Drenimarcus:



Sir, are you talking about networking or data analytics?

Software is hard without a tutor. Self learning is hard o. The little python I am teaching myself, I have headaches from it

If you really love networking I think you should go for it. Personally I think it is stable with less stress. You will begin to enjoy it once you have a lot of experience. Although, it is quite difficult to break into with less experience but with time you will definitely like it.

Software is cool but if you are not in any of the FAANG you are paid as much as anyone else and God save you if covid-20 comes out you are likely to loose your job.

I started straight out of masters in 2018 with 19$/hr with no experience in networking. My first job was as desktop analyst which I did for three months and wrote my CCNA then got a job for 60k.. as an entry level network engr. I worked there for a year then got another one for 100k but the stress level was just too much and it was customer facing so I quit after six months after getting my CCNP then got my current job for 95k with 10% yearly bonus. I really don't do much even though it is huge data center and telecom company.. it will take a serious natural disaster for any of the data center to go offline so for now less work.

Thanks to Covid-19 I now work completely from home. As not to get bored I got a second entry level job with a different company which I only do at night.. no stress and pay ain't bad(about 70k working as a non-exempt employee with excellent benefits)....


Here is the issue with software.. even though they make more money they also undergo more stress and except you work for a software focus company or FAANG you are likely to loose your job... half of the software and business analyst in my telecom company lost their job during the height of covid-19 because finance was cut.

I suggest you continue with networking but make sure you always get at least one certification a year.... and if possible buy a very good laptop install EVE-NG or GNS3 then begin to lab.. there are a lot software image and tutorial out there.. then learn python and make sure you learn atleast one cloud.. for me I suggest AWS. Even though is not easy trust me you will eventually enjoy it.. and if you are a citizen ... after few years in networking move to security (target jobs with security clearance) and the world will be yours.

Zendmann1:


If you really love networking I think you should go for it. Personally I think it is stable with less stress. You will begin to enjoy it once you have a lot of experience. Although, it is quite difficult to break into with less experience but with time you will definitely like it.

Software is cool but if you are not in any of the FAANG you are paid as much as anyone else and God save you if covid-20 comes out you are likely to loose your job.

I started straight out of masters in 2018 with 19$/hr with no experience in networking. My first job was as desktop analyst which I did for three months and wrote my CCNA then got a job for 60k.. as an entry level network engr. I worked there for a year then got another one for 100k but the stress level was just too much and it was customer facing so I quit after six months after getting my CCNP then got my current job for 95k with 10% yearly bonus. I really don't do much even though it is huge data center and telecom company.. it will take a serious natural disaster for any of the data center to go offline so for now less work.

Thanks to Covid-19 I now work completely from home. As not to get bored I got a second entry level job with a different company which I only do at night.. no stress and pay ain't bad(about 70k working as a non-exempt employee with excellent benefits)....


Here is the issue with software.. even though they make more money they also undergo more stress and except you work for a software focus company or FAANG you are likely to loose your job... half of the software and business analyst in my telecom company lost their job during the height of covid-19 because finance was cut.

I suggest you continue with networking but make sure you always get at least one certification a year.... and if possible buy a very good laptop install EVE-NG or GNS3 then begin to lab.. there are a lot software image and tutorial out there.. then learn python and make sure you learn atleast one cloud.. for me I suggest AWS. Even though is not easy trust me you will eventually enjoy it.. and if you are a citizen ... after few years in networking move to security (target jobs with security clearance) and the world will be yours.

So succinctly said. Thank you so much sir. Mucho gracias.

Zendmann1, thanks for the insight.

My path/plan is similar.

I started out as an Operator in a Harddisk drive manufacturing company, did that for two months earning $16 or $18 an hour (cant remember) then got a job in Aerospace + Defence Circuit Board manufacturing and Assembly where I spent over a year. As will be said there for future generations; I learned the job real fast - I had to because I wanted to gather as much as I could in the shortest possible time.

Currently in Hyperscale Computing, Storage and Networking servers+racks manufacturing (this is how I started researching on Networking + Analytics); a step higher from component manufacturing but Similar to my first two jobs as it is still in contract manufacturing.

The dream is to stick to Hardware manufacturing (someone must manufacture this in person), avoid the semi-conductor industry (volatile), be the best in my field (all applicable certifications + Analytics skills) and find a company that 'owns the product' (full product life cycle management or something similar) and grow with them.

My Last stop will be roles where the product manufacturing, quality or usage is affiliated to the government (requires security clearance) so I will be fully solid.



