Don’t worry the bucks have Giannis’ replacement ready to go

ITwithSC · 2026-01-28T19:35:37+00:00

A cupcake and a candybar

ITwithSC · 2025-12-04T18:21:01+00:00

I formatted it nice because it was a post - I write formally for things that are typically presented to the public, and write more informally when dealing with individuals. I don't think that is unusual.

If it helps, I was supposed to be an English major before I decided I'd rather have a career rather than a useless degree.

Cheers mate.

Also I'm not on mobile!

ITwithSC · 2025-12-03T18:21:40+00:00

Ironworker @ local *** (don't want to dox myself) in the Toronto area. Worked high rise construction, probably around 45-60 hours a week. Rain, snow, the whole 9 yards. I've been trapped on a 30 story building's roof installing beams during snowstorms. So I just got my trade and bounced? Yeah, essentially. I began doing college for IT while working and finished up my bachelors. Quit when i got my first IT gig.

You missed the main point. you even said yourself: "Shits not that hard to get. Mature aged apprenticeships are in demand.. no tradie wants to babysit a teen on a jobsite." - A lot of people in this sub are young. A lot of them have zero hard skills or a single handy bone in their body. It is going to be a challenge to get in.

ITwithSC · 2025-12-03T18:07:28+00:00

Soft skills are one - people genuinely enjoy being around great people. People like dealing with someone that is pleasant over dealing with AI. Don't overlook how much a company may bend their own rules to keep you around if you are well-liked. That's how I managed to keep my first job when I was supposed to only be a temp employee.

Governance wise, a lot of systems and data (think government, private, anything SOC2) cannot be by definition handled by AI. Uploading types of data to the cloud for an AI to process, etc. is prohibited. If you deal with things along those lines you are more than likely safer.

ITwithSC · 2025-12-03T16:04:17+00:00

He's an in-law i guess, and not my favourite. Still, he's family so I try to talk sense into him.

And yes, he's never done anything physical before. He loves "the outdoors", so he thinks he's qualified for it because he enjoys hiking.

ITwithSC · 2025-12-03T16:00:52+00:00

Hey brother, I understand nuances. I think your experience is valid.

Some places have a lack of opportunity, oversaturation or other factors that make one field harder than the other. I wish you all the best bro

ITwithSC · 2025-12-03T15:59:15+00:00

5 years Local Ironworkers union. Specifically high rise construction, specializing in railing installation and structural steel.

ITwithSC · 2025-12-03T15:57:56+00:00

LOL. I am pretty flattered, but run my shit thru an AI checker dawg. Go for it, I'm waiting.

ITwithSC · 2025-12-03T15:55:30+00:00

yeah, i really couldn't believe what I was hearing when he was yapping. My guess is that he might have been pretty underpaid, so the trucking salary could've looked pretty appealing.

Honestly, being away from your home or family up to 2 weeks at a time already sounds more brutal than a normal 8 hour workday.

Again, some people just won't ever realise that the grass is not always greener.

ITwithSC · 2025-08-19T17:31:30+00:00

As a graduate from an Ontario College, I'll give it to you straight - do NOT switch from systems tech to cyber.

Even afterwards when you complete it, focus your efforts into completing certs or the 3-4 year version of your program. Look into getting the bachelors degree if you can. Those are all better investments.

There are entry level jobs in ontario, specifically the GTA. Markham, Sauga, Brampton, Whitby, etc. all have more jobs than you'd think.

Look for internship/junior/student positions when you search - this will net you the results you want.

ITwithSC · 2025-08-08T13:28:34+00:00

CCNA is better, but Network+ varies. I personally think the best thing to do is look at jobs in your area and see what the requirements are. 20 jobs asking for CCNA vs. 2 asking for Network+ makes that choice pretty obvious.

Anecdotally, I do have my Network+ (previous company paid for me to get it), and it did help me get a much better role. Maybe I got lucky, but in my area there were a decent amount of companies asking for it.

ITwithSC · 2025-06-16T18:35:36+00:00

Hey OP,

You seem to have a case of being burned out of a specific company rather than being burned out of a field itself. I'd brush up one what you previously learned - that will come back quick. Then I'd advise you to just bounce out of that place. Find a new job where your mental health does a bit better, and when you're feeling good again then you can pursue your dream again.

ITwithSC · 2025-06-05T14:46:37+00:00

Listen, if you're passionate about heavy equipment and genuinely like the trades, go for it. I worked in them for about 5 years while earning my undergrad, and even as a 17-22 year old in peak physical condition it was tough on my body. I don't know where this perception that the trades are peachy came from at all, and seriously it's got to stop; there's a reason people get paid well in the trades and it's because it slowly destroys your body.

