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abdull sheriff

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Career progress

i am systems engineer and currently working on WIndows, vmware and NetApp
What will be my career progress ? what can i learn to become successful and grow  ?

any suggestions on new technologies which can go along with my current job in IT
Avatar of Joseph Hornsey
Joseph Hornsey
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Abdull,

That's a really difficult question to answer.  The real question is:  What do you want to do?

Windows environments are going to be around for years - they're they primary install base for companies all over the world; vmware is also a huge player and experience there is going to do a lot for you.

In my opinion - and this is ONLY an opinion - I'd recommend looking at certifications to reinforce your current skillset choose ones with an eye to the future as well.

For example, Microsoft's MCSE certifications are a good way of putting an "official stamp" on your experience and knowledge.  If you look at the different certification paths (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/certification-overview.aspx#/) you have different options you can pursue.

What it all really comes down to is where your passion lives.  If you're passionate about routers and switches, start looking at getting Cisco certified (although that can get pricey if you don't have hardware to play with).

Anyway, as I said, it all comes back to you - what are you passionate about?  What do you love to do?

Figure that out and then chase that down.
I agree that certifications are a good way to go, if you want to increase our appeal to employers.

An MCSE is a great, but will take a heap of time and $$s to achieve. Probably a long term goal.

Before doing that, I suggest you look at doing ITIL fundamentals. This is way easier and cheaper, and often asked for by large corporates. It is pretty easy, just purchase a book, read it and sit the test. ITIL is more about management and procedures than actual IT.

https://www.axelos.com/best-practice-solutions/itil
In 1982 I was working at Boeing when a group of contractors were brought in to do my same job.

I was paid... I think... $16K/year + the contractors were paid $80K-$120K/year. I asked them how much they made + they told me.

After hearing what they were making I interviewed... geez... must have been close to 20 of these guys.

The first question they always focused on was never technology, rather LifeStyle.

Generally Windows based technologies require you to be on site (commute + cubicle work). If this is acceptable for you, great do it.

And there are problems with this approach.

1) You have single source income. When you're fired, you income zeros out.

2) You have no control on increasing your income, instantly + exponentially.

3) Usually commute + cube work pays on W2, so no business expenses to write off.

First start with your numbers - profit/month + hours/week work.

Then go from there.

If you're looking to work from home (or any locale with a net connection) + work driving to continuity income, then likely you'll switch to working on LAMP Stacks or WordPress sites.

I did commute + cube work from... geez... 1979ish to 2005 + switched to working from home.

I much prefer having 100s of clients paying every month, so if one goes away, there are 100+ replacements on a waiting list.

Start with life design first + then pick your specialization tech to match your LifeStyle requirements.
@David, I appreciate your comments, however I'd always advise people to be careful to avoid anecdotal advice.

Being a consultant has nothing to do with specializing in any particular technology.  I've been working on Microsoft platforms since DOS, and networking Windows since DOS 6.22 and Windows for Workgroups 3.11 and graduated to Windows NT 3.51 at AT&T.  I've rarely touched a LAMP stack and WordPress developers are a dime a dozen now - not to mention fairly easily replaced by wix.com.

And, I've been a consultant owning my own business since 1999.

The clients are out there, if one wants them... and if one is willing to take the risk to start one's own business.

Even then, the certifications lend an air of credibility to the consultant as well as the job-seeker.

@Mal - I like your recommendation regarding ITIL certification... great place to start.  However, I'd still recommend getting technical certs as a way of verifying one's technical abilities.
@Joseph, you're correct. Which is why when people ask me this question... which is common... I always start with life design...

I use to do Windows work, till I looked at the market place + switched to LAMP to meet my LifeStyle requirements - large customer base + 100% remote/home work.

Certifications... hum... Clients I work with tend to be money focused. I've been contracting/freelancing/whatever since 1982...

Never once has anyone asked me about any Certification... which I guess might be another positive for working on LAMP Stacks.

In my case I specialize in hosting hight traffic, high speed, WordPress sites.

The only interest my clients have is speed + stability of sites. Raw numbers. No Certifications.

I suppose one way to view Certifications, for me, is the ability to actually produces tangible results, rather than having a Certification which says I can produces a given result.

I'd never really thought about this before... in terms of Certifications vs. measurable results.
Abdull,

As I said before, figure out which part of all of this IT stuff really makes your eyes light up.  If you follow your passion, you're going to be successful.  I think David makes great points about life design and I stand by my opinion regarding the certifications.

The point is, regardless of any of that, if you're passionate about something, you will devote the time, energy, money and other resources it will take to pursue the education, skillset, certification, lifestyle, or whatever other criteria you decide to call "success".

Good luck to you!

Joseph
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