Jobs in IT - what is in demand?

[Sgt Beavis]

In my opinion things that are hot are - in order....



2. Cisco Unified Communications (CUCM, Unity, CUPS, MPX, UCCX, WebEx, DMS, CIUS...etc...etc
-With UCS/VMWare this is where you'll excel
-Route/Switch core competency

Though anything VMWare vSphere is great, I have to admit that I've seen a lot of movement with UCS. I wish I didn't have to be so HP centric. I would love to give UCS a roll. Blade center and virtual connect are pretty kickass but UCS has a very strong price point.

[ceyko]

Though anything VMWare vSphere is great, I have to admit that I've seen a lot of movement with UCS. I wish I didn't have to be so HP centric. I would love to give UCS a roll. Blade center and virtual connect are pretty kickass but UCS has a very strong price point.

Well, remember UCS does not really live without VMWare. Cisco is positioning UCS to dominate from a price point and the joyous part is it works as intended. The fabric interconnects are the real sweet spot for the UCS platform, at least the B-Series.

Dell seems to be the biggest hassle to us, for customers (how to say this nicely) on a budget. Meaning, not comparing features, performance and such - just bottom line price. These are the same ones usually just using MS hyper-v as well.

Cisco also has positioned it so if you want Cisco apps on VMWare, it has to be on a UCS server to be supported - with one of their tested reference configurations. Fair enough, but you can see how it's easier to get it in the door when you're already doing some deal - with Cisco apps.

You going out on sales calls? Gotta wonder if you've been in the office.

[Coupe81]

I always wanted to be in the IT field but welding was always fast money....sometimes. When I was 19, I went to Hallmark to get my associates in electronic engineering. I did complete the program but I never received my degree cause I owe them money and needed to take my accuplacer. Now when I busting my balls during the hot ass summer to make a living, I wish I would of . I still want to change careers but don't know where to start. I'm pretty good with computers, My first computer was a Packard Bell with age 15, built my first desktop at age 20, my troubleshooting skills are okay but need lots of work. I've used windows 3.1,dos,win95,win2000,winxp,vista, and 7. I never used Windows NT, Linux, ect.

[Alex]

so could a person go to Global Knowledge to get a certification or specialization in that Virtualization?

[DODGE]

thanks everyone for the input. what are some key IT terms I could search job boards for when looking at an entry level desk position to get a foot into the door?

what can i start doing NOW to help get my resume to the top of stack or make it stand out for an entry level position at a help desk?

I found this job as an assistant, no real requirements, but what books/items could i start studying/learning now to get me on the right track?

Description
Essential Job Functions

Answers help desk telephones and responds to basic customer inquiries to ensure customer needs are met.
Assists customers in resolving basic technical problems by providing scripted guidance regarding software and hardware problems. Resolves and/or refers more complex technical problems through a defined escalation process.
Logs and tracks inquiries using a problem management database and maintains history records and related problem documentation.
Identifies, evaluates, and prioritizes customer problems and complaints to ensure that inquiries are resolved appropriately.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

High school diploma or G.E.D.
One or more years of technical training in computer support
Zero or more years of technical or customer support experience
Experience working with company products and operating systems
Experience with solving computer-related problems
Experience with company escalation policy


Other Qualifications

Interpersonal skills to interact with customers and team members
Communications skills
Organization skills to balance and prioritize work
Analytical and problem solving skills
Ability to work in a team environment

[ceyko]

ISP/Carrier help desk is a good start, or help desk for an IT organization.

[ceyko]

so could a person go to Global Knowledge to get a certification or specialization in that Virtualization?

Not really. I believe all the VMWare courses/training are conducted by VMWare. Then the standard testing process. Sgt. Beavis will know more or I can ask our resident VMWare rep...etc.

[ozzeran]

Look for help desk positions.

Then just start finding out what niche you want.

I myself still want to be a sys admin but I am also interested in SAN's.

I just get lazy, so I need to step it up.

[Rreemo]

I've been in it for 14 years now...and without a doubt, if I was going to break away and start my own company right now, I'd start-up a consulting firm specializing in on-premise to cloud migration strategy. It is THE biggest thing on the horizon right now by far....this shift in the industry is already in full motion, and it is a board-of-directors and CEO's dream come true in every aspect, but most importantly in overhead cost savings. However, it isn't just geared at the Enterprise space...we are seeing more & more small and mid-business jumping on the bandwagon too, and it won't be long before consumer offerings are popping up everywhere.

For someone who is thinking of just now getting into the IT industry, I'd strongly advise you to go at it with this in mind (the industry is evolving right now). Software as a service will be the mainstream over the next 5-10 years as existing companies migrate from on-premise to the cloud, but then also beyond as new players come online. So you need to consider what that will entail for where you want to work. Migration specialists will be in huge demand. There will always be desktop level support, but we're already seeing that most companies have dropped it all from in-house and instead are outsourcing to partners like HP, WiPro, Teleperformance, Convergys, etc. and those jobs are a dime a dozen, entry level, and will never be big payers again….still a decent place to get started, though. On the other hand, cloud strategy can only be successful with complimentary from some of the mentions above...like virtualization, storage, security, and LAN-LAN / LAN-WAN networking. But of course the look and feel of many of those jobs is rapidly changing too....for the better I might add.

I didn't see it mentioned about, but don't forget about ITIL...those certs hold a lot of water too.

