[Titanium3er]

...hoping you guys can give a fellow Bimmerposter some advice.

My backstory: I'm currently in the early stages of pursuing a masters degree in computer information systems. My undergraduate degree was a double major - both subjects liberal arts. After 5 years in the insurance field I decided I needed a change. My dad has always been in the business as a Project Manager; which piqued my interest. For the past year I've been working for a value added reseller - mostly Microsoft software (Windows 7, Office 365, SharePoint, CRM Online, and Access). While I've learned a lot, I recently decided it was time for a more formal education. Some of my areas of interest are data warehousing, data security, cloud computing, and mobile applications.

I know there are many successful folks on this forum. Hopefully some of you with experience on this subject can chime in and give me your opinions. Specifically, what you've learned about the industry, the current landscape, and developments you see coming down the line. Any suggestions on which area you would focus on to ensure future success would also be great.

Thanks in advance!

[Greenkirby21]

Originally Posted by Titanium3er

...hoping you guys can give a fellow member some advice.

My backstory: I'm currently in the early stages of pursuing a masters degree in computer information systems. My undergraduate degree was a double major - both subjects liberal arts. After 5 years in the insurance field I decided I needed a change. My dad has always been in the business as a Project Manager; which piqued my interest. For the past year I've been working for a value added reseller - mostly Microsoft software (Windows 7, Office 365, SharePoint, CRM Online, and Access). While I've learned a lot, I recently decided it was time for a more formal education. Some of my areas of interest are data warehousing, data security, cloud computing, and mobile applications.

I know there are many successful folks on this forum. Hopefully some of you with experience on this subject can chime in and give me your opinions. Specifically, what you've learned about the industry, the current landscape, and developments you see coming down the line. Any suggestions on which area you would focus on to ensure future success would also be great.

Thanks in advance!

Well, I am not really successful yet, but I consider myself so . Just graduated undergrad, 0 debt, and make 70k a year starting salary in cyber security related job. I studied computer science and have 1 year left on my masters in Computer Science with speciality in cyber security.

Me and another guy got hired to work on the same team at the same time. He is similar to you, no background in CS, and did masters in computer information systems.

All I can tell you is, study hard! My boss told me there is a big difference (and I can see it) between me and the other guy due to our background differences. He is not lazy or anything. If you want to be great, you will have to study hard but it will work out. While we both knew pretty much nothing coming into the team, I learned everything pretty much in a few days and he is still struggling 1 month later due to background difference.

There is a big difference between "coding" and designing software architecture.

For example, knowing SQL statements is completely different then building a database from the ground up and designing its framework.

The new guy, for example, knows how to code pretty well, but when it comes to things beyond that - efficiency, speed, resources, etc - he has no idea about it because they were not taught that.

Employer's don't really care IMO if you know Word, Excel - that is expected if you want to work in a technology field.

Like I said though, a good work ethic will defeat anything IMO. My boss studied math in college and has no masters yet she can kick our asses in anything pretty much lol. She is a very hard worker.

Also - keep up to date with topics, especially related to the stuff you talked about. University research is usually ahead of the business world game, and so when I went into my interview and talked to them about stuff they didn't know about, that got them excited!

Final Edit: Make sure you are in good standing with the law. If you want to work in a field of cyber security your gonna have to get a clearance most likely!

[Titanium3er]

Thanks for that info greenkirby!

It's disconcerting to hear the differences between you and your coworker are that large. Hopefully I'll be able to make up some of that ground through hard work and self study of concepts that are not contained or expounded upon in the program.

I'm also at a point in my life where obtaining useful knowledge and furthering my career is number one on my list of priorities. I can't necessarily say that was the case during my undergraduate studies

Thanks again and good luck in your own profession!

[kscarrol]

And don't forget to order your Montblanc pens!!!

[Nkc]

I just learned a lot about pens.

[jasonX]

You shouldn't get into IT just because it pays well. If you don't like what you do, you won't be successful.

That said, IT is very broad. Do you enjoy programming? Then you may want to look into Application Development and go for classes which teach .Net, Java etc. If you prefer being a Middleware/Database developer, look into Oracle.

If you're looking to go the Network/Systems Engineering route, it would be advisable to obtain certifications through the popular vendors (CCNA/JNCIS from Cisco Juniper for Networking and MCSE from Microsoft). The network certifications I listed are more entry-level and should be able to land you a NOC position while the MCSE may land you a Jr Sys Admin position.

One thing that's really hot is Virtualization, look into VCP certifications.

[smyles]

Originally Posted by Titanium3er

Any suggestions on which area you would focus on to ensure future success would also be great.

You have to decide whether you want to be a tech guy, or a management material, so to speak. For a tech, to be successful and recognized, you'll have to focus on a rather narrow area to become an expert in it. There's a huge crowd of "oh, I know this, that, and also 100 other things" as well as "I've been programming in <.....> for 15 yrs" even though <...> existed only 10, all based on rather shallow experience, occasional knowledge, shameless resume padding, etc. But like others said, focusing on one area doesn't mean staying in it forever - you have to recognize trends and be ready to dive into new products as needed.

