IT Certifications and Careers (Official Discussion Thread)

[Jekyll]

I’ve been working two jobs (at one point 3) for the past 4 years. Honestly it’s pretty easy.

One job is a cloud engineer on an all Indian team at very large financial institution. These fools shut down at noon my time, so basically I do nothing past that point unless I have a project to catch up on. My boss is an Indian dude in Cali, once the IST workday is done he’s basically done, he doesn’t give a fukk that it’s like 11am his time.

The other job used to be for a large vendor doing network consulting but I quit once they started threatening layoffs due to Covid. Now I’m with a large VAR doing pre sales solution architect bullshyt. It’s basically just sitting on calls all day and going to lunches. The random on-site meetings and lunches are getting old though. I’m looking to replace that job soon with a gig that’s more progressive and completely remote, I have interviews coming up this week for some companies.

The one thing that’s interesting about this VAR is they don’t have a realistic view of where they are technically. We have these all hands calls and they talk about all the investments they have made in the cloud and building up their skill sets and offerings. They say stuff like “we are at the bleeding edge of cloud modernization” but in reality they are YEARS behind the shyt we are doing at my other company. I don’t say anything because I’m not on the “cloud team” there and I don’t want added responsibilities. So I just let em rock

Put it like this, I’ll never work a single job again. The trick is managing your calendar so meetings never conflict. I block off time so people can’t double book me. I then removed all permissions from my boss and other teammates so they can’t see what the actual meetings are. They just see busy, tentative and free.

Dope.Yeah my company recently confirmed that we’re basically permanently remote. Only have to come in the office twice a month. First thing I thought is get another job lol

 

[Lord Z]

Im interested in doing consulting 5+ years out once I fully build out my skillset.

What kind of skillset/experience do you have that brought you to this point?

I basically tried to get certified on anything I could get a hand on at work . So I touched a bit of everything from the GRC side (NIST, Security policies, maturity assessments...) all the way to SOC operations, Im not that technical anymore but I have worked with a SOC before and I use to recommend security controls to companies.

I have experience in cloud security, auditing, compliance, operations security (SOC, Antivirus, Firewall, DLP...). Not an expert at any of this, but I can hold my own when talking to an IT Director or Sys Admin.

If you're in security, I believe you can go on your own after about 5 to 7 years. I did 7 years of IT MSP then 5 years of security.

5 years minimum + the right certifications = $$$

 

[BVII]

I was working as a Security Engineer particularly in the IAM space back in 2019, and unfortunately half my team got laid off. Just to stay employed, I took a job that was a stepback to what I was doing previously. Then covid hit, so I had to stay at this job longer than intended. Now I've been actively job searching for the past fews months, for jobs that were similar to my last role. I keep losing to internal candidates, or the hiring manager wants to hire someone who is currently working with particular technologies; even though I worked with them in the past. I'm getting good feedback in most interviews, and it's frustrating knowing that I keep getting passed up. I literally just feel like giving up.

 

[xXMASHERXx]

I was working as a Security Engineer particularly in the IAM space back in 2019, and unfortunately half my team got laid off. Just to stay employed, I took a job that was a stepback to what I was doing previously. Then covid hit, so I had to stay at this job longer than intended. Now I've been actively job searching for the past fews months, for jobs that were similar to my last role. I keep losing to internal candidates, or the hiring manager wants to hire someone who is currently working with particular technologies; even though I worked with them in the past. I'm getting good feedback in most interviews, and it's frustrating knowing that I keep getting passed up. I literally just feel like giving up.

Thats the state of IT unfortunately. Just keep grinding and building up your skillset.

 

[JT-Money]

I was working as a Security Engineer particularly in the IAM space back in 2019, and unfortunately half my team got laid off. Just to stay employed, I took a job that was a stepback to what I was doing previously. Then covid hit, so I had to stay at this job longer than intended. Now I've been actively job searching for the past fews months, for jobs that were similar to my last role. I keep losing to internal candidates, or the hiring manager wants to hire someone who is currently working with particular technologies; even though I worked with them in the past. I'm getting good feedback in most interviews, and it's frustrating knowing that I keep getting passed up. I literally just feel like giving up.

Different job functions that used to be the bread and butter of internal IT Security are being farmed out to the lowest bidder. I don't know what the hell a normal IT Security Dept does anymore. going by how some of these job openings are so completely different.

You could literally end up unemployable in the IT security field after just a year or two. That's how fast things shift around in this field. That's why I don't stay at any company longer than a year or two. Especially if they don't keeping pace with what the rest of the industry is doing. Or they don't have a huge training budget for certifications.

If I we're you I would pivot to mastering a Gartner quadrant leading vendors security product. Companies tend to make huge investments in particular security tools. So they will always need someone that knows these tools inside and out.

I still get calls from recruiters for technology I haven't worked on in years. And because those technologies had huge market share. I could always fall back on them if I needed a job really badly.

If I can't search a job board for a specific technology and don't get thousands of hits. I'm not wasting my time with it.

 

[Suicidedoorsonabuick]

How much pay should I negotiate for a tier 1 help desk position?


I have no experience and live in an inexpensive part of the south.

Tier 1 help desk usually make between 16-18
once you get in though try not to stay no longer than 2 years

 

[DrDoom]

Is it worth getting the Aws cloud prationer or should i just go for the solutions architect associate cert?

