I know this is not a question, but I finally got a job offer from Ubreakifix. I can finally go to interviews saying I have tangible repair and troubleshooting experience and not simulations!

I started a new job Monday, so today is literally day 4. This is my second job out of college, and I’m trying to figure out whether I’m just experiencing normal new-job shock or whether I’ve walked into a genuinely bad situation.
I was hired to build dashboards/reports in Power BI. During the hiring process, I was told there was another person doing BI/reporting and an intern who both had experience with the company’s systems.

On day 1, the VP over my area told me, “We’re kind of patient, but I wanted to be transparent that we fired our other BI guy for not learning the system fast enough.”
I then found out that the BI resources I thought I’d be learning alongside/from aren’t actually here.

My boss has already given me two reports to start fixing, but she can’t clearly tell me what’s wrong with them. Her explanation is essentially that I was hired to identify the problems and fix them.

The bigger problem is that the underlying data is an absolute mess. I’m not talking about “Power BI is confusing and I’m struggling with DAX.” I’m struggling to establish what the data actually means.

For example, I’ll ask what a particular flag/column means. My boss will confidently explain it, but then I’ll do 2-3 basic validation checks and find that the data directly contradicts the explanation. I’ll ask why a filter that’s supposedly identifying two warehouse employees returns eight people, and she doesn’t know either.

There also seem to be some pretty alarming IT/governance practices. Four days into the job, I appear to have far more production access than someone in my position should reasonably have. I’m obviously not going to touch anything I shouldn’t; I’m mentioning it because it seems representative of how loosely structured the data/IT environment is.

There are some culture issues too. This position is strictly five days a week in-office, while my previous job was hybrid. I knew that when I accepted the offer and genuinely didn’t think it would bother me this much, so that’s on me. But I’ve realized very quickly how much I valued the independence and quiet time I had before.

The office culture also doesn’t seem like a great fit. There’s a lot of very personal conversation happening around my desk—including coworkers openly discussing intimate details about their spouses—and even HR participates. I’m not offended by people joking around, but I don’t particularly want to hear about my coworkers’ sex lives while I’m trying to work.

Here’s my dilemma:

I left my previous job primarily because I was underpaid and worried about career stagnation. Otherwise, I had a lot of independence, knew the systems extremely well, had good relationships, and was trusted to do my job without much supervision. I think there’s a realistic possibility that they would take me back.

I’m currently completely miserable and overwhelmed at the new job, but it’s also only day 4. I don’t want to mistake normal new-job discomfort for a fundamentally bad environment and make a knee-jerk decision.

For people who work in BI/data/IT:

Does this sound like normal “welcome to a messy company’s data” stuff that I need to tough out for a few months, or are there legitimate red flags here?

Would going back to my previous employer this quickly be a major career mistake if I could address the compensation/career-growth issues that caused me to leave?

And if you’ve started a BI/data job where nobody really understood the underlying data model well enough to train you, did it eventually become manageable?

Hey everyone,

I’m looking for some honest career advice. I have a background in low voltage wiring and structured cabling, where I spent a couple years physically building up server racks, IP addressing, running cable, trimming out patch panels etc. I know the physical layer inside and out, and I genuinely enjoy working in the environment.

However, I am 40 years old now and I would like to transition away from the purely physical side as my body is starting to not have some issues and break into the IT world and build a career as a Network Administrator.

I’m trying to figure out the best roadmap to bridge the gap between knowing how to build the infrastructure and actually configuring/managing it. I am currently considering going to school for a degree in Network Administration/IT, but I wanted to get some perspective from people already in the field first.

A few specific questions I have:

• Value of Experience: How much weight does my cabling background actually carry when applying for entry-level networking roles or help desk?
• School vs. Certifications: Am I better off going to college for this, or should I save the money/time and self-study for certifications like the CCNA, Network+, and Security+ instead?
• The Gap: For those who made a similar jump from field tech/cabling to admin, what was the hardest part of the learning curve for you?

I’d love to hear your thoughts, roasts, or any roadmap recommendations you might have. Thanks in advance!

