How did you work your way up to high end I.T jobs.

How did you work your way up to high end I.T jobs? when I say high end I mean jobs like network admin,engineer system engineer,administrator, Technical manager, IT Manager etc

What was your first job and how long did it take you to get up?

Also any useful advice?

Did you certifications help?

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luckybob

I started working with computers when I was still in high school. I got a job working for Best Buy as the PC and AV technician. I worked there for 3 years, into my first year in college. I then went on to do Help desk support for K-mart blue-light service. It was a terrible job, but I was able to get school work done on the graveyard shift. I also got my A+ cert, which has not really helped me with anything. I got laid off, twice, from this company. I then went to do Help desk support for proprietary systems. I ten went back to my roots and got a job doing PC repairs and upgrades at a local shop in town. I then got back into Help desk supporting the screens you see when you place an order at McDonald's, Taco Bell, other fast food places.

I really got my first break into administration at my next job in which I did support for AD, Citrix, fiber networks, Cisco routing and HP switching. After getting some experience (3 years) I moved on to network and server security at a financial institution. I did this for only a year before the bank sold out to a bigger bank. I left here to work for the local utility company as the Network/Server Administrator. This is where I learned the most in my entire career. I was literally responsible for everything network and server related. This is where I started packing on the certs and exploring new technologies. I did this for 4 years, till I landed my new position. I am now making just under $100k/yr as a Sr. Systems Engineer.

So in the past 12 years I have gone from making $7.75/hr at Best Buy to making close to $100k/yr at my current position.

My advice would be to find jobs that will build you knowledge in the field. Always move up or sideways, never back. Never say you don't know how to do something or that you can't. There is always a solution, you just need to know how to find it.

In my opinion certification don't really do a lot for you when finding a job. If you do them correctly, they help you learn the material. On the occasion they might give you a slight leg up on someone who does not have the certs, but experience is really key in our industry. I have gotten every job because of my working experience.

Also as a note, I don't have a college degree, I made it 3 years before I decided school was a load of crap and I was learning more working than I ever did in college. I would like to go back and finish, just to have that piece of paper, but not sure if I ever will.

I hope my story can help you break into the IT industry, and just remember if you work hard you will be rewarded, eventually.

GAngel

With Experience. The progression path in this field is pretty straight forward. There are a hundred jobs that fall under each category but basically helpdesk,admin,sr admin,specialist or manager.

vCole

I started at Best Buy in Computer Sales making $8.25/hour in Oct. 2005. I stayed there till February 2007. I went back to Dunkin Donuts making $7.75/hour. I enrolled in school majoring in Network Engineering in January of 2007. I landed my first IT job as a Help Desk Technician with no certs and a few months of school in Dec 2007 @ $13/hour.

I then left that job in Nov. 2008 making $14/hr for a job as an IT Support Specialist making $17.32/hour. I left there in May 2009 for a job as an IT Support Specialist II making $19.32/hour.

Now, I work as an Network Analyst in charge of Global Infrastructure for a huge corporation. I make $56k/year. I have my CIW Associate v5, Network +, MCDST, MCITP:EST and MCTS: Vista, Configuration. (I'm also one exam from my MCSA)

At 23 years old, and only working in IT since Dec 2007, I don't think I'm doing TOO bad.

But what has helped me the most is my experience and the fact that I'm IN school. First question I get asked in an interview is when will my degree be done?

Nobylspoon

Any network admins here start in software testing? The way I look at it, I am a lot closer to network admin then where I started (security guard) and I am making twice as much. Just wondering if the work experience from QA has helped anyone towards a career in network admin?

Devilsbane

What I've been told, is that to get a job in IT. Any job. It will likely be a help desk job. Once you're in, do good work, and network around. Also keep up the studies at home.

Try to find someone in your company with a position that interests you. If you want to be a server guy, find out who the server guys are, and start saying hi when you see them. At some point you can slip in some of your skills and what you would like to do, and they might give you some pointers on how to get there. Not to mention, if a spot ever opens on their team, you might get tipped off about it.

