New job - Heading to the arctic

GT-RobGT-Rob Member Posts: 1,090
in IT Jobs / Degrees
Next week I am embarking on a new chapter in my career of networking, and that is spending the next 4+months in Northern Canada in the arctic circle on a government project.


I wanted to share this to show the kind of interesting opportunities that IT can bring. A lot of people likely assume that IT only leads to sitting in a dark cubicle alone for the rest of your life, but it doesn't have to be. If you are willing and able, there are lots of interesting ways to enjoy the technology while still getting to experience some adventure.


No, I have never been up there before, but I cannot wait to experience the culture. I have started a blog to update what life is like, and it will be slightly technical in case any of you are interested (primarily Cisco Networking). Can be found here: North by North


Any messages for Santa?
http://frozenrouter.blogspot.com
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Comments

  • Asif DaslAsif Dasl Member Posts: 2,116 ■■■■■■■■□□
    Congrats! I think... You sound happy, so I'll presume this isn't like being sent to a desert island. The Eskimos need networking too it seems. I'm sure it's nice weather there these days but I don't envy you come winter time. icon_twisted.gif
    You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions. - Naguib Mahfouz

    The mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it, as long as you really believe 100 percent. - Arnold Schwarzenegger
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  • GT-RobGT-Rob Member Posts: 1,090
    haha yes its a good thing (I hope!).


    22hrs of sunlight right now, and about low 60s so not too bad right now. Trust me, I will be running before winter, -60degrees...no thanks!
    http://frozenrouter.blogspot.com
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  • veritas_libertasveritas_libertas Member Posts: 5,746 ■■■■■■■■■■
    Yes, tell him I would love to work IT in his toy factory... icon_mad.gifmas:
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  • WebmasterWebmaster Admin Posts: 10,292 Admin
    Congrats, sounds like a life-changing opportunity!
    GT-Rob wrote:
    22hrs of sunlight right now,
    Just shut the windows, lock fair daylight out, and make yourself an artificial night. icon_study.gif

    And please remind Santa it's been 25 years and I'm still waiting for my Optimus Prime G1...
    LinkedIn - FaceBook
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  • EveryoneEveryone Member Posts: 1,661
    Awesome, sounds like a rare opportunity, I bet it pays pretty well too. ;)
    www.fixtheexchange.com
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  • networker050184networker050184 Mod Posts: 11,962 Mod
    Thats pretty cool. I saw some job posts for Antarctica and thought about applying. Maybe one day I'll go do something cool like that. Enjoy!
    An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made.
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  • onesaintonesaint Member Posts: 801
    Congrats on the new job. That sounds like quite an adventure!

    My wife wouldnt let me go down to Kuwait for work. She's a military brat and doesn't want to drag the kids anywhere! The opportunity is there for IT and adventure though, for sure.
    Work in progress: picking up Postgres, elastisearch, redis, Cloudera, & AWS.
    Next up: eventually the RHCE and to start blogging again.

    Control Protocol; my blog of exam notes and IT randomness
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  • LordQarlynLordQarlyn Member Posts: 693 ■■■■■■□□□□
    Congrats! I just started my first TRUE IT job in Alaska. Was an adventure bringing the family up, driving from Las Vegas to Anchorage. They're new to the US, so they loved seeing the American (and Canadian) countryside.

    A couple months earlier, I just finished two years in Iraq, so won't be going over to the Middle East again anytime soon.
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  • Jack2Jack2 Member Posts: 153
    Sounds like a COOL job!!
    WGU Courses Completed at WGU: CPW3, EWB2, WFV1, TEV1, TTV1, AKV1, TNV1| TSV1, LET1, ORC1, MGC1, TPV1, TWA1, CVV1, DHV1, DIV1, DJV1, TXP1, TYP1, CUV1, TXC1, TYC1, CJV1
    Classes Transferred: BAC1, BBC1, LAE1, LAT1, LUT1 ,1LC1, 1MC1, QLT1, IWC1, IWT1, INC1, INT1, SSC1, SST1, CLC1
    WGU Graduate - BSIT 2014
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  • aethereosaethereos Member Posts: 55 ■■□□□□□□□□
    It would be awesome if you could take pictures of the surrounding areas and blog frequently about the experience.
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  • EssendonEssendon Member Posts: 4,546 ■■■■■■■■■■
    aethereos wrote: »
    It would be awesome if you could take pictures of the surrounding areas and blog frequently about the experience.

    That's an excellent idea!

    Congrats GT-Rob! Would this disrupt your CCIE lab prep, out of curiosity?
    NSX, NSX, more NSX..

