6 Figure IT: Fundamentals (free vid)

Threw this together in one sitting. Just hoped it might help those relatively new to IT. It's kind of a "career overview" slide based on my experiences. Off to do a migration now!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVdqTn5Ta0c

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DoubleNNs

Half an hour? Damn, kinda long. Think I'll check it out tho.

Roguetadhg

Seriously, I was just listening to that song when I stopped Winamp to watch this.

Post Watch: I like the emphasis on Soft skills. I've already learned that dealing with people is something that's rather important. I try to watch how my boss handles situations... likewise trying to minimize the budget hit that the department does, while increasing availability and decreasing hiccups.

I noticed you're more into Cisco (Obiviously, I've seen you here enough!), would you consider going wide. Real-wide (Not deep)... into other certifications... C|EH, VM, Citrix, CISSP? Until that entry-position is available.

I also would like to mention that an entry position can be difficult to find, depending on your location. If you're in a high-tech spot, you'll probably be able to find a Entry-IT spot better than in South Dakota. So be open for relocation.

Mrock4

I thought 30 minutes was pretty good actually. I could have cut a little bit out, but I wanted to hit each point.

And yes, that's a great song. I ended up listening to the whole thing before recording, as a matter of fact!

Iristheangel

I think this video should be a requirement of every noob on the forum to watch

It gets a lot of the first questions we get in the IT/Jobs and General Certification forums out of the way and it's really informative. +1 to Mrock4 for taking the time to do this

P.S. I died a little inside when you said "crawl on the ground." Welcome to my day today:

Backstory: Installing a router into a new location with bonded T1 lines in an office that was 2 floors under street level. Both connections were showing line up/protocol down. Checked the config. Everything good. Had the service provider run a test on the circuit. Everything was show as fine on their side and they said it must be my config. Opened a Cisco TAC case with the sliver of reception I had. Sent the config via my phone's email. They said the config was fine and it must be the service provider. Neither is willing to work together and I have no internet connection for either to remote in. My solution? Go upstairs to the MPOE. Trace the steps from the MPOE to where I can get public WiFi which happens to be in this EXTREMELY dirty and gross hallway. Crimped about 50 feet of Cat5 so I could install directing into the T1 circuit. Got both the service provider AND Cisco TAC on the line to see the config and how nothing was working. After sitting in filth for about 2 hours and getting everything dirty and gross, I finally got them to agree to dispatch a tech to check the physical circuit. Welcome to the life of a network engineer. It's a filthy job sometimes.

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netsysllc

I will watch the video tomorrow and leave feedback. Great work Iristheangel in getting that figured out, the vendors can be a pain to work with. I was fighting an email issue and it turned out a Century Link router in the connection at SMTP inspection on which was causing emails to fail, that was a hair puller.

olaHalo

interesting video
thank you

powerfool

Unfortunately, just breaking into six-figures isn't what it used to be (thanks fiat currency!). I officially broke six-figures this year, which is actually very good number for my local market. However, I remember folks getting six-figure jobs in this market when I was new to IT.

For me, I have stayed wide in my skillset. I am a networking AND systems AND security guy. Currently, I am more systems, but my previous project (same job for same client) I was a pretty good mix of all three; I am currently heavily in Exchange Server, whereas my previous job was packet analysis and monitoring, so I deployed the systems that facilitated this, trained other staff on the tools, and I was the lead analyst doing work from troubleshooting connectivity issues, forecasting growth, and forensic analysis.

I have almost been at my job for three years. I actually was contacted by a recruiter a little over a year ago about a job. In this job I would have been the key technical lead for a contract (only "guaranteed" for six months). I found that they had a rather old copy of my resume which didn't have my CISSP, CCSP, or CEH (nor updates to my Microsoft certs), and it didn't have my "in progress" on my not complete (2 weeks ago) masters degree. I really wanted them to give me an offer that made me make a choice. I was asking for about $20k more, which really was not much more considering that I would be without my presently fantastic benefits. So, I turned it down.

That is another thing to think about. In my previous position, I was at the $78k mark. I moved to this position at $90k (and had a big increase at my one-year mark), but my take home pay at the new job would have been equivalent to the take home pay of a salary of $100k at my previous job because of my vast improvement in benefits. I got better health insurance for half as much premium (about $400/month cheaper premiums), tuition reimbursement, financial and time support for certifications and training, more PTO, and more flexibility (an actual flex-time situation and some remote work).

I am looking for my next move to be at $125-135k.