[DamonH]

I agree to a point.

I didn't put full effort into my post, but agree with all you said. Really I think you need a mixture of things. You will have a hard time finding a 'good' job unless you have all three (degree / certifications / experience). I'd probably put the most weight on experience, second on a degree, and third on certs. I've just seen too many people come in with certs only and they just memorized the answers to pass the test. If you want to excel in IT, you have to have the drive to go a step farther. Buy a junk computer, install every OS you can get your hands on just so you have experience. Buy some old Cisco 2500's and network them together in various ways. Read, read, and read some more. Expect to keep learning as tech always changes. When someone talks about something you don't know, learn about it. Always keep in contact with colleges in IT as they move around and change jobs - you never know when that old colleague might be able to tip you off on a job if you need one. You get the point. They don't just throw money at "IT" anymore, but the money is still there if you have the drive. Last but not least, make sure you don't submit a resume with errors.

[Sgt Beavis]

Well, remember UCS does not really live without VMWare. Cisco is positioning UCS to dominate from a price point and the joyous part is it works as intended. The fabric interconnects are the real sweet spot for the UCS platform, at least the B-Series.

Dell seems to be the biggest hassle to us, for customers (how to say this nicely) on a budget. Meaning, not comparing features, performance and such - just bottom line price. These are the same ones usually just using MS hyper-v as well.

Cisco also has positioned it so if you want Cisco apps on VMWare, it has to be on a UCS server to be supported - with one of their tested reference configurations. Fair enough, but you can see how it's easier to get it in the door when you're already doing some deal - with Cisco apps.

You going out on sales calls? Gotta wonder if you've been in the office.

I help out on sales calls but I try to avoid them like the plague because way to often I find that salespeople are liars. They rationalize shit too often. Still, it is unavoidable when you are a consultant. So I end up writing SOWs, Ref Archs, BOMs, and then giving the customer the technical aspects of what they are doing.

But back to UCS. IMO it's low price point makes it an exceptional platform for VDI. You should see the ref arch that HP uses for VMware View. Holy crap it is stupidly expensive. Sometimes UCS can actually make the case that VDI is cheaper than physical desktops.

There is no way you can make that case by running VMware View on HP blades.

[Chili]

In my opinion things that are hot are - in order....

1. DataCenter
-VMWare
-SAN/Storage Technologies
-Blade Servers

2. Cisco Unified Communications (CUCM, Unity, CUPS, MPX, UCCX, WebEx, DMS, CIUS...etc...etc
-With UCS/VMWare this is where you'll accel
-Route/Switch core competency

3. Wireless
-Not just LWAPPs throughout a building, but true wireless engineering. Microwave, mesh and so forht

4. At least L1-3 security, route/switch, and other network based technologies are becoming more of a commodity these days. Good money, but people are not paying the huge dollars anymore.
-Exception in Datacenter type switching. Think MDS, Nexus and so forth.

As a vendor for all these things, we hire based off certifications, experience and actually being able to do the work. I don't feel a "degree in these things" is applicable in anyway shape or form to doing the job. I'd concentrate on certifications to get in the door and then experience with more certifications.

I'm a 3 CC*P and about to start down the CCIE-Voice path. These certifications alone will keep me employed for anytime in the foreseeable future. In this field there are plenty of smart folks with degrees, but we're all in the same bucket. The exception is when higher level management opportunities come along - they DO stand a better chance. Unfortunately, I've seen great Engineers/Architects (technical) go from being very happy to miserable in those positions. (Sales driven company)

Listen to this guy.. I have seen pics of his new spread!

And my brother-in-law's who is in the same field.

Nice house, BTW, Chris! Leah was showing me the Facebook pics. It's tits. When's the next BBQ?

[Sgt Beavis]

Ya know, with some of the guys on this board, we could build our own consulting company...

My manager, who lives in Flower Mound, and I have been thinking about doing just that.

[ceyko]

Nice house, BTW, Chris! Leah was showing me the Facebook pics. It's tits. When's the next BBQ?

We were planning mid February, but having some problems with the buyer of my house so closing has been delayed 2 weeks. We'll just have to see at this point! Thankfully my buyer is moving due to a transfer in her company (large), so I think she is committed. However, when you throw off closing dates anything can happen.

Thanks for the compliments. If you do the comps for that area, the house should be a lot more expensive

[GeorgeG.]

With no experince to bring to the table, you're best bet is going to be ISP/Carrier help desk or a company Help Desk as already mentioned. Then start working on certs, self training, or classes at your community college. Boot camps are nice, but IMO, without experience, they basically show you took a 5 day cram course designed to pass a test, but in reality you have no real world experience to back it up. (That's just my opinion)

Anyway, while you're doing help desk, you can see the differences with IT skills. Then you can decide if you like working with databases, email, network, systems admin, sharepoint, VmWare, you name it. You could specialize in any one of those and be in good shape or you could be a jack of all trades like someone mentioned. That's something you'll get to decide as you work with different technologies.

I've been a systems admin for a while now although right now I'm an Exchange Admin....I've seen jobs posted upwards of 80K just for an Exchange Admin. I thought about staying on the Systems Admin side but I've been trying to break off into the networking side.

One point of advise that I've seen people fall for....steer clear of the "take this cert and it's guaranteed 6 figures". It's true to an extent, but experience plays a BIG role in that.