Getting ready to transition out of the military and want to move in to an IT career. I finished a my BS in IT and hopefully have completed taking my A+ when I leave. From what I've read, seems like the Security side of IT/IS is were things are going.

Looking for some insight from those working in the field.

Thanks.

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"Sarge"

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sure... in a very narrow sense.

if you excel in something, any specific field is *hot*... database admin, active directory engineer, firewall administrator, backup admin....

some system admin is just server support in a 200 employee company... some backup admin is in charge of backing up VISA's data... so security is *hot* as the various certification magazine and others with an interest would claim... but put it in perspective... network engineer was *HOT*... what do we have now, a trillion net engineers who can't find a job... how long will it take for someone new to become a servicable security specialist... will they become disillusioned once they become equipped with the skills, knowledge and experience only to find it is no longer that hottest thing... that the *hot* item in IT is say, back to networking with voip... WIFI... or whatever that will be coming in the next 2 years?

so... pursue what truely interest you... database admin is boring as hell to me, may be exciting to you... security is fun to me, may be horribly stressful to you... No way will I touch support, but some one may do end user support, promoted to supervisor, then lead the department will I sit in net eng group laughing at how low level support is... when I am just a lowly network engineer while someone who stick with something instead of looking to be promoted to the next hot group only to see themselves promoted because all the other qualify candidates can't get out of this dead end field ( user support ) fast enough...

security is hot because it has finally gain some awareness... however, this does not mean that everyone become security specialist... but that some basic security principal should be practiced and learned. DO you need to know security is IT, definietely, do you need to be security specialist? no... what's that saying... everyone is army is a rifleman, or was it marine (my Tom Clancy knowledge is failing me!!! )... same goes here.... do IT personnel need to know not to open every attachment, do they need to know that data is not secure, do they need to be able to make sense of their company's security policy? sure... but still that does not mean that security is the only field in IT that has a future.

Security, of all things in IT, is the most strigent (dabase is ther etoo). Why? it has vast impact. You lose your company's data, nuke its dbase, you are dead. You don't take care of the security system, you clean up your office. You nuke a server, so some users can't print? who cares. no organizational wide impact. Since it is so important, no one can simply go, I graduated, I got certified, I am a security professional. Experience coutns here...

In a large structured compnay, one's rise may go something like this.

support -> server -> network -> security and you build on that knowledge, moving from group to group. You may be a demolition specialist, but you better be able to handle a rifle too... No one is going to hand their security to someone new, and to be qualify, you have to have a comprehensvie view of the IT and have practical knowledge.

Practical knowledge... I am fairly good in Tom Clancy Rainbow Six 3 Ravenshield... I know I can't shoot because I can barely hit the target at my local shooting range... Do you want to take me as your backup to some battlefield? no... you put me through basic. Same principal applies to pretty much everything.

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--- Einstein

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Thanks for the insight.

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"Sarge"

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Chasing the certification rainbow is a pain in the you know what. What field is next on the list? What do I do now? Do I continue in my pursuit of Sec+? Do I upgrade my MSCE to 2003? I feel I am a bit rusty now and will need to go back and go over ALL the MS crap that I have had up to this point for a refresher because I rarely use it in the MS environment I am in now (yet, we use MS 2k, Active Directory, and XP, but still do not use but a fraction of the crap I had on poorly worded MS exams). That pretty much blows, doesn't it? Just how long will that take me?

Do I chase something else? It is so elusive to me at times. I certainly know how others must feel in their search. Especially those that teach this stuff. It has got to be a pain for those folks. I am good at many IT things, just which one will wind up paying the proper premium and utilize my true abilities?

This is something that seems to plag me every six months or so, and I never seem to get a good answer for myself. I just plug along and do all that I can do hoping to "hit" the mark right while continuously fattening someone's pocketbook for the latest "hottest" cert around.

I am beginning to think that some sort of skills assessment ought to be designed for us IT folk that will narrow our potential talents down to where we have more of a bull's eye for more effective aim. That way we could stop the useless expenditure of hard earned dollars for certs we just never use.

What is worse is that it winds up costing us mega bucks before it is over! Now you see, the money players know exactly how to play the game, but who ultimately wins?

Oh well, let me think now....what is hot? Hhmmmm....I could finish my Sec+, then on to update to MCSA/MCSE 2003, then maybe about a dozen more. Yeah, that should do it. Jobs ought to come rolling in with all those glorious certs...yeah, right.

With all sarcasm aside, I have had quite a few job offers since my last contract, so I am quite well pleased. The money is not a king's ransom, but not bad for me.

Peace and I hope you find the right path. Mikop had some great points.

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There are some points above that definitely resound with me. I think the true point of this is understanding what you're trying to get out of certifications. In this day an age pursuing the "hot" cert is NO guarantee you'll get an interview much less a job (if you're looking for one). Looking at certifications as THE key to entering IT is a mistake. Reality will show you the truth because its more about catching some breaks (interviews) and how you sell yourself along with having the requisite knowledge.

Though I do think certifications can be extremely useful. They can provide a focus and attainable goals which should coincide with where you want to take your career. If you want to become a web developer, you'll need to learn about basic development concepts, the various tools and what not. Why not test yourself along the way with some of those CIW exams? You want to be a sysadmin for a company using *nix boxes, learn the os and test yourself with LPI exams.

One last thing, I sure wish there were less organizations trying to come up with their own certs. The focus should be more on raising the quality of existing ones.

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I agree with what Mikop said. I think the next employee market will be when the baby bommers start retiaring in grater numbers. there is a larger population of baby boomers than there is replacments, so lookout.

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certified in: A+, Network+, AAS degree in Networking Administration

Working on: MCSA 2k

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If you're looking for the hot ticket then I'd have to say it will be a toss up between security and VOIP communications.

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Yes,... not

If u have experience with the military system and hold security clearance. It will be easier...

If your AOC/MOS is under technical section it will help, too.

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