As for the management, developing people skills takes priority. There's plenty of stories about "stupid bosses" who "I wonder how he/she got the job" - well, get ready to enjoy stuff like networking, sales, politics, hard decisions, communications if you want to become one of them.

[kits135i]

I am a professional in the IT business for 20+ years. I am certified in Cisco, Citrix, VMware, Microsoft, CompTIA etc.

I will have to agree with what others have said. First of all you MUST enjoy this type of work. You will hate it otherwise. Second, what exactly do you want to do. IT is very broad. You can try to become a jack of all trades (which is what I tried to do early on) but if you decide to master at one thing, you can tend to make more money if that's what you are looking for. You also don't just start at high pay and learn from the ground up. At least I have never heard or seen anyone doing that.

My main area now is virtualization (VMware and Citrix) and love it. I work with people who then specialize and have passion in security, programming, web developing, Database designers and admins, management, hardware guru's likes SANS etc just to name very few. What I have noticed in all my years is typically these other people do not like anything else but what they do and would not change it for the world even if it paid more.

Find your itch and make it happen. You must push yourself to be good. This industry is all about experience. No paper in the world can replace experience. As I first stated I have more letters in the alphabet soup at the end of my name than most people, however without my experience it would be meaningless.

Good luck.

[justinnum1]

salesforce.net

do it.

[Titanium3er]

I totally agree that you have to like what you do in order to be successful. One of the main reasons I made the switch is I acknowledged that and wanted to get out of my former profession before it was too late.

I've always been interested in IT and have some specialized knowledge when it comes to Wordpress, html, and some Microsoft products. I certainly wouldn't call myself a hardcore coder or programmer. I don't even have basic exposure to many languages, frameworks, and platforms.

Would you place specialized certifications higher in importance than a degree in CIS? I fully understand that pieces of paper mean nothing without the experience to back it up. My main rationale for going back to school is to get a general education in the subject, but also to determine exactly what it is that interests me most. I also need to find out what I am best at.

Do you think that with no other formal training those certifications would prepare an individual to land a decent job? I've looked into some of the Microsoft cert's in the past, but never ended up pursuing them.

[ddk632]

OP,

You listed some broad areas of interest and there are overlapping roles in different worlds in IT. Security for a programmer and for a systems administrator might have some overlap but generally are two different things. Same thing with cloud computing; what about it do you like? Want to program for the cloud? Set up cloud infrastructure? etc.

If you're interested in data warehousing, the specialist role you would want to look into is becoming a DBA (Database Administrator) who specializes in data warehousing (not all DBA's do).

Mobile applications are a totally different skillset. That is programming. You will also need to have database skills (both in administration and design, architecture, and database programming) if you want to be worth your salt as a programmer.

You won't find a job doing both data warehousing and writing mobile applications ... it just doesn't happen, unless you work in a startup with 3 people. In which case, there is likely not a need for data warehousing

For mobile apps, generally you will specialize as well, down to language/platform. You can be an iOS / Apple developer or a Java / Android developer or a .net developer focusing on Metro apps for Windows Phone 8. You can be great at all 3. You will however likely focus on one particular platform/language working for a large company. They will have an iOS team and an Android team and you will be on one of those teams. I am sure this is not 100% true everywhere but it is generally the case.

Having all those skills would be awesome, but you would want to specialize in one at a time. It takes years of full-time dedication to become really good at any one of these skills. The first one will take the longest.

By specialize, I mean master the tools, frameworks, methodologies, patterns, theories, etc., etc. and you can't really do that in school. You can get the basics and start somewhere, and learn on your own, do side projects, etc., and then take those skills back to your job to move up.

The good thing about having a broader skillset (i.e., you know Java and .net and Python and iOS) is if you do want to be a manager, VP, or eventually CTO, and would be managing diverse teams which transcend platforms, having the broad knowledge and experience would come in handy in such a role.

And it isn't hard because once you are trained as a programmer (not a coder who cuts and pastes code from the internet, etc.) - when you have the mindset, critical thinking, problem solving, and logical skills needed to architect, design, and implement software applications - which is irrespective if you focus on mobile, web, or desktop as programming at the core is the same - once you have this skill, then learning a new language is just learning syntax and its relevant frameworks. So focus on one and get good at it, and it will be that much easier to learn a second language later on.

Which area to focus on that is future-proof? That's a tough call. The key is to adapt and learn new technologies as they become adopted into the mainstream so that you're never left behind. Keep your skills relevant to the current market always, and YOU will be future-proof regardless of which area you focus on now. I think this holds true for any area within IT.

I don't know what I'm talking about though, so take it with a grain of salt. I sell oranges on the street corner. And I like pens, too.

[jasonX]

Having a BS in Comp Sci/ Comp Engineering alone should be able to get your foot in the door for an entry level position. Those are favored over Info Tech or Info Sys majors.

Your liberal arts undergrad really does nothing for you. I'd think any Masters program worth it's salt would require you to take at least a years worth of Bridge courses before stating an IT based curriculum.

