RL professions p99 players

[koros]

Was curious what everyone's real life professions are? I was thinking about it and I can't decide if their would be a bias towards better or worse jobs than average.

On one hand, some people, such as myself, may have fucked up high school/college a little bit as a result of too much EQ.

On the other hand eq players are probably a bit smarter/more achievement driven/computer savvy than the average person (especially if playing an MMO 13 years ago).

I myself work as an options trader.

[Thulack]

I work for a amusement company. Fix/Move/collect money from Jukeboxes,pooltables,arcade games,dart machines, redemption games, Megatouches etc. And yes EQ took up way to much of my time in high school.

[gloine36]

I'm finishing my Master's in History this month and am transitioning into college teaching at the moment.

[Pscottdai]

Well after a 20 year military career, I have spent the last 5 years working as a consultant and analyst for federal and military organizations on emergency managment, critical infrastructure protection, force protection and continuity of operations matters.

[sulious]

Is soo dark in my parent's basement. *wink
*Noise control engineering field.

[mostbitter]

I manage a pizza hut

[Cypher.]

Engineer for a medical device company with a degree in mechanical engineering. Pay isn't bad but the time demands can be heavy sometimes.

[eqravenprince]

BA in Computer Science and have been a computer programmer for 14 years since graduating.

[Yinikren]

Pet care supervisor at a petsmart. Got halfway through college and shit happened so I couldn't finish my BA in zoology yet.

[Zerg]

I manage a pizza hut

send me a pizza

drug dealer

[Honest]

Paralegal

[Vermicelli]

Comedian.

Pharmacy technician to make ends meet. And they gotta meet.

[Auvdar]

I operate heavy equipment for various companies (my "stable" job is for a garbage transfer station. Say what you want about working at a garbage dump, it makes great money. (60k a year from that place alone) )

[RahlaeRuffian]

I'm looking for a job right now. I've got my BA in History and spent the last year and a half in grad school for Education...turns out teaching wasn't for me.

[Sebekkha]

I'm a nurse specialised in spinal injuries

[Sithel1988]

i work at "Pizza my Heart"

[Yuda]

Great thread guys!
I work as a credit analyst for an evil multinational, hopefully soon promoted to 1st line manager.

[SyanideGas]

I'm a young doctor.

[zanderklocke]

Left job at large Big 4 accounting firm; now, I'm in the process of becoming a high school English teacher.

[Shamen]

I run my own film/commercial production company

[Nogdar]

Great thread idea imo.

I'm a project manager for a translation/localization company :)

[Jenni D]

international superstar currently living in SE Asia

[Urbanzkopf]

international superstar currently living in SE Asia

Jen is a traitor, ditched the Euro crew yo :(

[Caso]

Bussdriver

[Orikle]

US steel - operator

[Urbanzkopf]

Taking this thread seriously though - I work at a themepark kinda place which is a seasonal part time job called diggerland, whole amusement park built around diggers bla bla. I did an apprenticeship in IT and passed my CompTIA A+ and some networking fundamentals / windows 7 configuration but due to my age and lack of experience can't get a job in that field. BTW I'm only 18 years old so still trying to find my way through into a decent occupation.

[Twistid]

Awesome thread guys. I am a Biomedical Engineering Technician at a hospital for 10years now.

[Kevlar]

After a four year glory filled stint as a field artilleryman I took the GI Bill money. Now I build advanced radar systems so that I can help others blow people up like I once did. With the push of a button.

Just remember there are only two types of people in the world. Artillerymen, and targets.

[Alarti0001]

Working as a software developer and cyber security program director for a large company.

[Alarti0001]

Taking this thread seriously though - I work at a themepark kinda place which is a seasonal part time job called diggerland, whole amusement park built around diggers bla bla. I did an apprenticeship in IT and passed my CompTIA A+ and some networking fundamentals / windows 7 configuration but due to my age and lack of experience can't get a job in that field. BTW I'm only 18 years old so still trying to find my way through into a decent occupation.

The A+ is a very common cert. It doesn't make you competitive as everyone has it. Get your network + and maybe your MCTS and look for Help Desk Tier 1 jobs. Also, don't tell anyone your age they aren't allowed to ask you, and they would discriminate against an 18 year old.

Have you considered college? The IT field is swimming with CS and MIS degrees, so you really aren't competitive without a degree unless you are a young Bill Gates or something.

[ramul]

Did my four years in the Marine Corps Infantry as an assaultman, now I'm out and making full use of my GI bill pursuing a bachelor's degree in networking. Also an IT Intern right now part time.

-Lcpl 36 Shaman

[Ephi]

Technical consultant and Java/iOS/Ruby developer for a very large company.

[Ephi]

The A+ is a very common cert. It doesn't make you competitive as everyone has it. Get your network + and maybe your MCTS and look for Help Desk Tier 1 jobs. Also, don't tell anyone your age they aren't allowed to ask you, and they would discriminate against an 18 year old.

Have you considered college? The IT field is swimming with CS and MIS degrees, so you really aren't competitive without a degree unless you are a young Bill Gates or something.

I'll second this. Also, I understand the Cisco networking certifications are still worth something, and not terribly expensive. I did my CCNA when was 17 so certainly achievable for you now.

But I think the big thing that helps people your age is just networking. All you need to do is get your foot in the door somewhere to start kicking some ass. The IT area is a great place to start low and quickly rise. I about doubled my salary and responsibility every 2 years from 18-28 (28 now).

[Itap]

Firefighter/paramedic

[Itap]

Awesome thread guys. I am a Biomedical Engineering Technician at a hospital for 10years now.

Nice, I worked on hospital beds and stretchers for quite a few hospitals while I went through school. I know quite a few biomed techs, good guys

[Obwin]

Investment representative turned business analyst at a large bank. I do system configuration and testing of a derivative trading platform called Calypso.

BA Economics.

[melkezidek]

I'll second this. Also, I understand the Cisco networking certifications are still worth something, and not terribly expensive. I did my CCNA when was 17 so certainly achievable for you now.

But I think the big thing that helps people your age is just networking. All you need to do is get your foot in the door somewhere to start kicking some ass. The IT area is a great place to start low and quickly rise. I about doubled my salary and responsibility every 2 years from 18-28 (28 now).

<-T2 support contractor for the USAR as a SASMO.

CCNA is worth something but usually not if you dont have 5+ years of in the field experiance behind your name. The NET + and the MCTS are good ones. If you are up to it a Security+ trumps the Net+ and any company will gladly take that over the Net+ if it is required. From everything I have seen in my 12 years the CISSP is the mac daddy atm or a MCSE.

[Swish]

ex-British Army soldier
ex-postal worker

Now in final year of a history degree - going on to teach 11-18 year olds after getting my teaching certificate next year.