More me, it is time for a resume rewrite for that to happen. As we are approaching the new year, there are tons of articles popping up about trends for next year and resume tips. I am soaking these up and I think I have the tools now to build a better resume (which it has always served me well, especially since a 4-yo resume was about ready to land me another $15k/year w/o trying).

tycar86

Thanks for the video and advice.

Mrock4

@powerfool-The problem with staying wide in a skillset, is that eventually you top out. You cannot be a complete expert with virtualization, as well as route/switch, and storage- you can be pretty good at all three, but not recognized as a true expert in all three, in my opinion at least. Since you're above the 6 figure mark, the advice in this video simply isn't aimed at you- as mentioned in the video, it's for those early in their career.

It all comes down to available time. A recognized expert has focused in an area (it may not be totally 'narrow' per se..it could be networking in general), and dedicates their time to networking projects, writing articles related to networking, making presentations on networking, etc. If you divided your time into three areas, you'd simply become a jack of all trades, which again- nothing is wrong with that, but you lose some of the niche appeal you gain by specializing. Doing three storage projects, then a security project, then a wireless project, means you're now 6'ish months removed from your route/switch skills, so to speak.

So to be clear, I absolutely advocate cross-training into other areas, after you've developed your own niche (and broke the $100k mark). Once you're above $100k, it actually becomes much more beneficial, because you'll find yourself on customer sites (if consulting) and needing multiple areas of expertise, so it comes into handy more than most people realize. But even then, when I find myself working on a customers virtual infrastructure- I do it as a guy who knows a little about virtualization, not as a virtualization expert..since my primary focus there is route/switch.

And while $100k may not be what it used to be, that's always going to be the case. At the end of the day, it's still a very small percentage of professionals who break the 6 figure mark. It doesn't seem like this once you're making it- because your colleagues are often making close to what you make..so it appears more popular.

MSP-IT

Thanks for this video. Currently 1/3rd of the way through. Stopped it to ask how old you were when you got into IT, how old you are now, if you don't mind me asking.

Thanks Mike.

Mrock4

I'm 26 now, and got into IT at 18. Hope you enjoy the video!

MSP-IT

So I'm under the assumption that you're at 6 figures currently?

Mrock4

That's correct. It'd be pretty hypocritical of myself to make a video like this if I wasn't..but it's a valid question.

Main Event

It would be better if you'd show a certification path, job sites and ways to go about volunteering or getting a internship. I respect the effort but most newbies would still be "lost" after watching this.

Say someone wants to do programming, stating the certs you recommend from entry level up and ways to get in would be a little better to me personally.

FloOz

Great vid Mrock. Thanks!

Iristheangel

Main Event wrote: »

It would be better if you'd show a certification path, job sites and ways to go about volunteering or getting a internship. I respect the effort but most newbies would still be "lost" after watching this.

Say someone wants to do programming, stating the certs you recommend from entry level up and ways to get in would be a little better to me personally.

Because there is not one certification path or job site per speciality. What is in demand in your state might be oversaturated in mine. The video was to convey realistic expectations and general path.

ChooseLife

Brilliant overview, I enjoyed it. Agreed with Iristheangel, it should be made mandatory for anyone trying to post a "How do I get into IT and make lots of money quick" thread

drefoq80

I agree with main event on this. It definitely lacks on specifics(sounds too general). May be instead of saying this is how to make over 6 figures, you say/show how to be an IT professional(and provide more insight) then Part 2 says this is how you make over 6 figures.. just my two cents.

Iristheangel

...because there is no guarenteed or specific path to six figures. Everyone gets there differently

Mrock4

I can agree if what you are looking for is specifics- this is not it. Rather this is meant as an overview. I actually planned a series of these videos with subsequent ones recommending certain certifications, etc. This was just intended as the "first step" - subsequent ones will detail getting your foot in the door...and include more specifics as it goes on.

I appreciate everyones feedback (good and bad).

Main Event

Iristheangel wrote: »

Because there is not one certification path or job site per speciality. What is in demand in your state might be oversaturated in mine. The video was to convey realistic expectations and general path.

I understand, however I only gave what I felt would be a little better suited which is to state more specifics.

I understand why someone wouldn't want to share his personal career path and I wouldn't want a ton of newbies doing the same thing I did to make money in this field but these type of videos don't really do much, it's more like a hard work and determination speech to me than something a newbie would find useful.

I realize that 99.9% of people aren't going to give specific details on how to make money in I.T due to the competition and so forth.

DoubleNNs

Word? Hurry up and do your "Getting Your Foot in the Door" video - that applies to me!

lol

WiseWun

One of the firsts to watch the video, forgot to leave a comment! Great video Mrock4, I get e-mails from people on LinkedIn asking about my history and how I got into IT so I'll definitely be sending them your way.

