I am writting this in the hope that it will help some of you who are getting into IT field or those that want to move up the ladder. I hope others will share their stories and lessons that they have learned as well.
I started my IT career when I was in university. I worked as a part-time computer specialist in University computing for two years, basically helpdesk/desktop/application support over phone/face-to-face to students and faculties. The job offered 50 cents pay increase for each certification that I get. I got A+, Microsoft Office and helpdesk certifications capping the max pay of $8 an hour. After I graduated, I sent out nearly a thousand resumes. I was worried I was not going to get a job. I had no connections and I did not have people/soft skills. English is not my native language. I came to US in 10th grade and learning to speak/understand was a huge challenge. Anyway, I got a total of 3 interviews for helpdesk/support positions within 2-3 weeks. I got a job with a consulting company and they sent me to work for Board of Education as a helpdesk technician with pay of $17 an hour without benefits.
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Things I learned: Certifications and job experience I got from working at university were the keys to getting that job. It does not matter what the status of the cert is, the knowledge that I gained from the pursuit of the certs allowed me to answer the technical questions in the interview.
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I worked hard at that job. I came in on weekends when they needed and also helped out with network/application group's phone queues. I was also studying MCP/MCSE/CCNA at the same time (I wanted more out of my life). Due to my work ethic and increasing knowledge, I was given $2 an hour raise after 3 months. Then 3 months later, I was being made team leader with additional $2 an hour raise. But I couldn't handle the job, I was getting burned out. I gained 25+ lbs and my blood pressure was in the 140-150s area. I was prescribed with Diovan, which I took for 3 years till I learned that it was the cause of my thinning hair. I stopped taking the pill and hair loss stopped but I am the first person in the entire history of my family who is getting/almost bald (and I am only 31). I keep sending out resumes while working and landed a job as helpdesk specialist for $45k a year with full benefits (and 3% raise at year-ends). I was told by interviewer that my manager from university gave highest recommendation she has ever heard.
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Things I learned: I should not burn any bridges, they help out in more ways that I can ever know. Stress is real and that I should talk to my doctor about side effects of any medicine before I take them.
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I worked hard, I volunteered for overtime whether they are holidays/weekends/nights. I contributed technical tidbits and fixes to issues that I have encountered with the group, while studying for MCP/MCSE/CCNA. I also asked manager about any ongoing projects and if I could help in any of those. I show initiative regularly and came to be relied upon within the group. 16 months later, there was an opening for Jr. systems admin position and I applied for it. The downside to it was no pay increase and it was night shift. I took it anyway, I needed the title for my resume.
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Things I learned: Showing initiatives, having a good rapport, quest for knowledge and hard work still lead to success. And that I must make sacrifices in order to advance some times.
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I did the same things I have been doing. I worked hard, I volunteered for projects and I studied hard. At that point in my life, I was studying desktop/server/AD/SQL/Exchange/Backups/deployment solutions, and all the hardware/software products I touch at work. I studied ahead of the group on Windows 2008 servers, Windows 7, etc... 17 months later, my night shift co-worker left and my body started to take a toll of working night shift. I applied for a system admin position at a different company and was offered $70k with full benefits + a pension. I didn't take it. I took $10k increase counter offer from same company. Even though base is way lower at same company, with overtime I was making like $90k+ (granted I have to give my time to make additional money). I figured I like money better at the cost of my health. I wanted to retire early and the more I can save, the better it is. I kept studying, I stuided CCNP/VMware/SIP/VoIP/SANs/OSCP/CISSP etc... 3 and a half years later I have became unofficially level III system admin (the highest tier), I was also assisting network admin and VMWare admin and have multiple projects. I was becoming unhappy considering the workload I do as well as assisting other system admins and doing every roles with a title of Jr. system admin with low pay. I have addressed this multiple times too but to no avail. I started getting actual certs instead of just studying only. I had CISSP done, I did OSCP, I got MCITP/CCNA/Cisco Storage Specialist cert, as well as SIP and VoIP certs. I was then given $13k increase with day shift and they took off junior prefix.
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Things I learned: It does not matter if I know and have more knowledge than what a cert required, the credential of the cert is the ultimate thing. Technical world is vast and that I should keep reading/studying for certs. Information eases anxiety and the more I know, the better I am prepared.
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Even though my pay is still low considering what I do and what other company are offering, I sticked with the company. With overtime and benefits, I am making more than what other companies would pay. Plus, I applied for a few jobs and I did get interviews (due to better resume), I still didn't get those jobs. They have multiple interviews for a position and I always made it to the final interview. But it is still hard without connections. I have learned that without connections, life is really hard. Anyway, I keep studying and stay abrast with my field as well as security field since I love security, which you may have noticed from OSCP, CISSP, CEH that I was doing. 4 months later, there was an opening for Information Security Analyst position and I applied. I got the position with a pay increase of $33k and I have been in the same position since but much happier. I was told that they didn't want to let me go from systems position but had no choice since I could leave the firm. I still assist with the systems I set up since I am in same company but I don't mind that. I am still keeping up with latest technology in addition to exploits/vulnerability. Even though I am an information security analyst, I am more like an engineer since I am the only one and I designed/setup a lot of security infrastructure with my co-worker, who is also a manager.
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Things I learned: Even if I have no connections, as long as I am good/great at what I do, roads will open albeit they may take longer. I should always keep the hunger for knowledge for it is power. Security gets better/easier when I have the whole knowledge of enterprise culture and every systems/products from programming/database/web to systems/VoIP/network I have learned contribute to it greatly.
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I am also planning to take MSISA from WGU starting December, the knowledge I will gain in pursuit of the degree title for my resume will help with my future endeavor. I hope any of you planning to get into IT or making a career change will get something out of my experience. Always keep showing initiative and good luck on your journey.
Looking through the preview before posting this, I noticed this is a long read.
