Source
r/ITCareerQuestions•
challer

The secret to breaking into IT and staying ahead of your competition once you're there.

  1. Practice thinking critically. If you don't know how to think critically, first learn. Then practice.

  2. Cultivate an intellectual curiosity.

  3. Find a subset within the industry generally to focus your intellectual curiosity and ability to think critically.

  4. Seize opportunities to explore technologies within the context of that subset. Make your own where there aren't any (e.g. AWS free lab environment, your own personal sandbox).

  5. Document anything clever or novel you accomplish in your sandbox.

  6. Develop and master conceptual models and heuristics pertaining to the technologies present in your sandbox.

  7. Share your work with others, get involved in the work others have shared (open source initiatives, etc.) and document anything noteworthy.

You can make it more complicated, but it's really that simple. When in doubt, follow the recipe.

Good luck!

Posted Jan 28, 2016, 4:00 AM UTC · edited

157
sqlburn•

I like the list. I would also add, you need business acumen. You need to know how to recognize and solve business problems with your ninja IT skills.

3
[deleted]•

[deleted]

-2
MISMO•

Thank you for the advice. If you don't mind me asking, would you market your skills a specific way? Or just say you learned on your own?

1
challerOP•

In the context of a résumé, you could frame it as freelancing with the business name of a DBA or disregarded entity without being disingenuous.

-3
callmeon•

So specialize?

1
challerOP•

To the extent that it's prudent and profitable, sure.

There are very few highly compensated professionals that have secured gainful employment long-term as the resident "IT Guy." Similarly, while you may have perfect knowledge and mastery of Solaris, Unix, Linux, Mac and Windows, organizations will often compartmentalize subject matter experts based on flavor or function. Windows, Linux, VMware, Storage, Network, or Platforms, Core Services, Service Desk, Identity & Access Management, etc. Where a function is distributed or vendor agnostic you're likely to find subject matter experts for each flavor. A Cisco guy and another one for Juniper/Checkpoint, etc.

-6
SarratumDingirHelp Desk•

Excellent list, thanks.

1
Virsix•

Who are you exactly? I see you comment on a lot of posts dealing with college and schooling. Just curious.

1
challerOP•

I'm not sure how to even answer that. What does an adequate answer to this question look like, in your opinion?

0
thatITguyyouhateNetwork•

Job title, years experience, what you do on a daily basis.

basic stuff

1
Virsix•

this^

Not trying to offend you or anything I'm just curious what makes you so qualified to give out this information.

1
staycruzin•

Any books you'd recommend on the subject of critical thinking? Looking for a new read.

0