I don't know how well it works, and being here for only 4 months or so, I'm still just focusing on doing a good job and casing out where I would like to go.

tpatt100

I started doing help desk probably 11 years ago. I busted my butt and had the highest call answered ticket completed ratio for a while. Most of the other help desk staff had a 50/50 ticket completed ratio meaning half of their calls had to be forwarded to the desktop support. Myself and a coworker who also had a high call completed ratio were moved to desktop support. But since I was volunteering for sys admin tasks I only did desktop support for a couple of months before I was moved to sys admin.

I did sys admin work for a couple of years and found ways to make our network more secure following the NIST guidelines and writing security policies. Working with management I got approval for implementation thus adding "security" as part of my responsibilities. I got HR to rewrite my roles and responsibilities (because I had a plan) and I got deployed to Iraq. There I was talking to some officers from Brigade at the chow hall and I mentioned what I did for a living civilian side. The next day they told my unit I was being transferred to support the Brigade at HQ working in the joint security center.

I did that for a year. Redid my resume using keyword searches off Dice and Monster. I got a call and hired to work in a security operations center. That doubled my salary from my last job so I sold my house since I was going to make wha my wife and I made combined. She got a job at the University making more money as well.

I did that for five years. There I volunteered for projects based on keyword trends I noticed every year off Dice and Monster. Then I lost that job and got hired by a corporation working at Corporate doing security. That added 20K from my last job.

Now I am doing a project that once I complete it will add a major and big "keyword" to my goals and accomplishments hopefully making my future more secure and lucrative.

I cannot emphasize enough to watch trends in the IT market and find what you enjoy and see if you can make the two match.

ColbyG

Started at an ISP helpdesk, moved to another helpdesk, etc (~$10-12/hr). Eventually landed a residential consultant gig (~$30/hr, but sporadic work, so not much actual income), which was pretty ok. Then I jumped into a small company doing consulting and level 2/3 support for a small ISP they contracted to. Eventually, within that same company, I started working full time (still contractor through consulting firm - ~$15/hr) with a medium sized land development company as their IT guy. The company hired me on (~$40k) after awhile, but then they started going under.

After that I was jobless for quite awhile. I took some MS classes as up until that point I did mostly server stuff. There was a few week gap between some of the classes so they put me in a Cisco class. That was the end of the MS classes for me, lol. I was in love. I busted my ass and got the CCNA in a few weeks.

Then I got a job with another consulting company (~$45k) who focused on schools and medium business. It was supposed to be all Cisco, but I ended up doing a lot of server crap because they fired the guy who was doing it. I learned a little for ~5 months but ended up getting laid off. Then I moved to a contract position with an ISP ($24/hr), doing kind of network admin type stuff.

Finally I ended up where I'm at now, as a network engineer 2 ($62k) with a large enterprise. I had an offer a few months ago (from ACS, ~$75k), but my company offered me a small raise immediately ($67k, topped out my current position's range) and a promotion in September with a larger raise (hopefully $80k+).

That's my story.

N2IT

tpatt100 wrote: »

I started doing help desk probably 11 years ago. I busted my butt and had the highest call answered ticket completed ratio for a while. Most of the other help desk staff had a 50/50 ticket completed ratio meaning half of their calls had to be forwarded to the desktop support. Myself and a coworker who also had a high call completed ratio were moved to desktop support. But since I was volunteering for sys admin tasks I only did desktop support for a couple of months before I was moved to sys admin.

I did sys admin work for a couple of years and found ways to make our network more secure following the NIST guidelines and writing security policies. Working with management I got approval for implementation thus adding "security" as part of my responsibilities. I got HR to rewrite my roles and responsibilities (because I had a plan) and I got deployed to Iraq. There I was talking to some officers from Brigade at the chow hall and I mentioned what I did for a living civilian side. The next day they told my unit I was being transferred to support the Brigade at HQ working in the joint security center.