- As Zend has said and from information available online, stick to AWS as no other vendor of cloud services comes close.
- Streamline your plans, don't be a jack of all trades and master of none. Most times, aim to serve two masters: Networking + Cloud architecture as an example, and mine is Hardware Quality + Analytics/Business Intelligence.

A mistake I see people doing as an example is claiming: Process/Manufacturing/ Industrial/Safety etc etc as all the roles you can fit into. Cut back and concentrate on a few.

Zendmann1:


If you really love networking I think you should go for it. Personally I think it is stable with less stress. You will begin to enjoy it once you have a lot of experience. Although, it is quite difficult to break into with less experience but with time you will definitely like it.

Software is cool but if you are not in any of the FAANG you are paid as much as anyone else and God save you if covid-20 comes out you are likely to loose your job.

I started straight out of masters in 2018 with 19$/hr with no experience in networking. My first job was as desktop analyst which I did for three months and wrote my CCNA then got a job for 60k.. as an entry level network engr. I worked there for a year then got another one for 100k but the stress level was just too much and it was customer facing so I quit after six months after getting my CCNP then got my current job for 95k with 10% yearly bonus. I really don't do much even though it is huge data center and telecom company.. it will take a serious natural disaster for any of the data center to go offline so for now less work.

Thanks to Covid-19 I now work completely from home. As not to get bored I got a second entry level job with a different company which I only do at night.. no stress and pay ain't bad(about 70k working as a non-exempt employee with excellent benefits)....


Here is the issue with software.. even though they make more money they also undergo more stress and except you work for a software focus company or FAANG you are likely to loose your job... half of the software and business analyst in my telecom company lost their job during the height of covid-19 because finance was cut.

I suggest you continue with networking but make sure you always get at least one certification a year.... and if possible buy a very good laptop install EVE-NG or GNS3 then begin to lab.. there are a lot software image and tutorial out there.. then learn python and make sure you learn atleast one cloud.. for me I suggest AWS. Even though is not easy trust me you will eventually enjoy it.. and if you are a citizen ... after few years in networking move to security (target jobs with security clearance) and the world will be yours.

Boss you just finish work..very nice write up.. which course did you have your masters in?

MackyNaija:
Zendmann1, thanks for the insight.

My path/plan is similar.

I started out as an Operator in a Harddisk drive manufacturing company, did that for two months earning $16 or $18 an hour (cant remember) then got a job in Circuit Board manufacturing and Assembly where I spent over a year. As will be said there for future generations; I learned the job real fast - I had to because I wanted to gather as much as I could in the shortest possible time.

Currently in Hyperscale Computing, Storage and Networking servers+racks manufacturing (this is how I started researching on Networking + Analytics); a step higher from component manufacturing but Similar to my first two jobs as it is still in contract manufacturing.

The dream is to stick to Hardware manufacturing (someone must manufacture this in person), avoid the semi-conductor industry (volatile), be the best in my field (all applicable certifications + Analytics skills) and find a company that 'owns the product' (full product life cycle management or something similar) and grow with them.

My Last stop will be roles where the product manufacturing, quality or usage is affiliated to the government (requires security clearance) so I will be fully solid.



- As Zend has said and from information available online, stick to AWS as no other vendor of cloud services comes close.
- Streamline your plans, don't be a jack of all trades and master of none. Most times, aim to serve two masters: Networking + Cloud architecture as an example, and mine is Hardware Quality + Analytics/Business Intelligence.

A mistake I see people doing as an example is claiming: Process/Manufacturing/ Industrial/Safety etc etc as all the roles you can fit into. Cut back and concentrate on a few.

Please guys, I am in a serious dilemma, I got msc offers for both cybersecurity and data science. I'm in a serious state of confusion as my brother and some close friends say cybersecurity better buh I feel like data science is. Pls advice me so that I can accept one of these offers ASAP.

cc zendmann1 : mackynaija

Cousiim:


Please guys, I am in a serious dilemma, I got msc offers for both cybersecurity and data science. I'm in a serious state of confusion as my brother and some close friends say cybersecurity better buh I feel like data science is. Pls advice me so that I can accept one of these offers ASAP.

cc zendmann1 : mackynaija

My own opinion>>> Both are cool career... but personally for me I prefer cybersecurity for the prestige and how cool it is.. couple with less stress. Data science pays well and it is easy to enter as an entry level with little or no experience, but cybersecurity is difficult to get into as an entry level applicant and with you being a foreigner you have the problem of security clearance, but then anything is possible. So I will suggest you go for the one you like but don't forget to stay this country for months without job no be joking matter... so opt for data science.

