Timeline: Your IT Career Progression

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  • ThexzenoThexzeno Member Posts: 44 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Title: Technical customer support
    Hour/wk: 40
    Company size: ~ 10,000
    Age: 21
    Duration: 6 months
    How: Applied online
    Certs: A+
    Education: N/A
    Pay: 24k



    Title: Help desk
    Hour/wk 40
    company size: 100
    Age: 22
    Duration: 3 years
    How: applied online
    Certs: CCNA A+
    Pay: 35K


    Title: Associate NOC engineer
    Hour/wk: 40
    Company size: 25K
    Age: 25
    Duration: Current position
    How: Reddit
    Certs: CCNP R&S
    Pay: 60k
  • Cory.holtCory.holt Registered Users Posts: 3 ■□□□□□□□□□
    Title: US Navy Operation Specialist
    Hour/wk: Salary
    Description: Mostly whole time in was Air traffic control than instructor
    Company size: >10000
    Age: 18
    Duration: 8 years
    How: Applied
    Certs: none
    Education: High School Diploma
    Pay: 22k (starting) - 32k (ending)

    Title: Program Anaylst (Contractor)
    Hour/wk: 40
    Description: Provide program manangement support.
    Company size: >50
    Age: 27
    Duration: Current
    How: Applied on Indeed
    Certs: IT Fundamentals, currently working on CAPM (will have done before contract ends)
    Education: In school for AA in Computer Networking and techonology(will have done before contract ends)
    Pay: 48k
  • mrs_pinkmrs_pink Registered Users Posts: 2 ■□□□□□□□□□
    Title: Senior Technical Writer
    Hour/wk: 40
    Company size: 200
    Age: 35
    Duration: 1 year
    How: Applied online
    Certs: none
    Education: Close to finishing BS in Psych
    Pay: 78K


    Title: Information Security Specialist
    Hour/wk 40
    company size: 200 (same company as above)
    Age: 35
    Duration: 3 years
    How: was given the job after starting as a Tech Writer
    Certs: None
    Education: BS in Psych
    Pay: 82K

    Title: Senior Cybersecurity Engineer
    Hour/wk: 40
    Company size: 20K
    Age: 38
    Duration: Current
    How: They found me on their talent website
    Certs: Acquired Sec+, CEH, and CISSP six months after starting
    Education: MS in Cyber and Information Security
    Pay: 110K
  • djrabesdjrabes Member Posts: 66 ■■□□□□□□□□
    Title: ICT Apprentice
    Hour/wk: 35
    Company Size: >200
    Age: 19
    Duration: 2 Years - Present
    How: Apprenticeships website
    Certs: A+, MCP, MCSA: Windows Server 2012 (Upcoming Certs: MCSA: Windows Server 2016, Windows 10, Network+, Security+)
    Education: Level 2 ICT Apprenticeship in ICT Competence, Level 3 ICT Apprenticeship in ICT Competence
    Pay: £8K (First Year), £10K (Second Year), £13K (Third Year)
    Certifications: CompTIA A+, MCP, MCSA: Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2016, Windows 10
    Studying: Exam 70-414: Implementing an Advanced Server Infrastructure
    Want: MCSA: Office 365, MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure Exam 70-414: Implementing an Advanced Server Infrastructure), Network+, Security+
  • jb4479jb4479 Member Posts: 10 ■■■□□□□□□□
    My path goes a little differently from others.

    First job: Work study USAF contracting Purchasing agent (Age 18-21)
    Age 21-23: various low level

    Title: Sonar Technician, Surface, US Navy, Department ISSO
    Hour/wk: ???
    Company Size:
    Age: 23
    Duration: 10 years
    How: Raised my hand, twice!
    Certs: None
    Education: Military Training, a lot of college classes
    Pay: ~32k (ending)

    Title: Product Support/Field Service Engineer (Satcom), Go to IT guy
    Hour/wk: 50ish
    Company Size: ~1,500
    Age: 32
    Duration: 18 months
    How: Military only job fair
    Certs: No IT related
    Education:
    Pay 52k

    Title: IT Contractor/Consultant
    Hour/wk: Variable
    Company size: 1
    Age: 34
    Duration: 13 years
    How:
    Certs: Dell
    Education: Associates Degree. Computer Technology and Networking
    Pay: Varied ( a lot)

    Title: Service Desk Tier 3, Team lead
    Hours/wk: 40
    Company Size: ~650
    Age: 48
    Duration: Current (1 year)
    How: Hiring manager is an old friend
    Certs: In Progress; MCSE: Windows Mobility, ITIL Foundation, Security+
    Education: BSITM WGU in progress (8 courses to go)
    Pay: 45k

    From here who knows, as I have said in another thread: There is no room for advancement, a manager would have to be hit by a bus (I report directly to the Service desk manager, and it's management all the way up form there).

    Ultimate goal: IT architect.
  • broli720broli720 Member Posts: 394 ■■■■□□□□□□
    Thought I'd update this.

    Title: Senior Consultant
    Hours/wk: 45~
    Description: Full time with benefits
    Company Size: 50k+
    Duration: 2018 - Current
    How: Referral
    Certs: CISSP, CCNA, CCNA Security, CCDA
    Education: BS in IS, MS in Info Sec, MBA
    Pay: $143k
    broli720 wrote: »
    Title : Project IT Intern
    Hours/wk: 30
    Description: Internship
    Company size: 50k+
    Age: 22
    Duration: 10 months
    How : Career website at school
    Certs: none
    Education: Super Senior in College
    Pay : $21.70 a hour, no benefits

    Title : Technology Associate
    Hours/wk: 40
    Description: Fulltime position same company (was brought on full time)
    Company size: 50k+
    Age: 23
    Duration: 1 year
    How : Previous Internship
    Certs: Security+
    Education: BS in IS some masters
    Pay : $59k

    Title : Information Systems Security Officer
    Hours/wk: 40
    Description: Full time position same company
    Company size: 50k+
    Age: 26
    Duration: 3 years
    How : A few Internal promotions
    Certs: CISSP, CCNA, CCNA Security
    Education: BS in IS & MS in Info Sec
    Pay : $73k

    Title : Security Consultant
    Hours/wk: 40
    Description: Fulltime position (first job hop)
    Company size: 200
    Age: 27
    Duration: Current
    How : Appied on company website
    Certs: CISSP, CCNA, CCNA Security
    Education: BS in IS & MS in Info Sec
    Pay : $115k
  • causancausan Member Posts: 12 ■□□□□□□□□□
    Title : Technical Support Agent
    Hours/wk: 40
    Description: Call center end user support
    Company size: 500k+
    Age: 25
    Duration: 3 years
    How : cross trained from customer service
    Certs: none
    Education: High School Diploma,
    Pay : $15/hr.