I did that for a year. Redid my resume using keyword searches off Dice and Monster. I got a call and hired to work in a security operations center. That doubled my salary from my last job so I sold my house since I was going to make wha my wife and I made combined. She got a job at the University making more money as well.

I did that for five years. There I volunteered for projects based on keyword trends I noticed every year off Dice and Monster. Then I lost that job and got hired by a corporation working at Corporate doing security. That added 20K from my last job.

Now I am doing a project that once I complete it will add a major and big "keyword" to my goals and accomplishments hopefully making my future more secure and lucrative.

I cannot emphasize enough to watch trends in the IT market and find what you enjoy and see if you can make the two match.

I agree with 95% of what you wrote.

I will throw in two other factors that nobody likes to mention. Luck and nepotism or some relationalism. These two factors have a huge impact on how high you go and how far you go.

Everybody has stories so I'll save mine, but I have a friend/college mate who never graduated and has 0 certifications. He makes almost 700,000 US a year and is the most successful guy I know. He got that job because of a frat brother who's dad worked at Oracle not to mention he was high up in Oracle. Both got jobs and both make a killing. My point isn't that is the only way, but it is a factor. He had both going for him. Luck that he met a friend who hooked him up or rather his dad hooked him up because of a friendship.

Bl8ckr0uter

I guess technically I am an Admin now....

During middle school through my junior year, I did SQL/ASP.NET/HTML/CSS development through a program to get inner city kids developing. While this was not a job, it did help build my experience level and technical knowledge. I started my first IT job while I was at my old for profit school (DeVry- not going there) with no certs in 2007. I was making about 12 dollars an hour, full time. In order to move to "premium support" the requirements were A+ and N+ but they would train you on your A+ so I went out and studied for my N+. I spend two days at one of those tech training schools before I ended up quiting my job and leaving that city and moving back home (true story, those two days cost me 2K and all I got out of it was a cheap folder and the Mike Myers N+ book

).

After being back at my parents house for a few weeks I landed a job at Geek Squad in 2007 (job 2). I was making about 14 dollars an hour but only working 30 hours a week. While there, I enrolled in the local community college for the A+. 3 weeks in, I passed the A+ and left the class with an A. I then turned my sites on greener pastures. I ended up landing a job at a large information company doing customer/help desk support early 2008 (job 3) and earned my N+ via self studying. The company said they promoted from within but I was never choose to go to 2nd level, even though they had me doing 2nd level work. I became very angry and picked up a part time job at a large outsouced IT helpdesk firm (job 3). I did this to pick up more experience and to earn extra cash. I quit there after 7 months.

I then started studying for the CCNA in 2009. At first I only did it because the big wigs at my current job really wanted but over time I ended up doing it to find a new job. I actually took the test 3 times, I failed it once, the test crashed once and I passed it on my 3rd go (1 test route). During the time between my 2nd and 3rd attempts, I ended up landing a job at a different large IT firm (job 4) and they stated I needed to get my CCNA within 90 days. I passed within a month. I then started studying for the CCNA:S late last year and actually passed it on the same day I got laid off. I ended up picking a very part time job doing pc support (job 5) and a few 1 day shots with a recruiting company until I ended up picking up a weekend job working for a noc (job 6). Shortly thereafter I picked up a full time job as a Network Security Admin (job 7).

My path has been a big crazier than most but from my first job making 12 dollars an hour I now make more than double that. I don't have my degree but I am enrolled in school and I have about 35 college credits, 3 years of experience and the certs in on my profile. I am 22 years old (23 in November).