TEODIN:

Boss you just finish work..very nice write up.. which course did you have your masters in?

studied information and telecom systems

Cousiim:


Please guys, I am in a serious dilemma, I got msc offers for both cybersecurity and data science. I'm in a serious state of confusion as my brother and some close friends say cybersecurity better buh I feel like data science is. Pls advice me so that I can accept one of these offers ASAP.

cc zendmann1 : mackynaija

My answer depends on your residency status.

US permanent resident or citizen, you can afford to do anything you like and recover at your own pace.

Non-resident, do the one where you can be highly proficient at before job search starts and also has a lower bar to entry; this is where data sc1ence wins.
If your love of cybersecurity hasn't waned in the near future, you can reroute yourself to that field after you are settled in and have regularized your stay.

MackyNaija:

My answer depends on your residency status.

US permanent resident or citizen, you can afford to do anything you like and recover at your own pace.

Non-resident, do the one where you can be highly proficient at before job search starts and also has a lower bar to entry; this is where data sc1ence wins.
If your love of cybersecurity hasn't waned in the near future, you can reroute yourself to that field after you are settled in and have regularized your stay.

Thank you very much.

Zendmann1:


My own opinion>>> Both are cool career... but personally for me I prefer cybersecurity for the prestige and how cool it is.. couple with less stress. Data science pays well and it is easy to enter as an entry level with little or no experience, but cybersecurity is difficult to get into as an entry level applicant and with you being a foreigner you have the problem of security clearance, but then anything is possible. So I will suggest you go for the one you like but don't forget to stay this country for months without job no be joking matter... so opt for data science.

Thank you so much!

To the thread owner, thank you for the wealth of information which you have shared so far. Just like other threads in Travel section, I have gain one or two useful information. Please my question is this:

Apart from Networking that seems relatively easy to learn (but difficult to enter), which other field of IT that might pay modestly and easy to learn? If possible, non programming (heavily) based IT course.

I already tried learning programming (self study) but it is not easy. As for data science, I am going to brush up my knowledge on excel first before anything else but kept it in view.

Any other IT knowledgable person can still answer my question.

CC
MackNaija
Zendmann1
TEODIN

This thread has been converted to an IT professionals thread. some of us don't even understand the language you guys are typing. For the sake of trained engineers like us, you guys should come down to our level small abeg.

biko, what are prospects for a Master's degree holder in Chemical Engineering from Nigeria hoping to migrate to USA?

NB: I'm ready to Bag another Msc in USA If it would help me fit into the system properly.

smartkester:
This thread has been converted to an IT professionals thread. some of us don't even understand the language you guys are typing. For the sake of trained engineers like us, you guys should come down to our level small abeg.

You never see anything!
This part of the world has moved far from 'analog systems to everything being digital'. Industry 5.0 is sweeping in so discussions bothering around IT is to be expected.
Even me; a local man has refused to be left behind!

biko, what are prospects for a Master's degree holder in Chemical Engineering from Nigeria hoping to migrate to USA?

NB: I'm ready to Bag another Msc in USA If it would help me fit into the system properly.

From my experience, jobs in this field require work authorization viz PR or USC but their salary heavy.

You technically dont have a choice as they seem to pay attention to their own education and work experience. So you'll need to acquire theirs.

Come first, have a backup plan, use your eyes see things for yourself and decide if you wanna remain in chemical engineering.

DAramis:
To the thread owner, thank you for the wealth of information which you have shared so far. Just like other threads in Travel section, I have gain one or two useful information. Please my question is this:

Apart from Networking that seems relatively easy to learn (but difficult to enter), which other field of IT that might pay modestly and easy to learn? If possible, non programming (heavily) based IT course.

I already tried learning programming (self study) but it is not easy. As for data science, I am going to brush up my knowledge on excel first before anything else but kept it in view.

Any other IT knowledgable person can still answer my question.

Thank you n welcome...

Follow follow no good o, find your strengths and stick to it. Not everyone will end up as an IT professional (even faang get customer service dept, are they also working in IT?).

What's your background in?

Electronics is another very good field close to 'IT' whose meaning is subjective based on who you ask what an IT career is.

Go to some career sites of companies you have under your radar, look up sought for skills to fill roles you like, then work towards building those skills.
This system works for me as I pick the largest 10 to 30 companies in my line and digest their career pages - some skills are common across the board and some skills set you apart from every other applicant and I am building those skills.

