IT Job advice?

I started an MCSE which got me out of a Forklift and into my first junior position.

Pick a role and stick too it.

I'm about to start my OU degree in February in Computing and Mathematical Science thanks to landing a role in Rolls Royce 2 years ago.

Fizzwheel, yeah thats exactly what i've been doing. I knew this owuld be a break so have made a really big effort this year, running (literally) around for everyone, never missed a deadline etc.. The IT Director has had "good reports" about me, but we're deploying our new system as from monday just gone, it'll last 4 months roughly, then its finished...

Problem is they are designing a new department structure, but haven't even started that yet, so really, i've not got any assurance of a new role, other than going back to my old role (which I hated, was already on the verge of moving on).

Again, its not having something to work towards which is part of the problem at this role. I've made such an effort, but now feel that all that effort was for nothing.

As said, I guess its about picking a specialist role and self learning it all (as said, i don't want to be TOOO specialist as it narrows down your knowledge and prospects).

If I were in your position with the support experience I'd look to go into Sales Engineering. If you have the opportunity in your current company then great if not I wouldn't worry too much about a piece of paper from MS as every interview I've been too (or sat in on) they don't care. Certifications are fairly meaningless (and that's coming from someone with plenty of them )

I can't speak about .NET but on the J2EE side of things You'd need decent Java skills, some JSP/Servlet knowledge and a little DB and HTML to get a junior SE role at a company like BEA/EMC/Sun etc.

Once you get in as an SE you'll have the leverage to move into Professional Services etc. after 18months where the decent money is.

If you decide to go the J2EE route let me know and I can help you out. In the meantime check out www.cwjobs.co.uk and ignore the shopping list of technologies most jobs list and just concentrate on the core skills.

To add to Smurf's comment, something to think about...

My old boss showed me a CV of a prespective employee, and when the department were talking about the degrees he had, the bosses words were "It shows nothing other than the fact that he can learn."

Qualifications aren't the be all & end all that Universities & the like would have you believe. Yes, they have a place, but they're not all that important in the end goal.

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I was in a similar position and still am to some degree but I have had some luck land in my lap. I have an HND in computing and was a desktop support techy/helpdesk monkey for about 5 years, but got the opportunity for an interview to run the whole of the IT for a small (150 user) company. I didnt match the skill set exactly but by being enthusiastic (and cheap probably!) and going away and doing some self teaching (Dreamweaver) for the second interview, I landed the role. The money may not be top notch but I now get 5 servers to play with and all with the backup of a secondary support company. So now everyday I am learning new things where before I was just cruising...

So I would say, just apply for anything and everything that you think you would like to do that encompasses the skills you do have and if you are lucky (as I was) you may get an interview and can show determination to learn the rest of it... Worked for me!

Driving your career is something that you can do, and it has to be done with a lot of thought. Fizz's advice is very good. You need to decide where you want to get to and then plan how you are going to make it happen. Most importantly, only you can make it happen.

I started selling RF Comms equipment about 24 years ago, had a great foirs 6 or 7 years and then things went a bit down hill. Health and family stuff got in the way untill 9 years ago I was really hacked off with my job.... I decided that I wanted to work for an ISP, but to do that I had to demonstrate that I knew what I was talking about; so with the help of a mate who was a Network Engineer, I leared a lot of stuff. All in my time. An opportunity came; I got the job and haven't looked back since.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that you have to work out a "life plan".... Set yourself goals, they must be achievable otherwise the plan falls over. Sometimes you have to take a step backwards to take 2 or 3 forwards... But write it down, discuss it with your partner and both of you agree on what you are going to do. Getting her buy in is a must. Plan, execute, achieve, then onto the next goal.

Best of luck....

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Get a job as a plasterer or a plumber, you can write your own cheques and you aren't likely to be made redundant any time in the next 200 years.

[Viney]

Originally Posted by mpaton2006

Get a job as a plasterer or a plumber, you can write your own cheques and you aren't likely to be made redundant any time in the next 200 years.

Ah that urban myth.

You want to get out of your situation? My advice? Work for Rackspace