Career Shakeup - 2 years after graduating

Check out the link:

http://www.globalknowledge.com/training/course.asp?PageID=64&courseid=8607&country=Canada&translation=English

Check out also other certifications and courses being offered, and the price! Yikes!

I’m undecided and a little frustrated about what to do exactly. Eventually I would like to get into Wireless technology and specifically Wireless Security. The above website offers courses for the CWNA (certified wireless network administrator; www.cwnp.com) certification, non-vendor specific. But when I look at job sites, there aren’t many companies looking for those skills. Is it because the market is still evolving in the wireless industry? Also, when I do look for jobs on the internet, CISCO certifications are more in demand, rather than the non-vendor specific of CWNP (certified wireless network professional). I understand this, since Cisco is pretty much the Microsoft of enterprises.

And then there’s the MCP and Microsoft certifications. I think it would provide a solid basis if I want to get into wireless and wireless security, so I should get this certification first. Is there something wrong with my analysis? But this would mean lots of money to invest. The course above alone costs CAD$5000! Luckily, the exam fee is included and a retake fee is also included in case of a fail. But that’s 4 exams… intense!

To top these off, going in this direction basically leaves behind the degree I spent 4 years taking, information technology management. Continuing with a consultancy job would be great, but I feel having the technical background will further complement the consultancy direction. But there’s always the chance that getting on the technical side will end up with me on the technical side, and not the business side, which consultancy still has an anchor on. I still am keen on keeping with the business side of things.

Time-wise, I think on a short term projection, I could go for getting a MCP certification right now and be marketable. But for a longer-term projection, taking that certification in wireless technology would work I think, especially if I continue on the track to follow wireless security. But at the same time, taking the MCP certification now not only will make me marketable, but by taking the wireless certification at a later time, this would also enhance my marketability just as much. This seems to be the most logical track to follow, but there’s still something that nags at me….

And that is: but where does this leave consultancy? Or business/systems analysis? The 4 years I spent at Ryerson University, the degree in Information Technology Management? Never mind the fact I will be going through 1 year of internship with the IT Consultancy department with DaimlerChrysler by the end of September 2006.

With these thoughts, although I said I would love to stay in the NL for another 6-8 months more after my term here in Maastricht, the reality is that, based on my assessment above, I don’t think I can have the liberty to extend, especially if the next job in Amsterdam is not relevant to my career direction. If I find one, great. But there is still the hassle I think of acquiring a resident permit for another 6 months, etc. And although it would be great to teach English, as I have mentioned in passing to some of you before, in a country in Eastern Europe, this isn’t really logical either; it doesn’t complement anything that I want to do in the future (maybe training and development in the IT field, but that’s a bit of a longshot at this point). It would be great I think, but it will only remain a great experience. It’s not so bad, but perhaps, it may be something to consider when I’m close to retiring… a sort of phasing out of careers turned into vacation. I think it would only happen if I wasn’t really sure what to do with my career yet, but based on this self-assessment, I think I have an idea of what to do; only the specific direction to take is the crux. Do you sense that?

If you’re wondering how I’m feeling or where am I at this point, I think I’m in a very exciting point in my life. I love having choices, but my problem has always been not being able to act on those choices because I think deep down it scares the shit out of me. Once a choice is made, there’s no going back. There’s a sort of bliss being at that particular juncture. Some choices have been easy, and I was more than prepared pursuing it, best example being my choice to go on an internship and being lucky enough to land a job in Maastricht, never mind that the traineeship isn’t great, but I’m not really complaining that it sucks am I? It is providing me something else I think, and that’s good. Staying in Toronto would have been … unproductive.

Thoughts, insights, feedback, etc... I'd really like to hear from you! If you're an IT Professional, have you any advice?