    Blog >> http://virtual10.com
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  • geek4godgeek4god Member Posts: 187
    One word of advice! If a polar bear ask you if you come here often RUN!! icon_rolleyes.gif
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  • mikej412mikej412 Member Posts: 10,086 ■■■■■■■■■■
    Good Luck with the job. icon_thumright.gif

    Even if it turns out to be routine you'll still have the "Arctic Experience" on your resume that will make you and your resume memorable over your future job competition. :D
    :mike: Cisco Certifications -- Collect the Entire Set!
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  • GT-RobGT-Rob Member Posts: 1,090
    Think of the resume skills I can add!

    -Experience with snow mobile repairs
    -works well in igloos
    -Ability to work in 24hrs of daylight, or 24hrs of night


    Not too much new skills, but every job brings new experience ;)
    http://frozenrouter.blogspot.com
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  • ITdudeITdude Member Posts: 1,181 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Don't forget your thermal underwear! :)icon_wink.gif
    I usually hang out on 224.0.0.10 (FF02::A) and 224.0.0.5 (FF02::5) when I'm in a non-proprietary mood.

    __________________________________________
    Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
    (Leonardo da Vinci)
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  • GT-RobGT-Rob Member Posts: 1,090
    After moving from one apartment to another yesterday in high 90 degree temps, I am looking forward to the low 50s that are up north right now! I leave tomorrow :D
    http://frozenrouter.blogspot.com
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  • MAC_AddyMAC_Addy Member Posts: 1,740 ■■■■□□□□□□
    GT-Rob wrote: »
    After moving from one apartment to another yesterday in high 90 degree temps, I am looking forward to the low 50s that are up north right now! I leave tomorrow :D

    The heat is extremely bad here - no rain for weeks. All my grass is dead. I envy you going to somewhere that's nice and cool.

    How did you land that job? I've been interested in doing some jobs that require me to travel to somewhere that's out of the ordinary. What will you be doing?
    2017 Certification Goals:
    CCNP R/S
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  • Dakinggamer87Dakinggamer87 Member Posts: 4,016 ■■■■■■■■□□
    Congrats and good luck with new job!! icon_thumright.gif
    *Associate's of Applied Sciences degree in Information Technology-Network Systems Administration
    *Bachelor's of Science: Information Technology - Security, Master's of Science: Information Technology - Management
    Matthew 6:33 - "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."
    Certs/Business Licenses In Progress: AWS Solutions Architect, Series 6, Series 63
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  • phantasmphantasm Member Posts: 995
    That sounds like one heck of an opportunity. Good luck!!
    "No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man." -Heraclitus
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  • kalebkspkalebksp Member Posts: 1,033 ■■■■■□□□□□
    I was working in Barrow last week. The client took me out to Point Barrow (Northern most point in the US) on an ATV. It was pretty cool, lots of very flat land and sea. I also got to see the pile of whale bones from one of the Native Alaskan's hunts.

    Very interesting place to visit, but I don't think anyone could pay me enough to live out there.

    Good luck with the job!
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  • ThePrimetimerThePrimetimer Member Posts: 169 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Good luck on the new journey!

    It would be kinda cool to have a job like this. I keep having a co-worker tell me to go work on the North Slope in Alaska cause that's where the money is.

    Easier said than done.
    "You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get it and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done"
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  • jahsouljahsoul Member Posts: 453
    kalebksp wrote: »
    I was working in Barrow last week. The client took me out to Point Barrow (Northern most point in the US) on an ATV. It was pretty cool, lots of very flat land and sea. I also got to see the pile of whale bones from one of the Native Alaskan's hunts.

    Very interesting place to visit, but I don't think anyone could pay me enough to live out there.

    Good luck with the job!
    I lived in North Pole, AK and I'm trying to find a job that would let me move back up there. That is one of the most beautiful places I've ever lived. It was more of a culture shock for me. Coming from the real Birmingham (have to live in Alabama or know about the dynamics of the city to get that one..lol) to AK was, for lack of a better phrase, different. IT is kinda spotty up there unless you work for the Goverment (civil service) so I'm just waiting for the right time.
    Reading: What ever is on my desk that day :study:
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  • GT-RobGT-Rob Member Posts: 1,090
    The job was through a consulting company that I have done work with in the past. I was looking to move on from my current role, this came up, and I went for it! I really want to break into consulting/sub-contracting as I always get bored in normal roles after a year or two, so hopefully this will jump start that. If not, it will be a good experience anyway.
    http://frozenrouter.blogspot.com
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