P99 is largely on hold til next summer :(

[India]

IT Business Analyst/Project Manager

[sillymonster]

legal (antitrust) analyst / diligence manager.

[Urbanzkopf]

The A+ is a very common cert. It doesn't make you competitive as everyone has it. Get your network + and maybe your MCTS and look for Help Desk Tier 1 jobs. Also, don't tell anyone your age they aren't allowed to ask you, and they would discriminate against an 18 year old.

Have you considered college? The IT field is swimming with CS and MIS degrees, so you really aren't competitive without a degree unless you are a young Bill Gates or something.

I appreciate the advice, I personally enjoyed networking while I was at my apprenticeship but college isn't something I can do right now as I don't have the funds to pay for the terms there, also I think that I would need to be looking at paying for an exam myself and studying for it. Not really sure it's been awhile since I've been near the IT environment kinda makes me feel like I wouldn't be competent enough it's been that long.

I don't tell them my age nor does my CV contain that but soon as it gets to the interview stage that's always where it goes boom haha..

edit: guess if I was good at the talking game then that would be no problem but i'm not one of those few who walk interviews like they are nothing!

[Barkingturtle]

I sell insurance and I'm currently in negotiations to publish my first novel, which should hopefully allow me to fulfill my life-long dream of not putting on pants in the morning.

[knottyb0y]

I am a software developer, actionscript/ruby/objective c web/mobile apps for a language learning company. Started out as a part time tester 4 years ago and worked my way up through QA to software dev. best job I've ever had. Requires a lot of self study and problem solving abilities but its the kind of job you wake up everyday excited to go to work. That's worth more than you can imagine.

[Jenithia]

Claims adjuster for a top 3 car insurance company.

[Alarti0001]

<-T2 support contractor for the USAR as a SASMO.

CCNA is worth something but usually not if you dont have 5+ years of in the field experiance behind your name. The NET + and the MCTS are good ones. If you are up to it a Security+ trumps the Net+ and any company will gladly take that over the Net+ if it is required. From everything I have seen in my 12 years the CISSP is the mac daddy atm or a MCSE.

CISSP is security based though, and I was trying to provide first steps to an 18 year old not to someone with a decade worth of experience. Security+ does trump Network+ for security especially but it is a bit more advanced of a cert for someone without only an A+ cert.

Agreed cisco certs are nice but the business world is a microsoft world.

This is a good basic flowchar for certs

http://certification.comptia.org/certroadmap

[Alarti0001]

I appreciate the advice, I personally enjoyed networking while I was at my apprenticeship but college isn't something I can do right now as I don't have the funds to pay for the terms there, also I think that I would need to be looking at paying for an exam myself and studying for it. Not really sure it's been awhile since I've been near the IT environment kinda makes me feel like I wouldn't be competent enough it's been that long.

I don't tell them my age nor does my CV contain that but soon as it gets to the interview stage that's always where it goes boom haha..

edit: guess if I was good at the talking game then that would be no problem but i'm not one of those few who walk interviews like they are nothing!

Make sure you are on linkedin, and hit up everyone you know. I can't explain how many recruiters have come after me on that site. Amazon, Msoft, Nintendo, Apple, Exxon Mobil.

Also, if you aren't sure what direction you want to go as an IT a few suggestions would be CyberSecurity (Fastest growing and least filled job out there), Healthcare related IT development (Obvious implications), and filling a position for an Oil company (They pay very well, and with the new shale oil they will start exporting they will boom within 2 years)

[melkezidek]

Good advice from Alarti. One thing I will add is sadly to get experiance you either need some great internships (that likely wont pay you) or do some really shitty years in help desk (that wont pay you half of what they should). After you get some experiance and some certs on your name though doors open things are alot better.

[nilbog]

IT Developer/Project Manager

[mgellan]

The A+ is a very common cert. It doesn't make you competitive as everyone has it. Get your network + and maybe your MCTS and look for Help Desk Tier 1 jobs. Also, don't tell anyone your age they aren't allowed to ask you, and they would discriminate against an 18 year old.

Have you considered college? The IT field is swimming with CS and MIS degrees, so you really aren't competitive without a degree unless you are a young Bill Gates or something.

Any one who works for me (Director of ICT for a School Division) can pass the A+ on Monday after studying over the weekend. Network+, Security+, etc. are all very baseline certs for the bottom fee.. er... entry level employees of the ICT world, Deskside Support / Service Desk Techs (or guys assembling whiteboxes in the back of a computer store). Good money compared to delivering pizza I guess.

Get a 2 year Community College IT diploma then try to find someone to fund certs in SAN and Virtualization (if you like overtime!), or get a 4 year degree in CompSci and go program in Java if you want to make nearly six figures...

And work on soft skills - technical competencies will get you a job but soft skills (communication, negotiation, requirements elicitation, etc.) will be the rocket under your ass to get you places. Lots of otherwise smart people are glass ceiling-ed into a cube pumping out code til they miss a technology curve and retire as the only guy who knows COBOL (or whatever dead language you last ramped up on) because of their abysmal communications skills. And learn to spell :) As a few people have said here, networking can help you. Join Toastmasters!

Just my $0.02 but then again I'm the guy on the other side of the hiring table :)

Regards,
Mg

[Thulack]

You guys talking about all your different Certs and stuff are killing me. I like putting computers together and can setup networks and crap like that and always thought about going back to school to actually get certified but you all make it sound like way more work then i want to put into it to eventually get a decent job.

[Lyssia]

I am a fulltime 911 Paramedic / Clinical Coordinator in Northern California, Lead instructor for a Paramedic Program and a primary BLS, ACLS, PALS, PEPP and PHTLS instructor

Ashar

Bard of the 18th season

[Nirgon]

I'm a classic EverQuest consultant by day and an internet detective by night.

[SamwiseRed]

I'm a young doctor.

[Raavak]

I now am basically a mechatronics engineer doing servodrive design for a small capital machine manufacturing company you've never heard of but whose customers you all know. BSME, MBA, PE.

[katrik]

Im a CphT (pharm tech) at a little hospital.

Fun, easy job. =)

[quizwhiz]

US Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class -- EOD

[Orruar]

Shaman, Professional RMTer

[Noctivant]

Financial Services - Regulatory Compliance Consultant at a Big 4 Firm in NYC.

Noctivant - 11 Iksar Necro (I don't get to play much!)

[Ephi]

You guys talking about all your different Certs and stuff are killing me. I like putting computers together and can setup networks and crap like that and always thought about going back to school to actually get certified but you all make it sound like way more work then i want to put into it to eventually get a decent job.

