Best tech career?

[freedogger]

Originally Posted by scotty2hotty

My formal education was in cellular biology and I've been working in medical / surgical sales for a little over 10 years.

It will take ten years to make comparable wages in IT to what you are making now. No need to answer but I'm assuming you are making between 150-250k/yr before tax.

[freedogger]

Originally Posted by MickMcGeough

This is horrible, horrible advice.

No, he's not going to waltz into a senior position at an energy company after 2 years at SAIT (nor do I think the OP was thinking that's how it works). But today's tech industries are like few others in terms of offering rapid advancement and fulfilling careers to passionate and talented individuals, regardless of resume bullet points.

You are an outlier though. I know dozens who have tried to do what you do and they all cratered after 1-3 years at it. I also know the owners of Critical Mass and The Vacuum. They are the ones that have shot for the moon and gone way farther than anyone would have guessed possible. Neither of them had anything to lose.

The best advice I can give is keep your options open. Don't quit your real job, just fade away slowly from it. Try to get as much paid experience as possible. Pull a few pages from Tim Ferris 4 hour work week if you can. Get everyone else to fund your education through paid work experience. Learn as you go. Try to work at places where you will get good mentorship.

[bubbsy]

i've been in IT/Tech for 8 years now. I work in telco (telecommunications).

it's funny you're trying to get in, and i am contemplating getting out.

Better late than never is the answer you are looking for in my opinion.

IT/Tech is an interesting space, where you can easily move up the food chain. What i'm realizing now, unfortunately, is that isn't always a good thing.

A job's a job's a job. There is this false hope in our western philosophy of life that you should "love what you do". personally, i think it's kind of bull____.. Everyone hates sunday nights/monday mornings and loves friday nights. you should care about your job and it's inherent deliverables, if you don't then you have an issue. In my experience thus far, if a job comes to a point where it is even detering you from the things you love/non-negotiables (family, friends, sports, etc) then try something new..

If you contemplate these things and still think you want to make the move to IT/Tech, there are some fairly straightforward ways to KICK your way into the space. Get certified in one of the following (as examples):
- dba
- sys admin (unix, linux, ms)
- cisco
- ms dcrm

i don't know if you'd be willing to consider a developer type role, but considering your 38, seems a bit of a waste time to suddensly start at that level.

PM me if you want, happy to help.

[Sr. Mints]

Originally Posted by scotty2hotty

Thanks for all of the advice and insight, guys. Much appreciated.

I'm obviously not about to quit my job and jump headlong into a new career. Just in the research and exploration phase at the moment. Seeing what options may be available and what avenues may be worth further investigation.

That's what I did, and I went into a journalism program, where I just graduated and am having a hell of a time landing a gig.

[Cue the giggling.]

[Thor]

I made this change about 4yrs ago, I was tired of sales and anything to do with a typical office job, I needed a more problem solving and type of work that kept me interested.

So I went back to school, got my MICTP, CCNA, and now recently am working on my Red Hat Certified Engineer, to get my linux&unix skills up.

I work something a little bit like a help desk, but my main job is monitoring our servers, phone systems, and lots of stuff that requires ideally a broad knowledge of stuff. I can be troubleshooting a win2k3 server and next moment a fedora machine.

Its like the help desk in that you learn soooo much, and its also a great way to see where you want to end up in the company, because for me its not just what I'm doing but the people I work with, and I have identified 1 deparment I really want to end up in, and found 2 that I would rather not be a part of.

Get your MCITP, maybe CCNA as well, those 2 are great building blocks and at least pickup a base linux certification, linux + or of course Red Hat.

[llama64]

As has been said before, Tech/IT is a huge field. There is a massive valley between the skills of an IT admin vs a software developer. IT Admin tends to get more money from what I understand, except the job is often on call and high stress (once you're out of helpdesk and actually responsible for stuff). I decided to avoid that and went into Software Development - couldn't be happier (though the stress still seems to be there... heh).

I did a two year program at SAIT called Computer Technology - pretty much taught me how to program (JAVA), how to do basic UNIX admin, a light brush with .NET and most importantly how to design and complete a non-trivial software solution to an actual business problem. Not sure if they still offer it, but for me it was the best compliment to my original degree I could get - gave me the skills to land basically any gig I wanted.

Since then though, all of my learning has been experience or self taught and it has far eclipsed my schooling.

