fyi:
this post is a bit late... but nothing that i can't backdate :]
So i started my new job this week... and it's actually quite a
milestone.
You see,
4 years ago i decided that i needed to make a change.
i came to the realization that after 10 years of supporting computers & servers... my
economic forecast did not look so promising.
I believe the biggest factor is due to the growing push to migrate everything to the
cloud.
(i'm talking about AWS & Azure).
The writing was on the wall... Sysadmin roles have been contracting.
And to continue down that path... probably not a wise career choice.
So, i decided to begin the process of reinventing myself; become a Network Engineer.
Truthfully, i didn't even know what that completely meant.... but i knew i needed to try something new.
Ultimately, the main goal was to gain new skills that would allow me the ability to find another job (if i suddenly found myself unemployed).
Whelp, fortunately i was able to make it happen.
I spent 2015 studying and obtaining several industry recognized certifications; Network+, Security+, ITIL, and CCNA. (My last certification was from 2008... so i was quite pleased with myself)
Then, I lucked into a Junior Network position at a Managed Service Provider.
I joined a team of great coworkers, and i was able to gain alot of knowledge/experience over the following 2 years.
I left in summer 2018, took the summer off, traveled a bit, and enjoyed life.
Now, i am starting my new job :]
So that's the end of my post, right?
well... Not Quite.
You see,
when i decided to pursue networking... the goal was so that i could always find
another job (if needed).
But what i did Not realize.... is that Networking actually paid more $$$ than being a Sysadmin.
Seriously.
In my last SysAdmin role, in
2010... i made
$66,000 annually.
That was most i ever made in that role.
In
2015, in a role as IT technicain... i made
$60,000 annually.
Not 'bad' money... for a technician. But longterm... i was never going to get 'ahead'.
In
2016, i found that Junior network role.... i made
$55,000 annually.
Another step 'down' in terms of $$$... but the knowledge to be gained was far more valuable.
And Now,
in
2019, in a Network Administrator role... i am going to be making
$80,000 annually.
Which is Quite impressive when you consider:
in
less that 3 years of doing Networking... i am now making
more than 10+ years as a Sysadmin.
Pretty Crazy.
And when i factor the $$$ im not paying on a housenote
(i am mortgage free)... i can actually bank around $2,000 a month. not too shabby.
Suddenly, i'm posied to start making significant, longterm strides toward the "R" word.
(but dont want to jinx anything yet)
Ideally, i expect to stick around here for 24 months....
i guess we shall see.