Gotta want it. :cool:

[Funkutron5000]

Postdoctoral associate in organic chemistry focusing on gene delivery.

[Ephi]

And work on soft skills - technical competencies will get you a job but soft skills (communication, negotiation, requirements elicitation, etc.) will be the rocket under your ass to get you places. Lots of otherwise smart people are glass ceiling-ed into a cube pumping out code til they miss a technology curve and retire as the only guy who knows COBOL (or whatever dead language you last ramped up on) because of their abysmal communications skills. And learn to spell :) As a few people have said here, networking can help you. Join Toastmasters!

Just my $0.02 but then again I'm the guy on the other side of the hiring table :

This is truth. Nerds will land good jobs and have a nice steady career. Nerds who can speak have no limits in technology.

[Blancah]

CISSP is security based though, and I was trying to provide first steps to an 18 year old not to someone with a decade worth of experience. Security+ does trump Network+ for security especially but it is a bit more advanced of a cert for someone without only an A+ cert.

Also, CISSP requires 5 years of work experience outlined here (https://www.isc2.org/cissp-professional-experience.aspx).

I do network security for a regional bank and am currently going back to school for net security and/or programming.

I took some college courses during high school and ended up with an A+ equivalent certificate. From there I had a job doing Dell warranty for a bit through a company based out of Texas. I took a couple years off from the IT field and came back as a field tech at the company I'm currently at fixing anything from computers, printers, network closets, phones, and pretty much anything else that plugged in to an outlet until I moved into my new position.

I will not miss printers.

[Pimecone]

Dental student graduating in may

[Raavak]

Dental student graduating in may

Young dentist

[zaraax]

The A+ is a very common cert. It doesn't make you competitive as everyone has it. Get your network + and maybe your MCTS and look for Help Desk Tier 1 jobs. Also, don't tell anyone your age they aren't allowed to ask you, and they would discriminate against an 18 year old.

Have you considered college? The IT field is swimming with CS and MIS degrees, so you really aren't competitive without a degree unless you are a young Bill Gates or something.

Even with a degree the payscales aren't great considering most tech supp work can be outsourced as long as the SLA is beneficial. I abandoned IT completely especially with the cert factories pumping out IT techs. If you must have a career in IT, may I suggest security or becoming a database guru. Yeah, I know easier said then done. I'm currently halfway through my accounting degree and working in a mid-level govt. job analyzing statutes and administrative code.

[August]

Software developer, kickin' it old' school w/ C, ASM, and the occasional C++.

Alarti what major company in Seattle? I'm located here as well.

[Elements]

PhD in medical genetics. Soon to be stay at home dad.

[maahes]

Good advice from Alarti. One thing I will add is sadly to get experiance you either need some great internships (that likely wont pay you) or do some really shitty years in help desk (that wont pay you half of what they should). After you get some experiance and some certs on your name though doors open things are alot better.

I had no idea IT was so difficult to break in to. I've worked in multiple departments in IT, no one cares about Certs from my experience. When I interview candidates for employment I never focus on Certs or give them any weight in my choosing of who to fill positions. The list can sometimes look good, but I never look at specific ones people have. I personally believe when interviewing you can tell a persons general intelligence level very quickly, everything in IT can be taught to an average intelligent person. So will this persons personality benefit and fit with the rest of my team is far more important.

One specialty skill that I have been paying big money for is Application Packagers and SCCM Administrators. I am hiring packagers right now for around 70k to 90k contract, 60k to 80k salary starting. Experienced SCCM Admins are starting at 100k. SCCM Admins are all over the world, however the packagers are few and far between. No school teaches those skills and normally the market is controlled by 20 to 30 packagers.

[Phinger]

I was a production supervisor and scheduler until i changed roles and wanted to get some more financial experience, so now I'm split duty between scheduling and being a cost accountant. Got my undergrad in Management and my MBA in corporate technology and innovation, so if you're in the Charlotte, nc area and need me to come run/manage a company let me know, getting ready to hit the resumés hard in the near future.

Just had my first kid too, so doing what i can to help my wife get her dream of being a stay at home mom.

[tekniq]

i'm 24. I work a 9-5 job (with a 2 hour commute) at a global company then on a small business venture on the side averaging ~20 hrs a week on top. Add in a girlfriend, going out every weekend, I still play a few hours on most weekdays. all about time management, pals.

[fadetree]

Well, I work in a forested area mostly, wearing green tights. I spend a lot of time assisting campers and working with the animals. I also run around tracking things and occasionally have to kill some sort of wild beast or rampaging humanoid creature.

For relaxation I like to log into a game where I spend all day sitting at a computer and typing long strings of gibberish in to make it do stuff.

[maahes]

Any one who works for me (Director of ICT for a School Division) can pass the A+ on Monday after studying over the weekend. Network+, Security+, etc. are all very baseline certs for the bottom fee.. er... entry level employees of the ICT world, Deskside Support / Service Desk Techs (or guys assembling whiteboxes in the back of a computer store). Good money compared to delivering pizza I guess.

Get a 2 year Community College IT diploma then try to find someone to fund certs in SAN and Virtualization (if you like overtime!), or get a 4 year degree in CompSci and go program in Java if you want to make nearly six figures...

And work on soft skills - technical competencies will get you a job but soft skills (communication, negotiation, requirements elicitation, etc.) will be the rocket under your ass to get you places. Lots of otherwise smart people are glass ceiling-ed into a cube pumping out code til they miss a technology curve and retire as the only guy who knows COBOL (or whatever dead language you last ramped up on) because of their abysmal communications skills. And learn to spell :) As a few people have said here, networking can help you. Join Toastmasters!

Just my $0.02 but then again I'm the guy on the other side of the hiring table :)

Regards,
Mg

I strongly agree with the overall point of this post. Having the ability to bullshit/communicate will take you to places your skills never will. Shit many of my first jobs right out of high school (skipped college due to it being a massive waste of my time and money.) I landed only cause I can talk bullshit. Now that I think about it, 90% of the jobs in my past I had no idea about the technology I was applying to be working on. I studied on it over a weekend, used my charisma and bullshit to sweet talk me the job during the interview. Once on the job is was sink or swim while getting paid.

[Zallar]

My company provides outsourced IT services for small businesses between 5 -100 employees. Typically our clients have outgrown "Cousin frank does all our computer stuff" and they're not big enough to hire a full time IT guy.

+1 for the mention of communication skills. There are alot of IT folks out there, but the ability to talk to a business owner, understand their needs, and sell them a solution is $$$. Business owners don't want the geek speak, they just want a reliable solution so they can focus on their business.

Recommendations:
http://technibble.com
http://www.robinrobins.com/

[maahes]

Guess I should add what I do.

