ben000

My major issue with being in IT was that my projects and goals were always to support someone else’s initiatives and I never felt like I had a finished product when I was done. While restoring mail services @ 3AM is quite an accomplishment I still didn’t feel an attachment to the work. This is a really subjective thing, but I ended up doing advertising/design work and it makes more sense for me. I get an assignment, I put on my headphones, rock out, I finish, and I have something that I’m proud of. Even better the work ends up in the real world and I get to see profit results (good or bad) from my ideas and executions.

Luckily, my first job doing IT was for an advertising agency. I loved it, especially the creative department. It was just full of cool people, doing cool things: brainstorming, hanging out, talking design, etc. I latched onto it and stated to get my bearings in that world. Later I and my business partner started a small ad agency and worked our asses off with small businesses, barely making the money to justify our time and overhead. But it was in our off-time and it was fun and I loved it. Again, I took every opportunity to learn as I was still more focused on IT/web related projects than my designer/partner. That went well for a while and then I and my girlfriend decided to move to Seattle.

Needless to say that created a little issue with my little company, and ultimately I and my business partner decided to dissolve it and pursue separated money-making opportunities on separate coasts. So finally, I used IT (instead of it using me) to land a job on the other coast and get my feet wet in a new town. It was definitely the worst IT job I had. The company was borderline corrupt and I found myself at the bottom rung doing help desk work, much of it via phone. All of a sudden the job was much less the sys admin work that had been discussed and I found myself simply turning the car around and going home when the weather was nice or I was feeling extra restless. This put the nail in the coffin. I was used to IT being fun and even cool, but now it was really boring and stagnant.

So I quit. It took a lot of work to get my girlfriend on board with this, but ultimately she knew I was going to lose it if I didn’t. I had enough money to live for about a month. Immediately I got to work on branding myself and getting all of my work online. And this next step is the kicker. Even if you don’t think you need to, go to a recruitment agency and interview and get them all of your info. If the recruitment agency specializes in your new field of choice, even better. Mine did/does. This is how I’ve always gotten “good jobs,” IT and non. So, I’ve ended up with a few freelance gigs and now a full-time position at a gaming company designing their external advertising efforts. Best job ever, so far!!!

So in closing the advice I have beyond the story itself, is to pursue whatever it is that you want to do. BUT, don’t go into it half-assed, or at least go into it as informed as possible. As IT is a necessity for every industry, chances are that you have some skills and training in another industry that you may or may not like. Luckily, in my case, I found advertising & design to be my true calling (for now at least). Circumstances may or may not lead you to quit your previous job but don’t hesitate to exercise it as an option. It is one of the most liberating things I have ever done! Everyone should do it once. Also, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to be a dumb-ass. That’s where we all start. Lastly, remember to be patient. If this is truly a career change and not just a job change it will take years of schooling and/or experience to prepare you for your new career. And once you’re there don’t forget to continue learning and don’t be a know it all jackass to those below you.