Timeline: Your IT Career Progression

1356711

Comments

  • newjacknewjack Member Posts: 106 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Voulenterr Desktop Tech
    Real Estate Company
    Friends Company
    25 or less people
    Age 20
    Pay - 0

    Computer Sales Associate
    Electronics Store
    Applied on Company Website
    1000+
    Age 22
    Pay 10

    Forensic Examiner
    E-Discovery Company
    500+ Employees
    Applied on Company Site
    Age 23
    Pay 40k

    Security Support Engineer
    Software Company
    Employee Referral
    1000+
    Age 26
    55k
  • SoCalGuy858SoCalGuy858 Member Posts: 150 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Graduated high school in 2010, started first job six months later:

    Title: Computer Support Technician
    Hour/wk: 20
    Description: Computer guy and semi-tech support for local MSP with varied types of clients.
    Company size: 3
    Age: 18-19
    Duration: 10 months
    How: Knew somebody.
    Certs: None
    Education: High School Diploma
    Pay: 13/hr

    Title: Technical Support (officially: Technical Liaison)
    Hour/wk: 20
    Description: JOAT responsible for all end-user PCs, tech support, A/V, physical security systems, and production IT systems (PCs / label printers).
    Company size: ~50 (200+ if you count non-end user production technicians).
    Age: 19-20
    Duration: 1.5 years
    How: This company was a client of my previous company; wanted someone in-house for the non-server, non-networking stuff.
    Certs: None
    Education: High School Diploma
    Pay: Started @ 13.50/hr, ended @ 14.25/hr

    Title: Systems Administrator
    Hour/wk: 40+, including after-hours on-call Monday-Monday once every ~8 weeks.
    Description: JOAT w/ all of the responsibilities of the previous job, now including servers, and multiple engineering applications (SW & HW).
    Company size: ~400 (supported entire enterprise but directly responsible for 100+ / ~25 servers at 3 global sites in my business unit).
    Age: 20-22
    Duration: 2 years
    How: Knew somebody.
    Certs: None when I started. Obtained Associate of (ISC)2 - SSCP (almost done w/ endorsement); A/N/S+, VCA-DCV, and 2 MTAs
    Education: High School Diploma
    Pay: Started @ 21.63/hr FT w/ OT (45k); Ended @ 57k salaried.

    Title: Information Security Analyst
    Hour/wk: 40; no on-call
    Description: Newly established InfoSec department; just me at the Director; building policy framework from the ground up; personally responsible for vulnerability management and the majority of our security awareness program.
    Company Size: ~400
    Age: 22-23 (present)
    Duration: 6 months and going....
    How: Previous boss (Director of IT) moved into Director of Security role and needed help.
    Certs: Same as above. Company paid for SANS SEC-401, about to take the GSEC soon.
    Education: Professional Certificate in Information Systems Management (local univ.); 6 credits away from AAS degree.
    Pay: Started with same 57k as above, just bumped to 60k

    Got the approval to work from home, so I'll be moving across the country to a much lower COL area than I'm in now. Woot!
    LinkedIn - Just mention you're from TE!
  • dave0212dave0212 Member Posts: 287
    Title: CSO (Computer Support Officer)
    Hour/wk: 37.5
    Description: 1st line support for government dept (outsourced)
    Company size: 250
    Age: 22
    Duration: 14 months
    How: Advised to submit internal application
    Certs: None, but got A+ while in this position
    Education: GCSEs
    Pay: £13.5k

    Title: Technical Services Engineer
    Hour/wk: 37.5
    Description: Desktop support for law firm
    Company size: 400
    Age: 23
    Duration: 17 months
    How: Internal applicant
    Certs: A+ and got Network+ and MCP while working here
    Education: Same as before
    Pay: £16k

    Title: Data Center Operations Engineer
    Hour/wk: 37.5
    Description: Basic systems and network work including physical installs
    Company size: 500
    Age: 25
    Duration: 8 months
    How: External Applicant
    Certs: A+, Network+ and MCP and achieved MCSA2000 & CCNA while working here
    Education: Same as before
    Pay: £21k

    Title: Microsoft Systems Engineer
    Hour/wk: 37.5
    Description: Designing,implementing and managing Microsoft hosting solutions
    Company size: 500
    Age: 25
    Duration: 3 years and 7 months
    How: Advised to submit internal application
    Certs: A+, Network+ and MCP, MCSA2000 and CCNA and achieved MCSE2000, MCSA 2003, MCSE2003 Sec and Msg, MCITP 2008 and VCP3&4 while working here
    Education: Same as before
    Pay: £25k start finished on 30k

