This is interesting - geek oriented...and non-political

[Icemaster]

Just found this...for the other techno folks on here, I know I'm not the only one:

Top 10 Technology certifications (predicted) for 2006 from Certcities

10: Linux Professional Institute Certification, Level 2 (LPIC 2)
9: Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)
8: MCSE: Security
7: Cisco Certified Network Professional
6: Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert
4 (TIE): Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP), Project Management Professional (PMP)
3: Microsoft Certified Architect
2: Microsoft Certified Technical Specialist: SQL & .NET
1: Red Hat Certified Engineer


Thoughts?

[Halm]

I would say that is pretty accurate, especially if the cert is going to open doors for a job.

As an independent IT guy I can build a case for why each of these is a great career. Also from an independent's point of view the Security certs are in high demand, but they carry high liability. You better be more than good, or someone will end up suing you when they have a breach.

[tabs]

I always wanted to be a Mens Room Attendent...just think hand out a towel and get a tip....

Failing that dream...I thought maybe a Pet Food Taster would be a GOOD GIG...just think being paid to eat...and the food is better than half the Buffets here in Vegas...

[bigchillcar]

tabs..if you're good..that would indeed insure oneself of being a man of wealth..and of taste. me..i'll take a plate of fafa beans...and a nice chianti......

[masraum]

No Schtick, I'm surprised the Cisco stuff is that low and the top is held by MS stuff, but I guess I shouldn't be.

I'm not surprised that security seems to dominate, it's darn interesting, but to be really good is not easy.

[bigchillcar]

what's haps in data storage these days? back in '02 i had an internet recruiting firm specializing in placing data storage sales people, sales engineers, and techies. major players were like emc, sun, hitachi, etc....then the market flooded with too many storage companies, they started folding..resumes began flooding the market and nobody was hiring..so i folded, too.
ryan

[Icemaster]

We're doing a lot of work with EMC these days, they seem to rule the roost ATM. Engineers I've been working with though are shall we say far less than happy with their situations. They seem to have an average tenure of about 16 months.

Data management seems to be the big thing these days, especially in the health care sector.

I'm just pleased to see the project management cert as high up as it is.

[HardDrive]

LOL. Damn, my MCSE: Messaging cert didn't make the cut? I think I am one of about 3k world wide with the cert.

How about my "Ten Long Years Working In The Trenches" (TLYWITT) certification?

[bigchillcar]

We're doing a lot of work with EMC these days, they seem to rule the roost ATM.

are they still the dominant player in data storage systems?
ryan

[Icemaster]

In my world yes. Running all our SAN, though Storagetek is handling the onsite stuff with the libraries.

[bigchillcar]

icemaster...i see. what about data storage in general? i got out of that line in '02..i figured after the dust settled and all the bit players dropped out, certain big guys would survive. has data storage as an industry as a whole picked back up in the last 4 year? stayed about the same? lost more ground? just really general questions..
ryan

[Icemaster]

Honestly, I don't really know about that segment, most of what I deal with are the DC buildouts and startups so my focus is primarily on the hardware, servers, their OS and infrastructure equipment.

If I were a betting man though, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if that market wasn't starting to pick back up again. Sarbanes-Oxley has put a big hurting on the old way of doign business and has forced a lot of re-tooling with an eye to virtual data warehouses.

What are you doign these days?

[bigchillcar]

What are you doign these days?

nuts here. had to quite flying professionally due to ptsd...why i wound up being an internet recruiter in the first place. i was doing okay placing people, but in small vendors..several little networking companies. had trouble collecting, so finally packed it in and went back into medical sciences research (my degree, pre-aviation stuff) for a year or so until i just couldn't stand it. wrote a book,,working with an agent right now (sci-fi), webmaster to a small company, do some spanish translations of technical documents from english to spanish (my second language), about to test to be a strength and conditioning coach to do personal training.....all this crap and i just turned 40. sorry you asked? trust me..it sucks hard to be me these days..
ryan

[Icemaster]

WOW!

OK, what AREN'T you doing these days? You're not missing much from being in IT...I'm counting myself as one of the lucky ones to actually still be here after the past 4 years.

That seriously sucks about the flying though...any chance to return even on a social basis?