    Title : LAN Gaming Center/Repair Shop Manager
    Hours/wk: 40
    Description: Help setup and run LAN Gaming Center while also doing PC and phone repairs.
    Company size: 5
    Age: 30
    Duration: 1 year
    How : Craigslist
    Certs: none
    Education: Associates Degree Computer Science
    Pay : $35k a year

    Title : District IT Support Tech
    Hours/wk: 40
    Description: Help desk and some network support. Visit different school sites through out the week for any IT related support.
    Company size: 17,000
    Age: 31
    Duration: 4 years
    How : Indeed
    Certs: Network+, Sec+, Linux+, Project+ and Novel Certified Administrator
    Education: Associates Degree Computer Science
    Pay : $62k

    Title : District System Administrator I
    Hours/wk: 40
    Description: network and system admin support, some help desk as well.
    Company size: 17,000
    Age: 35
    Duration: 1 year
    How : Promotion
    Certs: Network+, Sec+, Linux+, Project+ and Novel Certified Administrator
    Education: Bachelor's Degree Information Technology
    Pay : $75k
  • dhay13dhay13 Member Posts: 580 ■■■■□□□□□□
    Updated (salary):

    After obtaining a bunch of certs and busting my butt I was rewarded last summer with a nice 22% raise. Very nice to know my company appreciates me and at that point I decided to stick around. I love my job but just needed to be compensated fairly and my company agreed!

    Title: Internship (summer 2008 )
    Hour/wk: ~35
    Description: Local school district
    Company size: about 200 staff and about 2000 students
    Age: 39 (yeah, got a late start)
    Duration: ~3 months
    How: knew people at the school and asked about doing an internship
    Certs: none
    Education: enrolled in dual A.A.S. programs
    Pay: $0/hr


    Title: IT Support (Feb 2009-March 2011)
    Hour/wk: ~20
    Description: same local school district
    Company size: about 200 staff and about 2000 students
    Age: 40
    Duration: just over 2 years
    How: IT Coordinator called and asked if I would like to come back and help out
    Certs: still none
    Education: A.A.S. Network & PC Specialist, finished A.A.S. Computer Forensics & Security and completed B.S. Information Technology
    Pay: $8.25/hr


    Title: System Administrator (2011-2014)
    Hour/wk: 40
    Description: Small manufacturing business
    Company size: ~90
    Age: 42
    Duration: 3.5 years
    How: Applied through newspaper ad
    Certs: A+ and Network+
    Education: A.A.S. Network & PC Specialist, A.A.S. Computer Forensics & Security, B.S. Information Technology
    Pay: ~$50000


    Title: System Security Administrator (March 2015-present)
    Hour/wk: 40
    Description: FT employee of company that holds contract with federal gov't
    Company size: ~700 on contract
    Age: 46
    Duration: 2 years and counting
    How: Applied to internet job board
    Certs: started with A+ and N+ but added CISSP, Sec+, Solarwinds, Nessus, Six Sigma, and CSA+
    Education: A.A.S. Network & PC Specialist, A.A.S. Computer Forensics & Security, B.S. Information Technology
    Pay: started at $60,000, went to $64,000, now at $78,000
  • Muhammed HMuhammed H Member Posts: 93 ■■■□□□□□□□
    dhay13 - You are an inspiration man. Your progress through your IT career proves that age is just a number. And people can really move up to the career ladder even they start late.
  • Basic85Basic85 Member Posts: 189 ■■■□□□□□□□
    dhay13 wrote: »
    Updated (salary):

    After obtaining a bunch of certs and busting my butt I was rewarded last summer with a nice 22% raise. Very nice to know my company appreciates me and at that point I decided to stick around. I love my job but just needed to be compensated fairly and my company agreed!

    Title: Internship (summer 2008 )
    Hour/wk: ~35
    Description: Local school district
    Company size: about 200 staff and about 2000 students
    Age: 39 (yeah, got a late start)
    Duration: ~3 months
    How: knew people at the school and asked about doing an internship
    Certs: none
    Education: enrolled in dual A.A.S. programs
    Pay: $0/hr


    Title: IT Support (Feb 2009-March 2011)
    Hour/wk: ~20
    Description: same local school district
    Company size: about 200 staff and about 2000 students
    Age: 40
    Duration: just over 2 years
    How: IT Coordinator called and asked if I would like to come back and help out
    Certs: still none
    Education: A.A.S. Network & PC Specialist, finished A.A.S. Computer Forensics & Security and completed B.S. Information Technology
    Pay: $8.25/hr


    Title: System Administrator (2011-2014)
    Hour/wk: 40
    Description: Small manufacturing business
    Company size: ~90
    Age: 42
    Duration: 3.5 years
    How: Applied through newspaper ad
    Certs: A+ and Network+
    Education: A.A.S. Network & PC Specialist, A.A.S. Computer Forensics & Security, B.S. Information Technology
    Pay: ~$50000


    Title: System Security Administrator (March 2015-present)
    Hour/wk: 40
    Description: FT employee of company that holds contract with federal gov't
    Company size: ~700 on contract
    Age: 46
    Duration: 2 years and counting
    How: Applied to internet job board
    Certs: started with A+ and N+ but added CISSP, Sec+, Solarwinds, Nessus, Six Sigma, and CSA+
    Education: A.A.S. Network & PC Specialist, A.A.S. Computer Forensics & Security, B.S. Information Technology
    Pay: started at $60,000, went to $64,000, now at $78,000

    Thank you for posting as it made me realize age really doesn't matter. If it wasn't too late for you than it's not too late for me as I'm in my early 30's. Congrats on everything!!!
  • dhay13dhay13 Member Posts: 580 ■■■■□□□□□□
    Thanks guys. Believe me, if I can do it you can do it.
  • ramrunner800ramrunner800 Member Posts: 238
    Started a new job recently, so updating. Keep driving guys, the long hours studying pays off.