    Title: Senior Systems and Security Engineer
    Hour/wk: 37.5
    Description: Building department strategy, driving innovation and technical PoC
    Company size: 600
    Age: 29
    Duration: 2 years and 8 months
    How: External Applicant
    Certs: see previous and achieved MCSA 2012, VCP5, JNCIA, CCNA Security, SSCP and CEH
    Pay: £36k start finished on 41k

    Title: Systems Security and Compliance Officer (effectively Chief Security Officer)
    Hour/wk: 40
    Description: CSO implementing security from ground up, overseeing all compliance and security management
    Company size: 1000
    Age: 32
    Duration: 1 year and 9 months
    How: External Applicant
    Certs: see previous and achieved CISSP
    Pay: £45k

    Title: Security Consultant
    Hour/wk: 37.5 according to contract :)
    Description: Acting as CSO for multiple organisations and providing technical security consultancy, PCI & ISO 27001 compliance and implementation and management of InfoSec Management Systems. Also heavily involved in shaping of business growth areas.
    Company size: <10 but growing
    Age: 33
    Duration: 9 months (so far)
    How: Knew someone
    Certs: see previous and achieved CISA (passed exam) (so far)
    Pay: £50k (so far)

    Current role has massive scope for advancement so hoping in next 24 months that salary will have grown by 50% at least and I'm head of a function icon_thumright.gif
    This week I have achieved unprecedented levels of unverifiable productivity


    Working on
    Learning Python and OSCP
  • jabokimjabokim Member Posts: 56 ■■□□□□□□□□
    Title: IT Technician
    Hour/wk: 40 (overtime every now and then)
    Age: 27
    Duration: 6 months
    How: Applied Online
    Certs: A+
    Education: Working towards Bachelors
    Pay: $12.50 per hour

    Title: Junior Network Administrator
    Hour/wk: 40 (overtime every now and then and rotating on call)
    Age: 27
    Duration: 6 months
    How: Promotion (same company)
    Certs: A+, Network+
    Education: Working towards Bachelors
    Pay: $35k

    Title: Network Engineer II
    Hour/wk: 40 (No Overtime, No On Call)
    Age: 28
    Duration: 1 month (current job)
    How: Recruiter
    Certs: CCNA, Security+, Network+, A+ (working on CCNA Security right now)
    Education: Working towards Bachelors
    Pay: $60k
  • aspiringsoulaspiringsoul Member Posts: 314
    paul78 wrote: »
    Ok - just to rock the boat a little.

    Education: some college
    Certs: None until recently

    Title: Software Programmer
    Description: Software programmer developing graphics libraries under a grant
    Company size: Private university
    How: Knew someone
    Age: 20
    Pay : $16/hr

    Title: Technical Sales Support
    Description: Provided pre-sales support and technical assistance in software sales
    Company size: <100
    How: Want-ads in newspaper (this is pre-Internet folks)
    Age: 21
    Pay : $20K

    Title: Systems Programmer
    Description: Wrote OS utilities and ported software for supercomputer used in academic research
    Company size: Private university
    How: Knew someone
    Age: 23
    Pay : $32K

    Title: Software Engineer
    Description: Wrote Windows software for financial services industry
    Company size: 1000+
    How: Knew someone
    Age: 24
    Pay : $42K

    Title: Manager, Software Engineering
    Description: Management of QA and Development teams developing financial services applications
    Company size: 1000+
    How: Knew someone
    Age: 25
    Pay : $62K

    Title: Principal Software Engineer
    Description: Software architect for brokerage
    Company size: 15000+
    How: Knew someone
    Age: 29
    Pay : $110K

    Title: Director, Software Engineering
    Description: Start of internet boom - joined a small startup developing brokerage solutions
    Company size: < 10
    How: Knew someone
    Age: 31
    Pay : $110K

    Title: Technology Consultant
    Description: Internet implosion - went into private consulting
    Company size: just me
    How: Knew someone
    Age: 35
    Pay : $90/hr - $110/hr

    Title: VP, Operations
    Description: Yet another startup in financial services.
    Company size: <10
    How: Knew someone
    Age: 39
    Pay : $140K

    Title: VP, Operations
    Description: Had success with startup and sold it
    Company size: 5000+
    How: Knew someone
    Age: 41
    Pay : average annual $160K (variable compensation)

    Title: VP, Technology
    Description: Sold again and was offered another position in acquiring company
    Company size: 20000+
    How: Knew someone
    Age: 43
    Pay : average annual $240K (variable compensation)

    Title: VP, Technology
    Description: Took different role in company
    Company size: 20000+
    How: Knew someone
    Age: 45
    Pay : annual $360K (variable compensation - last year)

    I guess it pays to know someone!


