career alternatives for the IT minded 4

[drago762]

Most of us gravitated to IT partly because of our 'wiring.' Without getting into male/female or left-brain/right-brain or emotional/logical debates, many of us are just plain different from the rest of the world. Logically, then, there are non-IT careers out there to which we may be constitutionally better suited than others.

Consulting, for one's own business or another's, is a perennial alternative to the daily IT-shop grind. My goal for this thread is to gather into one place some ideas for those who have found, or who are seeking, or who are just curious about, career alternatives.

What else have you found or do you know of or do you think may be well-suited to the IT-minded? Why and how?

 

[mmorancbt]

Interesting topic, for a number of reasons.

First, I have always been a proponent of building your IT career outside of IT.

I started blogging the topic on Monday with an entry titled, Non-traditional routes and roles for your IT career.

Part 1:

http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/pm/career/archives/006772.asp

Part 2:

http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/pm/career/archives/006837.asp

* Business Analyst
* Project Manager
* Financial Analyst
* Marketing Analyst or Project Coordinator...

The reason I look at these positions is that they can much more successfully be accomplished with highly-developed technical skills but provide further analytics and development of business process.


Matthew Moran
Read my career blog at:

http://www.cbtoolkit.com

Career Blog:

http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/pm/career/

Todo esta bien.. Todo esta divertido (it's all good, it's all fun)

 

[LadySlinger]

This is a good topic! Especially for those of us that are looking to get out of the grudge of support, or the typical roles.

Right now my main job is a system admin (evolving to a manager in the next year) and on the side I do consulting for e-commerce marketing for start up web site businesses.

Eventually, say the next 5 years, I want to leave it all though and get into Computer Forensics. The Department of Defense (as well as NSA) are beginning to team up with certain colleges and universitys and offering Bachelor's and Masters in Information Assurance.

 

[aarenot]

This may not be as far from IT as you desire, but consider this.

Take a look around at some convergance possibilities. Many have said the voice/data convergance is the fastest growing area in technology right now. Traditionaly the industry of voice has been dominated by small to medium sized phone system vendors, along with large traditional telephone companies. Many small businesses that have done traditional phone systems are looking for people who are willing to learn the voice end of things whom already have data experience.
It can be a very different atmosphere, and many times you are one of the few who have knowledge of the data end of things. You work at different sites almost, if not daily, many companies that have phone systems do not have a clue how to administer, maintain, or service their Telephony equipment. Traditional IT admins respect engineers with data backgrounds, but most do not do what it takes themselves to get up to speed with IP Telephony.

Those that know voice are less valuable if they do not know the data end. Those that know data are becoming less of a commodity. Those that know both are rapidly gaining in prestige, and pay. It is a niche which will advance in pay more rapidly than your coworkers who concentrate on data alone.

Check it out, see what you think. It is rather inexpensive to start it as a hobby on the side. I suggest buying a Avaya Partner ACS system for home, play with it, and see if you like it.

Just a thought.

You do not always get what you pay for, but you never get what you do not pay for.

 

[JediBMC]

One thing that I have found very interesting is the number of ex-Law Enforcement Officers in the IT field. Within my small department, 80% of the technical services have some type of LEO background. If this is not a one-way street, then a career in Law Enformcement may very well be an alternative.

-Brian-
I'm not an actor, but I play one on TV.

 

[BocaBurger]

Strange. Most LEOs I know are into that adrenalin rush thing. Not sure how IT would satisfy that.




BocaBurger
<===========================||////////////////|0
The pen is mightier than the sword, but the sword hurts more!

 

[DPlank]

You've never deployed a new application for 20,000 new users at 3am then...and been responsible for getting all the bugs that are found the first day recorded, analysed and assigned for fixing...



Cheers,
Dave

"Yes, I'll stop finding bugs in the software - as soon as you stop writing bugs into the software." <-- Me

For all your testing needs: Forum1393

 

[BocaBurger]

Unless your users are armed with knives or guns, it isn't quite the same.

BTW, sounds like you need to beef up your Q/A process.



BocaBurger
<===========================||////////////////|0
The pen is mightier than the sword, but the sword hurts more!

 

[xmsre]

I think I like that ...

One thing that I have found very interesting is the number of ex-Law Enforcement Officers in the IT field.  Within my small department, 80% of the technical services have some type of LEO background.  If this is not a one-way street, then a career in Law Enformcement may very well be an alternative.

To take that further, maybe we should staff the helpdesk with ex Mafia hit men. I bet the ticket volume would drop.

 

[jrbarnett]

I've recently changed from working in an operational IT department dealing with first and second line support plus software development requests to an MIS support role with responsibility for a large software rollout which will have a big effect across the whole of my new employer plus migration of data from three existing legacy systems over to it, supplier liaison and custom software development and report writing for it.

I'm still using my IT skills and experience, but its out of the grudge of being a direct recipient of helpdesk calls and dealing with the same, although I'm sure that I'll get called up as some things don't go quite right first time.
I also need to be on very good terms with my employer's operational IT department at all times as things they do can affect 'my' system.

