What do you wish you would have known before?

For all the IT professionals out there, I am curious: What would you go back and tell yourself before you got into IT? I would go back and tell myself that I don't realize how fast it is. You have to stay ahead of the game in this industry, and while I enjoy it, technology doesn't take a day off. What do you wish you would have known before getting into IT?

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Tackle

I would have told myself that I did not need to go to a school that cost 35k for an AAS. I could have gotten the same education/degree and possibly even job if I went to a different local college that would have cost less than 15k.

The education was no better. "Kicks himself". $500/month on student loans is bogus.

That's probably it...granted I've only been an "IT professional" for a little over a year, most things are how I expected they would be, and I'm happy I didn't end up at a helpdesk/geek squad. I laugh thinking about where I could be instead of where I am. I get much more exposure and responsibility being 1 of 2 Sys Admins at the company I work for. Some stuff is still over my head, but I'm always learning and asking questions.

ehnde

If you actually have the skills that your certifications say you do you will be farther ahead than you think when you start that first FT IT job.

jamesleecoleman

I would have told myself to keep working and don't take the school year off to focus on my grades.
Also I would have told myself to start certifications sooner.

UnixGuy

honestly, nothing. I'd just be more careful with hitting gym during college and during my first year of working. I love that IT is changing and that there's a room for growth and self actualization

SamLea27 wrote: »

For all the IT professionals out there, I am curious: What would you go back and tell yourself before you got into IT? I would go back and tell myself that I don't realize how fast it is. You have to stay ahead of the game in this industry, and while I enjoy it, technology doesn't take a day off. What do you wish you would have known before getting into IT?

Slowhand

I would tell myself the same thing about IT and certs that I would say about school: push ahead and do as much work as you can up-front in your area of interest, then expand out into other things.

When I first started out, I took a Network+ course and did some on-the-side work for the school and some home users. My instructor and a few other so-called 'experienced professionals' told me that the certs required 'way more studying' and that I wasn't even close to being ready. Keep in mind, this was back in '99 or so, when I was still a teenager. Had I listened to my gut and pushed to take the A+ and Network+ certs like I wanted, I could have spared myself more than a few years of retail hell and gotten started in IT much earlier. I would probably also have started looking at the MCSE exams back then, as well as the CCNA, since starting out then and getting a few victories under my belt would have given me the confidence boost I needed to go after the bigger certs.

Hell, I'd probably have multiple MCITP certs and a CCIE by now, eleven years down the road, if I'd have listened to my instincts instead of to my mentors and not been disillusioned by how (supposedly) little I knew and how 'impossible' these certs are.

NetworkingStudent

LucasMN wrote: »

I would have told myself that I did not need to go to a school that cost 35k for an AAS. I could have gotten the same education/degree and possibly even job if I went to a different local college that would have cost less than 15k.

The education was no better. "Kicks himself". $500/month on student loans is bogus.

That's probably it...granted I've only been an "IT professional" for a little over a year, most things are how I expected they would be, and I'm happy I didn't end up at a helpdesk/geek squad. I laugh thinking about where I could be instead of where I am. I get much more exposure and responsibility being 1 of 2 Sys Admins at the company I work for. Some stuff is still over my head, but I'm always learning and asking questions.

+1

I would have gone to a regionally accredited school and paid a whole lot less. I never knew what accreditation was until about 5 months before graduating. You wouldn’t believe how many students including myself thought we could transfer our credits ot other schools. If I want a BS degree I have to go to the same school I graduated from or start over at a regional accredited school.

it_consultant

I would have finished my economics degree.

N2IT

I would of gone for my bachelors in finance instead of a management degree

tpatt100

I would have resisted the urge to move for more pay and spent a few more years as a sysadmin. I feel at times I moved up too fast and did not develop the fundamentals enough.

instant000

SamLea27 wrote: »

For all the IT professionals out there, I am curious: What would you go back and tell yourself before you got into IT? I would go back and tell myself that I don't realize how fast it is. You have to stay ahead of the game in this industry, and while I enjoy it, technology doesn't take a day off. What do you wish you would have known before getting into IT?

1. Keep going to school.
2. Push for higher certs, don't stagnate.
3. Don't let your certs expire.
4. If you start feeling underpaid, it's time to move on.