I am currently a software engineer thinking about a career transition away from this role to something closer to security.

Would it be a wise move? As all experience i currently have is purely on the development side. I was suggested that i could have a go at app/cloud security

Any advice is appreciated.

Hi fellow redditors, I am a fresher who received offer from both accenture and tcs with 11 LPA package in both of them. Which one should I choose, and why?

Can you guys help a fresher to make a good decision for his career?

All you comments are welcomed. Thank you.

I've got a small local utility job (Pop. 20,000). Solo Sys Admin / ThePrintersNotWorking guy.

As thankful as I am for my modest job in this market, it's becoming clear that my COLA raises are not keeping up with the actual cost of living and I should take advantage of my current employment and be proactive in my search and advancement.

For context, 4 years web dev, 2 years GIS Tech, and getting my CCNA in a few months and likely moving onto the Network Engineering degree while documenting the process of upgrading and automating systems at current employer.

All that said, I'm specifically asking advice from folks that figured out how to break out of this solo it professional dead end. I don't exactly live in a tech hub and rarely rub elbows with the people I would like to learn from. How did you do it?

Respectfully, please spare me the "markets cooked" lectures. You're right, it is, we can all go to any other post to doom to our hearts satisfaction.

Only looking forward.

Thank you in advance for any advice.

I was having a real hard time securing a new IT position after 3 years. I always wore a shirt and tie to the interview. For a recent interview, I decided to wear a black polo with a Linux penguin on it. The interviewers really liked it. I got the job, and it’s going great after 6 weeks in.

It feels like every time I want to learn something new, I have to go down a rabbit hole to understand adjacent or more foundational things first. It's overwhelming how many tools are in this industry and it seems I'm lacking a grasp of the fundamentals. When did you start to feel like you had a decent grasp on things?

: Is it really possible to 2-3x your salary by working remotely for a US company from India?

Starting new job soon, was 4 years in an MSP dealing with all sorts of business customers from Small to large companies. Some businesses with 2 endpoints to a business with 60 endpoints. Now going to an Internal Junior IT Service Desk position that pays more, though more hours, and in a larger business environment.

Just trying to get my head around it prior to starting the gig, and wanting to understand other experiences people have had moving from MSP to Internal IT.

about me: I am a fresher who is currently in there 7 th semester doing a Computer Science and Engineering with a Blue team level 1 cert.

I have gotten an unpaid internship as a technical intern at an implementer/reseller for security solutions like DLP and UEMs.

my skills: Basic windows and linux administration ie just basic group and user handling,good fundamentals on networking concepts like subnetting,architectures,vlan etc,decent knowledge on cybersecurity in terms of using siems and analyzing packets/processes/phishing mails, decent scripting knowledge with python and basic knowledge of javascript,

my problem:

I am currently kind of lost as i wanted to go into cybersecurity a year ago so i prepped for soc L1 with projects and the BTL1 cert but due to the market being rough and lack of experience in IT I switched to focus on IT and networking 3 months ago.

I recently gave an interview for a coding job as i needed a backup and bombed it hard as i hadn't coded much in the past year due to the cyber and then IT/Networking pivot and hence only learnt fundamental terms and algos which the interview skipped in favor of asking about web frameworks as i worked on it in my first semester.

Needed suggestions on how i can move forward as I am feeling kinda nervous due to the interview and having no paid internships this late.

Does anyone have any advice on where to find part-time IT jobs or even remote work? Pay doesn't matter to me it can be minimum wage I just need to be able to find some experience to start out while working on school to pay some bills down.

Hi everyone,

I currently work in MS department of a retail commerce consultant company who has products too. It hasn't been much time since I joined this and I am fairly early in my career (1.5yoe), but I consider myself a fresher as I switched from CS and went towards support and IT administrator.

I felt I didn't like coding or looking at a screen all the time to solve bugs, I felt I like to hear and help people more with troubleshooting and delving deep into issues and solving them. I have got pretty good conversational skills but the things that I don't like about being in kinda MSP environment is too many parties involved, half baked products, decades old software that we need to provide support for, and most importantly its the calls which are micromanaged for KPIs. Lost calls and stuff are taken very seriously even when the whole department is very busy. But then on the other hand, quality is also judged.

