howei
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Career Question? Specialist versus Generalist dilema
I am sorry, I did not find any other appropriate place to post this, jet I need help of the fine minds residing on this board.
I am now in IT field for 3 years working as a network admin and feel that I need some career planning advice. I have bachelor degree in unrelated field, MCSE, Citrix CCA and CCNA certifications and been working mostly in windows environment so far.
What is disturbing me is that I feel that I know a little bit about these technologies but not much in depth about either of it. I question how long should I generalize before I specialize?
I would like to advance my career and it feels that only taking more certification exams doesn’t do it. Neither salary changes much neither I feel that I am remarkably more knowledgeable after it.
I feel that I am too much of generalist and that should specialize, but not sure on what track.
I need I niche but need help picking up one which has a future and substantial earning possibilities.
I have also been thinking about adding an MBA to my education as I way of advancing.
Could you help me with your advice or tell me to whom I could possibly turn for help?
Thank you very much.
I am now in IT field for 3 years working as a network admin and feel that I need some career planning advice. I have bachelor degree in unrelated field, MCSE, Citrix CCA and CCNA certifications and been working mostly in windows environment so far.
What is disturbing me is that I feel that I know a little bit about these technologies but not much in depth about either of it. I question how long should I generalize before I specialize?
I would like to advance my career and it feels that only taking more certification exams doesn’t do it. Neither salary changes much neither I feel that I am remarkably more knowledgeable after it.
I feel that I am too much of generalist and that should specialize, but not sure on what track.
I need I niche but need help picking up one which has a future and substantial earning possibilities.
I have also been thinking about adding an MBA to my education as I way of advancing.
Could you help me with your advice or tell me to whom I could possibly turn for help?
Thank you very much.
SOLUTION
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ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Check into the security cert requirements (I think it's something like CSE). You may not necessarily have to have a strong programming background.
I don't know personally, because I haven't checked into it myself. I'm just educating myself "on the side" in Assembly language so I can better understand how to protect against crackers, but the programming aspect, IMHO, is if you want to be a developer of security products. Being a security expert, IMHO, involves knowing what constitutes a vulnerability, being able to analyze and assess the strengths and weaknesses of a company's security processes and procedures, and recommend changes in policy, procedure, infrastructure, security-related tools, identity management, etc.
IT security involves so much more than IDS and firewalls that you have to be well-versed in the HR aspect of security, and must be able to successfully communicate risk vs reward of any and all aspects of providing a secured enviroment for a company's data capital.
I don't know personally, because I haven't checked into it myself. I'm just educating myself "on the side" in Assembly language so I can better understand how to protect against crackers, but the programming aspect, IMHO, is if you want to be a developer of security products. Being a security expert, IMHO, involves knowing what constitutes a vulnerability, being able to analyze and assess the strengths and weaknesses of a company's security processes and procedures, and recommend changes in policy, procedure, infrastructure, security-related tools, identity management, etc.
IT security involves so much more than IDS and firewalls that you have to be well-versed in the HR aspect of security, and must be able to successfully communicate risk vs reward of any and all aspects of providing a secured enviroment for a company's data capital.
ASKER
ShineOn:
You are most likely right. My approach my be on the perfectionist side a little…
Another reason I started to look at this career issue is salary.
Approaching 40, I am at 40K now and it looks to me that there would be no major changes (other than yearly cost of living increases) in my salary in coming 5-10 years (unless I change jobs...) So I started to wonder which “career strategy” I could take to get to more serious jump in my income. That is how I also started to think about an MBA. I feel now are my years to do something about it because later on I might just feel to old or unmotivated.
What do you think guys?
You are most likely right. My approach my be on the perfectionist side a little…
Another reason I started to look at this career issue is salary.
Approaching 40, I am at 40K now and it looks to me that there would be no major changes (other than yearly cost of living increases) in my salary in coming 5-10 years (unless I change jobs...) So I started to wonder which “career strategy” I could take to get to more serious jump in my income. That is how I also started to think about an MBA. I feel now are my years to do something about it because later on I might just feel to old or unmotivated.
What do you think guys?
MBA can add a bit of cache' and maybe a few $$. I think choosing a specialty that you will enjoy and be able to excel at would be better - unless your MBA can be in that field, which is cream on top...
At your point in your career, it may be more beneficial to get professional certification in the specialty area you want to pursue.
I am not a professional career counselor, so take what I say with a grain of salt, but that's my opinion.
At your point in your career, it may be more beneficial to get professional certification in the specialty area you want to pursue.
I am not a professional career counselor, so take what I say with a grain of salt, but that's my opinion.
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" ... a wise man once say, "those who are unaware, are unaware of being unaware""
That is self-contradictory circular logic. It is essentially a philosophical irony.
Take the inverse. "Those that are aware of being unaware, are aware."
Philosophy that you can "hang your hat on" can be stated both ways and make some sense either way.
That's similar to the statement "only those that think they're crazy are sane."
It's a "Hmmmm...." statement, to be sure, but logically valid? Not so certain...
That is self-contradictory circular logic. It is essentially a philosophical irony.
Take the inverse. "Those that are aware of being unaware, are aware."
Philosophy that you can "hang your hat on" can be stated both ways and make some sense either way.
That's similar to the statement "only those that think they're crazy are sane."
It's a "Hmmmm...." statement, to be sure, but logically valid? Not so certain...
you cant be aware of being unaware.
you can realize that at one time you were unaware... but you know now ya? so you cant be both past and present tense at the same time.
you can realize that at one time you were unaware... but you know now ya? so you cant be both past and present tense at the same time.
I prefer "The only true sign of stupidity is the inablility to admit your ignorance."
and that does not contradict.
if your looking at a math problem you cant solve, you simply dont know the formula... the answer... then here you would not be "aware of being unaware".. you would just not know the answer. you logically deduced that you cannot solve the problem.
if your in the woods and theres a monster stalking you... you have no idea what danger your in, did you intentionally put yourself in that danger?
like the movies.. "dont go in there scantily clad woman, hes gonna get you!" like she knew. she put herself in a situation she would otherwise would not.
another analogy... someone telling a joke, highly offends someone with it, however that person keeps it to themselves.... so now the joke teller has no idea of what position he has put himself in. could he figure it out? not without aide!
you would be doomed to repeat the same mistakes.
if you dont get it then please dont reply.
if your looking at a math problem you cant solve, you simply dont know the formula... the answer... then here you would not be "aware of being unaware".. you would just not know the answer. you logically deduced that you cannot solve the problem.
if your in the woods and theres a monster stalking you... you have no idea what danger your in, did you intentionally put yourself in that danger?
like the movies.. "dont go in there scantily clad woman, hes gonna get you!" like she knew. she put herself in a situation she would otherwise would not.
another analogy... someone telling a joke, highly offends someone with it, however that person keeps it to themselves.... so now the joke teller has no idea of what position he has put himself in. could he figure it out? not without aide!
you would be doomed to repeat the same mistakes.
if you dont get it then please dont reply.
I guess I misread it. Shame on me. Semantic logic is one of the things I play with for fun...
ASKER
When I think about security specialization I feel inadequate to start with because I don't have programming knowledge e.g. I couldn't dissect or write a virus myself and looks to me that only that kind of guys could be real experts in security field?