#ITcareers #CareerDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #Certifications #TechJobs
Is it okay to stay in the same position in IT? 🤔
Many people considering a career in IT or those already in the industry may wonder if it is possible to stay in the same position, even after obtaining certifications such as A+, Net+ and Security+. The answer is not cut and dry, as it depends on various factors including the individual’s career goals, the company they work for, and the industry trends. Let’s explore this topic further to give you a better understanding of your career options in IT.
Can You Stay in the Same Position in IT After Obtaining A+, Net+ and Security+ Certifications?
When you have A+, Net+ and Security+ certifications, it certainly opens up more opportunities for you within the IT industry. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to constantly move up the career ladder or switch positions. Here are a few key points to consider:
1. Opportunities for Growth: With these certifications, you have the foundational knowledge and skills to excel in various IT roles. You can stay in your current position and continue to grow and excel without necessarily having to move up to a higher position.
2. Company Culture: Some companies have a culture that encourages employees to continuously seek new certifications and skills, while others value experience and expertise more. Understanding your company’s culture and expectations is crucial in determining if staying in the same position is viable.
3. Personal Career Goals: Your own career goals and aspirations play a significant role in this decision. If you’re content with your current position and feel fulfilled, there is no obligation to constantly seek new certifications or promotions.
Balancing Career Growth with Personal Life
It’s natural to be concerned about the balance between career growth and personal life, especially as you progress in your career and get older. Here are some considerations:
1. Lifelong Learning: IT is a dynamic and ever-evolving field, and continuous learning is essential to stay relevant. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean pursuing new certifications non-stop. It can involve staying updated on industry trends and acquiring new skills through on-the-job experience and occasional training.
2. Finding Fulfillment: Ultimately, the goal is to find a balance where you feel fulfilled in your career without sacrificing your personal life. If your current position provides that balance, there’s no need to feel pressured to constantly seek new certifications or promotions.
3. Industry Experience: Your 30 years of experience in the copier industry is incredibly valuable and can be leveraged in the IT field. Experience, coupled with certifications, can provide a stable and fulfilling career path without the need for constant position changes.
In Conclusion
In the ever-evolving world of IT, the decision to stay in the same position after obtaining A+, Net+, and Security+ certifications is a personal one. While certifications certainly open up more opportunities, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. It’s important to consider your career goals, company culture, and personal life balance when making this decision. Ultimately, finding fulfillment in your career and maintaining a healthy work-life balance should be the priority.
Remember, your journey in IT is unique to you, and there are various paths to professional success and fulfillment. Whether it involves staying in the same position or seeking new opportunities, the choice is ultimately yours to make.
The help desk manager at my org is satisfied where he is and is in his late 40s. He continues to learn but mostly on the job. He needs guidance on what to learn, but isn’t like a 20 year old who leaves work to play in his lab for 6 hours before bed.
People over exaggerate how much outside learning is needed. Throughout the whole rest of your life yes you probably will be doing some outside learning, but this doesn’t have to be to the exclusion of living a normal life.
Been at my job for 5+ years as a Senior IT support Specialist and I get paid well in a HCOL area. I don’t want to leave to another job cause I have very excellent vacation time and if I move to another job, I it won’t even come close to what I got now.
courses/classes forever is totally overkill.
Most of your learning will just be by doing. Some things you figure out as you go along, some things you google, some things you might have to sit down and give it a proper read.
courses/classes are mostly to to shift into a whole new topic, or to get you up to speed to get into work/industry. Mostly they’re a way to make zero years of experience a little more attractive. (That said, 30 years of battling copiers is impressive too. I dare say there’s a lot of troubleshooting skills that’ll transfer well – knowing how to attack a problem is surprisingly difficult to teach.)
None of this equates to being in the same position forever either – you should continue to learn, but courses & certs aren’t the only way you’ll learn. You’ll learn by doing, you’ll learn by failing, you’ll learn by experience.
(I have no certifications, no qualifications, but I do have 20 years of experience.)
