Yes , I feel that I am good at what I do.
Yes , Had a lot of trouble with career choices , especially when had to adjust to dramatic lifestyle changes that rendered some choices null
Yes, I am pretty happy where I am, though it is not my final goal.
My work is recognized, and is considered original and more importantly, relevant. so yes I am content where I have ended up.
Just wish I made more $ to pay off the student loan debt
thats great to hear!! did you plan to be where you are or did it "just happen"?
I got lucky. My hobby became a sought after industry.
I'm in IT, I'm a sysadmin for a bunch of small companies in the town where I'm currently living.
I started in the early 90's building PCs in a 3 person shop, moved on to a 10 person shop in another state, onto technical support at one of the top tape drive companies, onto desktop PC technical support for one of the biggest computer companies, on to training the support teams, etc.
Then the job was sent to India without me. Took my severance package and went back to finish my Bachelor's degree in another field.
Graduated Magna Cum Laude in May 2008. With 15 years of experience and a full 4 year degree, it took 8 months to find a job.
Now I'm in a town that has 250,000 people in it but thinks it's still only got one stoplight. This place sucks, but it's great experience. Soon I'll head to another state and start up again.
thats quite a story, very intriguing and it reminds me that just because you have a degree it doesnt mean that you will definetely get a job once you finish uni. i think that is the main thing that i am scared and worried about.
Bottom line, if you don't enjoy what you do, it can really make living in the middle of nowhere really painful while you're waiting for the right opportunity to come along.
its the exact opposite here, i LOVE networking and learning all about how they work. i see networking, security & admin as basically the most important jobs on the planet - because without them the computers would crash and die. i love the idea of being the man that 'keeps everything running' sort of thing.
in saying that, being able to play infront of people in a band just excites me so much, i miss it. but i guess i have to ask myself what has the higher success rate, i think here in australia the stats are like 1/100,000 musicians actually become well known..
Make sure you stay current on the generic certifications, and keep a good focus on the stuff you end up better at than your peers.
In other words, in your track, get a Network+ first. It's useless, but without it you will never get a job since it's on every firm's search engine.
2nd go CCNA. Maybe CCNP if you've got the time and access to the resources.
i have never heard of those certifications etc, like i said im in australia - so its different. i do however have a world known Certificate II & III Microsoft thing in Networking. i guess that counts towards something? when i finish uni i plan on doing the local TAFE degree (a more practical kind of Uni) for computing, and i also plan on doing Cisco training (because they are known world wide for their professionalism) + some extra Microsoft degrees.
Next, what part of networking do you specifically like? Do you want to focus on wireless, security, WANs, etc? A focus can help you work your way into some interesting places.
i really enjoy configuring networks, setting them up (wired or wireless, i dont care). i enjoy using Microsoft Server (as bulky and dull as it may seen, its quite easy to use) to maintain DNS, domain naming, user accounts and the like. both wireless & wired protocols really entice me, i dont know the exact workings of them but i would love to learn, and security seems to come with them so id enjoy learning that part too.. anything networking really! not so much 'tech support', i have done that and wasnt that fond of it.
also, i am intrigued by how computers work.. how hard drives write their data (at the polarity level not just the binary level), how RAM works, how images are rendered on the GPU.. etcetc
Do you want a job with potential travel? a 24x7 pager stuck to your hip? These are all the kinds of things to keep in mind as you choose what's next.
im not that keen on travelling 24/7, being on the move isnt me really. a pager stuck to my hip wouldnt give me much time with my GF, she would hate it and so would i, but if the money was right ....
Keep playing the drums though. Few ever make real money at it, but even if you don't, it's what makes you you.
oh i definetely will keep playing drums! its my whole soul and it makes me feel happy, im not as accurate as i once was but i can still do what i do best
I'm a hockey nut. If I can't play hockey (like now, in this godforsaken place), I'm miserable.
hockey as in ice-hockey? we dont have that there (no ice) we just play field hockey, and im left handed (for two handed sports) so i never got into it.
Good luck! And remember, there's no rush. You don't have to be a CCIE on Thursday. You've got time to wander, learn what you like, etc. Just make sure you're flexible. Get a passing knowledge of Windows administration, Linux as well. You don't have to be an ace, but when the downsizing hammer comes, you don't want to be the one-trick pony either.
excellent advice!! being versatile is the key point and you have nailed it spot on! i am extremely confident using Macs, i have grown up using them. i started using M$ when i was about 13 and i know my way around it very nicely. i think i will have to install both OSX server and M$ server again to become more confident again.
well I am going back to school to get something in IT industry. One advatage of IT is it is always advance at a very high right of speed so you have to keep learning.
i dont see how this can be an advantage haha, is it because others have to keep learning too and if you keep on top of it all then you will be sweet?
