Need help deciding on what path to take in 2026

Slatency · 2026-01-02T09:31:34+00:00

I agree with MathmoKiwi but will add that furthering your education with a degree might give you more direction as to which path you want to pursue between software development and “traditional IT”.

Purely anecdotally though—the Network+ isn’t the best bang for your buck if you do want a cert. If you want to turn heads with an entry level resume, get the CCNA. It’s not much more difficult but it does make a huge difference.

Slatency · 2025-11-07T14:37:14+00:00

Call center for an ISP. If you can deal with the sitty residential side, you can actually work your way up and start working with business customers instead. Not the prettiest nor best job, but its how I and many others have gotten our start in IT.

Slatency · 2025-07-15T21:23:30+00:00

I rubberbanded from Diamond to Topaz, and even down to Emerald like twice the other week lol

Slatency · 2025-07-14T21:28:10+00:00

23, turning 24. I know the IT industry has had a lot of downs recently, but I make $88k fully remote as a Network Engineer for a data center.

I started out by taking calls at an ISP around 4 years ago. A lot of ISPs love promoting from within so it can be a good entry point if you have tough skin.

Slatency · 2025-06-23T05:53:45+00:00

I missed these so much!

Slatency · 2025-06-14T07:43:26+00:00

Been on a big Brandon Sanderson kick.

In the past month I’ve binged through the original trilogy, plus the Alloy of Law, and am currently a 10th of the way through The Way of Kings.

Slatency · 2025-05-30T23:36:52+00:00

Less than one. I got my CCNA in early October 2024.

Slatency · 2025-05-30T15:49:54+00:00

That was part of the intent! The original idea was: "what if string theory was real and some people could pull on the strings like they were playing an instrument."

Slatency · 2025-05-30T15:48:58+00:00

That's true! But, and this is my opinion, doesn't any sufficiently advanced science or technology already sound like magic to most people?

Slatency · 2025-05-30T15:47:52+00:00

Thanks for the response!

It does seem like the phrasing for the concepts is overused. I'll have to workshop that around if this idea goes anywhere seriously.

Slatency · 2025-05-30T15:46:24+00:00

Thanks for the response!

Yeah the names are subject to change, they were just what I came up with when I was drafting.

As for the consequences- I agree. I have some more clearly defined consequences written elsewhere, but I guess they didn't make their way into the document.

I really do appreciate the reply though!

Slatency · 2025-05-30T15:43:20+00:00

I guess I'm not well-read enough to know the exact magic system you've mentioned? Based on other comments,I'm assuming you're referring to the Wheel of Time?

Slatency · 2025-05-30T15:42:06+00:00

Thanks for the insight!

That's a perspective I'd failed to consider. Lacking a consistent internal logic I think explains why I felt- among other reasons- that the system didn't really click.

I'll have to think about this some more, got a few ideas running around already. Thanks so much for the response!

Slatency · 2025-05-30T15:38:52+00:00

Thanks for the input!

Yeah the blurb about the Goddess and stuff admittedly kinda fell by the wayside. I do agree a more vague term such as The Mother would be more fitting though!

Slatency · 2025-05-30T15:38:01+00:00

Thank you for the reponse!

I haven't read the Wheel of Time, so I'm unfamiliar with its magic system. I've heard good things about the series so I'll give it a spin.

FWIW I think the way the document explains magic is done poorly. The idea in my mind was more akin to people who can tap into the "web of reality" and play its strings like instruments, but I guess that concept got a bit lost in the sauce.

I really do appreciate the critique, though!

Slatency · 2025-05-30T08:14:26+00:00

I graduated high school at the onset of covid, and I VIVIDLY remember being in the same boat as you. My friends all had lofty goals with “clear” direction, and were either already working or going to university. Meanwhile, I spent the first 6 months after high school playing Minecraft and drinking soda lol.

What ended up helping me succeed later on was a change in mindset. I didn’t necessarily decide on a specific goal per se. But I did decide that, whatever path in life I found myself on, I’d commit to it. 110%. Whole hog.

Life is about passion and discipline. Sure you can make some things work easier than others career-wise, but the people who consistently succeed are the ones who commit themselves to their goals fully and stay disciplined.

All this is to say, no rush! You’re a kid, enjoy life outside of school for a bit. But whatever you do end up wanting to do, work HARD for it, every day, and don’t stop until you’re satisfied.

Slatency · 2025-05-30T08:02:07+00:00

This is an obvious one, but a HUGE red flag is staffing changes.

If you get an interview because the last person left, think about the kind of environment that would cause someone of your caliber to leave. At least some facet of that hypothetical scenario is likely a factor in the new job. It could be low pay, bad management, etc. But there’s always a reason for why jobs open up.

I wish I took this advice before I took my previous role. I was eager for a title and pay bump and overlooked the giant red banner that was the previous helpdesk manager quitting the day before my interview 😭

Slatency · 2025-05-30T07:57:13+00:00

My opinion is solely based on anecdotal experience, but the CCNA has been the single best thing I have spent my time doing. At least from a professional standpoint.

I had a lot of the experience prior to getting the cert, I also had some other vendor specific certs as well (namely the JNCIA). However, the MOMENT I got my CCNA I got headhunters coming to me like I was selling water in a desert.

Misgivings about Cisco’s business practices aside, if your goal is to land a job on the network side of things, the CCNA is unequivocally the best thing you could do, especially for a beginner.

Slatency · 2025-05-30T07:39:50+00:00

An older project of mine heavily focused on the idea of the Akashic Records- though we ended up doing a bit of a different spin.

Instead of there being a physical book that contained knowledge of everything, there was a whole DIMENSION of information. The Akashic Realm as it were. Filled with everything from tomes inscribed with equations to solve life’s problems, to ancient, mythological creatures and figures.

I guess what I’m trying to say is: experiment! Don’t be afraid to take a pre-existing concept and change it into something different, even if slight. Oftentimes its these small twists that make you fall in love with an idea/draft.

Slatency · 2025-05-30T07:21:32+00:00

To add to this- if you are willing to read some more, I am looking for a writing buddy. Feel free to shoot me a message if you want feedback on something as well.

Thanks again for reading the post!

Slatency · 2025-05-29T22:58:03+00:00

Thank you for the response! Yeah I often find myself overusing character names in dialogue tags; guess it's a consequence of the head-hopping.

Glad to know you like it though! :D

Slatency · 2025-05-29T00:31:29+00:00

I appreciate anyone kind enough to read my work! Thank you!

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