 

[Rich Spirit]

Is it worth getting the Aws cloud prationer or should i just go for the solutions architect associate cert?

Get the Solutions Architect Associate, but read over the Cloud Practitioner materials because the SAA cert i based off that and then some

 

[Rozay Oro]

 

[Rain]

Just passed my ITIL cert and JFC that shyt made my head hurt studying for it. Thank god it's over.

 

[knickscrusaderm]

Question for the gang: what’s the odds that I get blacklisted? Long story short, my contract with X company is slated to end Friday after 3 months. No one approached me about staying, found a FT opportunity at a “lesser” company. Signed offer letter already, start date has been processed.

Once I told my manager last week that my last day will be Friday (date stated on contract), immediately perks were getting thrown to me every second. Before WFH was never an option, now we can negotiate on 2x a week. They are throwing a pay bump at me, exploring growth opportunities, the whole works. Still the opportunity at new company is superior (Somehow their IT staff is of similar size but they have 20x smaller client base, less stress, 2x WFH days, personal development funds, better PTO) and I’m at the point where there is no looking back.

After talking to the CTO and him trying to throw an offer at me, the idea of “not burning bridges” came up as technically I would be leaving on 1 weeks notice rather than 2 even though my contract ends within this time period. I started wondering are these nikkas finna blacklist me on some paranoid shyt.

What y’all think? I’m only a year in the game and I’m not tryna play myself out a future I worked hard for.

 

[Obreh Winfrey]

Question for the gang: what’s the odds that I get blacklisted? Long story short, my contract with X company is slated to end Friday after 3 months. No one approached me about staying, found a FT opportunity at a “lesser” company. Signed offer letter already, start date has been processed.

Once I told my manager last week that my last day will be Friday (date stated on contract), immediately perks were getting thrown to me every second. Before WFH was never an option, now we can negotiate on 2x a week. They are throwing a pay bump at me, exploring growth opportunities, the whole works. Still the opportunity at new company is superior (Somehow their IT staff is of similar size but they have 20x smaller client base, less stress, 2x WFH days, personal development funds, better PTO) and I’m at the point where there is no looking back.

After talking to the CTO and him trying to throw an offer at me, the idea of “not burning bridges” came up as technically I would be leaving on 1 weeks notice rather than 2 even though my contract ends within this time period. I started wondering are these nikkas finna blacklist me on some paranoid shyt.

What y’all think? I’m only a year in the game and I’m not tryna play myself out a future I worked hard for.

That's on them for not paying attention to the end date on your contract. Lack of professionalism on them, not you. I doubt you'll have to worry about being blacklisted. At the end of the day, look after number 1.

 

[knickscrusaderm]

That's on them for not paying attention to the end date on your contract. Lack of professionalism on them, not you. I doubt you'll have to worry about being blacklisted. At the end of the day, look after number 1.

You are making perfect sense to me but I’m still paranoid. The CTO a powerful nikka man, and a petty one at that. Part of me feeling like saying fukk them all for essentially strong arming me once they realized they fukked up. Another part feeling like I’m jeopardizing my future if I don’t show up next week.

Friday I’ll let them know not to expect me on Monday. Clearly letting them know up front what was up did me no favors. Won’t repeat that mistake.

 

[Obreh Winfrey]

You are making perfect sense to me but I’m still paranoid. The CTO a powerful nikka man, and a petty one at that. Part of me feeling like saying fukk them all for essentially strong arming me once they realized they fukked up. Another part feeling like I’m jeopardizing my future if I don’t show up next week.

Friday I’ll let them know not to expect me on Monday. Clearly letting them know up front what was up did me no favors. Won’t repeat that mistake.

I'd let them know tomorrow and then again on Friday. That way they can't bullshyt you about it being 11th hour.

 

[DaRealness]

Question for the gang: what’s the odds that I get blacklisted? Long story short, my contract with X company is slated to end Friday after 3 months. No one approached me about staying, found a FT opportunity at a “lesser” company. Signed offer letter already, start date has been processed.

Once I told my manager last week that my last day will be Friday (date stated on contract), immediately perks were getting thrown to me every second. Before WFH was never an option, now we can negotiate on 2x a week. They are throwing a pay bump at me, exploring growth opportunities, the whole works. Still the opportunity at new company is superior (Somehow their IT staff is of similar size but they have 20x smaller client base, less stress, 2x WFH days, personal development funds, better PTO) and I’m at the point where there is no looking back.

After talking to the CTO and him trying to throw an offer at me, the idea of “not burning bridges” came up as technically I would be leaving on 1 weeks notice rather than 2 even though my contract ends within this time period. I started wondering are these nikkas finna blacklist me on some paranoid shyt.

What y’all think? I’m only a year in the game and I’m not tryna play myself out a future I worked hard for.

The whole thing is a no brainer. You don't owe your current company anything. The same manager you're worried about would get rid of you tomorrow if it was in his best interest.

Nothing pisses me off more than a company that takes staff for granted, then want to start throwing all kinds of perks the minute they realise that some people actually have options and are on their way to greener pastures. They could have done all this shyt for you before.

As for being 'blacklisted', if your CTO is that much of a petty, bytch ass fakkit that's on him. Managers who take it personal when someone resigns are just weird to me. It's business, not a romantic relationship. It doesn't sound like the type of company you should wanna work for again anyway.