    I started out at 25k as basically a junior Network Administrator 6 years ago. Just accepted a position for low 60s base (low 70s including bonus incentive) as a Security Analyst. I'm 28 years old.

    Some of you young whipper snappers make me feel like I'm failing at life.
    Education: MS-Information Security and Assurance from Western Governors University, BS-Business Information Systems from Indiana Wesleyan University, AAS-Computer Network Systems - ITT Tech,
  • NetworkNewbNetworkNewb Member Posts: 3,298 ■■■■■■■■■□
    I guess it pays to know someone!


    I started out at 25k as basically a junior Network Administrator 6 years ago. Just accepted a position for low 60s base (low 70s including bonus incentive) as a Security Analyst. I'm 28 years old.

    Some of you young whipper snappers make me feel like I'm failing at life.

    Seriously... my lowly 50k job looks depressing after reading these. Does help my wife pulls in 6 figures though, got me a sugar momma. ;) We are both 30. (she would be so pissed if I ever said that around her lol).

    It is nice to see a lot of determined individuals out there though. Just shows what a few years of hard work can do.
  • markulousmarkulous Member Posts: 2,394 ■■■■■■■■□□
    Seriously... my lowly 50k job looks depressing after reading these. Does help my wife pulls in 6 figures though, got me a sugar momma. ;) We are both 30. (she would be so pissed if I ever said that around her lol).

    It is nice to see a lot of determined individuals out there though. Just shows what a few years of hard work can do.

    How long have you been doing this and what is the cost of living for where you're at? Obviously those are factors and no reason to be sad.
  • 10Linefigure10Linefigure Member Posts: 368 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Title: Signal Support
    Age: 18
    Duration: 4 years
    How: Recruiter
    Certs: None
    Education: High school
    Pay: 43.5k

    Title: Network Analyst
    Age: 22
    Duration: May 2015-Current
    How: Applied Online
    Certs: CCNA R&S, Security+, Network+,A+
    Education: Some college (still going while working)
    Pay: 55k
    CCNP R&S, Security+
    B.S. Geography - Business Minor
    MicroMasters - CyberSecurity
    Professional Certificate - IT Project Management
  • NetworkNewbNetworkNewb Member Posts: 3,298 ■■■■■■■■■□
    markulous wrote: »
    How long have you been doing this and what is the cost of living for where you're at? Obviously those are factors and no reason to be sad.

    I've been in IT for about 4-5 years. Yea I live in a suburb of Minneapolis, about 20 minutes outside of the city. Cost of living is pretty cheap. :) I'm actually living pretty comfortably in a pretty nice house. Just bought a brand new SUV last year... We try to make it down to Mexico once a year... I'm not too sad :P (again that probably has a little to do with my better half doing so well though)
  • markulousmarkulous Member Posts: 2,394 ■■■■■■■■□□
    I've been in IT for about 4-5 years. Yea I live in a suburb of Minneapolis, about 20 minutes outside of the city. Cost of living is pretty cheap. :) I'm actually living pretty comfortably in a pretty nice house. Just bought a brand new SUV last year... We try to make it down to Mexico once a year... I'm not too sad :P (again that probably has a little to do with my better half doing so well though)

    Sounds like you're doing pretty well for yourself. :D
  • N2ITN2IT Inactive Imported Users Posts: 7,483 ■■■■■■■■■■
    Pretty cool thread, it's good to see a lot of the members doing well.

