I Am No Longer an IT Professional

Slowhand

As of 5pm on October 2nd, 2009, I will no longer be working in IT. My company just laid off almost half of our staff due to severe budget cuts and the drying up of VC funds. Being the second of two IT people, I was one of the unlucky ones to get the axe. I'll be working the next week and a half to transition over my projects to my counterpart, along with teaching both him and our supervisor how some of the new toys I've set up work. Sadly, my severance is not substantial, (an extra week of pay, on top of paying out my vacation hours), but it's not all bad.

Currently, I'm enrolled in 8.0 units of classes at the local community college, starting the first of four semesters to earn a transfer degree to UC Berkeley to study electrical engineering and computer science. I'll be taking on considerably heavier class-loads in coming semesters, including some co-enrollment at the university. I've already been approved for some student loans and a couple of grants, and I'm working on writing some more essays and filling out more scholarship paperwork. Along with unemployment benefits (for as long as I have them), this might finally be the time for me to return to school and make a real push for it. Hence, the notion that I am no longer going to be an IT professional and become a professional student.

This doesn't mean I'm through with pursuing certs and learning about all things IT-related, (I'm sure I'll be working IT for my school(s) before I know it,) and I'm certainly not going to stop partaking here at TechExams.net. I'm probably going to go off on a different path, taking up research and maybe see about doing some teaching, once I get to grad-school and beyond. So, basically, nothing's changing except what I rant about and the type of work I'm going to be procrastinating on.

My goals for the next 12 months:

• Finish my MCSE (70-293, 70-294, and 70-299)
• Start (and finish) the CCNP
• Finish up my A.S. in Computer Information Systems
• Re-learn and expand my C/C++/Java knowledge for future classes
• Dust off my old guitar and stop making excuses not to be practicing
• Dust off my old @$$ and stop making excuses not to be in the gym

The next 24 months:

• Upgrade to MCITP: Enterprise Administrator
• Finish my EECS transfer degree
• Learn to live with being so damn good-lookin'.

Psoasman

Sorry to hear about that, but it sounds like you have a good plan in place and won't be wallowing in self-pity. I lost a contract job just after starting on my certs and having the extra time allowed me to finish the MCP and get my current job

Bl8ckr0uter

Slowhand wrote: »

As of 5pm on October 2nd, 2009, I will no longer be working in IT. My company just laid off almost half of our staff due to severe budget cuts and the drying up of VC funds. Being the second of two IT people, I was one of the unlucky ones to get the axe. I'll be working the next week and a half to transition over my projects to my counterpart, along with teaching both him and our supervisor how some of the new toys I've set up work. Sadly, my severance is not substantial, (an extra week of pay, on top of paying out my vacation hours), but it's not all bad.

Currently, I'm enrolled in 8.0 units of classes at the local community college, starting the first of four semesters to earn a transfer degree to UC Berkeley to study electrical engineering and computer science. I'll be taking on considerably heavier class-loads in coming semesters, including some co-enrollment at the university. I've already been approved for some student loans and a couple of grants, and I'm working on writing some more essays and filling out more scholarship paperwork. Along with unemployment benefits (for as long as I have them), this might finally be the time for me to return to school and make a real push for it. Hence, the notion that I am no longer going to be an IT professional and become a professional student.

This doesn't mean I'm through with pursuing certs and learning about all things IT-related, (I'm sure I'll be working IT for my school(s) before I know it,) and I'm certainly not going to stop partaking here at TechExams.net. I'm probably going to go off on a different path, taking up research and maybe see about doing some teaching, once I get to grad-school and beyond. So, basically, nothing's changing except what I rant about and the type of work I'm going to be procrastinating on.

My goals for the next 12 months:

• Finish my MCSE (70-293, 70-294, and 70-299)
• Start (and finish) the CCNP
• Finish up my A.S. in Computer Information Systems
• Re-learn and expand my C/C++/Java knowledge for future classes
• Dust off my old guitar and stop making excuses not to be practicing
• Dust off my old @$$ and stop making excuses not to be in the gym

The next 24 months:

• Upgrade to MCITP: Enterprise Administrator
• Finish my EECS transfer degree
• Learn to live with being so damn good-lookin'.

That really sucks but it is good you've got a plan and seem to be taking things in stride.

skrpune

sorry to hear the bad news, but it's a start to a whole new chapter of your life. You've got a well thought out plan that will set you on the road to success. Good luck with your transition from pro to student!

UnixGuy

My friend who's been working for Microsoft (seattle) for last 11 got laid off yesterday...it sucks.

I'm glad you have a sound plan, Good luck with that, I'm sure it will work out, you have the right spirit !

Lizano

People that have the ability to find the good out of the bad things that happen are always more probable to succed, IMHO.

Sorry for your loss on the job, but I congratulate you for taking it the way you are, making the best of it and planning ahead.

dynamik

Slowhand wrote: »

I Am No Longer an IT Professional

Doesn't that sort of imply that you were one in the first place?

Seriously though, I'm really sorry to hear that. We've both had a pretty rough year. I somehow landed on my feet, and I'm sure things will turn around for you before you know it. Hang in there and definitely stay in touch.

