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4/8/09
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Bored... But Hungry and Energetic... with a mortgage...
Posted:
Apr 8, 2009 11:27 AM
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I have been reading or pretty much have read almst all the posts on here. I'm glad I found this forum. I as beginning to think I was alone out there.
I've been reading everyone's opinions and what not, I really think they're all great and very helpful, seems like there's a scenario out there for everyone, helps to sympathize with. I guess my dilema falls in the category as many have already posted... I just don't know where to place it and in which posting.
I am a 28 year old ambitious guy whos been working in the IT field since my first week of college. Everything I've ever known about work has been cabling, software, troubleshooting, on/off switches, ip addresses... etc.. you get the picture... I couldn't even imagine what others can possibly be doing as work!? I always asked my friend in the banking, insurance, mortgage industry... "what the heck do you guys do all day?" I see all these papers... I see them on the phones... its like what else is there besides "fixin's stuff". I don't know how many can relate to that... but it's almost as if a light bulb went off in my head one day and I opened the doors of the big cold server room one day and noticed that there was a light and a world out there. Holy Cr@p! there are tooons of other things i could be doing than being locked up back here... needless to say this is a metaphor.. I hope you get what I'm trying to paint here.
I guess I'm at a point in my life where i feel that all these $$'s im spending on certifications and hardware to play with and kill my time at home and the endless hours I spend at clients, upgrading and rebooting and so forth.... don't really make me feel worth much or even gratifying...
I look at my friends who sell, spend weekends with clients and talking... actually TALKING! Throwing ideas back and forth... I see others who workin hospitality they spend many hours working, but its gratifying... it actually does something for their job. They gain! They are praised, they get compensation...
I want to get there... I want to make my 12 hour days worth it, feel like I actually accomplished something, hell maybe even get paid for it or compensated in some way.
So with in this post I seek some feedback, I get paid decently as consultant whom I dont know if i will have a job in a year... I feel i have an opportunity to make a drastic change now because im afraid its too late later. I have a mortgage, starting over from scratch is going to be a huuuuuge sacrifice, i know im going to need to make cuts, but is it worth it? Do I wait? Should I do it now? Career adivisors?? Maybe I'm in the wrong company?
I would really appreciate any comments or suggestions here... I am completely lost. I enjoy the public, I enjoy working with customers and people. I love talking to crowds, I love ideas! I want to be in the forefront, the face of something, i want to get out from the back where nobody sees what you do. Hope all this makes sense, i appreciate the fact that you read this... Maybe there are others in this situation as well.
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3,216
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2/7/07
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Re: Bored... But Hungry and Energetic... with a mortgage...
Posted:
Apr 8, 2009 12:06 PM
in response to: FellowSquare
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First, whatever you do, do it NOW, don't wait. There's too many 40 somethings out there saying, "I should have".
I've been in IT for 30 years and I've enjoyed it, but times are different.
If you enjoy working with the public, I think you could have a future in many fields. It sounds like you've got a good mix of friends and I think they could be your best advisors. Forget career counselors, you don't need to pay someone to tell you what to do for a living.
Open the door of that server room and walk towards the light.
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4/8/09
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Re: Bored... But Hungry and Energetic... with a mortgage...
Posted:
Apr 8, 2009 12:24 PM
in response to: GFF
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I guess the point of where I'm stuck is... what do I do? i almost feel like i have wasted so much education, time, efforts. Any career suggestions? I have almost 10 years doing, Tech support, Sysadmin, Consulting, some supervision. I would love to try some management or even a lead role. I just have no clue what is out there.. like I said, all ive ever known were cables, buttons, fixing things... I have skills in many areas as far as personality, drive, speech, all that good stuff that is not taught... I'll learn anything, but there has to be something that I'm good at, I have no clue where to look or what it is that I shoudl be doing. I'm getting the sense that yes, now is the time to make this drastic change. I wish there was like a machine that would print a receipt out and tell you where to go work! If it were only that easy ! haha
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3,216
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Re: Bored... But Hungry and Energetic... with a mortgage...
Posted:
Apr 8, 2009 12:54 PM
in response to: FellowSquare
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>
Where to start. There seems to be a lot of people asking that same question lately on this forum. I think a lot of people got into IT, because they enjoyed fitting their friends computer in high school.
When I went to college, we didn't have PC in high school, or college for that matter. I'm a mainframe person.
I think you need to see what your friends do, and look around you. Oh, and stop working 12 hours day, that gets you nowhere in IT, except 14 hours days.
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925
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11/17/06
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Re: Bored... But Hungry and Energetic... with a mortgage...
Posted:
Apr 8, 2009 1:06 PM
in response to: FellowSquare
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Dear FellowSquare,
First off, I'm sure your work is both appreciated and valued, because without technical support-there is no tech. It sounds like you're not receiving many accolades for your contributions, which is a downside to being an independent consultant. Be sure to pat yourself on the back every now and then, and consider sending out surveys to your customers, so you can garner feedback about your performance and value. Also, spend more time talking to customers about their business problems and building relationships with them, so you can offer up solutions and take on more of a consultative role in your current job. Sometimes, it's not the structure of the position that's the issue; it's the way the individual carries out their duties that imposes the limitations.