Biggest challenge I'm facing right now is that 90% of the work to be found in web development in Calgary is PHP based (largely cleaning up the mess agencies leave their clients with) - but the web space is moving towards "newer" technology like python or ruby. At some point Calgary will wake up and start requiring these skills so I'm constantly forced to upgrade my knowledge in ways that other career paths don't require. If having to learn new tool skill sets and methodologies is attractive, definitely give software a go.

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

A job's a job's a job. There is this false hope in our western philosophy of life that you should "love what you do". personally, i think it's kind of bull____.. Everyone hates sunday nights/monday mornings and loves friday nights. you should care about your job and it's inherent deliverables, if you don't then you have an issue. In my experience thus far, if a job comes to a point where it is even detering you from the things you love/non-negotiables (family, friends, sports, etc) then try something new..

I don't think that's neccessarily true - I'd be screwing around with tech even if I wasn't getting paid to do it. I go to work Monday morning looking forward to seeing how the weekend's changes perform with a production workload.

The worst guys I've worked with in IT are the ones that are there for the paycheque. I'm sure in a other lines of work its less of an issue, but when you're a knowledge worker that wants to know only enough to punch the clock 9-to-5 to meet the lines in the job description, it's brutal. Nothing worse than the (in)famous "paper MCSE".

That being said, the job you love still has to play nice with other work/personal/goals that you have - it's not an all or nothing proposition.

[MickMcGeough]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

A job's a job's a job. There is this false hope in our western philosophy of life that you should "love what you do". personally, i think it's kind of bull____.

The truly sad thing about this is how many people actually believe this, and use that sentiment to justify investing decades in thankless occupations.

"Loving what you do" doesn't mean you never have a bad day at work or don't enjoy weekends. It means you've monetized an activity you enjoy. It's not half as unattainable as you think (unless you only like one thing, and it happens to be wrestling, or something). Half of my team spends some of their free time on open source projects or their own side work - sometimes paid, but mostly not.

[Hack&Lube]

I changed to IT in late 20s after 7 months training (which honestly taught me nothing as this was my hobby since I was a kid) and I love my job every day. I work in O&G and actually I found a lot of the guys in the higher end infrastructure roles started on help desk here.

Like sclitheroe, if I wasn't working in tech, I'd be screwing around with tech anyway so for me the switch was an effort to make the skills I get from my hobby part of job and to bring more personal happiness and fulfillment which worked.

To the OP - why are you interested in tech as a career move from medical sales?

[Bobblehead]

I really should get the actual certifications. I've been the DBA of Oracle databases for 10+ years - I should leverage that knowledge.

[MickMcGeough]

Originally Posted by freedogger

You are an outlier though. I know dozens who have tried to do what you do and they all cratered after 1-3 years at it.

Thanks, but I really don't think I am. Most of my team have stories very similar to mine.

[OldDutch]

I will echo what many have said here, it will take a while to get to six figures in IT, so don't do it for the coin to start.

Getting certs will help (I guess), but honestly, you will only get help desk to start. Experience/personality is a huge factor, so if you want to scale up, you either have to work/charm your way, or do jobs on the side for next to nothing. I have done both over the last 14+ years.

Also don't run to technical roles, and discount a role such as Business Analyst or Project Manager. I got my tech experience for 7 years as an App Dev, then used that to spring into PM/BA contract work. Honestly, the hours are way less, work is easier, and the pay way better than development or infastructure roles. The key with these roles is that you need to be good with people. A lot of tech types can't be put in front of executives, so if you can speak tech talk, and speak business talk, you are set.

Despite what most hard tech guys will have you believe, solutions are built because an executive has been convinced it is in their best interests (usually by a employee, friend, or slick sales rep). Tech specs mean next to nothing, it is up to the server guys and programmers to clean up the mess and make it integrate in the end. So if you can get close to the high level business, and earn trust, you can sell anything, and let the techies work long hours to get it done.

All I am saying is this, certs are great, but everyones got em'. What do you bring to the table beyond the ability to know detailed specs and tech talk? Companies outsource this stuff to India, so what soft skills do you have that an Indian programmer doesn't?

I am trying to be honest with you, as I am privy to alot of conversations in large Oil and Gas around outsourcing. As smart as Programmers and Infastructure guys are (and I know plenty), they are seen as a commodity (exception being the very specilized). Therefore, along comes a large outfit like IBM or CGI tells them they will outsource the whole shop for half the long them cost. Suddenly that sweet job you had before, and all those certs, becomes a low pay IBM gig.

This is the way it is headed in Calgary, so don't invest at this time unless you plan to get out of the "do'er" roles and into the "planner/seller" roles in IT. Most "do'er" roles are going to go to a large consulting outfit (who will pay you nothing) or to India long term.