Forsaken_GA

I'd have made damn sure I went to college, and got into networking a whole lot sooner than I did. I basically wasted 7 years before I actually cared about my career.

GAngel

Not spent so much time on post grad degrees. Should have gone straight to expat work which is where all the money and experience is.

hiddenknight821

I shouldn't have joined the party bandwagon after my first year. I also shouldn't have gone back to my school to take out $5,500 more loan during my fourth year when I knew there was no way I can make it through another 3 years to get a bachelor with my financial situation being at sake. I could have started WGU right after I got my AAS and save time and $$$. This would also make me one of the earliest college graduates out of all the people in my high school graduating class.

IRONMONKUS

Forsaken_GA wrote: »

I'd have made damn sure I went to college, and got into networking a whole lot sooner than I did. I basically wasted 7 years before I actually cared about my career.

DITTO! I'm 34 and have been in my first Networking position for three weeks now -- yeah.

On the flip-side, I feel smarter and quicker now than I did when I was younger, so that's a plus!

alan2308

Forsaken_GA wrote: »

I'd have made damn sure I went to college, and got into networking a whole lot sooner than I did. I basically wasted 7 years before I actually cared about my career.

Another +1 to this.

8 or 9 years wasted in a dying field before I decided to make the switch.

VAHokie56

LucasMN wrote: »

I would have told myself that I did not need to go to a school that cost 35k for an AAS. I could have gotten the same education/degree and possibly even job if I went to a different local college that would have cost less than 15k.

The education was no better. "Kicks himself". $500/month on student loans is bogus.

That's probably it...granted I've only been an "IT professional" for a little over a year, most things are how I expected they would be, and I'm happy I didn't end up at a helpdesk/geek squad. I laugh thinking about where I could be instead of where I am. I get much more exposure and responsibility being 1 of 2 Sys Admins at the company I work for. Some stuff is still over my head, but I'm always learning and asking questions.

Same here. I would certainly of just enrolled in the local community college and taken there Cisco courses. I spent a lot of money for a year at a "for profit school" before I found out how much I enjoyed networking. So I would of advised my younger self to go straight for it. Like they say, wish in one hand, crap in the other and see which one fills up first !

Turgon

SamLea27 wrote: »

For all the IT professionals out there, I am curious: What would you go back and tell yourself before you got into IT? I would go back and tell myself that I don't realize how fast it is. You have to stay ahead of the game in this industry, and while I enjoy it, technology doesn't take a day off. What do you wish you would have known before getting into IT?

Nothing. I have had a very interesting and relatively successful career in this industry. If I had hindsight at my disposal throughout I wouldn't have had the experiences mostly good, some bad that shaped where I am today. It teaches you wisdom.

NOC-Ninja

Nothing. Every misrakes I've done made me who I anm today. My past mistake is my fire today.

cyberguypr

Turgon wrote: »

Nothing. I have had a very interesting and relatively successful career in this industry. If I had hindsight at my disposal throughout I wouldn't have had the experiences mostly good, some bad that shaped where I am today. It teaches you wisdom.

Absolutely the way I see it. We are a sum of our experiences, good or bad. As long as you learn and don't repeat your mistakes, all is good.

wass.aouadi

I would have studied hard, sat for more certification exams. I also would have cut down all useless chat. I would have taken more time for myself and family.

SamLea27

Some very interesting responses, thanks for your input folks!

Michael.J.Palmer

I would have worked on my A+ as a self-study deal instead of signing up for a tech school that would **** my pockets and follow that up with a stint at WGU at that point. Would have saved myself at least $20K in loan payments.

Turgon

Michael.J.Palmer wrote: »

I would have worked on my A+ as a self-study deal instead of signing up for a tech school that would **** my pockets and follow that up with a stint at WGU at that point. Would have saved myself at least $20K in loan payments.

What did you get from the tech school other than A+ for 20K?

factory81

jamesleecoleman wrote: »

I would have told myself to keep working and don't take the school year off to focus on my grades.
Also I would have told myself to start certifications sooner.

Nice to see someone from GR here. GH native. Kzoo resident while in college. Used to work in GR though.

demonfurbie

i wouldve went to school for something i like not something im good at just get a degree