IT Professionals...

[sly400ex]

From past threads, it seems like we have quite a few on here. Who are some of you and what degrees/ certs/ etc. do you have? What's your job title? Age? Years in practice? Decent compensation? I'll start..

I'm 25, few years at Devry in TCOMM (didn't finish to get the degree). I'm an MCP, MCSA, working on CCNA...My job title is Systems Specialists, I have 3 yrs. experience, decent pay but I think I could could definately go somewhere else and make more! :D

Purdy much, I work in an independent enviorment maitianing the LAN....PC's, printers, servers and a little bit of the Unix world.:eek:

[edgerat]

I am 25 and my business card reads like this:

Isaac Jarrett
Network Administrator
MCSE +I MCDBA C++

I have been in the IT industry for 3 years and I am currently working for my fathers corporation maintaining the network for the office building that he owns. I support 23 computers on my own and I am responsible for all aspects of each persons computer. I make 64K a year for now and I currently waiting for the IT industry to right itself so I can go on to bigger and better things(I.E. MONEY)

[MOFO]

I'm 25 as well.... must be an IT thing to be 25 or somethin???


I've been tinkering with PC's my whole life (since the early days, Tandy CoCo 3 :eek2: ) For awhile I considered myself a computer geek. I had 2 PC's running a BBS system in Jr High (before the internet was public) with 3 9600baud modems... those were the days...when Windows was only a dream...

I originally started a degree in Computer Science, but it ended up being too much for me at the time (I partied too much - wish I could do it again)...then I ended up at tech school for Electronic's...finished that up, got hired with a computer company. I have my A+ which I took in my sleep and I'm working on my Microsoft cert's.... The company I work for mainly deals with Auto dealerships only. We specialize in their software & network needs. My job is to install/maintain/fix all of these networks in the Pittsburgh area (setting up server's, installing fiber & cat 5e, down to the user level stuff)... keeps me busy, but I know I could be making a good bit more once I get all my cert's on paper. :devil:

[dirtslinger]

kool! i want to become a computer programmer or do computer graphics or both if possible. i've been messin with computers since i was about 5(i'm 14 now).

MATT

[zephead400ex]

I have worked in the IT field for about 2 years now. I am not "certified" in anything, just have the know how. The company I work for provides dialup access which we do interent tech support for. We are also contracted out to 13 Telephone companies in KS that also provide dialup access and DSL access. We also support a company in Iowa that provides wireless access. Also, we support a branch of Verizon for IT consulting (bill payment - Teletracker, Unix, etc.) I dont get paid enought for what I do but hey, it works with my college school schedule so it is not too bad.

peace

[remlapr]

IU for Computer Science, MCSD - VS 6.0. Age: 30. Been doin IT since 96 - started out managing a small network and industry specific equipment (security biz). Moved to Software side in 97 - Sofware Developer now since 2000. I code web based apps in VB6, C++6, Powerbuilder7(backend stuff), ASP, Java Script, & XML\XSLT. We do almost everything with XML\XSLT - It's a ****** to code, but it's fast at run time. We are a application service provide of HR applications and we're pretty big. Our main datacenter is right above my head - probably close to 500 servers and a couple of large EMC SANS - one has 500 terabytes of storage, it's own internal cooling system and is the size of a SUV :eek: . They had to lift it with a crane to the second floor and re-enforce the raised floor where it sits. BellSouth built a small building with a Fiber hub in it in our back parking lot because we have so much bandwidth coming in here. I've been doing mostly system integration work for the past two years using BizTalk Server and XML interchanges. OK - that's enough, this is starting to feel like work - LOL.

Oh,and Edgerat - if your making 64k taking care of 23 desktops you are making out like a bandit - assuming you don't live in NYC or something...

[Mxbubs]

Hi I am 24 and dabble in illegal code writing.:D

[400exNH]

I'm 29 and have been in the IT industry for about 7 years now. I built our NT4 domain, consisting of 70+ NT/2K servers, 1400+ desktops. We have just about everything. AS/400, AIX, SUN, VMS, Novell. In January we upgraded to AD which has been a blessing. We also use Microsoft SMS, Citrix, etc.. this list could really go on and on.. But anyway I work for a healthcare org. I used to work for a software development company in Lexington MA, but the traffice was bad so now I'm working in NH. I'm making about 80K but I work my A$# off for it.. Always playing with new technology and software which is what keeps me driven.. Anyone ever want to chat about backoffice type software solutions, etc.. let me knkw

C

I"ve been in computers for 11 years and can't stand the SOB's :mad:

I've got some paperwork but more experience than anything. I deal with all aspects of the computer/LAN field from Cisco equipment to workin on local desktop printers.

