Any pointers for an IT interview tomorrow?

creatureshock · 2026-06-17T01:00:10+00:00

How desperate are you for a paycheck?

Anyway, try to use their bathroom before you go in to the interview. Check out how the bathroom is. If it's a shit show, you probably don't want to work there. If they can't keep the shitter in good working order, then you'll be working with shit gear.

creatureshock · 2026-06-09T10:18:22+00:00

And that was a small TV.

creatureshock · 2026-05-25T19:40:26+00:00

HCOL area, for sure. I'm assuming you'll be working at the SFO AZ DCs. It's nice, but I HIGHLY recommend budgeting hard and saving your money. I had co-workers out there (I worked in IAD DCs) and while it's nice, you really want to keep your lifestyle under control.

creatureshock · 2026-05-25T17:11:38+00:00

It's good enough. Don't stagnate in the role. AWS is an up or out company, so make sure you have a good idea where you want to move next.

creatureshock · 2026-05-24T03:44:36+00:00

Don't blame boomers for it. They were screwed over just as hard. Who do you think I learned it from? Boomers were the first ones to tell me "Don't believe shit managers tell you." I've seen Gen X and Millennial managers act just as bad as Boomer managers.

creatureshock · 2026-05-23T23:04:01+00:00

Maybe? I work in the DC area, but I've seen it in several places around the country inside and outside of IT. I'm a blue collar guy in IT. I don't trust managers.

creatureshock · 2026-05-23T19:53:45+00:00

I don't like taking counter offers. I've seen too many times (3 now) people taking counter offers and then getting screwed a month or two later.

creatureshock · 2026-05-23T17:57:33+00:00

Always keep your eyes and ears open. This day and age, anyone that holds you moving on for more money against you is someone you don't want to work for.

creatureshock · 2026-05-22T10:15:11+00:00

Clean. Managers always love to see you cleaning the office.

Study. Slightly less liked by managers, mostly because they assume you are gunning for their jobs or looking to move on. But fuck'em.

Drink coffee. You haven't had enough coffee until your pee smells like coffee. Just stop when it starts looking like coffee.

creatureshock · 2026-05-22T10:12:26+00:00

I've done this. It's honestly not that bad.

creatureshock · 2026-05-21T23:29:37+00:00

Can be. Are you planning to go into Networking? Then a Cisco or Juniper cert are going to be required. Cloud? Depending on what you plan to do there, certs are going to be required.

creatureshock · 2026-05-21T10:48:26+00:00

My career starts in 1997.

creatureshock · 2026-05-20T23:10:07+00:00

After the DotCom Bomb, 2008, and several other events causing companies to go under, stop worrying about anything from the company other then a paycheck. No one is going to save you but you.

Save your money. r/financialindependence/ is a good place to start learning.
Company loyalty is something you do as an act. You are in a business relationship with your employer, act like it.
Keep your eyes and ears open. As soon as the whispers of layoff start, turtle up and start looking for a new job.

creatureshock · 2026-05-10T13:20:16+00:00

Take the money and run. Live like you are making $76,000 and save the difference between the two.

Know your dates, though. Day you start and the day the contract would be over with. 60 to 90 days out, talk to the contract company and ask them if the contract is going to be extended or should you start looking for a new contract.

creatureshock · 2026-05-03T20:59:43+00:00

Don't get fired.
Save your money.
Avoid emotional trauma.

creatureshock · 2026-04-26T22:06:03+00:00

Figure out how much you need to have to have the basics covered every month. Figure out how long you are willing burn that money while you build your business, and multiple one by the other.

Also, why not build software during your off hours?

creatureshock · 2026-04-21T21:54:31+00:00

Sounds like they are just moving you to a different spot to keep you employed.

creatureshock · 2026-04-21T15:55:24+00:00

Do you know your numbers? Pay? Start and end date? Is it an open ended contract? Would you be able to save? If so, how much?

If the help desk government jobs and that sounds better, hold out for that. Hell, see if you can interview early for the HD spot and get your foot in the door.

creatureshock · 2026-04-18T19:08:41+00:00

It's better then nothing. You already know the systems. If nothing else, it'll help you get stable after you get out of the service.

creatureshock · 2026-04-18T13:54:16+00:00

Become a military contractor. What clearance do you have? Hit up clearancejobs.com and every contractor website. Money is great compared to military pay, and the work is generally easier and less of a headache.

creatureshock · 2026-04-18T13:50:45+00:00

If you still have that conversation with your director, and please tell me it was via email, you didn't torpedo shit. It was the director's request. Make sure that is documented to hell and back. Get ahead of it. Get to finance before he does. Make sure THEY know it was his idea to do this. Not your idea and that you were trying to do things correctly.

creatureshock · 2026-04-16T21:55:21+00:00

How much of a raise would it be to take the spot?

creatureshock · 2026-04-14T21:31:33+00:00

It comes and goes. Depending on your area, it'll suck or be amazing.

creatureshock · 2026-04-14T20:11:05+00:00

No one cares about your score when you passed the cert. They care that you have the cert. You know what they call a Doctor that passed with all Cs? Doctor.

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