- Nov 6, 2012
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Research your major's job salary and expected career field growth before you choose your next major. Maybe you can try finance?
- Oct 12, 2011
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Well I was halfway kidding, because job forecasts have always pegged accounting for one of the highest growing fields every time I've checked in the past 3 years.
That coupled with the facts that it opens most doors in business and is a great base for an MBA makes it not really a stress factor for me.
But I was debating on switching my major to something that could blossom into a career involving one of my passions.
- Mar 4, 2009
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Yea I mean GMU was a good school and all, but I definitely wouldn't say that it is a "top tier" school....better than that other copy cat Cinderella school close to us that referenced though 
They are a good school and they do model themselves to be like Ivy League schools but most decent colleges strive for those same things. Their location definitely helps with being so close to government jobs easily. I have looked into relocating before and I can move to NC, TX, GA, or CA and make just as much money, if not more, especially in CA. People have IT jobs everywhere, so one cannot say that they are location based. Sure, they may not pay high as other places, but it is all relative to the cost of living for that area.
Those trying to career switch that can't go back to school...study and get some entry certs as you can. Create a small test environment at home, even if it is 1 extra system. Download Linux and install that on an old laptop or something to get familiar with Linux (only need 1gb of ram & 20gb hdd to get it running). Try to be the guy that fixes family and friends computer and printer issues when they occur. That and stay determined and stick with it. It will pan out in the end.
They are a good school and they do model themselves to be like Ivy League schools but most decent colleges strive for those same things. Their location definitely helps with being so close to government jobs easily. I have looked into relocating before and I can move to NC, TX, GA, or CA and make just as much money, if not more, especially in CA. People have IT jobs everywhere, so one cannot say that they are location based. Sure, they may not pay high as other places, but it is all relative to the cost of living for that area.
Those trying to career switch that can't go back to school...study and get some entry certs as you can. Create a small test environment at home, even if it is 1 extra system. Download Linux and install that on an old laptop or something to get familiar with Linux (only need 1gb of ram & 20gb hdd to get it running). Try to be the guy that fixes family and friends computer and printer issues when they occur. That and stay determined and stick with it. It will pan out in the end.
- Nov 3, 2011
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- 29,764
This. I'm trying to setup my own server at home so I can get some experience with servers. I'd also like to get some experience with powershell and eventually get into information and security.
- May 31, 2011
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On the topic of CS/IT. Yes a cs degree will be more lucrative in the entry level but CS jobs are also more intense depending the situation. I would think an internal developer would have it easier than a developer for a commercial product. But money strictly CS wins but IT is more pleasurable for me I like getting the business side of things which I believe IT offers easier and more consistently
- Feb 27, 2011
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- 2,404
Been lurking in this thread for a while and wanna add a little input based on my experience and the current situation I find myself in.
First off, i have 12years of IT experience and a degree in Networking and Communication Management. From what Ive seen, its always been who you know rather than what you know. Certifications really dot mean much as long as you have the experience and can show it. Lots of guys ive worked with have nothing to show for as far as schooling or certs but are just smart guys that learned a lot on their own.
For me personally I started off in High School as a campus tech then went to work for a large retail store as the in store IT tech. With that same company I've moved up the ladder and 7.5 years ago i joined their Helpdesk as a Support Analyst. The company has been VERY good to me. Paid for some of my school, paid for my passport and has sent me to some countries that I would have never In my life visited if it wasn't work related. No to mention a few states as well. I also met my wife there 9 years ago
Our headquarters is on the East Coast and with a remote office in Canada and in LA (which is the one I work out of) . No office drama, no real supervision which is not bad..A few years ago I started to feel stagnant in my position. Even though I was traveling, I didn't feel like i was being challenged or I was growing as a professional. Around that time they flew us back East to a meeting where we found out a lot of people throughout IT were getting outsourced. Since then we have never felt safe even though they told us that It will never happen with our department. Last year we had a meeting with one of the big shots but some of the stuff said in the meeting really made me feel uneasy. I finally came to terms that I was able to let go some of the familiarity of my job and the comfort and started looking to see what else was out there and actually sent out a few resumes.