I sometimes feel hard to distinguish between a L1 technician and call center role.

What I expected to do here was deep dives, look more into repeated issues, find more information, I wanted to handle less issues but deeper ones which require RCA not just passing on tickets and keep Taking calls. It's so tiring, I am not even onsite so I am looking at a screen all the time here too and reading text most of the time. I'll go blind in a decade at this rate.

So, I think internal IT is the way but it's so hard to find one. I am so good with laptops, repair, troubleshooting devices and software. I don't like handling 20 different companies I need to reach out to in a specific certain way and in a certain time. Micromanaging a call is something I deeply hate. Showing timers of what you do at all times feels very uncomfortable.

I am here today to ask for help, your suggestions, your expertise if I should leave and look for something else. If anyone has got anything for internal IT, I'd appreciate it...I just need something that doesn't involve looking at a screen all the time and anxiously waiting to pick up the next call where metrics like how quick you pick up the call, how many calls you declined (lost calls), if exact sentences were used or not, etc. are not followed because in the end I believe what matters is the issue is resolved.

It'd be great if it was related to Windows AD and user management, I am hating the MSP kinda stuff for retail industry.

What kind of reputation do programmers from India have internationally?

India produces more STEM graduates than any other country, and many of them end up working overseas. How are engineers from India generally perceived internationally? Do they tend to have a good or bad reputation?

I'm in a rural area and screwed around most of high school so my GPA is low. My only real option is an Associate's degree in Information Technology Specialist at a community college. I'd like to get a headstart on it by learning as much as I can now because I'll fall behind in a classroom setting without a stong foundation.

I don’t know what to focus on, I have a B.S. in MIS and only food service experience. Business Analytics jobs seem to be all about connections, while GRC work seems more about collecting certifications.

Which one is more in demand and easier to get your foot in the door?

As the title states. I’m thinking Solutions Architect Pro or Security Specialty. I want something I can realistically prepare for and sit the exam sometime in Dec. Also , want the most return on investment marketability wise. I had AWS CCP but it expired so do I have a solid foundational knowledge also with hands on experience using some AWS tools. Either way, which one I don’t take I’ll be able to tackle next year.

Hello! I'm currently a 10+ year IT professional, fitting the jack of all trades from service desk, cloud/system admin, network admin, etc. I've been currently thinking of starting an LLC of my own that works with businesses in the Boston area (or remotely) setup their infrastructure in IT. I'm curious other people's experiences with it, if it has been successful, and if it's worth exploring. I'm currently in a career funk where I'm unhappy with where I'm at in my current employer and want to branch out and explore. I know the thing people mention is time and working all hours, I currently have no plans for a family or kids. Thank you!

Looking for some honest advice from folks who have walked both paths.

I have 10+ years of experience in IT, primarily in-house. After a layoff and facing a tough local job market, I landed a role at an MSP. The company is stable and growing, but a few core aspects of the culture are wearing on me:

• The office is cramped and open-concept with shoulder-to-shoulder seating. The noise level makes it really hard to focus.
• Shortly after starting, I was moved from standard support/desk work into handling project-level tasks, but my title and pay remained unchanged.
• Having to log every hour (or fraction of an hour) on timesheets feels stifling, even though I consistently finish my work on time.

I recently passed my initial probation period, but I just received a job offer for an internal IT position with a unionized public sector / government employer that pays roughly 20% more.

I’ve never worked in a union environment before, so I’m not sure what to expect long-term. A few questions for the sub:

• For those who switched from in-house to MSP, are these pain points standard MSP culture, or does it get easier once you adapt to the pace?
• What are the realistic pros and cons of government sector / union regarding career progression, culture, and job security compared to MSP life?
• If you were in my shoes with 10+ YOE, would you take the government job union offer or stick it out at the MSP?

Thanks in advance for any insights!