    I like Paul's progression the best though. :)
  • verbhertzverbhertz Member Posts: 54 ■■□□□□□□□□
    I've been in IT for about 4-5 years. Yea I live in a suburb of Minneapolis, about 20 minutes outside of the city. Cost of living is pretty cheap. :) I'm actually living pretty comfortably in a pretty nice house. Just bought a brand new SUV last year... We try to make it down to Mexico once a year... I'm not too sad :P (again that probably has a little to do with my better half doing so well though)

    Hey, I'm in the suburbs of St Paul, same age, looking for user groups anywhere in the twin cities. Preferably related to networking/Cisco but open to other vendors or tech areas. Do you know about any user groups or the like?
  • NetworkNewbNetworkNewb Member Posts: 3,298 ■■■■■■■■■□
    Don't really know of any networking groups, but there is a couple security groups I know of. One I plan on joining is http://mn.issa.org/silverstripe/mnissa/home/

    They hold bi-monthly meetings and form CISSP study groups once in awhile where they have current CISSP holders come and discuss topics.
  • MagmadragoonMagmadragoon Member Posts: 172 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Title: IT Support Tech
    Age:25
    Duration: 1 year
    How: Applied Online
    Cert: A+, VMware DCA
    Education: Bachelors
    Pay: 40k

    Title: Network Systems Administrator
    Age:26
    Duration: 1 month so far
    How: Recruiter
    Cert: CCENT, A+, Project+, VMware DCA
    Pay: 58k
  • LenniusceLenniusce Member Posts: 114 ■■■■□□□□□□
    Education: See Sig.
    Certs: See Sig.

    Title: SOHO PC Tech
    Description: Occasionally worked on PCs. Mostly a delivery guy
    Company size: 5-25
    How: Parent's Company
    Age: 22-25
    Pay : $10/hr

    Title: Army SMP Cadet
    Description: Made power points for Officers
    How: Contract
    Age: 22-26
    Pay : E-5 + Stipend

    Title: Kisok Tech
    Description: Work on printing kiosks around college campuses
    How: Applied through college career finder
    Age: 25
    Pay : 36,000

    Title: Desktop Support
    Description: Fix computers for AARP aged people
    How: Craigslist
    Age: 26
    Pay : 40K

    Title: Govt IT
    Description: Did nothing.
    How: ClearedConnections
    Age: 27
    Pay : 50K

    Title: IT Specialist
    Description: Did everything.
    How: Recruiter
    Age: 28
    Pay : 60K

    Title: Govt Network Engineer
    Description: Plan networks, configure cisco products in dev lab
    How: Recruiter
    Age: 29 (now)
    Pay : 79K
    In Progress: CCNA:DEVNET or CISSP Done: PMP | A+ | N+ | S+ | L+ | P+ | MCSA 2016 | CCNA | CCNA:S(exp) | LPIC1(exp) | MBA IT Management | MS Information Systems
  • diggitlediggitle Member Posts: 118 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Education: BS Information Systems Security
    Certs: Sec+, CEHv8.

    Title: Multi-Channel Transmission systems operator maintainer.
    Description: Deployed Line of Site communications
    Company size: 250k+
    Who: US Army
    Age: 18-21
    Pay : $9/hr


    Title: Information Technology Specialist.
    Description: Deployed secure and insecure internet to battalions, after Iraq worked at a hospital and served medical records.
    Company size: 250k+
    Who: US Army
    Age: 20-21
    Pay : $9/hr


    Title: Entry Level Network Technician.
    Description: Deployed routers, switches, and VPN devices.
    Company size: <15
    Who: Small Company
    Age: 21-23
    Pay : $15/hr

    Title: Migration Technician.
    Description: Refresh Projects/Rollouts/Windows Upgrades
    Company size: Deployed at Various companies throughout the 3 years as a contractor
    Who: Contractor
    Age: 24-26
    Pay : $18/hr

    Title: Information Security Engineer.
    Description: Penetration Tester
    Company size: <20
    Who: Small Company
    Age: 26-29
    Pay : $19/hr


    Title: Sr. Information Security Analyst
    Description: Vulnerability Management, Penetration Testing
    Company size: 250k+
    Who: Contractor
    Age: 30
    Pay : $28.76/hr
    c colon i net pub dubdubdub root
  • kriscamaro68kriscamaro68 Member Posts: 1,186 ■■■■■■■□□□
    Title: Helpdesk 2007-2009
    Hours/wk: 40+
    Company size: 200+
    Age: 24-26
    Duration: 2 Years
    How: Applied online
    Certs: None
    Education: High School
    Pay : $14hr-16hr

    Title: Computer Professional 2009-2010
    Hours/wk: 40+
    Company size: 10000+
    Age: 26-27
    Duration: 1 Years
    How: Applied online
    Certs: A+, Net+, Security+ MCP:XP
    Education: High School
    Pay : $36k-$38k