I think going wide with your skillsets is best suited in the early-mid stages of your career. Example, most System Admin job posting lists everything from Wintel, Unix, Networking, VOIP, etc. When your skills mature, you'll find a passion for a particular IT discipline and hopefully become a subject matter expert. Don't be a JOAT at the senior level.

Mrock4

Main Event wrote: »

I understand why someone wouldn't want to share his personal career path and I wouldn't want a ton of newbies doing the same thing I did to make money in this field but these type of videos don't really do much, it's more like a hard work and determination speech to me than something a newbie would find useful.

First, I have absolutely *no* problems sharing my personal path with anyone- including salary figures. The reason I didn't in this video, was that there is undoubtedly not ONE path to follow- so telling everyone the exact way I did it, isn't really relevant to their personal goals. For example, I am a high school dropout..but I wouldn't recommend people drop out of high school to follow my path.

At the end of the day, everyone is different, with different skills, and motivations- I don't want to hand-feed a six figure salary to people, I'd rather help educate and motivate others so that they can create their own path, with hard work, determination, and a bit of luck.

On the second part, I'd wholeheartedly (in a kind way) disagree that the video is nothing a newbie would find useful. If you think newbies are well-aware they need to take several steps to get to a six figure income, I'd say you're wrong. Many are completely unaware of what the "real" world is like in IT- not many on these boards, but in general. The ridiculous amount of certification mills out there ("Get your CCNA in 30 days and make six figures!") has brought in a new group of individuals set on the easy way- so this video's goal was to show..it's possible, with work, and here's a general outline how.

Naturally, if you've got any amount of experience, this video is not relevant to you, because, well, that wasn't the goal.

I do promise to take all input though, to improve on subsequent videos.

lantech

I think I would've added what the general salary expectations would be at each level putting in the caveat that it might be different depending on the area that you live in. Otherwise a great video.

And yes, to some this might be a hard work and determination speech. But that is what's required to get into that salary range. And there are way to many paths to that salary range to give a path in one video. But it serves as a great starting point for those that are new to the industry and have been given to many get this cert and start making $100 grand cert mills that are out there.

Mrock4

I might do a series of these which aim specifically towards each "area" - such as virtualization, storage, wireless, security, etc. That way I could have enough time to discuss things like salaries (which I had considered)..and really expand into salaries based on locale, experience, etc...any thoughts? This would allow them to be more specific, and build off this first video.

kurosaki00

Main Event wrote: »

it's more like a hard work and determination speech to me than something a newbie would find useful.

Thats why people are "newbies". Because they dont get the advices. When someone comes around asking what certification they should take for big bucks fast/short time/as soon as possible
It shows the lack of dedication from the professional
Because with so many FREE resources out there in the internet people come here expecting others to digest their future for them and telling them what to do
Its not like that, its never like that.

What do people want? A full security path that worked for someone laid down for you?
Someone telling you first get Sec+, then CISSP, then Gsec and so on.
Whats so hard of going out in the internet doing some searches in a few job engines and see the job trend, what certification shows the most, what do usually they look when they want a "security professional". Read the newspaper, online magazines, keep up
if you do that you will certainly know what certs and steps you need to take for your career
guess whats the next step? get it done! work hard! do it! (nike tm)

can exchange the security example with other stuff like cisco or w/e

Roguetadhg

Mrock4, good work.

To everyone else that wants a simple path... There isn't any. Look at it this way. There's members that specialize, making 6 figures. There's members wearing multiple hats (Networking, Server work, Security, Fixin things) , making 6 figures.

So... There isn't a RPG-like path or set things you can do. For what it's worth - it's all down to "How much can you sell yourself?" Sure, it's easier to sell yourself as 6 figures if you have experience, certs, school, and also a position that means 6 figures. I think it's nearly impossible to ask for 6 figures working at GoldenArches. You can ask, and if you're really good at selling yourself, im sure you can get 6 figures!

Don't expect making a lot of money without putting your time in. Better yourself and prove to others you have what it takes to be worth that much. Keep aiming for better

Iristheangel

Roguetadhg wrote: »

There isn't a RPG-like path

You have just unlocked the "Wisdom" achievement. +20 to Intelligence

Everyone

Surprised no one mentioned the cost of living variable.

Haven't watched the video yet, have to catch a plane to Hartford CT. 6 figures was so 8 months ago... I'm working towards hitting 7 figures within the next 9.5 years.