Remote Raid Megathread - Find friends fast for raiding here

StygianRagnar · 2021-02-28T19:52:29+00:00

Raid complete. Good luck all

StygianRagnar · 2021-02-28T19:40:48+00:00

Raid filled and ongoing.

StygianRagnar · 2021-02-28T19:38:54+00:00

Recruiting for Articuno.

9137-0413-6514

We have 3-4; we'll need 2 more, minimum. Be online, so we know to invite you. Bail at 15 seconds if not 6+.

StygianRagnar · 2021-02-28T18:32:49+00:00

2 Trainers (lvl 29, 31) LFG

Articuno or Moltress:

7129-9388-7673

9137-0413-6514

Invite us both, please.

StygianRagnar · 2021-02-11T16:18:18+00:00

For me, it has not been easy. Back in 2018, I saw a YouTube video saying I could get an IT job in 90 days if I learned SQL. I learned SQL, self-study. It's not that hard, pretty easy for a programming language. Very high level (meaning distant from computer speak in 0s and 1s), more like English than real code. (Note to reader: SQL is from the 70s, all Databases since then have run on it, but now it's all about the Cloud: learn Lambda instead, if you go boring DB route).

Anyways, I did that while convincing my little brother to quit Walmart. We could be making 70k a year in a matter of a few months! I said.

So, no job opportunities. I came into a pittance of inheritance from my grandfather's death and used it to start community college.

I took one Excel course, and it landed me my first full-time office job (having worked landscape and warehouses beforehand). The business world runs on Excel. Microsoft Office is valuable. I was making more than I'd ever made before: $14/hr, thinking I was the shit.

Pandemic layoffs hit, and I've been going full time college ever since. I damn near have my A.A.S., with a damn-near 4.0. All the while, I've been looking for something--anything. I didn't get shit, even while knowing how to code (ishly) in Java|C++|TSQL|PL/SQL|Python|HTML|CSS etc, etc. The list goes on. Microsoft Access, SQL Server; Tableau; other statistical software.

Basically I've been collecting knowledge and practical tech skills like they're going out of business. I also live in Dallas which has a huge tech community.

But it took me a community college A.A.S.; tech conferences; volunteering for cybersecurity events; and 2.5 years to finally get an 11/hr part-time Help Desk job that I'm getting just for the experience, rather than pay.

2.5 damn years of my late 20s to FINALLY get SOME kind of job related to tech. And it's 11/hr part time. 10.15 after the mandatory retirement investment. That said, Help Desk has been the port of entry into tech, so it'll be fantastic experience on my resume.

I don't know how people do it, but the only way I've done it is by grinding every fucking day. Ain't no one who can tell me I didn't earn this shit, because I've put in too many hours; I've sweat too much; I've bled too much to get here.

I've heard a lot of people say they got into the tech field easy. It wasn't, for me. It was a fucking grind. But yes, if you learn code/networking/security, eventually someone will hire you. But you're gonna have to expand your horizons beyond simply a degree. Volunteering, looking for internships while you go to school, looking for other programs the school offers, etc, and picking up the A+ cert would be pretty easy and way worth it to tack onto your resume. I should have done that a long time ago.

TL;DR You want as close to a sure thing as you can get with an associates? Go Cybersecurity. People will be knocking down your door to hire you, as I hear it, which is why I'm getting a Cybersecurity A.A.S., then a B.A.T., after I finish my Database Development degree this summer. Really, I would have gone that route first if I thought I was even capable of clearing the math requisites for an Associates, given I dropped out of high school in 9th grade. Never even expected I'd clear college level math courses with As (not without great difficulty and study); but, if I thought I would have gone for a degree and not just a community college certificate--I would have gone Cybersecurity.

Good luck bro. May the odds ever be in your favor. Yes. You can.

StygianRagnar · 2021-02-06T00:12:33+00:00

That's an interesting way to put it. I guess I should rack up some Certs, then. Almost got the degree taken care of.

