Career Change (Finance to IT)

j86cici · January 2012

Hi all,

I'm currently in the middle of a career transition. For the past 3 1/2 years I worked in finance/accounting dealing specifically with financial and management reporting for a community bank. I recently decided that I wanted to pursue a career in IT as I've always had a passion for technology. I left my job in October to focus on making the jump.

I picked up the Network+ certification in December and I will be sitting for the Security+ exam in the near future (within the next 3 weeks?). The one thing I did was skip past the A+ certification. I'm trying to decide if I should go back and pick that up after I pass the Security+ exam.

I am hoping to receive feedback from some of you regarding whether or not I should go back and get the A+ certification after I've already earned Net+ and Sec+.

Thanks!

Tackle · January 2012

I would say you need to focus on getting some applications out there, especially once you have both the Sec+ and Net+. Landing that first job will be difficult, but once you have it moving up is likely to be easier.

It might be a good idea to decide what you want to do: Work on Servers or Networking equipment or both?
Then you'll have an idea of what certs you should study for: Microsoft or Cisco. Best of luck!

ptilsen · January 2012

I would say start applying to jobs. Once you have a job, Net+, and Security+, A+ would be a waste of time. If you finish Security+ and still lack an IT job, you might as well round it out with A+, since it's cheap and easy. After that, start down the Cisco or MS roads, as Lucas said.

RobertKaucher · January 2012

Database administration, business intelligence, and data warehousing. Use your financial experience!

j86cici · January 2012

Thanks, I appreciate the advice. I've been applying to entry level help desk and network administrator positions. Hopefully I'll catch a break sometime soon. I'd like to spend some time in either of those areas to build a good base and then see if I can move over to the security side within a couple of years.

FloOz · February 2012

i see your from philadelphia like myself. having an it/accounting background i can tell you, you can get a job no problem. I have an accounting background as well (my first job i was an accounting clerk for 2+ years) and i have been contacted many times for various it/accounting positions such as data assurance. However i hate accounting and always turn away those offers lol. But since your from philly a company that you may be interested in is PwC. I turned away a job offer they made me cause it involved some accounting work mixed in with some IT. But i would check it out if its something that interests you.

Goddluck!!

Career Change (Finance to IT)

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