Flash forward to now. Two weeks ago I get a call from my manager with the normal small talk and before we hang up she mentions to check my email. My coworker and I got a mail saying that she along with HR were coming out to see us in 2 weeks to discuss some "Organizational Information" and thats all the information they have at the moment. I signal to my coworker to check his mail. While I'm wrapping up this conversation my coworker gets a call from our guy in the Canadian office asking if we just got the same email. On the same day our other manager and the HR Manager will be going up there to see him. For the last two weeks we've been sitting here thinking about so many different scenarios but ultimately come up to the most obviously one which is that we are gone. A short notice visit from your manager with HR is never a good thing. Not to mention a bunch of other clues we've been noticing but the end of the fiscal year for our company is at the end of this month.
So with that going on it looks like I'm hitting the market soon like a few other people in here looking. Not sure what its gonna look like out there (especially in SoCal). Sorry If I went a lil off topic here with my personal stuff( I admit i did need to vent a little) but I think outsourcing is a big problem for those in our field and I may soon be a victim of it. Most of these jobs can be done from anywhere. And some companies are willing to settle for bad, slow crappy service for big savings.
Anyways, thanks for reading guys.
First off, i have 12years of IT experience and a degree in Networking and Communication Management. From what Ive seen, its always been who you know rather than what you know. Certifications really dot mean much as long as you have the experience and can show it. Lots of guys ive worked with have nothing to show for as far as schooling or certs but are just smart guys that learned a lot on their own.
For me personally I started off in High School as a campus tech then went to work for a large retail store as the in store IT tech. With that same company I've moved up the ladder and 7.5 years ago i joined their Helpdesk as a Support Analyst. The company has been VERY good to me. Paid for some of my school, paid for my passport and has sent me to some countries that I would have never In my life visited if it wasn't work related. No to mention a few states as well. I also met my wife there 9 years ago
Our headquarters is on the East Coast and with a remote office in Canada and in LA (which is the one I work out of) . No office drama, no real supervision which is not bad..A few years ago I started to feel stagnant in my position. Even though I was traveling, I didn't feel like i was being challenged or I was growing as a professional. Around that time they flew us back East to a meeting where we found out a lot of people throughout IT were getting outsourced. Since then we have never felt safe even though they told us that It will never happen with our department. Last year we had a meeting with one of the big shots but some of the stuff said in the meeting really made me feel uneasy. I finally came to terms that I was able to let go some of the familiarity of my job and the comfort and started looking to see what else was out there and actually sent out a few resumes.
Flash forward to now. Two weeks ago I get a call from my manager with the normal small talk and before we hang up she mentions to check my email. My coworker and I got a mail saying that she along with HR were coming out to see us in 2 weeks to discuss some "Organizational Information" and thats all the information they have at the moment. I signal to my coworker to check his mail. While I'm wrapping up this conversation my coworker gets a call from our guy in the Canadian office asking if we just got the same email. On the same day our other manager and the HR Manager will be going up there to see him. For the last two weeks we've been sitting here thinking about so many different scenarios but ultimately come up to the most obviously one which is that we are gone. A short notice visit from your manager with HR is never a good thing. Not to mention a bunch of other clues we've been noticing but the end of the fiscal year for our company is at the end of this month.
So with that going on it looks like I'm hitting the market soon like a few other people in here looking. Not sure what its gonna look like out there (especially in SoCal). Sorry If I went a lil off topic here with my personal stuff( I admit i did need to vent a little) but I think outsourcing is a big problem for those in our field and I may soon be a victim of it. Most of these jobs can be done from anywhere. And some companies are willing to settle for bad, slow crappy service for big savings.
Anyways, thanks for reading guys.
- Dec 30, 2013
- 363
- 90
@ORSRT8 PM me your resume.
- Jul 31, 2012
- 368
- 75
If anyone's located in the Bay Area and looking for a position opening, my small IT company is looking to hire. Our office/datacenter is located in Marin, but we're contracted all throughout Marin and SFC.
I'd be happy to help some NTers out. Shoot me a PM with your previous experience if you're interested.