    Title: Retail Store Manager
    Age: 22
    Duration: 2 years
    How: Applied in-store
    Description: Managed a store with 4 FT/8PT employees
    Certs: None
    Education: Bachelors Poli Sci
    Pay: $28k + Performance Incenntives


    Title: Fed Law Enforcement Analyst
    Location: Washington, DC
    Age: 24
    Duration: 4 years
    How: Met an employee at a networking event
    Description: Stuff n' things
    Certs: None
    Education: Bachelors Poli Sci
    Pay: $70k




    Title: Tier 2 SOC Analyst
    Location: Bay Area, CA
    Company size: ~10,000
    Age: 28
    Duration: 10 Months
    How: DICE.com
    Description: Network Security Monitoring/Basic Malware Analysis
    Certs: A+, S+, CCENT, C|EH
    Education: Bachelors Poli Sci
    Pay: $85k


    Title: Incident Response Analyst
    Location: Gulf Coast, TX
    Age: 29
    Duration: 2.5 years
    How: Indeed.com
    Description: Digital Forensics/Malware Reverse Engineering
    Certs: A+, S+, CCENT, C|EH
    Pay: $128k (Base + Bonus)


    Title: Senior Security Engineer
    Location: Bay Area, CA
    Age: 32
    Duration: 2 months and counting
    How: Personal Network
    Description: Digital Forensics/Malware Reverse Engineering
    Certs: A+, S+, CCENT, C|EH, GREM, GCFE, GCFA, GCTI
    Pay: $247k (Base + Bonus + equity)
    Currently Studying For: GXPN
  • ThexzenoThexzeno Member Posts: 44 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Title: IT support specialist
    Age: 22
    Duration: 6 months
    How: Indeed
    Description: Basic help desk and ticketing
    Certs: None
    Education: none
    Pay: $28k




    Title: Help Desk
    Age: 23
    Duration: 2.5 years
    How: Indeed
    Description: Did everything from desktop to network support
    Certs: CCNA, A+
    Education: none
    Pay: $35k


    Title: NOC engineer
    Age: 25
    Duration: 7 months
    How: Indeed
    Description: Basically monitored systems and contacted vendors
    Certs: CCNP, A+ expired
    Education: none
    Pay: 60k


    Title: Network Site specialist
    Age: 26
    Duration: 2 months(currently employed)
    How: Indeed
    Description: Basic desktop support, fixing phones and local PC's
    Certs: CCNP
    Education: none
    Pay: $76k


    Oddly enough despite my increasing skillset, the complexity of my jobs has managed to decrease. Not that I'm complaining but it just feels weird. Like I spent myriad hours studying to do the same thing I was doing 3 years ago.
  • amicmanzoamicmanzo Member Posts: 27 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Title : Cryptologic Technician of Networks
    Hours/wk: 40+
    Description: Digital Foreniscs, Malware Analysis, Incident Response, Network Pen. Testing
    Company size: Navy
    Age: 21-27
    Duration: 6 years
    How : Enlisted
    Certs: Sec+, GCFE, Linux+, C|EH,
    Education: H.S. , AA
    Pay : E3-E5

    Title : ISSO / Security Analyst
    Hours/wk: 40
    Description: IA, Compliancy (CJIS, HIPPA, IRS, PCI), Solution Recommendations
    Company size: 150k+
    Age: 27
    Duration: Current
    How : Recruiter
    Certs: Same as Above
    Education: BA, MS Cybersecurity
    Pay : $95k
  • Neil86Neil86 Member Posts: 182 ■■■■□□□□□□
    I thought I would contribute, and hopefully look back someday:


    Title: Technology Specialist I
    Age: 31 (late bloomer)
    Duration: 8 months(currently employed)
    How: Indeed (out of state applicant)
    Company size: ~300
    Description: Only me and another in the IT dept, so everything from desktop support to network support. Great learning experience.
    Certs: none, working on CCNA
    Education: AA Network Infrastructure
    Pay: $16/hr
  • markulousmarkulous Member Posts: 2,394 ■■■■■■■■□□
    Title: Support Specialist
    Hour/wk: 40
    Description: Reset passwords, minor browser troubleshooting
    Age: 30
    Duration: 3 months
    Certs: None
    Education: AS IT
    Pay: $10 an hour

    Title: Desktop Support
    Hour/wk: 40
    Description: Temp job, migrating XP to 7 for a large company
    Age: 30
    Duration: 3 months
    Certs: None
    Education: AS IT
    Pay: $16 an hour


    Title: Service Desk Technician
    Hour/wk: 40
    Description: Remote End-user support
    Age: 30
    Duration: 8 months
    Certs: None
    Education: AS IT
    Pay: $16 an hour


    Title: Service Desk Level 2
    Hour/wk: 40
    Description: Take escalations, Exchange, DNS, firewalls, some end user issues also
    Age: 31
    Duration: 11 Months
    Certs: MTA: OS, S+, N+, CCENT, Project+
    Education: AS IT
    Pay: 45k

    Title: Technical Support Engineer
    Hour/wk: 40
    Desc: Work for VMware supporting various products, mainly View
    Age: 32
    Duration: 7 months
    Certs: CCNA R&S, CCNA S, Linux+, N+, P+, S+, MTA OS, etc
    Education: BS IT Security
    Pay: 65k-70k after bonuses