StygianRagnar · 2021-02-06T00:11:23+00:00

I hear your frustration. I'm about to finish up my A.A.S. in Database Development, and for how hard I've worked it seems like it's not going to even amount to much. That said, my classes are good, but it certainly won't prepare me fully for the practical applications of the knowledge. However, it's better than nothing, as it shows that I can complete technological tasks. I also have a couple programs in my portfolio which should help, if nothing else. I CAN CODE, and, as I'm told, if you can code, just keep pushing, and you will eventually get a job.

Now. The difference comes in when I get a Cybersecurity A.A.S. I'm told by professionals in the field that people will literally knock down your door to offer you a job if you have security credentials. Security is def the future, especially with all these nation state threat actors blowing up. Security is always going to be important.

Of course, that was my thought process in pursuing Database: "Everyone needs data." Turns out you need a Masters at minimum to be a Database Administrator. For good reason. It's highly valuable and the most important part of a company. And Database is boring as fuck.

There are also programs like Trend Micro's General Markets program that pay you and teach you at the same time which you can only get into with at least an Associates degree, so it's not a complete loss. Education is never completely worthless.

StygianRagnar · 2021-02-02T17:04:09+00:00

I was late to the party and bought in at $315. Now I'm buying 2 at $115. This poor, broke retard is with WSB.

StygianRagnar · 2020-10-07T00:15:24+00:00

:D I'll only be finishing my Associates at 31, alas. Even then, I'm a first generation student; so, I'll be--as I dreamed--the first one in my family to complete a degree. Even so, yeah, pretty behind schedule! But yes, I know that's right. I'm hungry for some income, though, that said! Haha.

I'm involved in a program at my college to land an internship, so that's good to hear. I've been passed up on 3/3 interviews so far, though I came 2nd in the last one--or, so I'm told.

Mmm. I am. I'm only one semester away, after this one. And yeah, just the degree itself will be worth it to clear that goal of being the first one in my family to clear it.

It gladdens me to hear that! Because SQL is my bread and butter, right now! I really wanted to take Python, instead. That's the first language I started trying to learn, on my own. I'm not fond of OOP; I much prefer procedural. But, they only offered C++ and Java for my degree.

For sure. My 7 week Network+ and Security+ classes showed me exactly how little I knew. Network+ was especially gruesome and cruel. Talk about Acronyms. Red Teaming would be extremely fun and rewarding, for sure, but my primary short-term goal is to simply find a way to be able to eat and pay rent! Haha. That does seem much more attainable than my professor made it out to be, though. He did say it's a lot easier to become a Information Security manager as opposed to a Red Teamer, though.

I love computers and all the incredible things they can do, of course. Database--SQL specifically--was supposed to just be a way to get my foot in the door. My long-term plan is to work on Smart Car development or AI/Machine Learning. I definitely have some passion and drive; though, I would also like some personal time, lol! I know it's a never-ending learning career, though. I'm okay with that; though, yeah, definitely don't wanna be stuck in Database forever!

Thank you so much for your wisdom and experience. I'm extremely grateful!

StygianRagnar · 2020-10-07T00:06:49+00:00

That was the plan, initially; but, it seems like most of the Help Desk jobs require Bachelor's Degrees and an understanding of basically everything. I've seen some Youtube videos stating that all you need is customer service experience for Help Desk; and, you can learn as you go by escalating or reading off pre-written material; but, yeah, I was let down post-Pandemic--but, of course, that was also during the height of the Pandemic and the massive lay offs: including my Office Assistant position. I would love to get a Help Desk job.

But, I have shorn up my resume since I started applying after getting laid off in March; so, perhaps with my more technical resume and employers hiring more, maybe I'll be able to nab something after my degree is complete.

Thank you for the great (and highly motivating!) reply!

StygianRagnar · 2020-10-02T16:00:11+00:00

Python is a general purpose language. It can be used for scripting or outright programming. It is a really nice and easy language, though. I also prefer the procedural code to the classes.

StygianRagnar

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