    Title: Windows System Admin 2011-2013
    Hours/wk: 40+
    Company size: 1200+
    Age: 27-29
    Duration: 2 Years
    How: Applied online
    Certs: A+, Net+, Security+ MCP:XP, MCTS:7, Server+
    Education: High School
    Pay : $45k-$48k

    Title: Windows System Admin II March 2013-June 2013
    Hours/wk: 40+
    Company size: 1200+
    Age: 29-29
    Duration: 3 Months
    How: Promoted
    Certs: A+, Net+, Security+ MCP:XP, MCTS:7, Server+
    Education: High School
    Pay : $52k

    Title: Windows System Engineer June 2013-Jan 2015
    Hours/wk: 40+
    Company size: 1200+
    Age: 29-31
    Duration: 2 Years
    How: Promoted
    Certs: A+, Net+, Security+ MCP:XP, MCTS:7, Server+, MCP 2012, MCS:Hyper-V
    Education: High School
    Pay : $67.5k-$70k

    Title: Windows System Engineer III Jan 2015-Present
    Hours/wk: 40+
    Company size: 1200+
    Age: 31-31
    Duration: 6 Months
    How: Promoted
    Certs: A+, Net+, Security+ MCP:XP, MCTS:7, Server+, MCP 2012, MCS:Hyper-V
    Education: High School
    Pay : $76k-$80k
  • cprimerocprimero Registered Users Posts: 3 ■□□□□□□□□□
    Title: Computer / Mobile Device Technician
    Description: end user hardware and software support
    Company size: 1k +
    Age: 19
    Pay : $20/hr

    Title: Network Support Specialist
    Description: User support on authentication and connectivity
    Company size: 300+
    Who: University
    Age: 23
    Pay : 46k / benefits
  • techMLtechML Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 41 ■□□□□□□□□□
    Title: Field Tech
    Hours/wk: 20
    Company size: 500
    Age: 21-22
    Duration: 1 year
    How: Craigslist
    Certs: none
    Education: Going through tech school
    Pay : $9.00


    Title: Jr. Sysadmin
    Hours/wk: 40+
    Company size: 3K+
    Age: 22-23
    Duration: present
    How: recruiter
    Certs: None
    Education: Tech degree in Computer Networking and Security
    Pay : $52K
  • daviddwsdaviddws Member Posts: 303 ■■■□□□□□□□
    zxbane wrote: »
    Long story short, on top of being good at what you do, it pays to know someone! lol

    More money more problems haha
    ________________________________________
    M.I.S.M:
    Master of Information Systems Management
    M.B.A: Master of Business Administration
  • bpennbpenn Member Posts: 499
    ^


    I like that F.E.A.R. Files photo, daviddws!
    "If your dreams dont scare you - they ain't big enough" - Life of Dillon
  • bmnaughtbmnaught Banned Posts: 21 ■□□□□□□□□□
    Its amazing to see how people go up and down and climb up
  • pevangelpevangel Member Posts: 342
    Title: Desktop Support
    Hour/wk: 40 (no on-call)
    Description: Desktop support and systems administration
    Company size: 500+
    Age: 25
    Duration: 1.5 years
    How: Applied and interviewed
    Certs: CCNA, Security+, A+
    Education: BS in progress
    Pay: 37K

    Title: NOC Support
    Hours/wk: 40 (no on-call)
    Description: Network monitoring
    Company size: 150+
    Age: 27
    Duration: <1 year
    How: Contacted by recruiter
    Certs: CCNA, CCNP Route, Security+, A+
    Education: BS in progress
    Pay: 33K

    Title: Jr. Network Engineer
    Hours/wk: 40ish + on-call
    Description: Deploy network equipment, configure devices, provision services
    Company size: 150+
    Age : 27
    Duration: 1 year
    How: Promotion
    Certs: CCNP, JNCIA, CCNA Security, A+/S+/P+
    Education: BS in progress
    Pay: $65K + benefits

    Title: Network Engineer
    Hours/wk: 40ish + on-call
    Description: Network design, project management, lead engineer for certain projects, pre-sales
    Company size: 200+
    Age: 28
    Duration: >1 year
    How : Promotion
    Certs: CCNP, JNCIS-ENT/SEC, CCNA SEC, ACE, S+/P+
    Education: BS on hold
    Pay : 75K + benefits

