"Nibbles" (nibbles) 12/31/2013 at 17:19 • Filed to: ghostride the joblopnik blipz yo

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Had a phone interview today with an IT consulting firm for the position of SCCM engineer. It went rather well and I'm excited for round two!

ddavidn > Nibbles 12/31/2013 at 17:22

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System Center? Blergh...

Congrats!

Nibbles > ddavidn 12/31/2013 at 17:23

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SCCM engineers make BANK

ddavidn > Nibbles 12/31/2013 at 17:24

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Oh. That's good then. I still want to get some MS certs in case I ever need to make some money...

Stef Schrader > Nibbles 12/31/2013 at 17:44

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Congrats!

Nibbles > ddavidn 12/31/2013 at 17:58

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Certs really are the bee's knees. Nice thing, this company pays for them!

Nibbles > Stef Schrader 12/31/2013 at 17:58

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Thanks Stef!

ddavidn > Nibbles 12/31/2013 at 18:00

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Agh that was my goal when I left college. Find a company to sponsor my career. Company I went to promised. Definitely didn't happen. They just stalled my career a bit.

Good for you, I love certs. Only have Network+ though.

Nibbles > ddavidn 12/31/2013 at 19:59

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Lol that's what I have been looking for for nearly 15 years now. Hopefully these guys put their money where their mouth is

ddavidn > Nibbles 12/31/2013 at 20:36

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Hopefully! Is it a managed service provider?

Nibbles > ddavidn 01/01/2014 at 17:39

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No, they're a consulting firm. It's a new type of position for me, I'm excited to see how it pans out

ddavidn > Nibbles 01/02/2014 at 09:57

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Nice, sounds like fun.

Nibbles > ddavidn 01/02/2014 at 10:29

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I'm hoping so. I set a personal goal to hit by the time I'm 30, and I only have two months to go until I'm no longer 30. Gotta get this going soon!

I've not been in a position where my performance directly determines my pay in a long time. I've been salaried for too long probably, but the idea of being able to make serious dollars as long as I keep my billable time straight and get certifications for bonuses? I think I'll give that the ol' college "try"

ddavidn > Nibbles 01/02/2014 at 10:45

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Yeah that sounds good. I've always been salary and never gotten a raise (I'm young, though, so it's not like I've lived a tortured life) but I think this company might actually give me one. We'll see in a couple months. At least they care about me here. My goal by the time I'm 30 is to be able to afford a car that costs $10,000+.

Nibbles > ddavidn 01/02/2014 at 11:01

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Where are you located?

(BTW my goal was to hit six figures :))

ddavidn > Nibbles 01/02/2014 at 11:16

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South of Seattle.

That's definitely too lofty a goal for me to set while still maintaining my sanity... Especially for the next 5 years (until I'm almost 30). My salary goal has always been $50k. Which should get me to the goal I previously mentioned.

Nibbles > ddavidn 01/02/2014 at 11:38

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Indeed it should. If you are interested in attaining certifications through Microsoft, do start working through their virtual labs. They will set you up with a good chunk of the knowledge you need to pass their tests. Also, set a date you want to test by - Microsoft has a penchant for changing their certification structure around quite a bit and, if you study but wait too long, you may find that your studying was for naught as they changed the testing system entirely and you have to start over again

This has been my problem that has plagued me for years. By the time I feel "ready" to take a test, the one I'd been studying for had been superseded. Check out their roadmap here and make a solid decision to follow the path that best suits your wants and needs as a professional. Yes, certifications cost some good cash but they are completely worth it in returns. EDIT: Link changed to current version lol

Nibbles > ddavidn 01/02/2014 at 11:43

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Sorry, wrong roadmap. I changed the original link to go to the current one.

ddavidn > Nibbles 01/02/2014 at 11:48

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Yes, they do change rather quickly. I should have taken them all when I went through all the college courses, but I didn't and then everything changed to Windows 7 or something in the middle of my studying. I will pick up the trail again as I find out what certifications will suit me best. And get enough cash to take them. I've always wanted to be Cisco certified, but have pretty much given up on that as my career path. I don't think I'd like it very much. And it's very expensive. At this point, I think web developer-type certs might be more advantageous to me. I don't know. I'm lost.

Nibbles > ddavidn 01/02/2014 at 11:57

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If you are considering a Microsoft route, you can start off with the MTA path , which is the next step in their certification plan up from CompTIA's testing, and see where you fit best. Their tests are relatively inexpensive ($115 ea) and can help you get an idea if further Microsoft certification is the path you want to choose.

As always, talking to people in the field you want to enter is an excellent idea.

ddavidn > Nibbles 01/02/2014 at 11:58

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If you do the whole weird LinkedIn thing, I'd love to internet-stalk your professional career. Add me: www.linkedin.com/in/ddavidn/

Nibbles > ddavidn 01/02/2014 at 12:05

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Linkedin'd :)

ddavidn > Nibbles 01/02/2014 at 12:07

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I'm not to shy about talking to people in the field. On the bus, in Seattle, on Oppo, etc.. It's definitely given me some of the best information so far.