I have several people who want to keep doing the job they have now, and I’m totally cool with it because they like it and they’re good at it. They learn things they need to stay up to date but they don’t want to chase promotions.
On the other hand, some people like myself enjoy the fast growth curve so I learn new stuff because it’s fun. The industry has plenty of room for both types of people, and anyone telling you that you must be one or the other can get bent.
Don’t stress. I have zero certs 20 years in.
Avoid working at an MSP if you want to avoid perpetually grinding on certs.
You can do whatever you like. It’s about what makes you happy and fulfilled in work.
I have former colleagues that are nearing 30 years doing desktop support for the same Fortune 500 company and they are happy as a clam. They make about $70K, have 28 days of paid vacation, a nice 401k package and all of her kids are out of the house and doing well. She’s a Navy veteran and so is her husband so they used all their benefits to buy a house, go to college etc and are happy.
I know loads of people that I’ve worked with at all of my companies including the large tech company that I’m at now. We have desktop support specialists that are professional support personal and make a solid $70-80k and are happy. They like working with internal clients and the excitement of the role plus not having to deal with the stuff and responsibilities the engineering teams do.
I have several people who want to keep doing the job they have now, and I’m totally cool with it because they like it and they’re good at it. They learn things they need to stay up to date but they don’t want to chase promotions.
On the other hand, some people like myself enjoy the fast growth curve so I learn new stuff because it’s fun. The industry has plenty of room for both types of people, and anyone telling you that you must be one or the other can get bent.
I went from help desk to an Intune/Jamf SME in 6 years. I was strategic in which certs I went after, I have my own virtual Azure AD instance, and I’ve practically lived there since. I would say I do about 30 hours of PD outside of work a week. The end result? An incredible paycheck, continual offers, but no friends, the former social butterfly in me has died, and I see my family once a year. 2024 Im trying to recalibrate, but work addiction is one hell of a drug.
I say that to say this, balance is the key. This field can and will burn you the hell out if you let it. Find a domain you like, understand business use case, get really good at it, but don’t forget to touch grass every once in awhile.
I feel like it’s more of a willingness to learn than anything else. Because you’re going to learn new tech as time goes on. Upper management will want to implement some new solution and you’ll be tasked with figuring it out. So you will and in doing so, you will have “learned” a new platform. That’s also why I think being successful in the tech industry is also about having an aptitude for technology. It’s easy to learn something new when you’re actually enjoying it. Infeel like most of us are “hands on” types of individuals. So as time goes on, you’ll be learning new stuff but only because you end up using it for your job.
Depends on what your personal goal is.
It’s perfectly fine to stay in the same role if you’re happy. It’s also okay to not be continuously learning so long as you’re smart enough for your role.
If you want to increase your value, then either learn something new or get better at what you already know.
>Is it ok to stay in the same position in IT?
Not in entry-level, largely because the wage tends to be “less than a retail job” in many cases.
You can move into a mid-level role like Systems or Network Administration and retire in it, though if you have no prior experience I’d still expect 2-4 years of time investment to progress your career in order to get that far.
Hey brother a bunch of people sit in level 2 positions because it’s super cushy. It’s about 80k AUD a year and chill af. Bunch of older bloke I know do it
Does the job you currently have:
Pay enough to fulfill your budget?
Meet your work/life balance needs?
Have a healthy environment?
If the answer is “yes” to all of the above, then there’s no need to bounce around. Unless you just want to experience other aspects of the field.
This Aug I’ll be 50 with 30yrs in this field.
You could skate on an A+ forever.
I find less stress in having taken training and know how to do something. Than it is to always be wingin’it. Of course I have to wing a lot but you get my point?
I take training all year long. I’m taking azure training that should end in June.
ABT.. Always be training..
Yes.
If you’re happy with where you’re at and what you make, then you’re good to relax and enjoy your position, and hopefully the work/life balance that comes with it.
Personally, I have goals I am not able to accomplish at my current position, so it’s outside learning for me 🙁
Networking> certs 99.9% of the time