    Title: Support Services Engineer
    Hour/wk: 40
    Desc: Provided SIEM support
    Duration: 2 months (Yeah, they sucked)
    Certs: CCNA R&S, CCNA S, Linux+, N+, P+, S+, MTA OS, etc
    Education: BS IT Security, Enrolled in MS
    Pay: 63k after bonuses

    Title: Systems Administrator
    Hour/wk: 40-45
    Desc: JOAT for around 100 end-users. Systems, networking, security, etc.
    Duration: 3 months
    Certs: CCNA R&S, CCNA S, VCP6-DTM, Linux+, N+, P+, S+, MTA OS, etc
    Education: BS IT Security, Enrolled in MS
    Pay: 57k

    Title:Security Analyst
    Hour/wk: 40-50
    Desc: Manage all kinds of tools, policies, risk, group policy, etc.
    Duration: 1 year, 4 months
    Certs: CCNA R&S, CCNA S, VCP6-DTM, Linux+, N+, P+, S+, MTA OS, etc
    Education: BS IT Security, Enrolled in MS
    Pay: 68k

    Title: Security Engineer
    Hour/wk:40-50
    Age: 34
    Desc: Pretty much the same thing as above, but in charge of more projects and tools
    Certs: Same as above but with CISSP, GCIH.
    Education: MSISA
    Pay: 80k+ 10-15% bonus

    Hopefully get another pay raise here or somewhere else within a year. Aiming for at least 100k
  • JackBauer24JackBauer24 Member Posts: 6 ■□□□□□□□□□
    I'll play. icon_cool.gif

    Title: Help Desk
    Hour/wk: 20
    Description: While going to the university, I supported all the college brats and the staff.
    University size: ~35,000
    Age: 22
    Duration: 1 year
    How: Applied for an open position and got lucky (no referral from anyone)
    Certs: Zero
    Education: No degree yet (was working on MIS and Marketing)
    Pay: $11/hr

    Title: Help Desk
    Hour/wk: 40
    Description: Supported employees at a company in the transportation industry (Great benefits, that's why I stayed long....but career went nowhere, so quit).
    Company size: ~40,000
    Age: 23
    Duration: 7 1/2 years
    How: Graduated, looking for job, looking for airline tickets for vacation, and found job fair instead. Didn't know anyone at the company, toughed my way out through 3 interviews (all the way to director), got the job, moved out of parents' house. :)
    Certs: Zero
    Education: Left MIS and Marketing on resume, no one cared to look at it.
    Pay: $34k-42k/yr

    Title: Technical Field Services Engineer
    Hour/wk: 40
    Description: Quit (worked for MSP. Was IT (help desk, desktop support, network admin, server admin, etc.) for 15 companies and had to start from scratch knowledge wise).
    Company size: ~100
    Age: 31
    Duration: 4 months
    How: Just grabbed any contract job.....needed the $.
    Certs: Zero
    Education: Left MIS and Marketing on resume, no one cared to look at it. Experience is gold.
    Pay: $50k/yr

    Title: Sr. Desktop Support / Sys Admin
    Hour/wk: 40
    Description: Direct marketing firm. Just fit in as a cog to support IT, that's it.
    Company size: ~100
    Age: 32
    Duration: 11 months
    How: Before this, went back to school, got certs, then applied to the job market. Got hits quick and jumped on this contract gig because of $.
    Certs: A+, N+, MCP, MCDST, MCTS-Vista, MCITP-EST
    Education: Dumped MIS, left Marketing on resume. Now with certs and experience, I'm good from here on out.
    Pay: $24/hr

    Title: Sr. Desktop Support
    Hour/wk: 40
    Description: Small telecom company. Just fit in as a cog to support IT, that's it.
    Company size: ~100
    Age: 33
    Duration: 10 months
    How: Dumped contract job for full-time role. Then got screwed and it ended up being a help desk position even though our title was desktop support. Pay was good, but going nowhere.
    Certs: Same as before.
    Education: Same.
    Pay: $50k/yr

    Title: Desktop Supervisor
    Hour/wk: 40
    Description: Supervising Win 7 deployments to a big engineering company. Had staff of 7 deployment techs and 3 scheduling agents.
    Company size: ~25,000
    Age: 34
    Duration: 6 months
    How: Offered a supervisor job, so I thought I would try it out to see how different it is from the technical side of things. Contract gig, but I felt there was an opportunity to get full-time. I quit - didn't like dealing with whiny babies and changing diapers, so I got out.
    Certs: Same as before.
    Education: Same.
    Pay: $50k/yr

    Title: Lead Desktop Support
    Hour/wk: 40+
    Description: Telecom company. I'm supporting IT (another sprocket in the machine). Working in local office doing desktop support and other things (Jack of all Trades position).
    Company size: Office - ~800, Company - 50,000+
    Age: 34
    Duration: 5 years, 9 months and counting
    How: Started off contracting, took lower pay just to be closer to home. Worked 1 year, stayed on while other contractors dropped off, got full-time. Worked 3 more years and became Lead over my team. With sticking around, gaining faith from my management, I got promoted and it has been rewarding financially.
    Certs: Same as before, but gained ITIL v3.
    Education: Same.
    Pay: $23/hr + OT (contract) / $59k + bonus & OT (full-time in 2013) / $65k + bonus & OT / $78k + bonus & OT (I'm hourly)

    I'm like with what I'm doing now and appreciate the pay, but I don't see my career being desktop support forever. I want to try out the next steps in my career - Server Admin, VM, or Storage. I don't know how much of a cut in pay I would need to take to go to those roles since I have no experience. I think I need to do some heavy lifting on my end to study those areas and get certs before jumping on those teams.

