work out my brain every day. Any of you in MENSA? I am thinking about taking the test just for the heck of it to see if I qualify. I am always told I am weird when I mention that I love to take tests. I like to see what I know, as long as the test tells you what you miss so you can learn from your mistakes. That is one thing I don't like about certification tests- it doesn't show which questions you missed. I don't care if they don't give me the correct answer- at least tell me what I missed!