I'd rather get kicked in the jimmies than put my nose in a dam computer book. Just ta show ya how much i dislike them I just got a home pc put in for the first time and on the internet 6 months ago...:confused2

I'm in it for the money and benefits and that's it. The stress sucks and If I had to do it all over again I most definitly would have picked another career path.:ermm:

[jmoney45]

B.S. in computer science and been doing software development for over 5 years. I am an Oracle certified developer and DBO, and studying for my java programmer and developer certs. Call me crazy but I actually love what I do. Plus the money's great. The only thing that scares me is the economy, but I always think there'll be a need for programmers. :rolleyes:

[remlapr]

jmoney - what do you code in? All of our stuff runs on MSSQL2000 or Oracle 8/9 backend so I write a ton of db stuff also. Oracle gives me a headache LOL - I used to have to write a ton of db stuff in pl\sql but luckily I don't have to work with it as much these days - all of our hosted stuff runs on a MSSQL2000 backend, if they ever decide to switch our hosted stuff over to Oracle now I'll have about 200 monster stored procedures to re-write, I think I would probably quit. If you work with Oracle alot I bet you have worked with or at least heard of good ole Powerbuilder.

[jmoney45]

I've heard of powerbuilder, but never used it. Our backend stuff is all Oracle, and most of the logic is plsql. We are slowly moving stuff towards java which is cool. For our frontend we use a client server tool called Omnis (sucks), but I've also used oracle forms and reports. We also have a web application that uses plsql and some java that lives in the database. I am much happier when I can dabble in our web app. Client server stuff is not as hot as it used to be.

I actually like plsql. It's pretty simple, but it has its limits. The tough thing about our profession is keeping current with the new stuff. Seems like what is hot today won't be tomorrow. I think oracle's day is coming. Larry Ellison is too cocky, but I guess that's why he's so successful.

[cudaman]

well im not quite as knowledgable as some of you but....

Im 18. Got my A+ when i was 17. i have one year of cisco done, 3 more to go to get my ccna. i would also like to get my mcse. i have some experience but not as much as i would like. i really need to broaded my knowledge. I have a question for you guys. what kind of rep does ITT have. i might be interested in going there. is it a good school?? do they have a good succes rate? is it really worth th extra money.

i guess i would like to be a networking admin at some point but im not sure. i def want it in the computer field somewhere.

[remlapr]

ITT is OK if you want to work more with hardware - like settting up networks - not actually managing them. Cisco cert would sort of be in-line with that. As far as MCSE - you almost have to get it these days for IT to even be considered for a good job. My advice would be go to a four year school if you really want to climb the ladder and possibly be in a management position someday. If you just want to setup networks and work more with networking hardware - get your MCSE and Cisco certs and get a entry level job and start getting some experience....

[cudaman]

Originally posted by remlapr
If you just want to setup networks and work more with networking hardware - get your MCSE and Cisco certs and get a entry level job and start getting some experience....

thats kinda what i was planning on. i didnt really want to go to a 4 year school.

[remlapr]

Then the best thing you can do is get your MCSE - then setup some small networks, even if you do it for free - like for churches or schools or whatever you can find that you can put on a resume and get a reference out of. Then get an entry level postion as a cable jocky - and if you don't know what that is you will - LOL

Oh and don't waste any time or energy on anything Novell related...

[remlapr]

And one more thing - don't pay for any damn MCSE classes - I have taken a ton of Microsoft classes - paid for by my company - and they aren't all that. Just get some books and some PC's to use as a lab and download the practice test and put in some time.

[cudaman]

so you can study yourself and then just take a test, you dont have to take like a course for your mcse? thanks for the help btw. i have been kinda lost as to what to do(what high school grad isnt LOL)

[cudaman]

also, whats wrong with novell, is it going obsolete or what.

[remlapr]

Nope - just go to a certified testing center (you can find these on the microsoft site) and pay the $$ and take the test, they are around $100 a piece though and if you fail you pay again. Buy the books that focus on a particular test - in other words the book should correspond to a particular test that you need to pass. Check Amazon.com for a lot of reviews on the different books available. Hell - I bet you can even download PDF's of the offical Microsoft training material if you look hard enough. I know plenty of peple that have gotten their MCSE this way, don't get me wrong - taking all of the official microsoft courses is a bonus on your resume - but it's not worth the 3 - 5k they try to charge you for the classes. Good luck. Oh, and do the MCSE first, I hear the Cisco cert is much much harder. I know someone with a four year degree and their MCSE in both NT 4 and W2k and they couldn't pass it and finally just gave up trying...

[cudaman]

yeah i know what you mean about the ccna. I took the first year and didnt pass the final for it. its a pain. I heard from someone that i know that is in the networking field that there is usually a key to the test that goes around and that is how people pass it cause its too hard to do it normally. thanks for the help again. i will prob ask you some other questions if its aight.