I've been knocked down several times, by coworkers and bosses. I've been told that I could never make it to the next level by coworkers. I've been told to just blend in with the rest of the pack when I would go above and beyond for customers because it "Doesn't provided consistent support" (exact words). I've been told that certs are stupid and don't help. But despite all of that, I always keep one thing in mind --my goals. Even now, that I have the title of Network Security Admin, I am looking for more. Why? Because I don't settle. Whenever I get to a new place or level, I always want more. My mom is always saying I need my own business so I can control the atmosphere and she is correct. I am never settled into anything, I'm always ready to go further. That's kind of the way you have to be IMO. I cannot stress enough how important having a goal is. I want to be a millionaire, and that simply isn't going to happen with my current level of knowledge so even if I have to lose out on going out and having a good time now, 10 years from now I will be much further ahead. I talk to some of the people at my old jobs and they are doing the same old ****, making the same old **** money and thinking the same old ****. I cannot allow myself to be like that. I want to be that person doing the implementing, designing, the big dog, the big cheese. You have to be willing to do what they won't to get what they don't. This is my way of the ninja.

rogue2shadow

I must say these threads are always inspirational for me haha.

tpatt100

I was selling power tools at a home improvement store. I was studying for the A+ in the break room one day and other employees kept making comments saying I should go full time there. Yeah and work over time and getting treated like dirt. Anyways I did not get my first IT job until I after I completed part of my MCSE on NT. Got comments like "you passed that other test but your still here". In my mind I said in my crazed scientist voice " one day you shall see hahahahaha!!!"

Now I get paid more taking a leak at work than I did there.

Only downside was since it was retail I walked around all day and was 25lbs lighter and more fit.

Bl8ckr0uter

tpatt100 wrote: »

Only downside was since it was retail I walked around all day and was 25lbs lighter and more fit.

I know what you mean. Man I use to work UPS back in the day, I was so damn strong. I've probably put on 40lbs in 3 years.

I start my gym membership next month though

Devilsbane

tpatt100 wrote: »

Only downside was since it was retail I walked around all day and was 25lbs lighter and more fit.

I know what you're saying. Been working at a desk for 4 months now. I'm already starting to notice differences...

I would also read books on break. I got A+, Net+, and MOS 2007 while working retail. Got into IT and nearly doubled my slarary (yet my bank account looks about the same because I'm blowing through money on books/videos/test vouchers). Plus I don't hate my job anymore!

Nobylspoon

knwminus wrote: »

I know what you mean. Man I use to work UPS back in the day, I was so damn strong. I've probably put on 40lbs in 3 years. I start my gym membership next month though

One of the perks about working in an IT company that was founded by black belts, we have a very nice gym at work

Bl8ckr0uter

Nobylspoon wrote: »

One of the perks about working in an IT company that was founded by black belts, we have a very nice gym at work

That would be so awesome for so many reasons.

ipconfig.all

Looks like a lot of people here have worked hard to get to where they are now, good to hear that hard work will pay off !!!

Devilsbane

Nobylspoon wrote: »

One of the perks about working in an IT company that was founded by black belts, we have a very nice gym at work

We have one too. But they charge a monthly fee, it is like $17 a month, and I already have a gym membership that I rarely use.

Nobylspoon

Devilsbane wrote: »

We have one too. But they charge a monthly fee, it is like $17 a month, and I already have a gym membership that I rarely use.

The only things we have to pay for are classes led by instructors like yoga or martial arts. They even supply towels, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion and deoderant in the locker rooms. I'm surprised more people here don't take advantage of this stuff.

networker050184

Nobylspoon wrote: »

The only things we have to pay for are classes led by instructors like yoga or martial arts. They even supply towels, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion and deoderant in the locker rooms. I'm surprised more people here don't take advantage of this stuff.

I hate you! We get free coffee thats about it. I wish we had a gym.

ipconfig.all

Kevin Minus I really like your attitude.

Nobylspoon

networker050184 wrote: »

I hate you! We get free coffee thats about it. I wish we had a gym.