    For right now, I'm just going to be patient until there is an opening on the server admin/VM/storage team. I hoping for a lateral of my pay or maybe a small cut just to get onto their team. I see more of a future there and something I won't get bored doing.
  • Chrisbari14Chrisbari14 Member Posts: 84 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Guess I'm up icon_cheers.gif

    AAS: Networking Technologies Loading

    Title: Front Counter Salesman
    Hour/wk: 30
    Description: Sale Parts and deliver them to local Auto mechanics
    Duration: 1 Year
    Age:18

    Took a year and a half Hiatus due to Health problems (Hodgkins Lymphoma)

    Went Back
    Title: Front Counter Salesman
    Hour/wk: 35
    Description: Sale Parts and deliver them to local Auto mechanics
    Duration: 1 Year
    Pay:$ 12/hr
    Age:20

    AAS: Networking Technologies Finished

    BS: Information Technology Loading
    Title: Helpdesk Analyst
    Hours/wk: 40+
    Description: Supported about 80 employees at Safety product manufacturing company
    Duration: 3 Years
    Age: 21-24
    How: Saw job posting on College's Career opportunities Site
    Certs: Comptia A+,N+,S+, Project+
    Education: Associates of applied Science: Networking Techonolgies
    Pay: $35k/yr

    Was offered the system administration position at my current job paying 55k/yr. Will be moving to Florida in august of this year so company decided not to give me the position. Lesson learned. Only give your company a two week notice.
  • LeBrokeLeBroke Member Posts: 490 ■■■■□□□□□□
    Finally have something interesting to write here :)

    Title: No title at start, then Security Analyst, finished as Security Consultant
    Hour/wk: 0 to 40 depending on how much work I had at the time, mostly 0 with some occasional busy months.
    Description: Started off doing basic computer stuff main guys were too lazy to do, fairly quickly got into doing entry-level security work like running Nessus and writing policies
    Company size: 5 (grew to about 12 near the end)
    Age: 25
    Duration: 1.5 years as my main gig while I was in school, then stayed very part time until end of 2016
    How: Knew someone
    Certs: None
    Education: Unfinished, unrelated bachelors
    Pay: $20/hr for the first while, when I finished, I was billing at $35/hour. Self-employed, not an employee.

    Title: Junior Support Technician
    Hour/wk: 40
    Description: Graveyard guy at a datacentre. Got to mess around with Linux and networking a lot and reinstalled OS more than I ever wanted to.
    Company size: 10
    Age: 26
    Duration: 8 months then stayed part-time for another 4.
    How: Applied on Craigslist
    Certs: CCNA, A+
    Education: Unfinished, unrelated bachelors
    Pay: $15/hr (FTE)

    Title: Linux System Administrator (official title was something stupid, like Customer Support and Infrastructure Associate)
    Hour/wk: 40, Fridays WFH
    Description: Tentatively Linux sysadmin for a SaaS shop managing production and dev environments, in practice spent 60% of my time doing application support for end-users
    Company size: 50
    Age: 27
    Duration: 8 months
    How: Applied on Craigslist
    Certs: CCNA, A+
    Education: Unfinished, unrelated bachelors
    Pay: $42,000/year to start, $46,000 after probation

    Title: DevOps Engineer
    Hour/wk: Officially 40, realistically 60+ after my first year
    Description: DevOps all the things! CI/CD, AWS, Config Management. Eventually got roped into DBA stuff as well.
    Company size: 250
    Age: 28
    Duration: 2 years
    How: Headhunter. Got invited for an interview even though I was pretty underqualified, but got it because I had experience with pretty much the exact tech stack they used and because of my awesome personality (seriously).
    Certs: CCNA, A+, RHCSA
    Education: Unfinished, unrelated bachelors
    Pay: $70,000 at start, finished at $95,000 after a raise and counteroffer 1.5 years in.

    Title: Site Reliability Engineer
    Hour/wk: 40, 1 day WFH
    Description: Cloud architecture and trying to get rid of snowflake servers
    Company size: 100
    Age: 30
    Duration: Just started a few months ago
    How: Headhunter. This seemed like the most interesting offer I had on the table.
    Certs: RHCSA, my other certs expired
    Education: Unfinished, unrelated bachelors
    Pay: $115,000
  • eansdadeansdad Member Posts: 775 ■■■■□□□□□□
    eansdad wrote: »
    Title: 02L – US Army
    Hour/wk: All
    Description: Saxophone player but helped take care of IT support duties for unit, built unit website
    Company size: Large
    Age: 20-22
    Duration: 2 years
    How: Was volunteered by platoon leader because I had a PC (in 1997)
    Pay: E-4

    Title: Configuration Tech worked up to Assistant team Lead
    Hour/wk: 40
    Description: Configured and built servers for Compaq
    Company size: Large
    Age: 24-26
    Duration: 1.5 years
    How: Applied directly
    Pay: $10/hr on night shift

    Title: Deployment Technician worked up to various Team Lead positions
    Hour/wk: 40
    Description: Worked several deployments for NMCI project
    Company size: Large
    Age: 26-27
    Duration: 1.5 years
    How: Applied after layoff from Compaq after merger with HP, Friend from Compaq got me in with him
    Pay: $18/hr

    Title: Desktop Support
    Hour/wk: 60+
    Description: Support for a large university hospital
    Company size: Large
    Age: 27
    Duration: 2 months
    How: Applied, Monster
    Pay: $20/hr

    Title: Desktop Support
    Hour/wk: 40
    Description: Desktop support for NMCI project site
    Company size: Large
    Age: 27-29
    Duration: 2 years
    How: Applied through Careerbuilder, used contacts from deployment days
    Pay: $20/hr, paid for benefits

    Title: Computer Technician
    Hour/wk: 40
    Description: All IT needs within the 2 schools I am scheduled at
    Company size: 2500 staff, 10000 students
    Age: 29-39
    Duration: 8 years
    How: Applied directly
    Pay: $34k start +benefits

    Yes, my career stagnated when I got the school district. Yearly raises and a pension made me fat and dumb hence why I am finishing my BS degree and certs like I should have done years ago.

