Making a Career Change - Lawyer to IT - Seeking Advice

[fastbilly1]

Active directory is the minimum you need to know now.

get my home lab up and running

Since you are in Mississippi you do not have an Ikea near you, so a lack rack is out. But this is an easy rack to build:
http://tombuildsstuff.blogspot.com/2014 ... plans.html

With nothing but a saw, a powerdriver, five 2x4s, and some rails, and you can make your own 20u rack. It would be easier with the kreg jig though.

[noiseredux]

http://tombuildsstuff.blogspot.com/2014 ... plans.html

With nothing but a saw, a powerdriver, five 2x4s, and some rails, and you can make your own 20u rack. It would be easier with the kreg jig though.

wow, that's classy. Is that the one you're building?

[fastbilly1]

That is the plan. I have two other major woodworking projects ahead of it though - shelving system and pachi frames. With any luck, those two projects might be completed this weekend.

[Jagosaurus]

Do you want to be truly boots on the ground support only? Or would you enjoy being in the industry at a more of a macro level?

I switched from Healthcare business & project management to Telecom and IT client relations & project management about a year & a half ago. Very happy with the move.

I had relevant experience as I worked for a university IT Dept while in college & had managed multiple projects in my previous job (including IT roll outs).

I love the IT field but didn't necessarily want to be a network engineer or technician. There are jobs needing knowledgeable people involved in the entire sales and installation process. The key is to get in with an established integration company or IT firm with low turnover.

I work with roughly 700 base customers. My book of business is 80% base customers upgrading & 20% completely new clients. I'm involved in generating interest, system architecture design, project bidding/estimation, & project management alongside an engineer when implementation begins. I get to see all aspects of the jobs we take on.

Just know, there's more out there than being a tech or knocking on doors to sell.

Well, I don't really know. I am still learning what's out there.

Right now, hands on with the machines/software seems very attractive - but I'm not exactly sure how that translates to a job in the real world - particularly for someone with a social sciences and law degree and a few certifications (soon!) but not much real world experience...

Even though I am not planning on making a move right away, I am already working on re-writing my resume to emphasis what little experience I do have managing things around the law office. I am planning on setting up a home lab (eventually) that might help bridge some of that gap as well.

But what other sub-fields of IT should I be looking into? I didn't even know that your job existed until just now!

You'll hear companies such as us referred to as Technology Infrastructure, IT Implementation and Procurement, or simply Integrators.

Essentially we take on planned projects which are most often for new businesses, upgrades, expansions, etc. We then handle ongoing adds, moves, changes as needed, as it relates to IT and telecom infrastructure versus a complete managed services package or PC support model.

We come in and run fiber backbone (if needed), cat 6 to all workstations, program and install all network and telephony pieces (including WAN and MPLS routing if multiple sites). We coordinate with the ISP/dial tone carrier, and are typically working along side an IT department leader who then manages the network and phone system on a daily basis after we step away from the initial roll out. From there we are level two support, in-house IT is tier one, and we move on the next project. We're always there to help as needed for additions or if future issues arise.

Project based work for all types of companies across the city, each vastly ranging in scope, is much more appealing to me personally than desktop support or applications. To each his own. Look into all areas and see what fits your interest best

[marlowe221]

I wish you the absolute best marlowe221, and I am excited to read about your transtion away from the legal profession. (And...if you ever want to get back into the law, your IT experience will make you one hell of a privacy and information security lawyer, which is a white-hot practice area right now.)

Thank you for the kind words, I really appreciate it.

I have actually been considering keeping a kind of log or journal of the experience. I guess a career change like this is probably somewhat uncommon.

[marlowe221]

You'll hear companies such as us referred to as Technology Infrastructure, IT Implementation and Procurement, or simply Integrators.

Essentially we take on planned projects which are most often for new businesses, upgrades, expansions, etc. We then handle ongoing adds, moves, changes as needed, as it relates to IT and telecom infrastructure versus a complete managed services package or PC support model.

We come in and run fiber backbone (if needed), cat 6 to all workstations, program and install all network and telephony pieces (including WAN and MPLS routing if multiple sites). We coordinate with the ISP/dial tone carrier, and are typically working along side an IT department leader who then manages the network and phone system on a daily basis after we step away from the initial roll out. From there we are level two support, in-house IT is tier one, and we move on the next project. We're always there to help as needed for additions or if future issues arise.

Project based work for all types of companies across the city, each vastly ranging in scope, is much more appealing to me personally than desktop support or applications. To each his own. Look into all areas and see what fits your interest best

Thank you for explaining that - it does actually sound like interesting work. I will keep that in mind.

[marlowe221]

I had another question related to this topic.

In doing some research, I keep seeing the term "help desk" as a common first job in the IT field. But what does that mean exactly?

Is that the people who answer the phone when your cable goes out and you call, annoyed because you are indeed ready for some football? Or does it mean something else?

[Jagosaurus]

I had another question related to this topic.

In doing some research, I keep seeing the term "help desk" as a common first job in the IT field. But what does that mean exactly?

Is that the people who answer the phone when your cable goes out and you call, annoyed because you are indeed ready for some football? Or does it mean something else?

For example, an employee at a large company has Email not working on their phone or their PC is slow. They don't stop the IT tech in the hall, they call down to the help desk and open a ticket. Or you do it online/on the intranet and a help desk employee calls you back for basic troubleshooting and to further gather details. It is level 1 support for end-users.

If you stop an IT employee, they'll first ask if you've submitted a work order with the help desk. A part of those "boot on the ground" techs' performance is measured on the number of these tickets they close.

I'm sure the help desk job varies with organization but that's my experience. You'd learn a little about base troubleshooting many devices/programs quick.

[marlowe221]

I had another question related to this topic.

In doing some research, I keep seeing the term "help desk" as a common first job in the IT field. But what does that mean exactly?

Is that the people who answer the phone when your cable goes out and you call, annoyed because you are indeed ready for some football? Or does it mean something else?

For example, an employee at a large company and has Email not working on their phone or their PC is slow. They don't stop the IT guy in the hall, you call down to the help desk and open a ticket. Or you do it online/on the intranet and a help desk employee calls you back. It is level 1 support for end-users. If you stop an IT, they'll ask if you've submitted a work order with the help desk. Sure that job varies with organization but that's my experience. You'd learn a little about base troubleshooting many devices/programs quick.

Ah, OK. That's kind of what I thought it was. That's cool - it's pretty much what I do right now for free!

[fastbilly1]

Actually, double check that your finances will allow you to make this jump. Most entry IT jobs pay sub 40k.