We have free coffee too. We have the big espresso machines on each floor along with the Flavia machines with about 20 types of coffee and 15 types of tea. Oh, did I mention the beer cooler with 40 choices of import and domestic? ;P

Jason0352

Wait, you get to drink beer anytime during working hours? Or is it reserved for after work mixers?

rogue2shadow

ipconfig.all wrote: »

Kevin Minus I really like your attitude.

I agree. +1

Nobylspoon

Jason0352 wrote: »

Wait, you get to drink beer anytime during working hours? Or is it reserved for after work mixers?

It's not for the 9-5 schedule but most of our software launches are at night so we usually throw back a few beers while we work on that. Also various office functions.

Bl8ckr0uter

ipconfig.all wrote: »

Kevin Minus I really like your attitude.

Do you know how much you scared me by calling me my government name? Lol. My name is Killa K don't call me Kevin lol

- JK

My father is a smart man. He is a Sr fuels research chemist for the USAF. He has a MS in Chemistry and will probably be going for his PhD soon. He told me that in order to be successful, you have to be what the other guy (or girl ) can't. Within reason, you should do whatever it takes to get there.

This guy worked 3 jobs while in College - 1 lab job, and 2 cook jobs just so he could afford to pay rent and take car of his family (just my mom and I at the time). This guy traveled 2 hours by bus everyday so my mom and I could have the car. This guy would literally starve so his family could eat. Despite our differences of opinion about certain things, we are dead on as far as family beliefs. I feel the same way about taking care of my family now (just my wife).

Devilsbane

Jason0352 wrote: »

Wait, you get to drink beer anytime during working hours? Or is it reserved for after work mixers?

Not quite as good as the mini bar under my desk, but better than nothing.

tpatt100

Yeah my dad worked as a security guard at night while he was working on his masters degree during the day. While he provided for a wife and two kids. He used to tell us how he survived on those potted meat spam sandwhiches all that time.

Nobylspoon

tpatt100 wrote: »

Yeah my dad worked as a security guard at night while he was working on his masters degree during the day. While he provided for a wife and two kids. He used to tell us how he survived on those potted meat spam sandwhiches all that time.

I just came from a security guard job, did it for three years after I left the military. It was great for school because I could study at work but it sucked never having a lunch break and not being able to leave until your replacement arrives. Now that I have lunch breaks I don't know what to do with my time, lol.

ChronusMaximus

knwminus wrote: »

I've been knocked down several times, by coworkers and bosses. I've been told that I could never make it to the next level by coworkers. I've been told to just blend in with the rest of the pack when I would go above and beyond for customers because it "Doesn't provided consistent support" (exact words). I've been told that certs are stupid and don't help. But despite all of that, I always keep one thing in mind --my goals. Even now, that I have the title of Network Security Admin, I am looking for more. Why? Because I don't settle. Whenever I get to a new place or level, I always want more. My mom is always saying I need my own business so I can control the atmosphere and she is correct. I am never settled into anything, I'm always ready to go further. That's kind of the way you have to be IMO. I cannot stress enough how important having a goal is. I want to be a millionaire, and that simply isn't going to happen with my current level of knowledge so even if I have to lose out on going out and having a good time now, 10 years from now I will be much further ahead. I talk to some of the people at my old jobs and they are doing the same old ****, making the same old **** money and thinking the same old ****. I cannot allow myself to be like that. I want to be that person doing the implementing, designing, the big dog, the big cheese. You have to be willing to do what they won't to get what they don't. This is my way of the ninja.

Couldn't agree more. While I try to be happy with what I have now and look back on everything I have accomplished I know I need to keep setting new goals and keep pushing.

IMHO, I think with this outlook you have that you are going to go far.

N2IT

knwminus wrote: »

I guess technically I am an Admin now....

