I was recently laid off again from an IT position as the contract for the city expired and they ended up hiring within the organization for the position I was performing for them. As a person who has been in the IT field since the mid 1990's, I do not have any current certifications. However most of my positions I have learn on the job and so I have always considered myself a "JACK OF ALL TRADES" but expert of NONE ranging from Windows OS, workstations, servers, Server OS, SQL Databases, Exchange Email, networks, etc. I recently found that the VA may have a program where they will pay for me to go back to school for training. At my age, I do NOT want to go back for a degree, however I am willing to do several weeks or months to receive a certificate. The 2 certifications I am leaning to are:

• AWS Cloud Practitioner and then AWS Certified Solutions Architect
  
• Some Cybersecurity certification
  

If anyone has any experience and / or suggestions, please do not hesitate to let me know. Thank you for reading and any help or suggestions you may give. God Bless !!!

My 2 cents are that cybersecurity and AI are going to be the most in demand. Good luck!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ruger357,

Both of those in conjunction would be very useful.

In as fast evolving fields as cyber security and AI, I doubt the value of Certificates having any significance other than the most basic skills (which your work history should adequately demonstrate). The courses are out-of-date before the curriculum is ever conceived.

But I do think Security and AI are the most obvious growth areas at this time. Both are moving so fast that it is a full-time job just keeping up with the literature. Another area that seems to be acquiring some long-term legitimacy is cloud infrastructure support. E.g. helping businesses save money by moving their business-critical systems into the cloud and facilitating access to these resources for their employees who are less likely to be located in traditional office spaces. One should have intimate familiarity with all or most of the major vendors in this area, not just AWS.

In the olden days, one got noticed by joining a community of those who actively practice in the fields you're interested in via mailing lists and forums. Yes, some of these are "black hat" forums, but making a meaningful contribution in even that area helps establish a reputation for competency that no certificate will ever grant.

For example, it used to be that one would do something like this by writing a device driver for an open source OS for a hot new piece of hardware. Nowadays, it might be more along the line of finding and fixing a logic error made by a popular AI platform. Yes, a lot more work than taking a vendor's certification course, but a lot more meaningful in terms of practical skills.

And don't denigrate the value of having a broad range of skills, vendor certifications will only train you on the vendor's product line. Having a larger view helps in identifying solutions that businesses require, but vendors never consider.

I'm no IT guy myself, but an observation I have made where I work...huge Govt campus, is concerning Control Systems (IoT) and traditional IT. Finding someone who understand Control Systems such as HVAC, security systems, etc. that all interface with traditional IT is like finding a Unicorn Farting Pixie Dust. If you want to be a bridge between those two, there is a demand and people will pay for it.

As others have said, AI is the next IT juggernaut making big waves. It is driving everything in the defense complex and everything else. Just my observations from where I work.

I would look at the cyber security track. Since you have the broad background cyber security will touch all of that you have exposure to. Also if you add on any networking skills that helps cyber security too.

Some IT folks focus too much on their strong application or device knowledge and never understand the interactions outside of their sandbox. Which is a big part of cyber security on how those interactions happen and expose environments.


AI is the big buzz but changing at a pace unseen in past times. What you may learn may only apply for a short time. So get ready to learn of the differences and basic fundamentals of those AI systems.


IT is still great job market and several focus tracks to move around on.

What IT positions will AI NOT replace in the next 5-10 years?

quote:

Originally posted by flesheatingvirus:
What IT positions will AI NOT replace in the next 5-10 years?

Until someone has a robot to install hardware in a rack or closet. I’m safe for now.

I can see a value to having a AI robot patch cables. All custome layed in and clean closet.

I would look into the AI field.

I'm personally looking into Multi-cloud. I've also been doing IT since win95.

quote:

Originally posted by scratchy:
Both of those in conjunction would be very useful.

I agree. I think Cyber Security training and certs are MUCH more valuable to employers for those with an established technical background to begin with. People with Cyber Security degrees and certs may not have prior practical technical experience and track record, and as a result their in-depth understanding and ability to deliver original new content and utility are limited, focusing instead to whatever canned security app they're using. No comparison really to a professional networking, hardware, or opsys admins and engineers venturing into security. The IT industry has changed so much.

quote:

Originally posted by FenderBender:
I'm personally looking into Multi-cloud. I've also been doing IT since win95.

Hah! The last version of Windows I worked with was WfW! I was already onto Solaris and BSD by the time W95 was released.

WRT "multi-cloud," it appears to me that all of Cloudflare, AWS, Google, Azure, etc. have customer lock-in as their primary driving force.

