For all you IT/Networking/VM Ware/Cisco Guys...

I'm in my late 20's and going back to school.

Some people tell me to do CISCO, and/or MSCE, some say Windows 2008 Admin. Some guys say to not do it because my jobs will be outsourced. I really enjoy working with computers and all that stuff and have a few friends into it already.

What's a "good" and somewhat promising path to take in your opinion? Any genuine advice would be great. I hope it's not too discouraging.

There are a couple different paths here...

IT generally means providing tech support for internal business systems. MCSE would be good for that, as would anything related to Windows server admin, Unix admin, or database admin (stick with Oracle).

The Cisco certs would be better if you plan on pursuing ISP type work. Juniper would be good to have as well.

What path would I take if I wanted to do more consulting? Anyone have experience consulting?

I've done a little consulting and didn't care for it, but it could have just been the assignments I got. Either way, a CCNP and an MCSE would be very advantageous for a consulting career. The ability and willingness to travel would also go a long way...

One of the downsides to consulting is that you generally get fewer benefits, if any. That was a big one for me since I was married at the time.

What was the most enjoyable type of IT work you've done? And as far as pay goes, I can deal for 45-55k for now... this is doable, correct?

And what about security jobs?

And PSD... Thank you very much for the advice.

for consulting, I would recommend having a Microsoft Windows background, so get the Windows 2008/Windows 7 certs and go that route. Having a CCNA is always good, because starting out, it will give you a great knowledge base for basic networking. I think once you get those down, and start working, then you can actually go in different directions, but you have to have a good foundation first.

Honestly there are tons of paths to take to get to the same places. Microsoft no longer does the MSCE and has replaced it with MCITP (Microsoft Certified IT Professional), that is a good place to start. If you want to do some consulting work, I would make sure to also have MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist). I wouldn't dismiss the CompTIA A+ and Network+ accreditations as most companies require these and will be helpful on a resume. Also, most companies like to see some sort of starting field experience, I would try getting a job somewhere that does PC/Mac repair while getting the rest of your certs (Fry's, CompUSA, Data Doctors, Geek Squad, etc...). Some companies at this level will hire you without certs and help you pay for them, this will also help you decide if you actually want to pursue this career path. Remember if you don't like people, retards, or a bunch of "educated" assholes you might want to choose something else.

In the end, it really doesn't make a difference about your certs as pieces of paper do not mean you know what your doing. I worked with a guy once who had a Bachelors in Computer Engineering and Computer Science, and we would not let him work on any of the computers we repaired because he was an absolute retard. He actually used a flathead screwdriver to pry out a customers laptop memory vs hitting the two clips holding the RAM in.

Good Luck and I hope I helped

Oh, and as a lot of companies are moving to Apple from Windows and Linux based systems, mainly because of the long term support cost being cheaper, I would look at some of those certs as well. the ACTC (Apple Certified Technical Coordinator) and ACSP (Apple Certified Support Professional) certs will make sure that you have a position at any company for the foreseeable decade.

Cisco is the premier network icon. Their equipment is the best, but their market share is sliding against HP Procurve, Netgear, Altran, etc. Most large software/hardware companies make sure they are Gold Certified and if you are Microsoft certified, that will add to their points. If you are just starting in the IT field, I would suggest going to Comptia and doing your A+, Net+, Server+, Security+. Then get a position with one of the larger companies ... (In Austin) Dell is a good example and will only keep you on for about 6 months, but looks good on your resume. By then you can decide if you want to go after Microsoft/Cisco certifications or if you want to go back to school for a degree in security, networking, or even computer science.

This is all great advice. Thank you all. Keep it coming if you wish.

Security is a path with many opportunities.

Your existing networking and sysadmin type skills are a good base on which to build security expertise. From there you can choose to stay technical or move more toward risk management or compliance-level executive type roles depending on your aptitude and desire.