During middle school through my junior year, I did SQL/ASP.NET/HTML/CSS development through a program to get inner city kids developing. While this was not a job, it did help build my experience level and technical knowledge. I started my first IT job while I was at my old for profit school (DeVry- not going there) with no certs in 2007. I was making about 12 dollars an hour, full time. In order to move to "premium support" the requirements were A+ and N+ but they would train you on your A+ so I went out and studied for my N+. I spend two days at one of those tech training schools before I ended up quiting my job and leaving that city and moving back home (true story, those two days cost me 2K and all I got out of it was a cheap folder and the Mike Myers N+ book ).

After being back at my parents house for a few weeks I landed a job at Geek Squad in 2007 (job 2). I was making about 14 dollars an hour but only working 30 hours a week. While there, I enrolled in the local community college for the A+. 3 weeks in, I passed the A+ and left the class with an A. I then turned my sites on greener pastures. I ended up landing a job at a large information company doing customer/help desk support early 2008 (job 3) and earned my N+ via self studying. The company said they promoted from within but I was never choose to go to 2nd level, even though they had me doing 2nd level work. I became very angry and picked up a part time job at a large outsouced IT helpdesk firm (job 3). I did this to pick up more experience and to earn extra cash. I quit there after 7 months.

I then started studying for the CCNA in 2009. At first I only did it because the big wigs at my current job really wanted but over time I ended up doing it to find a new job. I actually took the test 3 times, I failed it once, the test crashed once and I passed it on my 3rd go (1 test route). During the time between my 2nd and 3rd attempts, I ended up landing a job at a different large IT firm (job 4) and they stated I needed to get my CCNA within 90 days. I passed within a month. I then started studying for the CCNA:S late last year and actually passed it on the same day I got laid off. I ended up picking a very part time job doing pc support (job 5) and a few 1 day shots with a recruiting company until I ended up picking up a weekend job working for a noc (job 6). Shortly thereafter I picked up a full time job as a Network Security Admin (job 7).

My path has been a big crazier than most but from my first job making 12 dollars an hour I now make more than double that. I don't have my degree but I am enrolled in school and I have about 35 college credits, 3 years of experience and the certs in on my profile. I am 22 years old (23 in November).

I've been knocked down several times, by coworkers and bosses. I've been told that I could never make it to the next level by coworkers. I've been told to just blend in with the rest of the pack when I would go above and beyond for customers because it "Doesn't provided consistent support" (exact words). I've been told that certs are stupid and don't help. But despite all of that, I always keep one thing in mind --my goals. Even now, that I have the title of Network Security Admin, I am looking for more. Why? Because I don't settle. Whenever I get to a new place or level, I always want more. My mom is always saying I need my own business so I can control the atmosphere and she is correct. I am never settled into anything, I'm always ready to go further. That's kind of the way you have to be IMO. I cannot stress enough how important having a goal is. I want to be a millionaire, and that simply isn't going to happen with my current level of knowledge so even if I have to lose out on going out and having a good time now, 10 years from now I will be much further ahead. I talk to some of the people at my old jobs and they are doing the same old ****, making the same old **** money and thinking the same old ****. I cannot allow myself to be like that. I want to be that person doing the implementing, designing, the big dog, the big cheese. You have to be willing to do what they won't to get what they don't. This is my way of the ninja.

Actually one thing you said I disagree with. You have an SLA that needs to be met. If you are off on rogue adventures helping employee X with something not agreed to by the SLA and Scope of the service level management you could be doing more harm than good. Customers call in expecting a set service level. Providing acts of heroics can be more determental to the helpdesk than helpful.

They become accustom to that service even though the SLA / OLA doesn't indicate that. I'm not saying you shouldn't view the situation from the customers eyes, but stalling on one call "going beyond the call of duty" while your compadres are getting nailed with calls is lame.

****Note I am not saying you are stalling, but running over to department C and then D to get an answer is not cost effective and defiently not part of a solid ITIL/ISO model. The managers should be incharge of the training and what should be provided.

With that being said techs who hang up on people and make up lies to get off the calls are the worst.