I freelance for half a dozen companies doing Application Packaging/SCCM Setup/Deployment

I also work for a major US Airlines.

Sadly I have not had the time to play on P99 for about a year now. I miss it everyday and visit the boards the same.

If anyone would like to ask me any questions regarding the opinions I have shared please feel free to IM me. I really had no idea breaking into IT was as difficult as it sounds reading others posts. If I could help breaking down those barriers in anyway, it would make me very happy to help.

[Slave]

I write science fiction and fantasy literature on a professional level.

[Peatree]

Major Account Manager for one of the major PBX companies.

[murcielago200]

ER nurse here and eternal student here so one day I can make big bucks. Nice thing I do is keep EQ on a USB stick and play it at work when ER is slow.

[Alarti0001]

I had no idea IT was so difficult to break in to. I've worked in multiple departments in IT, no one cares about Certs from my experience. When I interview candidates for employment I never focus on Certs or give them any weight in my choosing of who to fill positions. The list can sometimes look good, but I never look at specific ones people have. I personally believe when interviewing you can tell a persons general intelligence level very quickly, everything in IT can be taught to an average intelligent person. So will this persons personality benefit and fit with the rest of my team is far more important.

One specialty skill that I have been paying big money for is Application Packagers and SCCM Administrators. I am hiring packagers right now for around 70k to 90k contract, 60k to 80k salary starting. Experienced SCCM Admins are starting at 100k. SCCM Admins are all over the world, however the packagers are few and far between. No school teaches those skills and normally the market is controlled by 20 to 30 packagers.

Everything can be taught to anyone... Anyone can claim they know something. The cert is a guarantee that they do.

[Alarti0001]

Even with a degree the payscales aren't great considering most tech supp work can be outsourced as long as the SLA is beneficial. I abandoned IT completely especially with the cert factories pumping out IT techs. If you must have a career in IT, may I suggest security or becoming a database guru. Yeah, I know easier said then done. I'm currently halfway through my accounting degree and working in a mid-level govt. job analyzing statutes and administrative code.

IT is booming and will continue too. As i suggested earlier cybersec, the oil industry and the healthcare field will grow. They get paid alot too. Tech support work is entry level IT. 2 years of that or less and you will get bumped up if you apply yourself. I am making 5 times what I started out at.

[gloine36]

Look at public history. Huge field. The History BA is the most versatile BA from a liberal arts college there is. I'd say check on the NPS availabilities too but they're competitive for the low guide jobs even with a MA in history. Retired vets love them.

[Graahle]

US Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class -- EOD

Hooyah! Fair winds and following seas, shipmate.

Senior in college, accepting a military commission into the United States Marine Corps upon graduation.

[maahes]

Everything can be taught to anyone... Anyone can claim they know something. The cert is a guarantee that they do.

That is assuming a company is able to verify the Certs. My words of wisdom, don't throw all your money into Certs thinking they will get you a job. My team has 15 staff members currently. I don't know nor do I care about their Certs. It is all about production. If you get shit done and work your ass off you have all the power you could ever have. In the past I often have told management I would be telecommuting Mon-Thurs, only coming in for meetings and certain testing that required physical presence on Fridays.

Also for the record, I'm not trying to argue with Atari, I do agree with most of what he is saying. Just want to warn people that these Certs don't tow as much weight as it might appear from this forum.

Start studying now! You don't need to pay some company big bucks (which i feel 90% of them are scams) to get a piece of paper saying you know something. The only certs I have are the ones my companies have paid in full for.

Also if any of this sounds like I am gloating I want to make it clear that is not my intentions, yes I have gotten extremely lucky in life and my career, but I also generated a great deal of that luck myself through hard work and dedication. As you get older those qualities start to gain value to you and end up being a source of satisfaction. It's the American Dream after all. Work hard and play hard!

[maahes]

Anyone reading or posting in this forum is a nerd. Which gives you an advantage in today's world over every single non-nerd. Add some hard work and passion!

There really is some great advice in this thread!

[joppykid]

Graduated with a Bachelor's in Sport's Management to be able to work in the Front Office of Professional Sport's Teams. I am currently working for Real Salt Lake, Professional Soccer team here. I am an account executive that sells season tickets. It's one of those fields you gotta work your way up so far I can't complain. I get to sit around and talk sports all day with my co-workers.

[Rali]

I have been working in the IT field for nearly 20 years now after leaving education and not really knowing what I wanted to do. I've done it all from network installation to server administration. I hold zero certs currently, but am planning on working my way through the Cisco stuff so that my CV looks a bit better than it currently does, as I have decided to look for a new job in 2013 (been at my current company for 6 years). Was going to go the VoIP route, but after reading posts in this thread, may have to look into the security path instead.

[Tarathiel]

I'm a young doctor.

I'm a young lawyer

[maahes]

I have been working in the IT field for nearly 20 years now after leaving education and not really knowing what I wanted to do. I've done it all from network installation to server administration. I hold zero certs currently, but am planning on working my way through the Cisco stuff so that my CV looks a bit better than it currently does, as I have decided to look for a new job in 2013 (been at my current company for 6 years). Was going to go the VoIP route, but after reading posts in this thread, may have to look into the security path instead.

Security of any type will NEVER be outsourced. I would recommend this path to loved ones if they were entertaining an IT career path.

[Alarti0001]

Hooyah! Fair winds and following seas, shipmate.

Senior in college, accepting a military commission into the United States Marine Corps upon graduation.

I was an ET1 when I left. They tried to get me back as an O and I said unless you can put me in charge of my old Chief no deal.

[Alarti0001]

That is assuming a company is able to verify the Certs. My words of wisdom, don't throw all your money into Certs thinking they will get you a job. My team has 15 staff members currently. I don't know nor do I care about their Certs. It is all about production. If you get shit done and work your ass off you have all the power you could ever have. In the past I often have told management I would be telecommuting Mon-Thurs, only coming in for meetings and certain testing that required physical presence on Fridays.

Also for the record, I'm not trying to argue with Atari, I do agree with most of what he is saying. Just want to warn people that these Certs don't tow as much weight as it might appear from this forum.

Start studying now! You don't need to pay some company big bucks (which i feel 90% of them are scams) to get a piece of paper saying you know something. The only certs I have are the ones my companies have paid in full for.

Also if any of this sounds like I am gloating I want to make it clear that is not my intentions, yes I have gotten extremely lucky in life and my career, but I also generated a great deal of that luck myself through hard work and dedication. As you get older those qualities start to gain value to you and end up being a source of satisfaction. It's the American Dream after all. Work hard and play hard!

Im 100% in agreement with you. You can have 100 certs and be a slob without the ability to associate with humans, and you wont get hired.