    Title: Sr. Network Engineer
    Hours/wk: 40 (no on-call)
    Description: Network engineering
    Company size: 60,000+
    Age: 29
    Duration: Starting soon
    How: Contacted by HR
    Certs: CCNP, JNCIS-ENT/SEC, CCNA SEC, ACE, S+/P+
    Education: BS on hold
    Pay: 115K + benefits
  • DWitherDWither Member Posts: 34 ■■□□□□□□□□
    Alot of nice info in here. Ive worried about if a lack of college would stop me from getting into IT. But it seems a good deal of you guys are in pretty high paying jobs without it
  • renacidorenacido Member Posts: 387 ■■■■□□□□□□
    Title: Computer Operator
    Hours/week: 40-60
    Description: Administration of OpenVMS network, script writing/debugging, process dev, PC (Windows) desktop maintenance
    Age: 18-21
    Certs: OpenVMS Systems Manager
    Pay: $18,000/yr

    Title: Computer Operator
    Hours/week: 40-60
    Description: Administration of mainframe computers, PC maintenance, asset inventory mgmt, LAN admin
    Age: 21-23
    Certs: none relevant
    Pay: $20,000/yr

    Title: Supervisory Sys Admin
    Hours/week: 40-60
    Description: Supervised 3; Administration of MS Exchange, NT4, Solaris, IIS Web, Oracle DBA, Cold Fusion, web dev
    Age: 23-27
    Certs: MCP, NT Server 4.0
    Pay: $24,000/yr + maybe $5,000 from IT consulting biz on the side

    Title: Sr Sys Admin/IT Security Manager
    Hours/week: 40-60
    Description: Managed 5; Windows Server domain admin, security manager, compliance officer, auditor, network engineer, Unix sys admin
    Age: 27-33
    Certs: MCSA, MCSE, MCSE:S, Sec+
    Pay: $32,000 - $58,000/yr

    Title: IT Ops/IT Security Manager
    Hours/week: 40-60
    Description: managed 12; built IT Security program for university; ran IT infrastructure ops/engineering/networking/security
    Age: 33-36
    Certs: MCSA, MCSE, MCSE:S, Sec+
    Pay: $85,000/yr

    Title: Assist Deputy CIO
    Hours/week: 40-60
    Description: Oversaw 300+, proj mgmt, IT strategy, compliance, operations, security
    Age: 36-39
    Certs: MCSA, MCSE, MCSE:S, Sec+, ITILv3
    Pay: $92,000/yr

    Title: IT Consultant
    Hours/week: 40ish (varied a lot)
    Description: Contract work for IT projects
    Age: 39
    Certs: MCSA, MCSE, MCSE:S, Sec+, ITILv3
    Pay: $75/hr

    Title: Sr IT Security Analyst
    Hours/week: 40
    Description: SOC team lead; incident response, vuln mgmt, security audit, malware analysis, security program management
    Age: 40-41
    Certs: MCSA, MCSE, MCSE:S, Sec+, ITILv3, CEH, CISSP
    Pay: $102,000/yr + bonus

    Title: Sr Security Engineer
    Hours/week: 40
    Description: system security engineering, enterprise architecture, incident response, vuln mgmt, security audit, risk analysis
    Age: 41
    Certs: MCSA, MCSE, MCSE:S, Sec+, ITILv3, CEH, CISSP
    Pay: $115,000/yr
    Years experience in IT: 23
    Years experience in infosec: 14
  • renacidorenacido Member Posts: 387 ■■■■□□□□□□
    DWither wrote: »
    Alot of nice info in here. Ive worried about if a lack of college would stop me from getting into IT. But it seems a good deal of you guys are in pretty high paying jobs without it

    Don't need a degree. It helps but the opportunity cost plus student loan debt make it questionable as a means to get the first job.

    Build a solid work history doing anything (point of it is to prove to be a reliable and hard-working responsible adult and have good employment references) while you get a certification or two for credibility and to get past HR screening of resumes. That will get you an IT job faster than a 4-year degree.

    Higher learning is good for you. So is exercise and a healthy diet. Both make you a better you. Neither are equal to work experience and good references for making you a more attractive hire.

