Senior Systems Engineer (Computer Networking / IT) Reviews - Page 6

Learn as many IT disciplines as possible. Do not get too comfortable in one position, for one company, if it means that doing so will stunt your growth as an IT specialist. Never be afraid to challenge yourself. If it means succeeding in the future, make a lateral move into a new position (you do not always have to go up the corporate ladder. Going to the side and then up later is more than possible). Get your certifications, if you do not have them now. Keep the certifications you have now current. IT is always changing, so stay on top of those changes.

Being a systems engineer is an ever changing career. To keep up with technology and to be ahead of your peers, you must have a lab environment at home. Good internet searching is critical; you don't always need to know every detail about a technology, but you must be able to find a valued source.

Specialize on different technologies and programming.

While being an expert on one subject might be your passion, I have found that having a solid understanding to a myriad of interdependent skills will be most beneficial for employment that is financially rewarding.

If you like stability then this is not the market for you. Your salary may drop considerably from one contract cycle to the next as your employer scrambles to secure a renewal. Your going to work with systems that don't just effect live they can easily cost them. It is rewarding to design systems on this scale and to care for and expand them, however you will spend a fair share of unsettled nights reviewing your own work. Security skills are a golden ticket in this field, be careful how much of that skill set you display as they are paranoid of hacker types no matter the color of your hat.