[Peatree]

I have been working in the IT field for nearly 20 years now after leaving education and not really knowing what I wanted to do. I've done it all from network installation to server administration. I hold zero certs currently, but am planning on working my way through the Cisco stuff so that my CV looks a bit better than it currently does, as I have decided to look for a new job in 2013 (been at my current company for 6 years). Was going to go the VoIP route, but after reading posts in this thread, may have to look into the security path instead.

I'd def steer clear of the VoIP route. IMO I'd look at specializing in security, virtualization and then tag on some dbase design/admin specialty and your golden.

[wingelefoot]

cook. i don't know how i find time to play. /cry

[philbertpk]

I work at an international Firearms and Tactical Gear distributor. Mainly we service Active duty/retired military, Law Enforcement Agency's (ICE, DHS, OSI ect) and first responders.

its a job.

[sideris]

Im 23. I have a neuroscience master degree. Currently completing an MBA in Switzerland... and applying to medical schools back in the USA.

[koros]

Wow big response from this thread. Seems on average, at least of the replies so far, people on p99 doing quite well. Also there seems to be a focus on technology/academia/military oriented jobs - generally as I expected to find.

Also, if you want to go places in IT, I'd highly suggest getting a BA/BS if not a masters. Back before/during college I worked the help desk jobs before I buckled down and switched to finance. Many of my friends who were in the same role as me 5 years ago are in the same or similar positions they were then - unless they have excellent coding skills. We have a dedicated tech department designing our trading software and I'm close with our primary recruiter. She wouldn't consider someone for almost any tech department related role without one.

[Prince]

some1 give me job

[Prince]

preferably one where i get paid to sit around and do nothing

[Enroth]

Have a law degree and an arts degree (history/polisci majors) for undergraduate, and a Master of Laws for my postgraduate. Probably a little different from the US method of grad school for law. Currently work in a public policy position in a major government department.

[Slave]

Currently work in a public policy position in a major government department.

Legalize it already.

[Enroth]

Legalize it already.

Federal. Also, not in the US ;)

[Yardcore]

Project Manager for a company that deals with SharePoint implementation, design, and governance.

[Kimmie]

Occupational therapist by next August hopefully =3

[Urbanzkopf]

bit late to reply but hey, here in England the Tier 1 helpdesk jobs really don't require much certs and a lot of the people currently employed in them don't even have any it's kinda a more who you know type of job but however I do feel that the certs would help boost me to getting more interviews. I signed up to this apprenticeship at the time called zenos (now pearson in practice or something they change name every term) which is supposed to help guide you into getting a career in IT, they pretty much guaranteed it although I was skeptical at first being 18 i'm kinda young and gullible. Turns out it's pretty much a massive scam 1/2 my class got jobs in IT and the other half kinda got pushed out the door and ignored by the employment consultant who was supposed to help as a reference etc when applying for jobs.

However it wasn't a complete waste of time I learned a lot of stuff and also aside from that gained interview skills and a competence award for timekeeping, communication skills etc so in a way that was a huge benefit choosing them over other apprenticeships offering the same certs minus the actual comms & competence.

[Yinaltin]

http://www.defeatdiabetes.org/resource/dynamic/global/dentist_from_inside_the_mouth.jpg

[Bidoof]

Runner for a small local law firm. Make a few bucks an hour more maintaining the server and network, fixing any of the bosses' devices, creating billing invoice conversation scripts, the like. Until my wife finishes school and gets a fulltime job so I can go back, its a living.

As far as the whole IT conversation: at least around where I live, everyone wants a 4 year degree. I was naive and read that I could get started with the A+ cert, but I got maybe one callback for an $8 an hour job (barely over minimum) out of the dozens of jobs I applied for. At one point I could've taken it and tried to work up, I suppose, but can't now that I'm married.

Point is: go back to school if you can. With the recession, and with everyone and their mothers getting CS's, there's just too much competition to not have it.

[Bidoof]

Probably a little different from the US method of grad school for law.

From what I gather from my bosses, you used to get a Doctorate level degree in Jurisprudence. They complain now that its something more akin to a Masters level degree instead.

Though I'm sure someone who actually said they're a lawyer will know for sure. Also, this probably only applies to Texas, since in the US we like to let every state kinda do their own thing.

[Swish]

Point is: go back to school if you can. With the recession, and with everyone and their mothers getting CS's, there's just too much competition to not have it.

Wise words, there were rumours in the UK of university tuition fees set to go up - so the year I applied there were 10 applicants for every university space (twisted statistics however as each applicant can apply for 5 universities)...

No regrets on going back either. Sure, I feel like my life has been put on the shelf for 3 years but its been worth it and I've learnt so much. Also, rather than pay back the government tuition fee loans I won't be in the country... I paid my taxes and then some in my 20s to do this, I figure I don't owe them a penny.

[Urbanzkopf]

Also, rather than pay back the government tuition fee loans I won't be in the country... I paid my taxes and then some in my 20s to do this, I figure I don't owe them a penny.

Lol quite the common thing happening over here, don't blame ya though I'd do the exact same thing... it's the only real way I can ever see myself going to uni.

[iNteg]

Level 2.5 (haha) Support for a College. I mostly do local support and deployment of new Labs for students/staff, but I also do some server side work with CentOS and Mac OS X Server

[goshozal]

Murse.

[bizzum]

Translator / Interpreter

[Sirbanmelotz]

EMT on a 911 response ambulance in solano county california

[zanderklocke]

Financial Services - Regulatory Compliance Consultant at a Big 4 Firm in NYC.

Noctivant - 11 Iksar Necro (I don't get to play much!)

Big 4 slavery keeping you away from the game?

[Llodd]

Think tank electrical engineer supervisor

[Acrux Bcrux]

Structural steel and bridge ironworker @ Local 40 & 361 New York City

Get it get it.

[Ele]

From what I gather from my bosses, you used to get a Doctorate level degree in Jurisprudence. They complain now that its something more akin to a Masters level degree instead.

Though I'm sure someone who actually said they're a lawyer will know for sure. Also, this probably only applies to Texas, since in the US we like to let every state kinda do their own thing.

It is a "Doctorate of Jurisprudence", or a professional level degree which is distinguished from a Master's level program. Texas used to not allow attorneys to call themselves "doctor" or use "Dr." as a prefix unless they held a separate medical doctorate degree so as to avoid confusion; however, that restriction was lifted several years back, but the ethics committee advised against the designation unless you use disclaimers or hold a medical degree. Its easier to just not use "Dr." unless you have the accreditation to back it up.

[anthony210]

Airline Pilot, living in Virgina. Based in Detroit.

[Ele]

Have a law degree and an arts degree (history/polisci majors) for undergraduate, and a Master of Laws for my postgraduate. Probably a little different from the US method of grad school for law. Currently work in a public policy position in a major government department.