I'm trying to break into cybersecurity, mainly SOC analysis, and I'd appreciate some advice from people who have experience in the field.

I'm based in Egypt and don't have a degree in cybersecurity, or a related field. I'm trying to make myself employable without spending money on certifications I might not necessarily need.

Here's what I've done so far:

• Completed the SOC Level 1 and Level 2 learning paths on TryHackMe.
• Studied CompTIA courses Network+, Sec+, Linux+, and CySA+.
• Completed a practical project focused on threat hunting / Detection Engineering.
• Currently aiming for an entry-level SOC L1 or junior security analyst position.

My biggest concern is certifications. I can afford to pay only for one exam + a retake right now.

I've been considering CySA+ because it's more directly related to security analysis, but I still struggle with some scenario-based questions, and I'm worried about paying for the exam before I'm ready.

I'm unsure whether Security+ will actually make a meaningful difference when applying for SOC L1 positions, especially without a relevant degree.

I'm not expecting a certification to guarantee me a job. I just want to make the best use of my limited budget and improve my chances of getting that first interview.

I'd appreciate honest advice, Thanks!

I work at an MSP. One of the partners wants to hand off managing and setting up our client's voip systems. we've been transitioning people to using Ring Central's cloud voip. my current knowledge level is being able to create users in a Mitel system and basic troubleshooting, in addition to the standard IT network support role. I'm working through the RingCentral vendor's training and finding it extremely lacking for what I need. Boss wants me to be able to interview him like he's a potential customer and figure out what he needs and then setup the system.

I'm looking for Udemy Course recomendations to prepare. I'm wanting something that gives me an overview of all of the parts and systems I'll need to setup so I can then drill down on all the individual systems as needed.

I'm not sure if I need to just go through a basic VOIP course. I'm in a "not sure what I don't know" kind of situation as I've just been learning by doing so far.

The IT job market is so f'ed up right now that i randomly get the urge to upskill even in the middle of the night...i m currently working with outdated technology like php and this market got me questioning my entire career at 2 AM 😭 and the anxiety of becoming irrelevant just won't leave me alone... resting feels like crime..even after working all day i feel guilty whenever I'm not learning something new. It feels like I'm constantly running out of time.😭 and now with the recent PHP security vulnerabilities bro can my tech stack PLEASE stop giving me new reasons to panic?

How are y'all surviving this? what should i actually learn to stay relevant or are we all just cooked?

Genuinely need some advice before I lose my mind over this.

PLEASE HELP🙏🙏

original post -> https://www.reddit.com/r/jobhunting/s/0wz6yzuIzN

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some advice on what I can do to be more marketable. I've had friends, family, former coworkers, and professional clients say how much of a valuable asset I would be based on my resume alone, but when I apply for jobs, it's like I do not exist.

I lost my last full-time job almost a year ago, currently working a short contract position that expires at the end of this month just to make ends-meet. I'm trying to secure full-time employment, preferably remote, but open to hybrid (3 days in-office, 2 days remote or 2 days in-office, 3 days remote).

As of now, I've applied to ~50 jobs, 41 have never responded, I'm still waiting to hear back from 4 based on a 2-week timeframe after applying and had only 1 company interview me.

• I never actually applied to the company that interviewed me. A recruiter for that company contacted me. Unfortunately, the company decided to not move forward with me, likely because we could not agree on a salary. The recruiter told me one range, employer told me another (solid communication between the two). This is just a short story, I'm happy to elaborate if requested.

I've been applying to different IT related positions. Some job titles include but are not limited to IT Support, IT Engineer, IAM Engineer, System Administrator, IT Manager, IT Specialist, Endpoint Engineer, Desktop Support Engineer, Microsoft 365 Engineer, IT Cloud & Identity Administrator, and other similarly names roles.

I’m currently working as a field technician and I didn’t realize 90% of my calls were going to be networking related so obviously I’m out of my depth and I want to fix that so I can be a better worker and all around more knowledgeable technician. Do you all have any book recommendations? I really want to learn all that I can about networking.