I'd be happy to help some NTers out. Shoot me a PM with your previous experience if you're interested.
- Oct 7, 2007
- 7,589
- 7,468
I know this is an IT thread, but does anybody know of any positions for a web developer?
I'm in New Zealand, but relocating to the States has been a dream of mine since I was 5. I can PM resume to anybody who can help
I'm in New Zealand, but relocating to the States has been a dream of mine since I was 5. I can PM resume to anybody who can help
superb
Banned
- Jun 2, 2013
- 5,042
- 935
I got some work for you but it is on case by case basis. do you work with wordpress?
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- Oct 7, 2007
- 7,589
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Yeah man. That lechitimate link in my sig was developed using Wordpress
superb
Banned
- Jun 2, 2013
- 5,042
- 935
nice work....Now say if i or somebody else wanted s site just like that, how much would you charge a person?
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- Oct 7, 2007
- 7,589
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To be perfectly honest I have no idea. $500- $700? In NZ dolalrs
- Jan 12, 2003
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- 593
Anyone enter the cyber security sector? I'm asking because me company I work for pays 100% tuition, all I
have to do is stay 24 months which is the completion of the M.S degree in cybersecurity.
I personally dislike the gig but deep down I'm considering staying to get that free tuition.
I'm curious on the job outlook in the particular field. This would be a complete career change for me, since I'm in the Environmental field. I'm hearing lots of hype in the field similar to what I was hearing about IT back when I was getting my B.A in 2000. I would definately like to hit 80-118k I'f im going to be committing 2 years
of my life to the field.
Do any of you IT peeps work close with cyber security professionals? If so have any pointers about specific field I should research or avoid?
have to do is stay 24 months which is the completion of the M.S degree in cybersecurity.
I personally dislike the gig but deep down I'm considering staying to get that free tuition.
I'm curious on the job outlook in the particular field. This would be a complete career change for me, since I'm in the Environmental field. I'm hearing lots of hype in the field similar to what I was hearing about IT back when I was getting my B.A in 2000. I would definately like to hit 80-118k I'f im going to be committing 2 years
of my life to the field.
Do any of you IT peeps work close with cyber security professionals? If so have any pointers about specific field I should research or avoid?
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- Dec 1, 2011
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- 4,705
Take a look at the news, playa. Target, Wal-Mart, hell even the Nuclear Commission has recently been hacked. Cybersecurity is definitely in demand and will continue to be until the BlockChain is implemented on a large level (
). All of it is gravy, but stay away from Ethical Hacking. Being labeled as a hacker is just a stigma that you probably don't want unless your goal is to work for a security firm.
- Nov 6, 2012
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- 1,409
Yeah cyber security is where you want to be if you are switching careers. You can easily make 80K-100K+ depending on location. I will be getting my M.S in Cyber Security in the upcoming years.
- Sep 1, 2006
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I start the CISCO CCNA academy next Monday @ my local CC
I'm pretty pumped
I'm pretty pumped
- Jul 20, 2012
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Me too, we prolly in the same class
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- Nov 24, 2002
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Good luck and have fun! I had a 3 month class and it was integral to getting my CCENT. Kinda stalled because that's all I needed for my present job, but I'd like to continue forward to future proof myself.
bhergh
Banned
- Dec 2, 2009
- 3,557
- 419
- Apr 21, 2003
- 2,662
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For anyone interested in learning SQL on their own and that doesn't have SQL Server I highly recommend this site:
http://msftdbprodsamples.codeplex.com/
You can download a TON of different tools for self learning
http://msftdbprodsamples.codeplex.com/
You can download a TON of different tools for self learning
- Jan 1, 2010
- 1,681
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Have any members taken the GSEC within the past year or so? If so, any tips you could offer?
- Apr 6, 2008
- 2,022
- 153
I'm taking it right now on SANS On Demand. Great course.
- Jan 1, 2010
- 1,681
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im actually taking it right now too..live class..
PM me if you run into any bumps or have any tips to share..i'll do the same..
- Feb 16, 2011
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Going to check this out. Repped. I need to freshen up & tired of using Access, lol.