US has undergraduate degree -> J.D. -> L.L.M.

J.D. and L.L.M. are both considered postgraduate/professional degrees. L.L.M. is usually reserved for people that want to specialize in a certain field or become professors.

[skorge]

i work in a condom shop...my job is to test the condoms on women to make sure they work right...my day usually entails me "testing" the product up to 10 times a day, it pays good but my wife isn't real happy about it

[shooteneq1]

I do Pest control. Ive been there for 3 years now so can challenge the state and get my state license in april. Then i get to tell my boss to stick it and that i am starting my own company and taking as many customers of theirs as i can out of spite.

[Kevynne]

im a high schooler :D

[Zorpa]

US steel - operator

I also work for US Steel and drive one of these.

http://www.miningtopnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/caterpillar-793f-mining-truck-picture-1.jpg

In a previous life I was a machinist making implantable medical devices.

[quido]

I work at a hot dog factory making sure the hot dogs fit in the bun.

[JerseyFresh609]

I'm a construction inspector. I sample/test concrete, rebar, soils, etc. on commercial construction for a third party company. Have a few certs. Nothing terribly hard and it pays the bills. I'd like to get in to state/township inspections eventually, it pays better.

[houwser]

I am a high school math teacher with a B.A.E. and M.Ed. Just wanted to post to a cool thread!

[Tashi]

I own and run a consulting business focused on how to derive value from location data, IT/analytics focused.

Tashi

[Lexical]

f*ckin real gangsta sh't nyameen?

[Lexical]

But in all seriousness, I am a grad student/software developer :D

[vinx]

Casino shift manager for table games

[billpaleq]

Legal drug dealer at one of those big chains...

[Treefall]

Student teaching starting in January; I left the business world.

Should be fun. Special Ed kids with violent tendencies, like a true boss. Hope to work in a correctional school.

[Cyrano]

Dental student graduating in may

What school? I just started.

[Cyrano]

http://www.defeatdiabetes.org/resource/dynamic/global/dentist_from_inside_the_mouth.jpg

You're a typodont?

[aresprophet]

I manage a cell phone store. A good month brings in more than twice as much money as a bad month, and that's a fun income to plan around.

The funny thing is that despite managing a staff and dealing with customers on a daily basis (and being pretty good at both, all things considered) I have massive social anxiety.

When I get home I escape into video games like EQ to avoid talking to people because I get so sick of people's shit.

[Kurtanius21]

My profession is Lord of the Underworld during the graveyard shifts (Mom's Basement) and the God of War (war against the stupidly bright thing in the sky) during the day.

[Smyd]

Engineer for a medical device company with a degree in mechanical engineering. Pay isn't bad but the time demands can be heavy sometimes.

back on original EQ i knew a guy in the exact same field, he designed heart saving equipment.

If memory serves me correctly, his char name was Parvo and was on Xegony

[Galelor]

IT is booming and will continue too. As i suggested earlier cybersec, the oil industry and the healthcare field will grow. They get paid alot too. Tech support work is entry level IT. 2 years of that or less and you will get bumped up if you apply yourself. I am making 5 times what I started out at.

I 100% agree. I would add that the best way to make one's self marketable to employers when starting out is to have a college degree. In my experience about 3 out of 10 companies will not even consider a candidate without a degree... I spent 8 years in college with only an associates and 3.6 to show for my time spent. Trust me. Take loans, get grants, scrub toilets, whatever... the kid needs a 4 year degree if he wants to make his life much easier.

My take on certs is that you should get them in your spare time, but they are important. I was a hiring manager in IS, and they are important because they help get in the door. You have to get in the door, display knowledge of your craft, display growth potential, and communicate effectively. A+ may help get a tier 1 Help desk job, but it does nothing beyond that. MS/Oracle DB certs, security certs, networking certs, and Project Management Certs, are IMO where it is at.

FYI, when I was hiring, I needed data analysts with T-SQL experience. (Our pay was competitive.) I could find VERY few people with the technical and communication skills suitable for employment...


My career path:
- Runner/Desk clerk at the CBOT
- Floor clerk at CBOT in bean options pit for a large group
- Help Desk Technician for a company that served Firestone
- Implementation Specialist for company that built health care revenue cycle software
- Project manager for implementations of health care revenue cycle software
- Team lead/manager for a data team in a workers compensation/insurance industry (Microsoft Shop). 15-20 employees local and off shore, all with T-SQL and programming experience.
- Owner Operator of A-1 Concrete Leveling and Foundation Repair (chicago south)/ IT Consultant (over the off season.)

I got out of IT because I was tired of working forever hours for someone else's company, and too many years of too much desk time was making me fat.

[webrunner5]

I am retired. Good Job trust me. Worked for years at GE in Cincy Ohio where they make all the big jet engines. Worked in the test cells running them. Great job also. Then moved to Florida and worked in Sewer Plants in Bonita Springs and Fort Myers. A lot of money in that shit if you get my drift.

[Barkingturtle]

Don't all you IT guys feel like the next twenty years will find you replaced by robots? Shouldn't we be going back to school to learn how to most efficiently serve our robot overlords?

[Galelor]

Don't all you IT guys feel like the next twenty years will find you replaced by robots? Shouldn't we be going back to school to learn how to most efficiently serve our robot overlords?

In IT, 80% of one's time is already spent fixing automation or existing functionality... Does that count?

[nilbog]

Don't all you IT guys feel like the next twenty years will find you replaced by robots? Shouldn't we be going back to school to learn how to most efficiently serve our robot overlords?

When the robot overlords need repairs, to whom will they turn?

[quido]

When the robot overlords need repairs, to whom will they turn?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Neumann_universal_constructor

[Barkingturtle]

Actually, I'm pretty sure discerning robots will turn to the Japanese.

I mean, robots wanna get laid, too.

[funhorroryes]

teacher and semi pro poker player

[Quiksilver]

student at the Culinary Institute of America :D

[Lyssia]

Murse.

Lol, i love that term!

[bridgetroll]

pharmacist

[LizardNecro]

Lead Graphics architect for the chips most of you probably play EQ on.

Regarding the IT discussion, that's all well and good, but I'd recommend for someone starting out that you pursue development instead. There's massive demand for these jobs and like zero supply. I've interviewed hundreds of developer applicants for jobs. At one point I wanted to hire a developer and could find *zero* qualified Americans. We had to fly out to Russia, China, India, and Eastern Europe for weeks to comb schools to find people.

There are just no Americans to fit the massive demand for software developers. I would recommend learning to code, and you'll be in huge demand. Honestly if you're a reasonably intelligent person, you can be an okay coder, and you'll never want for a job.