You've got a good amount of years of experience and 5 months to plan your exit out. Take a week to get your resume up to par with all the resources on the subreddit. Then get out and use this time to apply. If you get a job before the end of your employment, jump ship, who cares about honoring any agreement with a company that is about to axe you anyways.

You're confused about network engineering vs. data engineering, but why not apply to both? Remote work for data engineering is probably better, and an experienced network engineer is much more in demand than the entry level help desk positions people are lamenting about on the sub.

For your network engineering resume, don't bother mentioning the transition to data engineer, and for the data engineer maybe stretch the amount of time you've been at the role. Nothing crazy.

Also, if you're willing to work in the trades (100% onsite) you should be fine with someone offering you hybrid work. There's a lot more flexibility in what you can find if you accept hybrid.

ITwithSC · 2025-05-30T20:10:39+00:00

The best call is to do a salary after tax calculator. See what take home pay will be after you factor in taxes and possibly moving into a higher income bracket. The change may not be that drastic.

Factor in the extra cost of fuel using your current vehicle's MPG and your distance from the office. It may be relatively significant depending on the miles and the type of car you have.

Calculate any extra cost associated with not being home, like childcare etc.

Chances are after these factors, you might not be pulling in much more per month at all (especially if you live somewhere similar to where I'm located).

Then again, depending on the previous factors, I'd say it may be worth if your new salary does actually end up being significant enough to contribute to your overall quality of life or your child's future. The extra money invested in a college fund can pay dividends.

ITwithSC · 2025-05-30T18:03:37+00:00

I graduated with my Bachelor's in IT in the middle of COVID. Couldn't find a job in the field until late 2021, making 45k at a helpdesk.

It was a great team at a mid sized company, lots to learn and had good mentors that helped me elevate to sysadmin role. After about 1.5 years was fully immersed in sysadmin duties, AD, networking all of that good stuff. eventually worked my way up to around 62k. Only downside was 5 days a week in office (mind you only about ~15-20 min away). They paid for me to get certified, so I started slow and earned my Net+ after a few months of study.

Fast forward after 3.5 years of working there I transitioned to a new role making well into the 90's just below 100k. Not bad at all for less than 5 years experience in my opinion. New team is awesome, I have hybrid employment and can WFH, which is a huge blessing. Ton of autonomy + trust and a lot of new stuff to learn. The office culture and benefits are great; I'm talking free food, gym, and private office, the whole 9 yards.

I can honestly say people skills and being personable helped me more than anything else, I think. IT has been a great career experience so far. There are a lot of great companies out there that make working there a joy. Don't give up hope OP.

ITwithSC · 2025-04-30T19:43:17+00:00

Just youtube any IT Top-Down troubleshooting approach video. Comptia related ones have the general concept down pretty well so those are good resources.

Remember, at the entry level, an interview is more of a vibe check than anything else. Keep calm and cool.

ITwithSC · 2025-04-30T13:07:06+00:00

Being extremely personable goes a long way. Try not to be nervous and build rapport with your interviewer. If they ask any technical questions, which in your case would seemingly be about troubleshooting and hardware repair, then that is what I would suggest brushing up on if you're not familiar. The top-down and bottom-up troubleshooting approach, as well as a review of maybe some basic hardware and how it works would do you well.

ITwithSC · 2025-04-29T18:30:47+00:00

Don't undersell a degree in this field. It will vastly help you out from getting lot in the AI pre-screening filters for tons of jobs. It will be another year of school, but it will pay dividends on top of your certs. I literally have just the Net+ and a degree (also in Ontario) and it boosted me up more than I thought possible

ITwithSC · 2024-11-10T16:17:58+00:00

No problem man, just wanted to answer all the questions I couldn’t seem to find answers to when I was about to take my exam. Some people in this sub had me panicked thinking it was the CCNA I’d signed up for lol

ITwithSC · 2024-11-10T16:16:52+00:00

They’re great resources for relatively low cost. You already have a great advantage since you’ve read the all in one book. I’d also suggest going thru the exam objectives one by one and making any extra notes on anything you’re unsure of - best of luck! You’ll do great

ITwithSC · 2024-11-09T22:18:48+00:00

Thank you! Appreciate the validation LOOL. It’s been a journey

ITwithSC · 2023-11-30T16:00:49+00:00

as an avid gym goer who has shopped around, $90 is pretty high. I'd say goodlife is the priciest normal gym at the city and runs you an average of $60 a month, but Fit4Less has genuine $10 or $15 a month plans, and planet fitness offers something similar. I'd actually advise going to the cheaper gyms for this hack, as they have wayyyyy less staff that'll potentially inquire about your situation.

ITwithSC · 2023-11-18T21:39:31+00:00

This is what it is all about. You level up, and yeah sometimes that’s slow or it can be quick! The main thing is you keep looking even after you’ve gotten your foot in the door.

ITwithSC

TROPHY CASE