    And don't break the law. Background checks for new hires are here to stay.
  • Sheiko37Sheiko37 Member Posts: 214 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Title: Help Desk Consultant (1st level)
    Hour/wk: 16-30
    Description: The standard password resets and basic desktop support.
    Company size: Global
    Age: 21-26
    Duration: 4.5 years
    How: Applied and interviewed.
    Certifications: None
    Education: High School
    Pay: $17 - 20.40AUD/h


    Title: Compliance Analyst
    Hour/wk: 40
    Description: Regular scans of systems to check if they comply to the technical specifications policy, then oversee remediation.
    Company size: Global
    Age: 26-29
    Duration: 3 years
    How: Applied and interviewed, but in reality it was because of a recommendation from someone already on the team.
    Certifications: None
    Pay: $60,000AUD


    Title: Compliance Team Leader
    Hour/wk: 40
    Description: Coordinating the day-to-day and month-to-month work for the team, plus reporting, metrics, etc.
    Company size: Global
    Age: 29-30
    Duration: 1.5 years
    How: Timing, the previous guy moved on and I put my hand up for the position.
    Certifications: SSCP
    Pay: $72,000AUD


    Title: Security Analyst
    Hour/wk: 40
    Description: Large scale vulnerability scanning with enterprise products.
    Company size: Global
    Age: 30-
    Duration: Current
    How: Applied and interviewed.
    Certifications: SSCP, CISSP
    Pay: 87,000AUD
  • DrackarDrackar Member Posts: 47 ■■□□□□□□□□
    RHEL,

    This thread seems a good fit for this convo..
    Its old but it might help visualized some career choices a bit.

    http://www.techexams.net/forums/general-certification/101064-cert-career-map.html
    To be a warrior is not a simple matter of wishing to be one. It is rather an endless struggle that will go on to the very last moment of our lives. Nobody is born a warrior, in exactly the same way that nobody is born an average man. We make ourselves into one or the other.
    -- Kokoro by Natsume Sosek, 1914, Japan
  • GreaterNinjaGreaterNinja Member Posts: 271
    Title: HelpDesk
    Hour/wk: 20
    Description: College Helpdesk -
    Company size: ~3000
    Age: 17-20
    Duration: 2 years
    How: Applied and interviewed
    Certs: Network+
    Education: High School - in college then A.A. Mathematics, Beer
    Pay: $7.38/hr

    Title: Data Entry
    Hour/wk: 36
    Description: Data Entry for coupons
    Company size:
    Age: 21
    Duration: 5 months
    How: Applied and interviewed
    Certs: Network+
    Education:
    Pay: $8.25/hour

    Title: POS Systems Installer
    Hour/wk: 50
    Description: Ran around installing new point of sales systems and fixing old ones
    Company size:
    Age: 21
    Duration: 5 months
    How: Applied and interviewed
    Certs: Network+
    Education:
    Pay: $15/hour

    Title: Desktop Support
    Hour/wk: 45
    Description: IMAC, Break-Fix, and Executive Support, I learned by failure and success
    Company size:
    Age: 22-30
    Duration: 8 years
    How: Applied and interviewed
    Certs: Network+
    Education:
    Pay: $22-30/hour


    Title: Desktop Engineer
    Hour/wk: 45-65
    Description: IMAC, Break-Fix, CEO/CFO, etc.. Executive Support, I learned by failure and success
    Company size:
    Age: 30-32
    Duration: 2+ years
    How: Applied and interviewed
    Certs: Network+, MCP, MCTS, DCSE, Linux+, VCA, etc.
    Education:
    Pay: Started $34/hour moved to ~115k/yr at the end of 2 years.

    Title: Owner
    Hour/wk: 40-70
    Description: Started my own company in the import/export business and providing IT services
    Company size: 1
    Age: 31-
    Duration: 2 years
    How: Had the balls to do it when everyone said it was a bad idea. I used my own money to finance my idea, created it, had a beer and then it took off.
    Certs: Too many to list now.
    Education: B.A. Mathematics, soon M.S. ISA
    Pay: Revenue in 7 figure territory. Invaluable experience.

    Now: I stopped business and working in 2015 as I am seeking enlightenment over working right now. Job offers in 6 figure realm or lower come in all the time. The job has to be worth my time or for a good cause. Right now travelling Asia for 4 months courtesy of the #1 company in the world, developing #7 arcade game for Blizzard, looking at blockchain technology, investments, and working on Masters of Science in Information Security Assurance. I'm considering law school too.
  • NicWhiteNicWhite Member Posts: 134
    Wow, @GreaterNinga. You win! LOL
    WGU - BS Software Development
    Start Date: 2/1/2016
    Transferred 40 / Complete 23 / Remaining 60
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