It's so bad that companies are sending engineers to high schools to try to get more kids to study comp sci:

There are likely to be 150,000 computing jobs opening up each year through 2020, according to an analysis of federal forecasts by the Association for Computing Machinery, a professional society for computing researchers. But despite the hoopla around start-up celebrities like Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, fewer than 40,000 American students received bachelor’s degrees in computer science during 2010, the National Center for Education Statistics estimates. And the wider job market remains weak.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/01/technology/microsoft-sends-engineers-to-schools-to-encourage-the-next-generation.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

[Alarti0001]

When the robot overlords need repairs, to whom will they turn?

They will download a repair program or upload themselves into a physical repair chassis.

[rekreant]

Stay at home dad.

[rekreant]

Lead Graphics architect for the chips most of you probably play EQ on.

Regarding the IT discussion, that's all well and good, but I'd recommend for someone starting out that you pursue development instead. There's massive demand for these jobs and like zero supply. I've interviewed hundreds of developer applicants for jobs. At one point I wanted to hire a developer and could find *zero* qualified Americans. We had to fly out to Russia, China, India, and Eastern Europe for weeks to comb schools to find people.

There are just no Americans to fit the massive demand for software developers. I would recommend learning to code, and you'll be in huge demand. Honestly if you're a reasonably intelligent person, you can be an okay coder, and you'll never want for a job.

It's so bad that companies are sending engineers to high schools to try to get more kids to study comp sci:



http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/01/technology/microsoft-sends-engineers-to-schools-to-encourage-the-next-generation.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

This 100%. I used to do IT for the Air force and managed some global networks and had a Top Secret clearance. I couldnt find a job to save my life here in PA, but goddamn if I dont see developer positions EVERYWHERE. So Im personally going back to school on my GI Bill and going to get my CS degree.

[Thulack]

I manage a cell phone store. A good month brings in more than twice as much money as a bad month, and that's a fun income to plan around.

The funny thing is that despite managing a staff and dealing with customers on a daily basis (and being pretty good at both, all things considered) I have massive social anxiety.

When I get home I escape into video games like EQ to avoid talking to people because I get so sick of people's shit.


You and me both brother. I have no issues dealing with customers and people i run into while i'm working but as soon as i'm done i crawl into my hobbit hole of a apt and like to be left alone.

[LetTheWookieWin]

In order - was a banker, then Realtor, then semi pro poker player, currently part time developer for iOS platform and full time dad.

[Ahldagor]

BA in Literature in the works (shooting for phd when all said and done) and currently part time at the community college's library I went to.

[Sturgeon]

I do softcore pornography. It's okay money, not as great as you would think.

[Vladesch]

Was a programmer. Now I'm retired and collect rent off several properties I own.

[pasi]

I shoot birds at the Airport.

It's a start at 40k/yr job here with mobility up to 65k. I know that other Airports (Fort-Lauderdale for one) pay up to 75k/yr.

Not bad for someone who didn't go to college. Only issue is really early hours.

[pasi]

Before anyone gets up in arms, what we shoot is not lethal (at least to the birds that we're supposed to be firing at).

[Tradesonred]

Buy and sell comic books from my home

http://oi47.tinypic.com/29xauyh.jpg

[SamwiseRed]

man that thing is only worth 12 cents!

[Silo69]

lol at all the "semi pro poker players" that went busto after the first deposit

lol

lol

lol

donkament

[tsonka]

Asst. service manager at a Volvo dealer

[Zugbug]

Apprentice Electrician

[Aksiom2k]

Architectural Designer
Massage Therapist (sorry, no happy endings)
Real Estate Salesman

[Vadd]

Marine Salvage/Hydrocarbon Recovery

Gulf coast, of course...

[Vandy]

Crack dealer extraordinaire.
...
IT Consultant / Network Designer

[Nlaar]

Survey Methodologist

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survey_methodology

[Nick687]

Production artist at a graphic design company. We make tee shirts for Disney, Universal Studios, Hard Rock Cafe ect.

[Kevlar]

I do softcore pornography. It's okay money, not as great as you would think.

Do you get to stick it in, or is it just bump and rub?

[Trojanman]

TV Producer/Editor for an NBA team.

[Kritimus]

I'm a stay-at-home-daddy and I'm really good looking. I took the CDIA+ exam online after reading this post and passed.

[HeallunRumblebelly]

Do you get to stick it in, or is it just bump and rub?

I don't see nothing wrong with a lil bump n grind.

[Lonetree]

Survey Methodologist

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survey_methodology

So whats your methodical analysis of this survey nlaar?

[Suluvil]

Helicopter mechanic

[Lagaidh]

I'm a programmer. I'd call myself a software engineer, but in my own opinion, I'm not quite there... just a clever programmer who's not clever enough to design the whole shebang.

I also taught beginner and intermediate guitar for a while. I only mention that because I love being able to say "I never took a guitar lesson, but I ended up giving them."

I am also a budding numismatist. That little venture is beginning to show a profit, which I dump back into more coins!

[Lagaidh]

BA in Computer Science and have been a computer programmer for 14 years since graduating.

I went to William & Mary, and their CS degree was a Bachelor of Science. On graduation day, there were too many in the class for the normal queuing area, so there was a room with a sign over it for those of us with T and greater last names: "BS Overflow".

*Sigh* none of us had a camera. The cell phone explosion wouldn't happen for a few more years. We really began to laugh as we looked at our degrees... written in Latin... that none of us could read. BS indeed.

They did include a little translation card.

[Lagaidh]

After a four year glory filled stint as a field artilleryman I took the GI Bill money. Now I build advanced radar systems so that I can help others blow people up like I once did. With the push of a button.

Just remember there are only two types of people in the world. Artillerymen, and targets.

The logician, or pattern catcher might say: Then there is only one kind of person in the world, because artillerymen are targets of other artillerymen.

[Lagaidh]

Gotta want it. :cool:

I suppose.

The two best programmers I ever met had nothing more than high school educations. One even ended up working for Bethesda (gaming studio).

I'm not saying certs are worthless, I personally don't really know. I've been on dev teams for the Navy, Marines, Darpa, in the medical field, aircraft design, telephony and IVR, and business apps. In 13 years, I can count on my hands the number of programmers that had any cert, other than a CS degree, on any of those teams.

In my own experience... I'll say that again... In my own experience, the certs just give potential employers a quicker way to sort a candidate; just like 4-year degrees do for a lot of non-technical positions that really only require a candidate to be timely and not a complete dipshit.

The funny thing is that a 4-year degree, or cert, does not guarantee any of that.

