#CareerTransition #ITCareer #NetworkEngineering #CCNA #TechJobs
🤔 Is it dumb to transition from a stable career to an IT career right now?
Hey everyone! I’ve been grappling with the idea of leaving my career as a video “engineer” for a more stable IT career. The constant travel has taken a toll on me, and I’m yearning for a job where I can be home almost every night.
Here’s a bit about my background and what I’m considering:
– Current base salary: $95k, total comp around $105k
– Have an AA in TV/Broadcast, A+, N+, and LPI Essentials
– Interested in network engineering, considering CCNA studies as a next step
– Willing to take a pay cut for the right opportunity
I’ve heard mixed opinions about the IT job market and potential salary cuts. Do you think it’s a wise move for me to transition to a career in IT at 34 years old? Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated! Let’s discuss and help each other out. 🚀🤓
Possible Solutions:
– Research the current IT job market trends in your area and determine the demand for network engineers.
– Consider networking with professionals in the IT field to gain insights and potential opportunities.
– Explore certifications such as CCNA to enhance your skills and marketability in the IT industry.
Right now is a very bad time to make the jump. I would recommend doing the CCNA in the meantime, you can do everything on a laptop with maybe one book. Try to skip helpdesk for a first job, you should have enough to get into a NOC position.
Not worth it for help desk.
You’re willing to go from $100k to $50-60k?
What state are you in? Knowing your base salary isn’t helpful if we don’t know if you’re in. HCOL area or not
It isnt looking to good for tech right now. You are better off with something else or trying to get into IT Healthcare
Following. I want to make this dumb decision too, but I’m gonna get an IT degree first before I jump in(wont be too bad since current employer would cover some amount of it)
Stay where you’re at. Not a good time to jump ship.
If you really hate it that much you’re better off being an electrician
Hell no. Have you seen the economy currently?
You next job will pay less. You could probably get a NOC job with those skills but expect a salary cut. Then focus on you CCNA for a higher paying role.
Yeah stupid dumb
Get your resume ready, start applying for network engineer roles right now. Applying is free, idk what is this sub on about lmao. If you get a call back then cool take it. You won’t know till you try. Put our 2-3 a day if nothing bite then just stick with your job, you lose about 15 mins a day. Talk about your current role as some sort of IT field tech. It’s gonna be a long long game till you find something suitable, but you won’t know till you try, don’t listen to the doomer.
How long have you been in that job? I’m working as a broadcast engineer and it’s mostly remote. I only ever go in if I need to do an outage during the weekend. Otherwise, there are on site techs that I can ping if I need something physical moved. Otherwise I’m just configuring, watching streams/logs and designing new systems.
How do you expect to get past the catch-22?
The ONLY argument I could possibly see for not staying where you are, is your role sounds really niche, which could really limit you if things ever went south in your current role. But IT is horrible right now, and frankly I don’t see it ever improving in any meaningful way.
You’re already doing relevant work. Don’t think of this as a career change. Look at the job market and figure out which way is “up” for you, then up-skill accordingly. A CCNA might make sense, but pick your certs based on the roles you are targeting. Only consider a minor paycut if you’re very sure it will get you experience you need for some specific next-step you’ve identified. An entry-level NOC job is probably not that.
IT is a valuable skill and many jobs/teams need it. What about transforming your role into an IT support role then jump.
Sounds like you would be a great fit as an AV engineer at a company with modern AV tech and large amounts of conferences to manage.
Computer Science or CIS degree wouldn’t be a bad idea. All those certs expire eventually. The degree doesn’t.
yes it’s dumb
Yes, it’s dumb. Absolutely.
I mean you obviously have an AV related background, you could see if you could find work more locally at an AV specialized place and do that. Maybe you could wind up doing installations / troubleshooting at a company that serves your home?
To add to what had been said, I wouldn’t recommend to completely switch at this stage.
However, if you like the topic, learning IT is a valuable skill in any field. If you can manage to learn in a way that improves your career, it could be a bonus.
lol no not unless you can get a networking gig right off the bat
A few years ago, yes.
Now, no.
If you are in hotels and traveling I’d focus any downtime on studying. You could likely jump to $60-70k with your experience and a CCNA.
The important thing is to not settle for the first job you get offered and really interview the company you are applying for.
The market is tough, lots of companies are shitty. Also, $100k is a big stepping stone in IT, especially in LCOL areas. Even in MCOL areas you will need some certs and/or schooling and a few years of experience minimum.
I love IT, but it is really competitive now and I feel all you would be doing is changing the burden of travel for the burden of years of pretty consistent studying.
Keep doing what you’re doing, but work on a CCNA and learning more IP networking. It will make you more valuable where you are or at your next shop.
You could start applying in IT and see what happens. The IT job market is total trash right now, very unstable, lay offs still happening weekly (if not daily) 600k tech workers laid off in the last 2 years.
Have you looked into AV manager roles at all your local theaters and concert venues?
It would definitely be easier to find a position in your current field that pays more than your current job and allows you to stay in one spot or travel less frequently. Restarting your entire career from ground level and working your way up over the course of 5-6 years (optimistically) to get back to the same point you’re currently at seems reductive. Rather than do that why not search for more sedentary field adjacent jobs?