Training and Career Path Planning
Resources
Training
In the Colorado area:
Seminars
Sometimes, the easiest way is to get exposed to new technologies is
to attend the free seminars. Once you go to one, you get on mailing
lists, and before you know it, you get an invite or two a week. To
start, try subscribing to
Information Week's newsletter. It's helpful, informative, and keeps
you up on IT news. JobFairy.com will also feature other seminars under
their Events section as
available.
There's a fairly easy way to figure out your career path planning. On
the one hand, you can decide that some day you want to be a
firewall/security expert, and in between you take jobs that involve
systems administration, tech support, web hosting - those kinds of jobs
(see chart).
But suppose you don't even know where you should start? Don't waste time
learning COBOL when there's only a limited market for it. Go to the
salary surveys. What
jobs pay the most - and over the next several years? What skills seem to
pay the most money? For instance, if you already make $80K as an Oracle
DBA, why get the MCSE for Windows 2000? It only pays about $68K. Look at
higher-end skills like systems architecture. They top out after a while,
don't they? Management jobs have a wide range that often starts higher
than a lot of the technical specialties. Keep that in mind if you decide
to "cross-train" and take a project management assignment - you can work
this into valuable management experience later. However, when a
recession comes and layoffs start, management jobs are often among the
first to be cut. Operations jobs, such as keeping the mail server
running, are usually left alone. It all depends what kind of risk you
can take with your career, and where you want to go with it.
|
|
| Length of time to do... |
Title |
Training/Skills needed in order to
do job |
| To start right now |
Help Desk |
Basic knowledge of Windows and how to
use a computer |
| 6 months to a year later |
Tier I Support |
In-depth knowledge of Windows, be able
to install software and peripherals, reformat hard drives, apply
software patches, kill virii - should be taking MCSE courses, or
working on A+ courses towards certification |
| About 6 - 12 months later |
Tier II or III Support |
Very in-depth knowledge of Windows, in
the case of tier II support, be able to support every aspect of a
particular application, such as Lotus Notes, MS Exchange, or SQL
Server. In the case of tier III support, be responsible for
server-level issues, such as trusts and domains, DNS,
creating/deleting new users, shares, applying patches to the
operating system, solid knowledge of networking issues, especially
routers and hubs. Should have completed certifications such as CCNA,
MCSE, or A+ by now. Also good to have: hardware certifications such
as Compaq. |
| 12 months or so |
System Engineer |
Often does system administrator type
duties along with the engineering aspects of the job. The
environment is larger or more complex. Person should be learning
in-depth about Cisco routers and monitoring tools such as HP
Openview or Site Scope. Should be taking an active part in
installing and configuring firewalls such as Checkpoint or Pix.
Vendors offer specific training on their products, you should be
pursuing their certifications. |
| 12 - 24 months later |
Security Engineer or Architect |
Should be certified on at least one
vendor's firewall product. In order to be a network or security
architect, should have experience with large deployments or new
installs at a site. Helpful to be able to plan using the Visio tool.
Should know all network protocols, should have experience with
network monitoring and intrusion tools. Imperative that technician
stay on top of anti-virus efforts and tools, hacker tools, and be
fluent in methods of evading server attacks and detection intrusion. |
|