    Update to mine

    Title: Senior Solutions Engineer
    Hour/wk: 40+
    Description: Everything from answer phones to projects at a small MSP
    Company size: 5, 40ish clients 700 machines
    Age: 40
    Duration: 1 years
    How: Applied directly
    Pay: $42k start +$2500 signing bonus

    Title: IT Consultant
    Hour/wk: 40+
    Description: 2nd level support/Over night shift
    Company size: 300+ employees, 450+ customers 14k endpoints
    Age: 40-current
    Duration: 2 years
    How: Applied directly
    Pay: $48k start +cert and education reimbursement, benefits if I pay, $7,500 bonus/yr for night shift

    Not exactly where I thought I would be when I started in IT. Having kids kind of changes your priorities when it comes to needed free time. Not much "advancement" being on the late shift until/unless they create an entire team but I don't regret placing my kids needs before my career. Currently working on VCP as I never took it when I took the VCP 5 class. Also working on updating CASP to renew everything else CompTIA related (free voucher).
  • jul21jul21 Member Posts: 9 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Title: IT Field Tech
    Hour/wk: 20~25 Part-Time
    Company size: Around 6 Family Owned Company IT Services
    Age: 24
    Duration: 2 Years
    How: Job Craigslist
    Certs: A+
    Education: AAS Degree
    Pay: $15/hr

    Title: IT Support Assistant
    Hour/wk: 15~20 Part-Time
    Company size: ~250
    Age: 24~27
    Duration: 3 years - Current
    How: Direct Hire
    Certs: A+
    Education: AAS Degree
    Pay: $20/hr

    Title: IT Support Specialist
    Hour/wk: 40 Full-Time
    Company size: Works at School District
    Age: 26~27
    Duration: 1 yr - Current
    How: IT Recruiter
    Certs: N+,A+, ITIL v3
    Education: AAS Degree
    Pay: $40k Annual w/ benefits

    I'm currently working on Server+ then will do Security+ certifications for this year. I'm planning to move up the ladder after hitting my 2 years experience on my current Full Time work at School District. Hoping to land roles on Networking & Server Administration field. My long term goal is on Cyber Security field.
  • geeksquad09geeksquad09 Member Posts: 177
    Title: IT Coordinator
    Hour/wk: 40 Full-Time
    Company size: 800 Computers, 80 Servers
    Age: 26~27
    Duration: 1 week and counting
    How: Job posting within the company
    Certs: None- Currently studying network+, Server +
    Education: Some college, Technical Classes
    Pay: $45k ,2k bonus yearly.
    Currently Studying for Network+, Server+, and Security+

    The computer was born to solve problems that did not exist before
  • jb4479jb4479 Member Posts: 10 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Update, I start a new job with the National Park Srvice soon.

    Title: Information Technology Specialist (Customer Support) GS-9
    Hours/wk: 40
    Description: Federal Civil Service
    Company Size: 20k+
    Duration: April 2nd 2018 - ?
    How: USAJobs
    Pay 58k
    jb4479 wrote: »
    My path goes a little differently from others.

    First job: Work study USAF contracting Purchasing agent (Age 18-21)
    Age 21-23: various low level

    Title: Sonar Technician, Surface, US Navy, Department ISSO
    Hour/wk: ???
    Company Size:
    Age: 23
    Duration: 10 years
    How: Raised my hand, twice!
    Certs: None
    Education: Military Training, a lot of college classes
    Pay: ~32k (ending)

    Title: Product Support/Field Service Engineer (Satcom), Go to IT guy
    Hour/wk: 50ish
    Company Size: ~1,500
    Age: 32
    Duration: 18 months
    How: Military only job fair
    Certs: No IT related
    Education:
    Pay 52k

    Title: IT Contractor/Consultant
    Hour/wk: Variable
    Company size: 1
    Age: 34
    Duration: 13 years
    How:
    Certs: Dell
    Education: Associates Degree. Computer Technology and Networking
    Pay: Varied ( a lot)

    Title: Service Desk Tier 3, Team lead
    Hours/wk: 40
    Company Size: ~650
    Age: 48
    Duration: Current (1 year)
    How: Hiring manager is an old friend
    Certs: In Progress; MCSE: Windows Mobility, ITIL Foundation, Security+
    Education: BSITM WGU in progress (8 courses to go)
    Pay: 45k

    From here who knows, as I have said in another thread: There is no room for advancement, a manager would have to be hit by a bus (I report directly to the Service desk manager, and it's management all the way up form there).

    Ultimate goal: IT architect.
  • earonw49earonw49 Member Posts: 190 ■■■□□□□□□□
    earonw49 wrote: »
    Title: GeekSquad Computer Agent
    Hours/wk: 32-40 Depending on Season
    Description: Hands ON IT support, general "fix it" computer shop
    Company size: 1000+
    Age : 19-20
    Duration: 10 months (Left Job for School)
    How: I knew a guy and got in
    Certs: N/A
    Education: High School
    Pay : $20k/year

    Title: Helpdesk I
    Hours/wk: 40
    Description: General helpdesk/tech Support over the phone and in house desktop development
    Company size: 50
    Age : 23
    Duration: 8 Months (Promotion)
    How: Applied Online
    Certs: A+
    Education: High School
    Pay : $32/year

    Title: Helpdesk II (Same company as Helpdesk I)
    Hours/wk: 40
    Description: General helpdesk II support over the phone. In house tech support, sys admin apprentice.
    Company size: 35
    Age : 23
    Duration: 2 months (Moved to different city due to marriage)
    How: Promoted
    Certs: A+, Network+,
    Education: Some College (Community)
    Pay : $34k/year


    Title: Desktop Support Engineer II / Information Resource Analyst (Field Tech) II
    Hours/wk: 40-60 depending on the project
    Description: Desktop Support, T1 network and system admin (active directory and server repair) support, project lead/management support, deployment support
    Company size: 5000+
    Age : 23-24
    Duration: 10 Months (Moved to different State for wife's engineering job)
    How: Applied Online
    Certs: A+, N+, S+
    Education: Some College/Xfer to WGU
    Pay : $35.5k/year

