What Computer Career Should I Go Into?

Andy - Most of us got started in IT fixing computers. However these jobs are usually really limited in salary and how far you can go and so you will usually find yourself going up through the ranks on a help desk, user support and eventualy into server system administration. Some people come up through the ranks in different ways but almost everyone will tell you that the good jobs are not in computer hardware repair. Also keep in mind that most employers require a 4 year computer related degree as a minimum requirement for IT employment. Actually there are a number of jobs that you can do that involve little to no programming - here are just a few. Computer Technician - Works on computer hardware at user location or in service center. (entry level IT Job) Service Center Coordinator - Schedules the repair of user community computers, orders spare parts, schedules staff, establishes priorities, maintains loaner laptops and non-US laptops for travel outside of US. Help Desk Staff - answer questions and resolve problems for the user community. (entry level IT Job - Tier 1 support) Storage Administrator - in charge of mass storage servers and devices. Network Administrator - Works on routers, switches, hubs, cables, load balancers and all the other hardware that handles LAN and WAN network traffic. Also, may be responsible for IP phone service. Systems Administrator or Systems Engineer- Works with servers, laptops and desktop computers to keep them free of problems and secure the data they contain. Responsible for Security group creation and memberships, server patching, anti-virus protection updates, password changes and any automated mechanisms that make these changes. These positions may be divided into server and desktop teams. Tier 2 support. Enterprise Administrator - Handles Enterprise support and design issues. Tier 3 support. Active Directory Administrator - Designs and administers Active Directory infrastructure, AD policies, access permissions, roles, group policies, separation of duties. Exchange and Messaging Administrator - maintains mail systems servers, other mail related devices and the company messaging infrastructure. Backup Administrator - Maintains backup devices and determines backup strategies so data that was deleted accidentally or intentionally can be recovered. Design and control how and when data is backed up, where the backups are stored and how long the backups are retained. They will test to be sure backups are valid and usable. Disaster Recovery Specialist - Plans for disaster events so the company data and infrastructure can be brought back online as quickly as possible after a fire, flood, earthquake, terrorism or other disaster event. Plans for failover of services to alternate locations, if the primary location is not available. Database Administrator - Maintains the company databases which may include customer and sales records, billing information, inventory and other data. Computing Security Specialist - A company's biggest asset is its data and the Computing Security Specialist will work to try to keep that data protected from loss. They may be dealing with and defending against viruses, hoaxes, malware, keyloggers, phishing attacks, internal attacks and domestic and foreign intrusion. Develops monitoring and interception systems, filters and strategies and works with appropriate government agencies. Corporate IT Acquisition Specialist - Works with acquired outside companies to establish migration into the corporate computing infrastructure. Data Center Administrator - Maintains the data center facilities where the company's servers and other devices reside. They are responsible for physical security and may review badge reader and camera information to be sure that only individuals with proper access are getting close to the company's servers and other critical devices. Also, maintain backup power devices (UPS or generators), climate control equipment, fire suppression equipment, establish access policies, etc. Best Wishes!

Sounds like you might be interested in working as a computer technician. This can mean either you work in a shop all day fixing computers and putting them together accord to the requirements, and/or fixing and installing the computers on-site. I suggest you look for those kind of jobs now to see the requirements for them and go talk with the hiring manager there to learn more about working in that kind of job and environment. I'm an IT professional and work as a software designer now. But I also have done computer hardware repair on-site. I didn't like coming to work each day with a client emergency that required me to jump in the car and go out to the client site to fix the problem with little information, but there are some people, perhaps you, that would love doing that sort of work.

There's not a more "professional" job that fits you. The specialties in IT that you list do not really involve building and fixing computers or have that much to do with hardware. The closest is networking, and that would deal more with routers, switches, cables and settings on computers, as well as learning a lot of more complicated things that do not really deal with what you're probably most interested in. Working on servers would be somewhat similar to networking as there is some overlap in tasks and knowledge. Being a repair technician is what matches you the best.

Sounds like you might be interested in working as a computer technician. This can mean either you work in a shop all day fixing computers and putting them together accord to the requirements, and/or fixing and installing the computers on-site. I suggest you look for those kind of jobs now to see the requirements for them and go talk with the hiring manager there to learn more about working in that kind of job and environment. I'm an IT professional and work as a software designer now. But I also have done computer hardware repair on-site. I didn't like coming to work each day with a client emergency that required me to jump in the car and go out to the client site to fix the problem with little information, but there are some people, perhaps you, that would love doing that sort of work.

There's not a more "professional" job that fits you. The specialties in IT that you list do not really involve building and fixing computers or have that much to do with hardware. The closest is networking, and that would deal more with routers, switches, cables and settings on computers, as well as learning a lot of more complicated things that do not really deal with what you're probably most interested in. Working on servers would be somewhat similar to networking as there is some overlap in tasks and knowledge. Being a repair technician is what matches you the best.