[bigchillcar]

ice,
not likely anytime soon. i'll probably take the recurrency exams this fall to keep all my instructor ratings active, but i let my medical expire. besides, i can't in good conscience bring myself to get one. you self-report on issues of 'mental health' and were i to be honest, i'd be denied. last summer i was so sick of my life and how it had unraveled, that i quit taking all my meds cold turkey, spriraled worse and wound up taking an overdose of pills, chasing it with a bottle of wine and a bittle of brandy..and i'm not even much of a drinker. but..my gf of 3 years had just left me on top of it and i was sick of the face in the mirror. i woke up a day or two later in an er..not exactly the 'angels' i was hoping to see. back on meds and a week later i was discharged. i bought a house and here i spend most of my time, a world-traveler no more. to add irony to my story, this afternoon i get the first e-mail or word period from my ex since all this happened. she felt the need to let me know how she'd 'moved on', finally getting over me. you see..once i was no longer a 'well paid pilot', i kinda fell into disfavor. they never bothered to ask what was at the root of the ptsd and how debilitating it can be to man's life. sorry if i'm sounding sour tonight..just glad there's nothing to drink in this house and i'm too tired to go looking for it. my ex said if i'd like 'details' of her new life..think i'll pass. suppose the new guy's an earner..
ryan

[Joeaksa]

Ryan,

If you want to fly just for fun, there is a new rating around in the last year or so. Its called the Sport Pilot cert and if you have a drivers license and your FAA medical has not been denied or revoked, you are legal. No medical needed at all.

Plane has to be 1320 pounds or less, single engine, not complex (you know that all that entails) and no IFR flying. A Aeronca, Cub or T-Cart fits the bill just fine.

We have all been through bad times. If its bad enough that you felt the need to "head West" on your own, then please get some help and spend some time with friends/family. Aint no woman around worth worrying about if she is going to leave you in a time like this, so you are lucky that she is gone and infecting some other guys world.

Build your life back again and someday when you are in a new Porsche you will run into her. No need to say anything, she will realize that she is the one who screwed the pooch.

Joe A

[legion]

Doesn't seem to be anything on that list about Big Iron. Then again, those systems take far fewer people to run than those on the list.

[Icemaster]

Hey Ryan,

What would bring me down would be to hear that something had happened to you, I'd much rather see you tap away here among friends that stew there by yourself.

Thats kinda cheap of her ripping the scab off like that, but overall the message seems to be pretty clear that if she's a bit of a gold digger, she wasn't good enough for you. In the infamous words of King Arthur - "Run Away! Run Away!"

It sounds like you got your wits about you, dont hesitate to talk or PM, I'd much rather hear from you than not. There's a lot of folks out here including myself that would be happy to BS with you or help out with anything you might need.

Nothing wrong with checking out Joe's idea, could give you something to channel besides the P-car.

Stay in touch...

[bigchillcar]

joe and ice,
thanks for the words..even coming from relative strangers through the internet, i can't miss their heartfelt nature. truly, thank you. it's not so much that she's a complete 'gold digger'..she just got tired of waiting to see if i'd ever heal. on the other hand, she has fibromyalgia, heart complications, and it never occurred to me to wait and see if she'd improve or leave her. it isn't easy loving someone with the anxiety and depression cycles with ptsd..i guess it just isn't for everyone..and she'd already buried a husband she'd watched die a little more each day from hodgkin's disease. it's just been a chore to find a new niche, start over and work happily and consistently the past couple of years. last year i was just about paralyzed with it and hardly worked at all. i've been studying to test to become a certfied strength and conditioning specialist..it's a glorifed personal trainer in a sense, but not an easy exam. i've worked out and strength-trained for 25 years, so it's something i know..at this point i'm just looking for ways to survive and have just quit dreaming. maybe if i get really lucky and my book gets published, best case scenario i could get a book deal lined up that would actually pay me to start writing again..who knows. joe, i am familiar with the sport pilot license. i guess i'm hoping one day when i'm older and healthier, i might return to instructing. it was my first love, even above being a lear driver. little airplanes are a lot of fun, but right now i just think i'm going to keep myself grounded for a while. thanks again for the support. i'll certainly remember who you guys are.
best,
ryan

[madmmac]

Hmmm.....I don't see teaching English language in Bangalore India listed in the top 10??