Looking at Changing Careers - Questions for IT Professionals

[accordboi_02]

Short story - been in sales since I finished University, always in a tech field of some sort.

I am tired of this and really don't want to be doing it in another 20 years - I have no desire to move up into a sales management position, so am looking at doing a 180.

I love technology and enjoy working with the IT guys, so am thinking of moving over into that field, specifically looking at Network Admin, UC specialist roles.

A few questions for people in that field:

1) Do you enjoy the work?
2) What are the main stress points you experience on a regular basis?
3) Coursework/certification - I am looking at CCNA, MCITP certs - would I need CompTIA A+ as well? Should I take a year course at SAIT on something like: Technology Infrastructure Management (http://www.sait.ca/programs-and-courses/full-time-studies/certificates/technology-infrastructure-management-course-overview.php) ?
4) Any other areas of IT I should look at?

And general question - I am in my early 30's - not too late for a career change, is it???

Thanks!

[Mibz]

If you wanna do UC then a CCNA is a good place to start and then, simply because I don't know of any post-secondary or vendor-neutral VoIP courses, I'd look into a dCAP or CCNA/P Voice while you work. Maybe somebody with more direct experience will have a better answer there. The CCNA will be enough to get you an entry-level networking job and, hopefully, get you near a decent UC setup that you can do on-the-job training with.

That said, I hate VoIP. I'd be happy if I never dealt with it again. I equate UC specialists to DBAs. It takes a special breed :P

EDIT: If you're unhappy, do something else. It's never too late.

[codetrap]

1) Yes. I love my job.
2) Unrealistic expectations set by sales.
3) CCNA. CCND or IP. VOIP. JNCIA etc.. Wireless is good too. Any course that gives you a rock solid understanding of data transmission across any media from the ground up will definitely help.
4) Do what you love, and the rest will come.

[Vagabond142]

1) Yes. I wouldn't be an IT technician if I didn't. Just ask my roommate, I actually get a gleam in my eye and a grin on my face when I get to build computers :D

2) Network guys get their own stressors, such as making sure that the network stays up, doesn't overload, make sure that there are ports provisioned for everyone, handle network security, monitor remote sites for network up/down (if Company A has remote sites), etc.

I personally work in deskside/service desk/warranty, so I'm much more a system level tech that escalates network problems to the network guys once I've determined it's not a system issue.

Main stress point I experience on a constant basis is time criticality and prioritization. Everyone wants their issues fixed, and a code RFN (IT tech inside joke ;) ). When you are juggling 20-30 tickets, all time sensitive, being able to prioritize, execute and service correctly the first time is very important (I expect that is also true for all branches of IT).

3) I have no idea about Network specialization certifications, I would definitely defer to Mibz for this as I was in school at the same time as him and he did the networking stream, i did the computer technology and servicing stream.

As far as CompTIA A+ Certified IT Tech.... I am one. I even have a card in my wallet saying so, with my certification number.

What an A+ means in the actual industry out here is that you have basic to intermediate knowledge of how the technology of desktop and workstation computers works. It's a good basic certification, but for networking, I think the industry likes to see the CCNA more as the starting point. It could never hurt to have both, either, if you really want to do it that way. This industry lives and breathes on certifications and constantly upgrading/developing.

4) If you like the actual TECHNOLOGY of the technology, then warranty service, deskside support, datacenter rack-n-stack, etc might be a good starting point to build from.

With your sales background, and if you get the requisite experience in the field, you could aim to be a solutions/systems architect, which is 90% technical design and implementation, 10% selling the idea to the client. I know the guys in the Server, Security and Systems group at my work *love* their jobs as such.... but then again, they're also a little special ;) :D

As Codetrap said, do what you love to do, the rest will come. I love getting my hands into systems and diagnosing issues with computers, so I'm a perfect fit for deskside and warranty service, and the opportunities are starting to roll in for me :D