Career choice crossroads

[FuLL_MeT4L]

Hi all,

Where I am: I'm 23 and have been working in online marketing for 6 months. I'm currently getting R10k p/m for my efforts and while it's not a bad job, I'm getting a bit bored with it already. There's too much BS and not enough of a challenge for me - granted that this might be down to the company rather than the job?

Where I want to be: Something I've always really wanted to do is IT networking. Running about fixing things that don't work has always given me the greatest satisfaction and I am very technically minded. I realise that this means basic techie work to start with - although I do have a bit of existing IT work experience. I do have a degree, but not relevant to IT. I could do MCITP and CCNA for a start?

So - what are your thoughts peeps?

 

[poffle]

If that is your passion then go for it, just realise that Network support is an extremely stressful and pressure filled job. People will bitch and shout at you because they dont know where the power button on their PC is, people will blame you if the internet is slow, people will blame you if the network is slow, bosses will shout at your because you havn't fixed the internet yet.

 

[FuLL_MeT4L]

If that is your passion then go for it, just realise that Network support is an extremely stressful and pressure filled job. People will bitch and shout at you because they dont know where the power button on their PC is, people will blame you if the internet is slow, people will blame you if the network is slow, bosses will shout at your because you havn't fixed the internet yet.

Thanks for your thoughts poffle. Is this your personal experience? Surely it can't be that stressful?
And surely it's possible to move to better positions after gaining experience?

 

[sn3rd]

Your biggest asset is going to be your age. If you're willing to put in the hard yards over time, then you will be able to reap rewards. However, that basic low-level stuff is soul-destroying for most. If you're really passionate about it, then you will be bored with the work you're given within a day. After that, you may have to find other ways to improve your skill, and this is where further education comes in. CCNA, CCNP, etc will definitely be useful in such a situation.

 

[TelkomUseless]

Thanks for your thoughts poffle. Is this your personal experience? Surely it can't be that stressful?
And surely it's possible to move to better positions after gaining experience?

he speaks to truth. If something goes down.. business starts screaming...

 

[Messugga]

Thanks for your thoughts poffle. Is this your personal experience? Surely it can't be that stressful?
And surely it's possible to move to better positions after gaining experience?

I work pretty closely with some guys from Neotel on a pretty huge network. The guys I speak to work 6-6 and 8-till-late as they put it. It's stressful and very much so.

 

[^^vampire^^]

Hope you looking forward to your R4000 p/m salary if you do change over.

That and I'll look forward to your next post after you have started a techie job asking for advice on where to study software development

 

[FuLL_MeT4L]

I work pretty closely with some guys from Neotel on a pretty huge network. The guys I speak to work 6-6 and 8-till-late as they put it. It's stressful and very much so.

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Hope you looking forward to your R4000 p/m salary if you do change over.

That and I'll look forward to your next post after you have started a techie job asking for advice on where to study software development

Eish.. yeah R4k is really low hey. =/
What makes you say that software development will be the next jump?

 

[cerebus]

What I would do in your position is:
1) Stay where you are for now unless you're prepared to take a big salary hit.
2) Study somehow in the evening. You're young, believe it or not you DO have spare income. CCNA and MCITP is a fine start.
3) Give yourself a year. When you have your qualifications, set out a new path if you're prepared for it. But get some notches under your belt first.