Glass ceiling for this tenured server phone tech

[jahlmer]

I'll try to keep this brief. Its an important step for me to ask this forum for advice.

My career in IT started in 98, I moved up the ranks of phone support and spent the last 5 between server pre-sales/tech sales/tech support for a very well-known PC company (just not for servers). I innovated many things, but found glass ceilings anyway. I have MCSE NT/2000 but no degree. I have 5 years solid experience with server/storage/nos software/networking phone tech support and proven extremely successful sales abilities. I've represented the 1st Co at trade shows. My resume looks like a bombshell hit the IT career handbook. By sheer luck, I was grandfathered into a Big huge outsource partner a couple years back who took over the job while the old team got chopped, to do the same job I've been doing (almost) all along, server phone tech support. It's been very successful for them, but not for me. I've found it impossible to move up and get off the phones. The better I do, the less they want me to move around in the Co. A fly trap. I've considered jobs outside the place, but I'd be leaving a great Co behind.. great potential that is. For now its stagnant slavework on phones with hourly pay, thankfully working enough overtime to get by ok. I consult consultants who make gobs more, but with my Corporate hourly rate.

How do I get up and out? Mid 20's, with two kids and a 45-50 hour a week job, should I try to get a degree in Comp. Sci? Who hires a guy with 7 years of call center experience, lots of awards, proven success in everything tried, self-learner... without a degree? In Atlanta. Is anything but IT even an option for me? Should I wait it out hoping for another lucky strike? Before IT, I was a cook. Although the most successfuly guy in my family, I'm not a happy camper.

Thanks for your time.

 

[gpastorelli]

I'm kind of in the same boat as you, except I haven't hit that ceiling yet. Been in IT for about 4-5 years, have a load of certifications and I got a kid on the way. My family didn't have the money for college when I graduated and I couldn't get a good paying job.

I've been told by lots of folks in the industry I'll start to notice the ceiling. Like I said, I haven't hit it but I can see the approach. I've been looking at jobs in NYC as this is where my fiance wants to move back to in the future and most won't even call me back.

What I'm doing is persuing at least an Assoc. in Computer Science, so I have something under my belt then take night classes towards a Bachelors.

 

[CasperTFG]

I'm in the opposite spot. Have a college degree in Comp. Sci. Since college have been working at the same company for over 5 years. I have received no training at all while here, though my knowledge has increased tremendously through self learning and peer learning.

But how do you show that on a resume?

Casper

There is room for all of gods creatures, "Right Beside the Mashed Potatoes".

 

[grande]

Casper, I'm still in college, and I think I'll be in the same boat as you when I graduate...

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Just call me Captain Awesome.

 

[N0ktar]

Casper, try to put the extra knowledge you gained on the paper - get certified if possible. A degree with experience backed by certification programs does look good on a resume.

 

[N0ktar]

Jahlmer, I think you should first decide if you really want to stick to IT, it looks like you might do just as good in sales so keep that in mind. If you wish to advance your career in IT you may have to start school in the evenings, you may need to expand on your field of IT expertiese, the skill requirements on the market are generally fairly broad and server experience would defeniteley be a plus fopr you.

 

[spamly]

I was told that the best way to get advancement in IT is to change employers.

Do you have an understanding boss? Can you tell him/her about your problems? It sounds like you have some really good experience. That and the right attitude should be able to land you a better job.

 

[jahlmer]

gpastorelli, the ceiling can be called glass for two reasons 1) you dont see it until you hit it, and 2) you see your potential and the opportunities but cant reach it. Maybe you wont, in which case you've got a good Co. My Co really stresses me to take advantage of the self-learning courses (of which there are thousands of courses) at dispose for everything from IT to financing. I do take advantage of them, when I can. Making gradual progress. Taking night classes I think is definately a good step for you, and may be for me to.

CasperTFG, I second N0ktar some kind of cert (mcse, ccna) would be a fantastic addition in my opinion. I think that unfortunately professional resumes lack a good section for self-learned training. I'll share mine with you if you post your email addr. Sometimes there are ways of mentioning what you know without saying where you learned it.

Grande, stick with it, I wish I did. I started my career after a freshly obtained GED, and think I'm feeling the side-affects today. If its matched with certs, it seems like the bomb for IT and beyond.

N0ktar, I appreciate the advice, I think I will be doing so, but its painful to think about sitting in class learning little or nothing (no offense) as I have a great deal of confidence I know 90% of what they teach (from the basic pc architecture, to SAN PD). I do ponder the possibility of getting out of IT. Truthfully my goals are towards CIO or IT Manager. I dread moving into a sticky net admin position, I'm a mover and a shaker and I'm also in hell being teathered to a cube and phone.

Spamly, I hear you. I fear changing employers for the sake of losing my tenure and grandfathered entry into Co 2. Being a Huge company, I see lots of potentials. My manager is understanding but seems to be pressured from into keeping the team together to keep things going smooth. New hires have had issues getting up to speed in all that we do, and we are running very lean.

Many thanks to everyone that responded so far. Got some great insight and thoughts to toil with. I really think that the situation I'm in is shared by many. Patience, and people networking within my Co is honestly what I am going to try to improve from here. A degree is a pipe dream for me, I think. Plus I think it would bore me to death learning all the stuff I already know (quite a typical male thing to say, I know). But still considering it. Havent looked into blowing my way past some credits with some pre-tests, but my wife tells me its possible. Guess thats another thing I'll work on. :-1