Certainly if you want a position focused on people interaction and collaborative problem solving, there are many jobs which will allow you to blend your technical knowledge with those skills. You mentioned tech sales as a possibility, but a job as a sales support specialist; business analyst or project manager might also offer you increased career satisfaction. A visit with a career counselor might be helpful; and you can also search the Internet for free or low cost career interest questionnaires that will help you identify positions best-suited for your interests and skills. It’s not uncommon for people to grow beyond the challenges presented by their current role, and unless they work in an environment that affords other opportunities, a career change, or in this case a career upgrade, might be just what the doctor ordered to cure boredom and restore energy.
Good luck.
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1,496
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4/24/07
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Bored... But Hungry and Energetic... with a mortgage...
Posted:
Apr 8, 2009 7:01 PM
in response to: FellowSquare
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> I guess the point of where I'm stuck is... what do I
> do? i almost feel like i have wasted so much
> education, time, efforts. Any career suggestions? I
> have almost 10 years doing, Tech support, Sysadmin,
> Consulting, some supervision. I would love to try
> some management or even a lead role. I just have no
> clue what is out there.. like I said, all ive ever
> known were cables, buttons, fixing things... I have
> skills in many areas as far as personality, drive,
> speech, all that good stuff that is not taught...
Have you thought about teaching these subjects at a community college? Your degree can be a check box on applications in many careers aside from IT. From the sounds of your posting you might be an excellent leader or someone who can easily interact with the public. Step back from IT and take some time to consider what types of work, not specific jobs, you would enjoy and then make a list of jobs that can be a career which match those types of work.
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Posts:
860
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1/26/09
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Re: Bored... But Hungry and Energetic... with a mortgage...
Posted:
Apr 28, 2009 5:10 PM
in response to: FellowSquare
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like I said, all ive ever
> known were cables, buttons, fixing things... I have
> skills in many areas as far as personality, drive,
> speech, all that good stuff that is not taught...
> I'll learn anything, but there has to be something
> that I'm good at, I have no clue where to look or
> what it is that I shoudl be doing.
You said you've been doing these things from your first day of college. What did you study? Did you graduate?
Just sit still for a few minutes and play back your life in your mind, looking for specific moments when you felt truly satisfied with having accomplished something...as a kid, in school, in the workplace. Write them all down and look to see if there are patterns...what were you doing, with whom, what was so satisfying, etc.
That's a way to start if you have nowhere else.
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4
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4/8/09
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Re: Bored... But Hungry and Energetic... with a mortgage...
Posted:
Nov 4, 2009 10:14 AM
in response to: MaryInChicago
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Yup, phone support for the university week one. I studied Networking Technologies...i worked full time to pay for school... internship and got hired full time the next monday after i graduated....
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326
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Re: Bored... But Hungry and Energetic... with a mortgage...
Posted:
Nov 4, 2009 12:18 PM
in response to: FellowSquare
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...Technical Sales - sounds like you may possibly be a natural for it, and you can be paid exceptionally well for your efforts.
Two avenues to persue - Working for a Vendor/Manufacturer, or working for a VAR (CDW, Insight, Zones, PC Mall, etc.)
Working for a Manufacturer will normally give you a relatively high Base Salary and a small Commission structure, but you DO have a significant Quota to achieve to stay employed, and they increase annually. They are also subject to the fluctuations in the market, so job security may or may not be there.
Working for a VAR provides a smaller Base Salary, but generally a better Commission structure, but those can vary pretty widely between VAR's.
Technical backgrounds are sought out, and if you also have a degree, that is usually a plus...
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4/8/09
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Re: Bored... But Hungry and Energetic... with a mortgage...
Posted:
Nov 23, 2009 9:16 AM
in response to: Silver Surfer
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Thanks for insight! That's much appreciated. I actually have just submitted resume's to a few company's that specialize in CRM and also to PCMALL. I think CDW is going to be my last resort if I either get laid off or quit. Its a huge paycut, especially at the beginning with the training. I'm still looking however. I really like the CRM companies because its not just only software but you're selling them a solution. Thanks for the details!
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Posts:
5
Registered:
11/27/09
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Re: Bored... But Hungry and Energetic... with a mortgage...
Posted:
Nov 27, 2009 10:19 PM
in response to: FellowSquare
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I know where you are coming from. I am doing the same type of work....running cables, cabling, monitoring the climate in the server rooms, installing/configuring servers, 12.5 hour shifts...it is like being a high tech security guard. I am contemplating on shifting to another area but still unsure. I am way older than you so my advise, do whatever you feel is right while you are young. Before more responsibilities pile up...y know kids, otherwise you may become trap and end up in depression.
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Re: Bored... But Hungry and Energetic... with a mortgage...
Posted:
Dec 3, 2009 8:11 AM
in response to: GFF
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Right, GFF - career counselors like Phil Rosenberg. THAT'S why I ignore his ignoramus and obstreperous postings.
At 28, you are young enough to go out there and look and figure it out. You do need to leave IT behind unless you develop a business and need a website.
In this world, nothing's guaranteed but you do have to find it quickly because we are all melting...
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