Drum while chances are not support you for a living it is worth it to keep playing because it something you enjoy doing. It lets out your stresses and hell it is just fun. It gives you a hobby outside of work. That is important to stay happy.
thats so true, i wont be giving up drumming anytime soon!!
In my opinion there's two types of people in this world. Those that get to make a living doing what they love and those that work a job to pay the bills and do what they love in their free time. People will argue one side over the other, but in truth it's up to you. I am a therapist and love being able to help other people. It's a passion, but unless I write a book, get into media (TV/Radio), or become an entrepreneur in my area (open a large practice and make money off of the other counselors I bring in) then I will never make big bucks. I have several friends who work business or medical jobs that they are not passionate about, but boy do they make a lot of money. And making that money makes their family life and "free time" interests more available and enjoyable. The point is there is no one "right" answer to your question. This is especially true because over the course of your life interests and priorities will change. Make the best decision you can and know that you can always change your mind later as your circumstances change.
very sound advice, thankyou. you just made me realise that asking for advice on what to do isnt really the best thing to do for my own personal situation, because only i can make that decision. but everyones opinion has helped to broaden my view on the choices i have.
im glad to hear that you are enjoying you job, do you have any plans to expand your business??
Respectfully, if you're still in school you don't know for sure what your "final career" is going to be.
true, but im very close to finishing uni, only got another year then im all done and will be seaching for money. i want to know my options!
I began college as an engineering undecided major, switched to aerospace engineering, then finished in mechanical engineering - so I never actually left the aerospace & mechanical department of the engineering college. I thought I'd go into engine design and power generation. Instead, I've spent the last 15 years working in building engineering.
wow ok, you went in 'blind'!? do you enjoy it? the unknown kind of scares me i guess, i like to know my options and take the one thats right for me..
I don't regret it, I'm good at it, and I've built up a pretty decent reputation for doing it well. But I chose it not because I thought I would love it, but because I thought I would be good at it.
ahh you answered, ok lol. right so the fact that you were good at it and could make money/reputation etc out-weighed your interest in it? fair enough, good on you.
I don't hate it or even dislike it, but it's far from exciting. And it's absolutely not what I thought I would be doing when I was in college.
its a far cry different from what you were looking at haha! have you thought about other options/paths you could go down? or are you comfortable where you are now?
I am the best
Period
Tax Law
tax law?? seems intense!! i could never put myself through law...
thanks for the input everyone!
I'm one of those who's had loads of trouble deciding a career and education. First of all, I've just now (graduated a couple of days ago actually) been able to finish High School (or our equivalent of it) to be able to go to University. Two years overdue.
congratulations are in order!! well done!
First of all, I'm problaby quite like you, with a passion for several things in life. I've been absolutely sure that the right thing has been acting, music, Law, design, anthropology, religion, lighting design, stage design... That's just the list of things I considered the past year.
wow that is quite an intensive list!! very broad too.
Choosing a career has been (at last for me) about weighing my interests to the ability to make a career (and eventually loads of cash) out of it. The wish of being successful has led me away from studying subjects like Political Science, Anthropology, Religion and Sociology. I decided about a month back to first go into Applied Computer Technology, then do my masters degree in Human-Machine Interaction. Hopefully I can build a business and a reputation in both designing and building new types of computers systems and web systems.
right ok so your motivation seems to be somewhat like mine. i would really like to be successful (with a generous (not too much) amount of money to let my GF be happy and my kids) in the area that i choose, whether it be from starting a business of my own or whatever.. i havent really decided yet.
The choice of what to do is very difficult, but is there a chance to go for something else if you find that what you chose in the first place isn't the right thing? It's pretty important that you're not doomed to do one thing after making a choice like this.
good point! however i have always known that i will be doing IT. i have a video of me typing on the computer at age 2, i would have spent at least 10hrs per day on the computer for the last 10 years, doing all sorts of things such as learning, gaming, socialising and whatnot so i always knew deep down. my passion for it is burning. but then again so is music.
hmm.. maybe i can be a nerd by day and a drummer by night? it could work.