You should go for Certs once you find out what you want to do. I'd suggest, for someone with no IT education background to go with CompTIA's triad (A+, N+, S+). This should provide a foundation and are vendor neutral. From there, you should specialize in a particular vendors software/equipment. You don't necessarily have to obtain certifications to be successful in IT (considering you have an undergrad in a related field) as many of my peers did not. However, what you learn from studying/passing a certification as well as listing 4/5 letter acronyms on your resume which may be listed in job requirements and found by recruiters should certainly improve your knowledge and increase the likelihood of being contacted for a vacant position.

[Bash328I]

Hera are my 2 cents for what its worth..i noticed you listed data ware housing as one of your interest, it has been gaining momentum lately and there is a huge demand for data analytics and data engineers so if you are willing to put some effort and get formal education try yo get a masters in Business Analytics..only a hand full of universities offer the course..(INFORMATIONWEEK.COM had a pretty good article on it a few weeks ago)..if you would just want to start right away get a certification in SQL so you can get your foot in the door..i would strongly suggest you head towards Data/Reporting if you would want to make it in the long term...certifications definitely help you to be considered for a position and if its a new technology it helps you stand out from the group.

Most of the skills you have listed are on the management side so if that's where you are aiming then i would say its a good start.

The problem with languages like .net and Java is that one has to constantly keep updating with new changes and after a point it gets frustrating,unlike data where the concepts are relatively unchanged(this is my personal opinion).

[Titanium3er]

Thanks again to everyone who offered their words of wisdom. I feel much better informed than I did 24 hours ago. I also feel more confident that my plans will eventually lead to a long, productive, and lucrative career.

To the fellow who provided unsolicited information on montblanc pens: I wasn't aware there was such a market for your wares as to warrant spamming a car forum to generate sales. Unfortunately, it appears the moderators have made short work of your efforts. Better luck next time.

To the orange salesman: I don't know where you've set up shop, but based on your garage you seem to be doing very well for yourself. Perhaps you can share your stand's location so I can take over once you retire? I've been looking at 1199 Panigale's and peddling produce seems like just the way to obtain one.

[DNDC]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned ITIL certification.

Definitely something worth looking into if you are interested in building or working with a structured environment.

My current role is based within IT Operations and managing a Level 1/2 Service Desk, this also encompasses input within Strategy, Design, Service Integration and Continual Service Improvement.

Anyone else who is focussed on delivering service?

[grieverr]

DNDC, I work a remote hosting gig, doing SAN storage. I feel the opposite as the OP, I hate IT!! Granted, I haven't ventured into other areas, only sys admin and now SAN in operations. But it's definitely not for me.

I agree if you're going into service delivery, ITIL certification is key to moving up that ladder. Citrix pays well also.

[kihun]

I'm curious, do you guys study by yourself to get those certifications or are there any classes?

[Bash328I]

Originally Posted by kihun

I'm curious, do you guys study by yourself to get those certifications or are there any classes?

I usually study by myself there are a lot of forums which help you get through the exams and there is very little you can learn form books, the job teaches you everything most certifications in programming at least are just a piece of Paper,but networking and any kind of administration is a whole different story.When you are a newbie to IT in general a classroom format is better suited

[UncleWede]

I started IT work out of HS in 19 and 84. The only certification I have is A+, and really that was a joke.
I have a bachelor of science in Math, a Master of Science in Systems Management, and none of the preceeding got me anywhere, really.

What will get you somewhere, unfortunately, is EXPERIENCE. You don't have to have done a job with the exact requirements, but at least a related task.

There are still a few of us Jack-of-all trades out there. I am the IT manager for a small city. If it has an electrical cord, or a computer, I keep it running and/or replace it. Someone mentioned it above, once you have the critical/logical thinking down, you can adapt it to anything. I started programming BASIC, moved thru database after learning I was a benevolent hacker. Now I manage new installations, secure networks, as well as still building and deploying desktops.

If I had to do it all over again, I would most definately go down the path of security myself. And like mentioned before, keep yuour nose clean, or you won't be working it IT. It's just too expensive to risk a bad employee, and EVERYTHING needs to be secure these days.

Some of this info I gleemed actually being on the hiring side of the table. Almost every position I was on the interview panel, we dismissed people with strong lettering for a lack of experience.

[markham335i]

haha reminds me of myself.. i just dropped out of computer engineering (was in my last year) my dads in construction and i decided i wanted to one day own the family business and get in the industry now. literally just signed up for the project management course at the university of toronto and i start work in november. follow your heart man!

[suter]

I'd suggest you should think hard about your choices.

You don't get to software development or operations because these positions are (currently) well paying or lucrative. If you don't really like working with software and your brain is not "wired" in certain way, you'll hate it pretty quickly.

Regardless of what the perception might be, these are pretty demanding positions if you want to get any good at what you're doing.
I've been performing a lot of interviews recently, mostly for senior software devs, and as much as it's good to have a degree in CS, if you can't answer questions, you're out. The CS degree will give you an idea about algorithms, etc, but actual hands on experience is necessary to answer most of what is being asked.

Don't pick technical position based on money if you don't really like it.
Management or support positions in IT are no different than in any other industries.

[kmarei]

Screw all the certifications
I slept my way to the top