IT Certifications and Careers (Official Discussion Thread)

[MF DRUGS]

For anyone looking to get into IT, mainly security, check out the following for some good info: Breaking into InfoSec: A Beginners Curriculum

This is what I'm trying to get into eventually get into pen testing. Everything I've read and researched mentions a strong background in networking so I'm studying for my ccent. Hopefully I can get my foot in the door without an a+ , leaning on my customer service background.

most you guys live in a handful of states, Maryland, DC, NY, Massachusetts, Texas, Cali, Georgia.

seems it ain't popping in some states outside of the big ones.

I guess but for me i tried to word my previous experiences into what job postings wanted. Like work with patients=customer service, working with people = strong interpersonal skills and communication.

I also put what certs I was studying for like ccent ( in progress ). I read that it show your a least trying to grow in the field, not just trying to get any job.

 

[xXMASHERXx]

Baltimore

Is moving out of the question? I know Texas is the hot place for tech right now and I'm thinking about heading there myself. Just so hard to give up Cali.

 

[MF DRUGS]

Is moving out of the question? I know Texas is the hot place for tech right now and I'm thinking about heading there myself. Just so hard to give up Cali.

No but the dmv seems like a good place for IT. Maybe in a couple years when I have more experience , I wouldn't have a problem moving for a good job.

 

[Spin]

Update: passed, thought it was pretty easy honestly. Only a few questions I didn't study for. If anything, I overstudied.

AWS here I come......

SDN next too.

Edit for those who want to take sybex practice exams (both apps), cccure, youtube, sunflower notes 2017...i hate reading so i only read sections where the answer explainations werent enough for me.

abatchy's blog: How to prepare for PWK/OSCP, a noob-friendly guide

I also really like Georgia Weidmans book;

For anyone looking to get into IT, mainly security, check out the following for some good info: Breaking into InfoSec: A Beginners Curriculum

Props all around. I feel like this thread is starting to take it to the next level with what's currently going on in IT.

 

[Redguard]

Is moving out of the question? I know Texas is the hot place for tech right now and I'm thinking about heading there myself. Just so hard to give up Cali.

No but the dmv seems like a good place for IT. Maybe in a couple years when I have more experience , I wouldn't have a problem moving for a good job.

I got family in the dmv area and I might be moving there soon.

This may have been answered but how do you get security clearance?

 

[Julius Skrrvin]

Props all around. I feel like this thread is starting to take it to the next level with what's currently going on in IT.

I wish there were more dudes in here who would talk DevOps and Analytics, stuff like that. Everyone wants to do security cuz they think it sounds cool. Let's see how much they enjoy getting calls from Dell SecureWorks at 8AM over some nonsense and looking at bash terminals all day

 

[#1 pick]

I wish there were more dudes in here who would talk DevOps and Analytics, stuff like that. Everyone wants to do security cuz they think it sounds cool. Let's see how much they enjoy getting calls from Dell SecureWorks at 8AM over some nonsense and looking at bash terminals all day

I actually do all of it.

 

[David_TheMan]

most you guys live in a handful of states, Maryland, DC, NY, Massachusetts, Texas, Cali, Georgia.

seems it ain't popping in some states outside of the big ones.

I"m in Bama, there is money in tech in Huntsville, Montgomery, Mobile, and Birmingham.
In Mississippi there is money in Biloxi (Casinos and Keesler) and Gulfport Navel base.
Tennessee Money in the Oak Ridge Lab Areas, and Nashville.

 

[ViShawn]

One place I had three interviews with and a technical screening told me that they are passing on me at the moment because they feel they need to fill a team lead position first before hiring another engineer.

Kind of bummed out because I keep running into these positions where they want a one-man Ops team or something. IBM contacted me for another role I was interested in so I will definitely talk to them about that.

I'm also trying to utilize my network for others.

I just hope I don't have to take a cut in pay but I think in this market I will do fine. It is still discouraging to deal with a layoff even though I have opportunities coming to me.

I'm nervous about this peer technical exercise tomorrow with GitHub also. I'm not a strong programmer but it seems they want someone to improve upon automation they are working on as an exercise (obviously nothing they use now but something older) and I can ask questions. I'm assuming it will be Bash or Ruby though.

 

[David_TheMan]

aye, it's me again. Cyber Security degree/early 20s already have 2 years cyber security experience

Have any of y'all tried working in the government or for the Air Force as a civilian? Do you think it's something worth doing in terms of career development? Short term I'd make more money in the private sector, but a lot of people have been telling me it might be worth it to take the pay cut for now

I work with the Air Force as a contractor.
I love it.
Excellent money in the government sector.
Once you get your TS, all base locations are open to you and its money, especially if you are mobile and willing to go to areas people don't want to be in, plus it isn't just Air Force, its DOD so all branches are open to you.

 

[David_TheMan]

One place I had three interviews with and a technical screening told me that they are passing on me at the moment because they feel they need to fill a team lead position first before hiring another engineer.

Kind of bummed out because I keep running into these positions where they want a one-man Ops team or something. IBM contacted me for another role I was interested in so I will definitely talk to them about that.

I'm also trying to utilize my network for others.

I just hope I don't have to take a cut in pay but I think in this market I will do fine. It is still discouraging to deal with a layoff even though I have opportunities coming to me.

I'm nervous about this peer technical exercise tomorrow with GitHub also. I'm not a strong programmer but it seems they want someone to improve upon automation they are working on as an exercise (obviously nothing they use now but something older) and I can ask questions. I'm assuming it will be Bash or Ruby though.

You might want to look into the government contracting game, you might have lower pay and the culture would definitely be different than what you posted you are used to but once you are in, its all good when you get those clearances, especially the TS.

 

[ViShawn]

You might want to look into the government contracting game, you might have lower pay and the culture would definitely be different than what you posted you are used to but once you are in, its all good when you get those clearances, especially the TS.

I'd be willing to do contract work it's just getting a clearance.

Much more job security of course.

 

[Buff]

Brehs.. my company downsized and let a bunch of ppl go. They want me to change my morning shift to either mid or night.
Any suggestions.
Mid - 12pm-10:30pm wed-saturdays
Nights 8pm-6am. sundays-wed.
Thoughts? experiences with either shift? I work at the NOC.

 

[princeofhaiti]

Brehs.. my company downsized and let a bunch of ppl go. They want me to change my morning shift to either mid or night.
Any suggestions.
Mid - 12pm-10:30pm wed-saturdays
Nights 8pm-6am. sundays-wed.
Thoughts? experiences with either shift? I work at the NOC.

10 hr shifts I would go with the night shift so I can still pop bottles on the weekend

 

[ViShawn]

Yeah I didn't do how I wanted on the Github interview, but I learned a lot.

The thing is I'm running into more Dev heavy Devops/Engineer roles instead of Ops heavy which I'm used to. Things like
-Configuration Management
-Monitoring
-Automating

Much of what keeps contacting me is programming based and I simply haven't done much programming in the environments I've been in, so it's a bit frustrating.

Luckily I have a few more opportunities to look at.