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Don't chase the dollars. I know, I know. We all like money, and besides, maybe you've got some bills to pay! I'm not suggesting you work for free, but the question you must ask yourself when starting your IT career is this: "What do I want my resume to look like in three years?" The money will be there - if your resume shows a broad range of experience. That's what you need to get when you're considering your first job. Use your long-term vision to decide what kind of IT job you want to be in three years from now, and get a job that will give you the necessary experience.
Get certified. You have entered a field where you are always learning - or at least, you better be! If you stand still and stop learning, your skills will become obsolete and your IT career will stall. Start adding certifications to your resume to go along with your experience. Look into programs that deal primarily with PCs, such as A+, and then look at more advanced certifications such as the MCSE and the CCNA. When you are certified in all three major networking areas (hardware, server OS, and routers), you are a "triple threat"! Combine that with some experience and you will end up with a very impressive resume.
Network. Networking has two different meanings in IT, and you know the first one. But besides computer networking, there's human networking. Get out there and meet people. Your local newspaper has a business section -check it for IT group meetings. The more you're seen, the more chance you have of being remembered. It's a small world, and IT is a small world as well. Meet the business leaders of your area as well. It is amazing how a quick face-to-face meeting or conversation can lead to great things down the road.
Having a successful IT career isn't just about knowing a lot about computers and networks. It's knowing the right way to get started, getting the right combination of experience and certifications, and meeting people. I know from experience that it's tough to get started. I also know from experience that no career field rewards individual drive like IT does. So get started today - and if you feel your IT career is stalled, take a step back, list the reasons why this has happened, and then do something about it!
Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage (www.thebryantadvantage.com),
home of free CCNA and
CCNP tutorials, The Ultimate
CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages. Video courses and
training, binary and subnetting help, and corporate training are also available.
For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, "How To Pass The
CCNA" or "How To Pass The
CCNP", send a request to chris@thebryantadvantage.com
today !
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