John

 

[JimmyZ1]

I've personally deployed to 12,000 machine overnight, and I'll tell you this, all the testing in the world can't account for 12,000 different computers run by 12,000 different people with 12,000 different jobs. All the Q&A in the world won't save you the next days bugs.

 

[JimmyZ1]

oh and, I think the medical industry is going very technical and pays very well, you might need some schooling before the switch, but it is an emerging technology sector

 

[drago762]

oh and, I think the medical industry is going very technical and pays very well, you might need some schooling before the switch, but it is an emerging technology sector"

The avg pay for health information tech is only $25 K per year.

http://www.bls.gov/oco/pdf/ocos103.pdf

Are there other positions in the medical field where you could utilize your technical skills?

 

[BocaBurger]

That and they want you to work part time so they don't have to provide benefits.



BocaBurger
<===========================||////////////////|0
The pen is mightier than the sword, but the sword hurts more!

 

[langleymass]

Drago762,

Keep in mind that no matter what field you are in, how you "play the game" is going to be the main factor in your success or failure in any career. Your ability to schmooze the right people, to suck up to the right people, and to manipulate people will ultimately decide your success or failure.

Once you have these skills and can do these things better than anyone else, most career options will be open to you. If you don't have these skills, your work ethic, talent, brains, and ability will be completely irrelvant.

 

[mmorancbt]

The alternative to Langleymass' otherwise dismally negative view of how you get ahead is that.

Hard work & smart work, great work ethic, integrity, great people skils (because you genuinely like people), plan and act proactively, enjoy what you do, expect and deal positively with setbacks (they are normal), never buy into an entitlement mentality, etc.

If those are playing the game, learn to play the game. These are positive, common-sense approaches to career development regardless of field.

I would whole-heartedly recommend getting the book, "More Than Enough" by Dave Ramsey. Pay close attention to the attitude and vision piece in the first few chapters.

And most of all, enjoy. Life is way to amazing and precious not to be amazed - at something!

Matthew Moran (career blog and podcast below)
Career Advice with Attitude for the IT Pro

http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/pm/career

http://techcareerconsult.blogspot.com

 

[aarenot]

A good work ethics requires some ethics.

You do not always get what you pay for, but you never get what you do not pay for.

 

[langleymass]

Matthew,

Quite a few times, I have said that if what you are doing works for you, you should continue doing it. I sincerely believe that you should keep on doing what you have been doing. I don't argue with success, and it sounds like you have achieved the things you want to achieve.

What do you accomplish by criticizing my methods? How does it help to attack things that I am trying?

I have seen many of these common-sense approaches fail. As a result, I came to the realization that they aren't enough.

 

[aarenot]

Matthew,
I would say, if your methods are working for you, and you feel they are appropriate, do not worry about criticism. If you are worried about criticism, then you must have some reservation about your methods. With the methods one chooses to implement there are consequences, and the choices entail the opinions of others about your character, and ethics. If you object to those consequences, then you are really objecting to the side effects of your methods. You may have heard the saying " If you have the name, you might as well play the game" Well, it goes hand in hand, if you play the game, you are going to get the name. You have to decide what your goals are, and pay the price for them. If that price is too high, reconsider your methods and goals. Obviously, the ends justify the means in your eyes, so deal with the opportunity cost, your reputation, and the ethical high ground are just the price you pay.

You do not always get what you pay for, but you never get what you do not pay for.

 

[mmorancbt]

Langleymass,

I will always comment when someone tries to tell others that they will have to manipulate, schmooze, suck up, kiss butt, etc. to get ahead. You make the statement with a broad brush - stating that unless they learn to do that, all other efforst will be wasted. If what you want to say is that you, personally, were unable to master everyday soft-skills and get ahead and so you had to learn to how to manipulate others - then fine.

I've have also said that if this works for you, do it. Just don't spout the false and negative perception that everyone must do that to get ahead. If you do, then I respond because it is garbage!

Rather than learn manipulation, I'll direct people toward what I consider to be more noble, integrity, and vision driven strategies.

I'll go ever further to say that any worker will advance for more quickly if they are affective at helping their boss, the company, and their peers advance more quickly. If you can bring out the best in a team or a person, and can mobilize people toward a common goal, you will be recognized as valuable.

Personal marketing is perfectly okay and is not manipulation. Having a strong sense of self, asking for what you want and have proven you deserve, letting others know when you have experienced success - in a way that demonstrates your passion for solving problems, and helping and applauding others doing the same. Those are all positive and focused methods for taking your career forward.

If someone wants to improve performance, another individual could direct them to snort cocaine or take speed before work. Studies prove that there is a short-term lift in physical and mental performance.

I would not remain silent for that either. Even if one could "get ahead" professional with a lifetime of manipulation, sucking up, and schmoozing - I wouldn't consider it a success. It requires a disdain for people that I will always consider unhealthy.

Matthew Moran (career blog and podcast below)
Career Advice with Attitude for the IT Pro

http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/pm/career

http://techcareerconsult.blogspot.com