    Title: Launch and Mission Operations Intern
    Hours/wk: 50-65
    Description: Desktop Support III, Helpdesk Support II, Cisco Routing / Switching maintenance, Server and Sys Admin projects/tasks, various rebuilds, computer builds and projects assigned by the LO and CIO managers.
    Company size: <5000
    Age : 24-25
    Duration: 3 months
    How: Applied, 8x interviews and luck
    Certs: A+, N+, S+, L+ Useless CIW certs
    Education: Some College (Attended WGU)
    Pay : $52k/year

    Title: Launch and Mission Operations Technician
    Hours/wk: 50-65
    Description: Desktop Support III, Helpdesk Support II, Cisco Routing / Switching maintenance, Server and Sys Admin projects/tasks, various rebuilds, computer builds and projects assigned by the LO and CIO managers.
    Company size: <5000
    Age : 25
    Duration: 5 months (Left for School Full Time)
    How: Side-Promotion
    Certs: A+, N+, S+, L+ Useless CIW certs
    Education: Some College (Attended WGU)
    Pay : $52k/year

    Title: Information Systems Network and Firewall Engineer I (Professional Development Program)
    Hours/wk: 40
    Description: Cisco and Juniper engineering and support. Firewall and security support
    Company size: 10000+
    Age : 25
    Duration: Starting in June
    How: Applied, 6 months of constant interviews and contact with HR/Hiring managers, references
    Certs: A+, N+, S+, L+, P+ Useless CIW certs
    Education: Some College (Graduating WGU in 07/2016)
    Pay : Pending (60k+ a year however in negotiations for more salary because I never accept an offered salary at face value)


    2 year update:

    Title: Information Security Systems Engineer (Professional Development Rotation Position)
    Hours/wk: 40+ (Overtime Approved)
    Description: Firewall and security project support as well as project management
    Company size: 65000+
    Age : 26
    Duration: 1 year
    How: Applied internally
    Certs: A+, N+, S+, L+, P+ Useless CIW certs
    Education: BSIT @ WGU
    Pay : 65k. Note that this position was within a rotational program (glorified post graduate program). The pay does not decrease with the rotation switch. My pay significantly increased once I was hired out of the rotational program.
    Location:Florida

    Title: Information Security Analyst
    Hours/wk: 40 (Overtime Approved)
    Description: Firewall and security project support as well as project management
    Company size: 65000+
    Age : 27
    Duration: I start in a few weeks
    How: Applied internally, word of mouth, knew the team that had the opening due to my Systems Engineering gig above
    Certs: A+, N+, S+, L+, P+ Useless CIW certs, CCNA, CCNA:Security
    Education: BSIT @ WGU, MSISA pending late this year
    Pay : 72k + Bonus Upfront
    Location: Florida
    WGU B.S. IT - Progress: Feb 2015 - End Date Jan 2018
    WGU M.S Cyber Security & Assurance - Progress: March 2019 - End Date June 2019
  • ITSec14ITSec14 Member Posts: 398 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Title: IT Analyst
    Hours/wk: 40
    Company Size: ~250
    Age: 26
    Duration: 1 year 4 months
    How: Promotion into IT from office job
    Education: Finished Bachelors in IT
    Certs: None
    Pay: Starting - 42k | Ending - 50k


    Title: Sysadmin
    Hours/wk: 40
    Company Size: ~2000
    Age: 27
    Duration: 13 Months
    How: Applied
    Certs: MCSE
    Pay: 65k (Including bonuses)


    Title: IT Security Admin
    Hours/wk: 40
    Company Size: ~2500
    Age: 28
    Duration: 14 Months
    How: Applied
    Certs: MCSE, Security+
    Pay: 68k (Received 15k signing bonus as well)


    Title: Security Engineer
    Hours/wk: 40
    Company Size: Global (50k+)
    Age: 29
    Duration: Current (5 months)
    How: Applied
    Certs: MCSE, Security+, CISSP
    Pay: 95k (Including bonus)
  • elbennettelbennett Member Posts: 12 ■■□□□□□□□□
    Title: Antenna Systems/Wiremean
    Hours/wk: Unlimited
    Company Size: ~1.5 million
    Age: 18-26
    Duration: 8 years
    How: Promotion into IT from office job
    Education: Fresh out of high school, into the USMC
    Certs: None
    Pay: Starting - 18-20k Ending 25k

    Title: Game Tech
    Hours/wk: 40
    Company Size: 5000
    Age: 26
    Duration: 1 year 6 months
    How: School work study into full time
    Education: Community college telecom studies
    Certs: None
    Pay: Starting - 21k

    Title: IT Analyst
    Hours/wk: 40
    Company Size: ~10000 (School District)
    Age: 27
    Duration: 1 year 4 months
    How: Applied
    Education: Didn't finish College Coursework
    Certs: None
    Pay: Starting - 22k ending 24k

    Title: IT Consultant
    Hours/wk: 40
    Company Size: ~5
    Age: 30
    Duration: 1 year 4 months
    How: Applied thru craigslist after no raise in sight from last job
    Education: Veteran, College Coursework
    Certs: None
    Pay: Starting - 30k ending 32k


    Title: Systems Engineer
    Hours/wk: 40
    Company Size: ~250
    Age: 31
    Duration: 4 years
    How: Applied after insight from consulting client who went to work in HR for same company
    Education:Veteran, College Coursework
    Certs: None
    Pay: Starting - 42k | Ending - 44k

    Title: Helpdesk Admin
    Hours/wk: 40
    Company Size: ~500
    Age: 31
    Duration: 1 year
    How: Applied after insight from consulting client who went to work in HR for same company
    Education:Veteran, finished college AAS telecommunications
    Certs: Security Plus Began CEH
    Pay: Starting - 42k

    Title: Security Info Analyst
    Hours/wk: 40
    Company Size: 100000
    Age:26
    Duration: current
    How: recruited
    Education:Veteran, College Coursework
    Certs: Security +
    Pay: Starting - 60k
    2018| CEH | CYSA
    2019-PROJECT + | VMWARE CERT
  • elbennettelbennett Member Posts: 12 ■■□□□□□□□□
    Good deal bro.
    2018| CEH | CYSA
    2019-PROJECT + | VMWARE CERT
  • KyrakKyrak Member Posts: 143 ■■■□□□□□□□
    I've enjoyed this thread and it helped motivate me so I'll throw my hat in the ring.

