Ok, so you’re thinking about starting/switching careers to join the IT gang (excellent choice). In this post I will try to tackle multiple viewpoints to hopefully guide you to your decision. Let’s get started with some pros/cons.
pros of an it career
NO DEGREE REQUIRED
You may or may not know this already, but there is no need to get a degree if you want to work in IT. There are some rare situations where a degree comes in handy, but that’s a topic for another day.
NO FORMAL CLASSES REQUIRED
IT training programs exist and can help get you start, but it is not necessary. I went through a local IT training program, spent 20,000 dollars, and after a few months got started with my first IT job. However, I did not know much about my other options. SELF-STUDY, rather than spending 20,000 I could have gotten started in less time and could have done it for around 500 bucks (covered in a future post).
1 CERTIFICATION IS ALL IT TAKES
All it really takes is 1 certification to get started. After getting that 1st certification or in some cases even before getting it, it is common to land a job paying 15-20 an hour.
CLIMBING THE LADDER
Not only is it quick to get started, but it can also be quick to work your way up. This is entirely based on your work ethic, but it is possible to get to 6 figures in as little as 2 years. I am not one of those BEASTS, but it’s possible.
WE ARE EVERYWHERE
Most if not all companies need IT support. We touch every department in every field and that leads to a plethora of IT jobs waiting for us. If I were fired today for whatever reason I am confident that it would not take long to find another job.
JOBS COME TO YOU
Most of the time you don’t even need to apply anywhere. If you have a well written resume and throw it online (monster/indeed/glassdoor/linkedin/etc), you will get calls from IT recruiters who need to fill roles for their clients. Literally every role I have had was through this process this.
CONS OF IT CAREER
STUDY TIME
You NEED to make time to study. If you want to work your way up, you must dedicate yourself to a study schedule. Those “6 figure in 2 years” guys get there by literally studying around 5 hours a day, everyday. Even when taking your time, you would ideally take 1-2 hours per day. I say that, but its fine to take a break if you reached a goal. Getting a new certification to me means I get to take at least a week off.
THE INITIAL DROP IN PAY
This won’t apply to everyone, but if you’re already in an established career making decent money you may be hesitant about losing money upfront. If you can’t live off of 15-20 an hour in your current situation this may not be the right time for you. Don’t forget that it does not take too long to earn a decent salary. If possible, make some sacrifices and suck it up for a year or two to get up to or above what you were making before. If you like technology, it will be worth it.
STRESS
IT can be stressful, especially when you’re starting out. You barley know anything and are expected to know how to fix everything. New technology is constantly implemented, and the employees of other departments assume you know the ins and outs before you’ve even had the time to play with it yourself. Deadlines or quotas need to be met, but it always feels like a struggle. In the end some people can’t handle certain jobs in this field, but there is usually something else in IT that suites their taste better.
WHAT NOW?
Hopefully after reading this post you’ve decided whether IT is right for you. If your answer is yes, then welcome to the gang! The future posts on this site should help answer questions and get you started!