In other words, it is more about picking your poi$on, than learning how to mix the chemicals. Certainly helpful to have familiarity with all the major players, but it's a long hard road getting them to work together.

quote:

Originally posted by VBVAGUY:
I was recently laid off again from an IT position as the contract for the city expired and they ended up hiring within the organization for the position I was performing for them. As a person who has been in the IT field since the mid 1990's, I do not have any current certifications. However most of my positions I have learn on the job and so I have always considered myself a "JACK OF ALL TRADES" but expert of NONE ranging from Windows OS, workstations, servers, Server OS, SQL Databases, Exchange Email, networks, etc. I recently found that the VA may have a program where they will pay for me to go back to school for training. At my age, I do NOT want to go back for a degree, however I am willing to do several weeks or months to receive a certificate. The 2 certifications I am leaning to are:

• AWS Cloud Practitioner and then AWS Certified Solutions Architect
  
• Some Cybersecurity certification
  

If anyone has any experience and / or suggestions, please do not hesitate to let me know. Thank you for reading and any help or suggestions you may give. God Bless !!!

After 25+ years of IT, I'd have to say anything on the security and or network side of the house. "Automation" is another area to look into.

Assuming your local job market isn't turning up opportunities you're interested in, than I imagine remote work is in your future. I'd probably lean on Indeed to show you where the demand is. It's tough to see through the hype of A.I. as to what is destined to be automated, and what will still require skilled staff. I think local infrastructure support will still be a thing for a long time.

Look hard at health systems. Cloud infrastructure is built for commerce, and doesn't fit the healthcare model particularly well. So there is likely jobs in that space where you are. Maybe even call and ask to speak with someone in their HR department. When they get you that person, ask them to pass you on to the I.T. lead for guidance on skillsets they are looking for. Heck, that might even just find you a job!

C sharp and SQL is good in northern Utah right now. Good API engineers are hard to find. Why would I go that route? It's fun and rewarding.

Given your background I would go for the AWS Cloud Practitoner and the AWS Certified Solutions Architect. I would then consider getting ITIL certified and developing skills in AI. Your jack of all trades background coupled with AWS and ITIL certification will expand your knowledge base. ITIL certification and AI skills will enable you to leverage systems like ServiceNow to automate System Management and Operations. Diversify your skill set with training in Azure and Google.
Many companies have no idea of how to bridge current systems management solutions to cloud based ITIL but they do understand that's the path to automation. A jack of all trades is well positioned to build those bridges.
I was in IT for 41 years retiring in 2021 as an SVP for a Fortune 200 company. I am an ITIL, TOGAF and Azure certified IT Architect with a focus on Infrastructure and IT Management.
Given your background, moving into CyberSecurity may require a few steps back to move forward. I don't read a strong background in CyberSecurity and it is a tough field but if you have a strong interest and are willing to develop the skills, that is an option that has a future.

Best of luck. In IT one needs to constantly train.

From what I can see happening in my neck of the woods AI, cloud computing, containers, and security are big right now. Start getting familiar with AI and use it daily. We are moving a lot of things to the Google Cloud Platform. Of course this is happening right after getting everyone familiar with Azure I just accepted a new position in cyber security and will be working on my getting my CISSP certification. Good luck!

I started in 1985, that's DOS and windows 3.1...lol, and retired in 2021 as the CIO of my government department. Like you I was a jack of all trades but I trained as I went along, the government paid for it. If I were in your position I would look to build on what I know to make it more attractive, get some Microsoft certs, should be fast and easy for you, put some initials behind your name. Then Add some training in AI and Cyber security to show you know where the future is. There is still a need for a boots on the ground tech who can just take care of whatever comes along, be that person to get in the door. You said you are a VET, in my state that automatically gives you preference in the hiring and testing for positions for government jobs. Find a niche and work it from with-in. Otherwise you will be competing with a gazillion 21 y/o kids with a college degree in AI or something , who have no real world experience and will work for cheep because they are still living home.

I know you did not ask for career advice, to answer your question, Cyber Security is the way I would go based on your experience, you will know how and where to apply your knowledge..

Good luck,
60

quote:

Originally posted by mkueffer:

quote:

Originally posted by flesheatingvirus:
What IT positions will AI NOT replace in the next 5-10 years?

Until someone has a robot to install hardware in a rack or closet. I’m safe for now.

I can see a value to having a AI robot patch cables. All custome layed in and clean closet.

I would not suggest someone new to the job market to get into IT since I think AI can/will take over. Even hardware install will be simplified in the future and will not require specialized training (at least that is my forecast).
But it appears the OP has been in the industry for a while so I think he will be ok.

quote:

Originally posted by architect:

quote:

Originally posted by FenderBender:
I'm personally looking into Multi-cloud. I've also been doing IT since win95.

Hah! The last version of Windows I worked with was WfW! I was already onto Solaris and BSD by the time W95 was released.

WRT "multi-cloud," it appears to me that all of Cloudflare, AWS, Google, Azure, etc. have customer lock-in as their primary driving force.

In other words, it is more about picking your poi$on, than learning how to mix the chemicals. Certainly helpful to have familiarity with all the major players, but it's a long hard road getting them to work together.

I'm also not quite 40...

And I agree with your assessment on the lock in, however there are a lot of companies out there, with DEEP pockets who want to stay agnostic. I'm looking for high value, high effort, low work load niche contracting.