    Title: Network Administrator
    Hour/wk: 40
    Company Size: 150
    Age: 22
    Duration: 1 years
    How: Newspaper ad (remember those? haha)
    Certs: None
    Education: B.S. Computer Science
    Pay: $35K

    Title: Network Administrator
    Hour/wk: 40
    Company Size: 73K, but only 50 in my office
    Age: 24
    Duration: 3 years
    How: Can't even remember
    Certs: None
    Education: B.S. Computer Science
    Pay: $50K

    Title: Regional Technology Manager
    Hour/wk: 40
    Company Size: 1000
    Age: 27
    Duration: 3 years
    How: Employee Referral
    Certs: None
    Education: B.S. Computer Science
    Pay: Start $67K-> End $72K

    I then have a 10 year gap running my own businesses loosely related to IT, web design, affiliate marketing, etc
    Pay: Variable from 0 - 20K a month but priceless experiences!

    Title: Field Service Engineer for MSP
    Hour/wk: 40
    Company Size: 15
    Age: 41
    Duration: 1 years
    How: LinkedIn
    Certs: None
    Education: B.S. Computer Science
    Pay: $52K
    At this point I absolutely hated this job so ended up quitting without a new position (don't make this same mistake I did!). When I wasn't getting enough interviews I decided I had to change something and focused on certifications so that would never be the reason I didn't get an interview I wanted.

    Title: System Engineer II
    Hour/wk: 60
    Company Size: 4K
    Age: 42
    Duration: 1.5 years
    How: Referral from a guy I met in cert training classes!
    Certs: PMP, VCP5-DCV, A+,N+, CCNA, MCSA 2012, ITIL
    Education: B.S. Computer Science
    Pay: Start $85K ->End $93K

    Title: Security Engineer II
    Hour/wk: 40
    Company Size: 4K (Lateral move at same company)
    Age: 44
    Duration: current
    How: Company Transfer
    Certs: CCNA R&S/Security, CISSP, A+, N+, S+, MCSE CP&I, VCP5/6-DCV, ITIL
    Education: B.S. Computer Science
    Pay: $93K

    I'm expecting my next move to the the big one I've been working towards. We will see!
    Up next: On Break, but then maybe CCNA DC, CCNP DC, CISM, AWS SysOps Administrator
  • SquishedSquished Member Posts: 191 ■■■□□□□□□□
    I'll play. Don't laugh too hard.

    Title: Support Analyst
    Hour/wk: 40
    Description: Tier 1/2 Support for large corporation
    Company size: 30,000
    Age: 20-22
    Duration: 3 years
    How: Applied and interviewed
    Certs: None
    Education: Bachelor's
    Pay: $55k/year

    Title: Support Analyst
    Hour/wk: 40
    Description: Tier 1 Support for large corporation
    Company size: 145,000
    Age: 23
    Duration: 1 years
    How: Applied and interviewed
    Certs: None
    Education: Bachelor's
    Pay: $70k/year

    Title: Manager/Director of IT
    Hour/wk: Infinite
    Description: Oversee all IT operations for small non-profit
    Company size: 125
    Age: 24 -> present
    Duration: 8 years
    How: Applied and interviewed
    Certs: ITIL, A+
    Education: Bachelor's
    Pay: $75k/year current, started at $55k 8 years ago
    [2018] - A+ 901 (PASS), A+ 902 (PASS), Project+ (PASS), Security+ (PASS), Network+(PASS), CySA, Cloud+
    [2018] - MBA - IT Management - WGU (PASS)

    HR: “What if we train them and they leave?”
    ME: “What if we don’t train them and they stay?”
  • JoveJove Member Posts: 26 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Title: Web Programmer
    Hours: 20 hour/week
    Description: Web Programmer for Computer Science Department.
    Company Size: Unknown
    Age: 22-24
    Duration (2002-2005) 3 Years
    How: Applied in person.
    Certs: None
    Education: Pursed B.S. in Information Technology
    Pay: $9/hour

    Title: I.T. Technician
    Hours/wk: 40 plus on call support.
    Description: I.T. Desktop Support/IT Manager/System Administrator/Network Administrator/Security Administrator, for a Nursing Home.
    Company Size: 300 employees, (20 Servers, 200 computers)
    Age: 25-31
    Duration: (2005-2014) 9 years
    How: Volunteered for 6 months after college until I accepted a full time I.T. position.
    Certs: A+, Network+, Server+, Security+, CCENT, CCNA, CCNA Security, VMWare 5.0, MCSA: Windows Server 2012, MCSA: Windows 7, MCDST, MCP, ITILv3 Foundations.
    Education: B.S. in Information Technology, M.S. in Computer Science and Information Systems.
    Pay: $39,000 to $48,000


    Title: I.T. Technician
    Hours/wk: 40 hours (no on call support)
    Description: IT Helpdesk Support for State of Michigan
    Company Size: 300
    Age: 31-35
    Duration: (2014-2017) 2.5 years
    How: Applied online.
    Certs: A+, Network+, Server+, Security+, Linux+, CCENT, CCNA, CCNA Security, VMWare 5.0, MCSA: Windows Server 2012, MCSA: Windows 7, MCDST, MCP, ITILv3 Foundations.
    Education: Education: B.S. in Information Technology, M.S. in Computer Science and Information Systems.
    Pay: $46,000 to $49,000


    Title: IT Security Designer
    Hours/wk: 40 hours (no on call support)
    Description: I.T. Security Designer for the Department of Defense
    Company Size: ~40,000
    Age: 35-Present
    How: Applied Online
    Certs: CEHv9, A+, Network+, Server+, Security+, Linux+, MCSA: Windows Server 2012, MCSA: Windows 7, MCDST, MCP, ITILv3 Foundations.
    Education: B.S. in Information Technology, M.S. in Computer Science and Information Systems.
    Security Clearance: Yes (full scope)
    Pay: $96,000
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