Plantwiz

Slowhand wrote: »

As of 5pm on October 2nd, 2009, I will no longer be working in IT. My company just laid off almost half of our staff due to severe budget cuts and the drying up of VC funds.

WOW

Really tough news. Very sorry to hear this for you

Certainly, someone with your skills and it sounds like real good attitude...will find something without too much difficulty?

Best wishes!!
PW

msteinhilber

So sorry to hear about the upcoming rough times, but you are certain to succeed since you have a GREAT attitude about it and were able to not just mope about the loss of a job but to find the good and make the best of a bad situation. Things will get a bit rough, but you'll be able to pull through it with hard work and come out in a better position you were before this hit you.

Good luck, and I look forward to hearing your success story later!

bgrablin

You sound like you have your head screwed on straight. You will have no problems with achieving your aforementioned goals. Good luck in your future endeavors.

Pash

Sorry to hear that Slowhand. Your a top lad though, no bitterness about being laid off and even willing to do a proper transition, I guess you will have some stable references there!

Good luck with your plans as well, sounds like you have thought and planned this well!

mrmcmint

Sorry to hear this Slowhand, as per previous posts though with an attitude like yours, you will go far.

Best of luck.

Kaminsky

You can't keep a good Slowhand down.

Really impressed you haven't dwelt on it and come up with a very good plan for the future.

Just got to adjust to being one of the great unwashed again.

Best of luck mate.

coffeeking

Determination is the key...you seem to be determined about what you want to do. You should do just fine. Good Luck with your plan.

veritas_libertas

Sounds like you have a great plan for the future. Best of Luck.

Slowhand

Thanks for all the well-wishes guys, I really appreciate it. I'm pushing through this next week at the ol' job, but I think it might be nice to have a little time off and get back to focusing on my classes. Given that I'm only a part-timer this semester, it's not too stressful and I can get a few other things done before I launch back into a heavy workload.

undomiel

That really sucks but I'm glad you're not stressing about it. Don't forget to file for that unemployment and don't forget to look into whatever training assistance programs the state may offer for you to take advantage of. Good luck breaking into teaching!

RobertKaucher

Just a little comment... A job or lack of a job does not make one any less of a professional. I think many people on this forum can vouch for your knowledge and skill.

Good luck with your plans!

bertieb

Great attitude Slowhand, really great. I'd give you a reference based purely on what little I know about you.

Good luck for the future, I have no doubts everything will work out for you no matter what path you go down

AlexMR

Excellent plan, OP. I am in a similar situation. I was an entrepreneur who had to sell his company because I didnt find more sources to finance our operations. I didnt sell it for a profit, I ended up losing most of my investment and after only 8 days, I am all excited and happy because of the amount of time I now have to study and get some certifications (I already finished the official certification guide and got 67% of the questions in the practice test right on the first take, doing much better than I thought i would).

Good luck and keep it up!

Dr IT

Sorry to hear that slowhand - but u really have a plan all set . All the best for your future venture...

i did notice a couple of jobs listed on our careers section jus my quick thought ( can u have a word with ur Mgrs to switch to one of those listed or are those jus to fill the careers section of your company site )

mikej412

You may not be doing IT for a while, but your plan still makes you a Professional. Just don't become a Professional Student.

blargoe

I am sorry to hear about your layoff, but I know you will make the best of it.

Slowhand

Dr IT wrote: »

i did notice a couple of jobs listed on our careers section jus my quick thought ( can u have a word with ur Mgrs to switch to one of those listed or are those jus to fill the careers section of your company site )

Unfortunately, the "Careers" section of our site hasn't been updated since the layoffs. The news came to our managers about a week and a half ago, and then to the rest of us, that the money wasn't coming in and that layoffs had to happen. A good idea, but not one that would be workable in this particular situation.

Slowhand

*** Update ***

Man, school's rougher than I'd like to admit. I have to practically re-learn one of the prerequisites (trigonometry) in my spare time if I'm going to pass this damn calculus class and move on. Heh, it's almost enough of a workload to miss the day-to-day fires and server-explosions of IT. . . almost.

For the most part, things are working out. My commute's a killer so I may look into moving or finding a school closer to me after the end of the semester. I'm still planning on finishing my MCSE in the next few months, as well as starting up on CCNP and possibly even MCITP: Enterprise Administrator sometime in the half-year after that, but I'm staying focused on my classes and scholarship-essay-writing for the time being. On that note, I've got all the financial aid I need to stay put and just go to school for a while, (strangely enough, with this economy,) so I'm in good shape so far.

dynamik

Glad to hear it!

And yes, I also had to hit Trig hard to do well in Calc

nel

Sorry to hear about that man. Your plan is good. Keep up the hard work and you will be back with a vengence in no time!!

jamesp1983

Sorry to hear that, but you're a very bright guy and will go far.

Turgon

You will be fine. Good luck with everything!

phantasm

Best of luck. I'm ganifully employed in the IT sector making around $32k a year and have lost all interest in the industry. Ive been dealing with computers and networking for the better part of 10yrs now and it just isn't the same.

The wife wants me to go back to school and try for my M.Arch degree. It's possible but not for about 4yrs. She needs to finish her PhD first.

So best of luck to you... I hope you find what you're looking for.