My own experience shows me that again: I pulled a 3.5 in college, 3.8 in my CS major at a fairly prestigious school. I never was as good as the folks that always looked confused in class when we hit the real world. /shrug

[cadiz]

Shaquille O'Neal impersonator. As a short white man I've not been very successful thus far but I'm not letting that keep me from pursuing my dream!

[Akim]

Working those government backed student grants/loans hard. Bartend a few hours on friday or saturday. Fix/upgrade computers on the side.

[DoucLangur]

I've been on dev teams for the Navy, Marines, Darpa, in the medical field, aircraft design, telephony and IVR, and business apps.

Derail not intended but possible:
I never understood how intelligent people can offer their skills to armed forces in today's times... I mean back then, when there were actual wars between countries and people had to defend themselves... But nowadays all those armies do is that they get used to further the cause of the upper ten thousand or so.

Most soldiers get manipulated into thinking they're fighting for a greater cause - and sadly that still works, millenia after the invention of wars....

Nowadays people *think* it's about who has the greater imaginary friend, but like almost every time before, it's just about a clash of economical interests. There are not even nations fighting anymore - a big part of conflicts is fueled by corporations to maximize profits in the unrest that follows....

Edit: Slozem - (civil) rocket scientist (sorta ;)

[Akim]

Don't all you IT guys feel like the next twenty years will find you replaced by robots? Shouldn't we be going back to school to learn how to most efficiently serve our robot overlords?

We will spark revolution and use these robots to create a utopia of the supremely lazy until we're exterminated by our rulers as useless eaters.

Now you know what will happen if we're replaced by Robots. Congrats.

[LizardNecro]

I suppose.

The two best programmers I ever met had nothing more than high school educations. One even ended up working for Bethesda (gaming studio).

I'm not saying certs are worthless, I personally don't really know. I've been on dev teams for the Navy, Marines, Darpa, in the medical field, aircraft design, telephony and IVR, and business apps. In 13 years, I can count on my hands the number of programmers that had any cert, other than a CS degree, on any of those teams.


Certs are worse than worthless (for development, I don't know about IT). I'd say as a dev manager, after having interviewed hundreds of candidates, the ones that put certs on their resume perform about as terrible as the people that put XML/HTML on their list of known programming languages. :rolleyes:

I've seen amazing devs with high school educations or that were college dropouts. I don't recommend that path but I have seen it.

Best thing to impress is have a 4 year degree in math, CS, or related, and show me some code you've written outside of work. I got hired for my first real job showing my employer my guild's DKP site that I'd written as well as a little tetris game I made on the mac.

[snow_man]

Tier 3 support at General Dynamics, working for the Coast Guard's Search and Rescue System.

[Renem]

Did 5 years in the Marines, now I'm in college going for a BS in Applied IT living off the GI Bill and my wife's paycheck. Just bought a house and a new Mustang. Life is good man.

[diplo]

Did 5 years in the Marines, now I'm in college going for a BS in Applied IT living off the GI Bill and my wife's paycheck. Just bought a house and a new Mustang. Life is good man.

eq and wife don't mix. quit in order to save your marriage.

[diplo]

Casino shift manager for table games

Borgata at Atlantic City?

[Elderan]

Software development since 1999. Mostly .Net client/sql stuff since 2003. I like to find small companies and work in small groups. I have a 2 year Associates Degree in Science but other then that I am 99% self taught. I am very successful in my profession.

The ability to adapt to what a company needs is by far the most important trait you can have in IT. Nothing wrong with getting a 4 year degree but self motivation and work experience is the most important factor in the IT industry.

When I am looking to hire programmers under me I look at end result much more then the code itself. Ever programmer has a different way of doing things. I am much less likely to hire someone who does things by the book and never deviates from that because I need to know someone is flexible and able to do what needs to be done to get the project done on time.

[Renem]

eq and wife don't mix. quit in order to save your marriage.

Nah she has accepted my EQ time. I really don't even play all that much which is why my rogue main is only about to hit 40. Hell, she even played for a while when I was deployed. Having a wife that is just as nerdy as you are is a huge plus :D.

[Stoggieman]

Borgata likes to take most of my money, and they recently scaled back their comp schedule it seems ... Looking for a new "casino of choice" in AC

[Artaenc]

Been in IT for more than 20 years, currently working for an investment bank as a project lead for Messaging/SAN/VMware vitual machines and many other misc servers. Looking for robots to replace me so I can have more free time and not be on call 24x7 365.

[Versus]

Law enforcement

[India]

Law enforcement

Handcuffs!!

[Aicha]

Registered Nurse :)

[Arclanz]

I operate heavy equipment for various companies (my "stable" job is for a garbage transfer station. Say what you want about working at a garbage dump, it makes great money. (60k a year from that place alone) )

One thing admirable about Eastern cultures is they treat all jobs with dignity and respect. After all, their function is no less important to civilization than a brain surgeon; and in fact I'd argue it is more important.

Pizza hut dood hook a brother up.

Software dev here. Was 30 when EQ came out; not sure how you younger folks made it through college with this game. Congrats!

[Arclanz]

You guys talking about all your different Certs and stuff are killing me. I like putting computers together and can setup networks and crap like that and always thought about going back to school to actually get certified but you all make it sound like way more work then i want to put into it to eventually get a decent job.

It was PITA to get certified in .NET. But now I get multiple recruiters begging me to consider a big list of employers every week. Get certified. The time you spend doing it will quickly be forgotten and you will for the rest of your life be basking in opportunity and prosperity. If you can find someone to help you when you get stuck on some topics, you will have it a lot easier than I.

Put in the time and reap the rewards (and fun!).

If you choose programming instead of I.T., and go with .NET, I'd be happy to answer any questions you have. I personally think dev opportunities are greater than networkers.

[waldo]

did the school thing got my B.A in History, was gonna be a teacher but couldn't afford to quit my job to student teach, with no guarentee of finding a teaching job. So right now I work at Maui Jim sunglasses in the distribution department. Pretty decent job great company. Am also going to school for computer stuff if i can narrow down what i want to do in the field.

[Tarathiel]

I suppose.

The two best programmers I ever met had nothing more than high school educations. One even ended up working for Bethesda (gaming studio).



now i know what happened to the ps3 version of skyrim, could you tell him to fix the freeze's and give us some dlc plz

[kotton05]

Massage therapist and song writer. Easy living allows for a lot of EQ now a day.

[Chronoburn]

Work in IT/development for a very large company... pl/sql, java, DBA

pl/sql should give it away....

[Kingore]

Corporate accountant

[Tyan]

SAP Analyst/business coordinator for major tire manufacturer 11 years

Pay is great but I hate my job !

Would like to get into computer/cell phone forensics or even private investigation, would love my own business.

Moral of the story do something you enjoy and does not bore you to death.