[llama64]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

I am trying to be honest with you, as I am privy to alot of conversations in large Oil and Gas around outsourcing. As smart as Programmers and Infastructure guys are (and I know plenty), they are seen as a commodity (exception being the very specilized). Therefore, along comes a large outfit like IBM or CGI tells them they will outsource the whole shop for half the long them cost. Suddenly that sweet job you had before, and all those certs, becomes a low pay IBM gig.

This is the way it is headed in Calgary, so don't invest at this time unless you plan to get out of the "do'er" roles and into the "planner/seller" roles in IT. Most "do'er" roles are going to go to a large consulting outfit (who will pay you nothing) or to India long term.

I've always found this attitude facinating - and largely backwards.

Technical talent is rare and hard to find, yet in calgary if you're not directly involved in the "management" of pulling oil out of hte ground you're second class. One day this thinking will bite the local business culture in the rear end.

Manager types have been brainwashed into the concept of "cost centers" by outdated management theories - so in order for us technical folk to prosper, we need to constantly justify our value to them. I skipped this step and joined a local tech startup - far better work environment then anything O&G could provide and I get respect for my skills. I have no idea why anyone would want to work for a large company's IT when you know it's run my moronic managers who don't understand any of what IT does.

That said, OldDutch's advice is dead on if you want to climb the corporate ladder in IT.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

I will echo what many have said here, it will take a while to get to six figures in IT, so don't do it for the coin to start.

Getting certs will help (I guess), but honestly, you will only get help desk to start. Experience/personality is a huge factor, so if you want to scale up, you either have to work/charm your way, or do jobs on the side for next to nothing. I have done both over the last 14+ years.

Also don't run to technical roles, and discount a role such as Business Analyst or Project Manager. I got my tech experience for 7 years as an App Dev, then used that to spring into PM/BA contract work. Honestly, the hours are way less, work is easier, and the pay way better than development or infastructure roles. The key with these roles is that you need to be good with people. A lot of tech types can't be put in front of executives, so if you can speak tech talk, and speak business talk, you are set.

Despite what most hard tech guys will have you believe, solutions are built because an executive has been convinced it is in their best interests (usually by a employee, friend, or slick sales rep). Tech specs mean next to nothing, it is up to the server guys and programmers to clean up the mess and make it integrate in the end. So if you can get close to the high level business, and earn trust, you can sell anything, and let the techies work long hours to get it done.

All I am saying is this, certs are great, but everyones got em'. What do you bring to the table beyond the ability to know detailed specs and tech talk? Companies outsource this stuff to India, so what soft skills do you have that an Indian programmer doesn't?

I am trying to be honest with you, as I am privy to alot of conversations in large Oil and Gas around outsourcing. As smart as Programmers and Infastructure guys are (and I know plenty), they are seen as a commodity (exception being the very specilized). Therefore, along comes a large outfit like IBM or CGI tells them they will outsource the whole shop for half the long them cost. Suddenly that sweet job you had before, and all those certs, becomes a low pay IBM gig.

This is the way it is headed in Calgary, so don't invest at this time unless you plan to get out of the "do'er" roles and into the "planner/seller" roles in IT. Most "do'er" roles are going to go to a large consulting outfit (who will pay you nothing) or to India long term.

What he said. You are already in the field of sales. One of the good areas to be in is selling the business value of technology in the way of Business Analyst/Project Management/Vendor Relations/Client Relations, etc. and not being the guy with the screwdriver and keyboard and headset who has to work 12 hour shifts to put it together and keep it running at the bottom of the chain.

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

Also don't run to technical roles, and discount a role such as Business Analyst or Project Manager. I got my tech experience for 7 years as an App Dev, then used that to spring into PM/BA contract work. Honestly, the hours are way less, work is easier, and the pay way better than development or infastructure roles.

Don't discount the technical role too quickly though - it covers an enormous amount of ground between the operations/infrastructure guys and the PM/BA side. There's a lot of demand for architecture, strategic IT planning, etc, that the techies can move up into. I'd say its a continuum of roles, not one or the other.

The best guys on either side of the continuum have done a bit of both, in my experience. A PM or BA that has worked their way up from a technical role, to an architect type role, to where they are as a PM/BA is a devastating combo. Similarly, a technical guy placed at a client to run their IT operations that can also put together a strategic 5 year road-map, do some light project planning, and generally pave the way for the project teams and sales guys, is a huge asset in their own right.