DAramis:
To the thread owner, thank you for the wealth of information which you have shared so far. Just like other threads in Travel section, I have gain one or two useful information. Please my question is this:

Apart from Networking that seems relatively easy to learn (but difficult to enter), which other field of IT that might pay modestly and easy to learn? If possible, non programming (heavily) based IT course.

I already tried learning programming (self study) but it is not easy. As for data science, I am going to brush up my knowledge on excel first before anything else but kept it in view.

Any other IT knowledgable person can still answer my question.

CC
MackNaija
Zendmann1
TEODIN

You can go the Microsoft route, very easy to get a job. Microsoft 365, active directory, sql server, Azure.....

The starting pay is low, but you can grow very fast if you're hard working...starting from the Fundamentals along with A+ and Network+ (IT hardware and network respectively) you are good to go.

Just do your thorough research.

MackyNaija:

Thank you n welcome...

Follow follow no good o, find your strengths and stick to it. Not everyone will end up as an IT professional (even faang get customer service dept, are they also working in IT?).

What's your background in?

Electronics is another very good field close to 'IT' whose meaning is subjective based on who you ask what an IT career is.

Go to some career sites of companies you have under your radar, look up sought for skills to fill roles you like, then work towards building those skills.
This system works for me as I pick the largest 10 to 30 companies in my line and digest their career pages - some skills are common across the board and some skills set you apart from every other applicant and I am building those skills.

I will check out some of your suggestions. My background is also engineering (Agriculture) so thinking of delving into IT since most Jobs and applications is moving in that direction.

stonemasonn:
You can go the Microsoft route, very easy to get a job. Microsoft 365, active directory, sql server, Azure.....

The starting pay is low, but you can grow very fast if you're hard working...starting from the Fundamentals along with A+ and Network+ (IT hardware and network respectively) you are good to go.

Just do your thorough research.

Thank you bro, would check out this suggestion also. No knowledge is a waste.

Cousiim:


Please guys, I am in a serious dilemma, I got msc offers for both cybersecurity and data science. I'm in a serious state of confusion as my brother and some close friends say cybersecurity better buh I feel like data science is. Pls advice me so that I can accept one of these offers ASAP.

cc zendmann1 : mackynaija

Go for cyber security. It pays higher and less competitive.

Please, what's the career prospect for frontend developer in US especially in Seattle, WA

hello Mackynaija I've been following this thread from day 1 and i must commend you.
Please what chance does an industrial Chemistry student has over there? I will be wrapping up Undergad program this year and hoping to write Gre to pursue Msc in chemistry and major in medicinal chemistry because I'm a certified pharmacy technician currently working in nigeria.
Hope medicinal chemistry is a good prospect over there?

Mcslize:


Go for cyber security. It pays higher and less competitive.

But entry-level jobs are limited


Always note that

It really depends on your specific skillset and experience. My suggestion is to check the jobs forums for that area to get idea of what is being looked for and approximate salary.

Dremca:
Please, what's the career prospect for frontend developer in US especially in Seattle, WA

Know before you go.

Mcslize:


Go for cyber security. It pays higher and less competitive.

My broda works in cyber sector in one of d turkish airports. Its very competive.

Cousin9999:
Know before you go.

Not suprised at Midwest, them plenty for here. Them even get street

Good day everyone, I am soliciting for advice. I studied Electrical Electronics Engineering in futo with a CGPA above 4.2/5. I am now almost through with my master's degree in software Engineering at a school in Turkey with a CGPA of 3.94/4. I just finished my seminar. I am specializing in machine and deep learning. I will finish my thesis by December this year. I will also publish journal articles. Please I am looking for a PhD position in a country where I can easily settle and emigrate permanently. Your suggestions criticism and insults are collectively welcomed. Thank you very much in anticipation of your response.

Timiofak:
I got my immigrant visa this week, so I'll be joining you guys soon

Thank you all for the insight

God bless

Congrats! I’m in Pennsylvania, if you have any questions about new immigrant life in the US feel free to ask

johnpoko:
Congrats! I’m in Pennsylvania, if you have any questions about new immigrant life in the US feel free to ask

I'll definitely do that

Thanks

Dokore:
Good day everyone, I am soliciting for advice. I studied Electrical Electronics Engineering in futo with a CGPA above 4.2/5. I am now almost through with my master's degree in software Engineering at a school in Turkey with a CGPA of 3.94/4. I just finished my seminar. I am specializing in machine and deep learning. I will finish my thesis by December this year. I will also publish journal articles. Please I am looking for a PhD position in a country where I can easily settle and emigrate permanently. Your suggestions criticism and insults are collectively welcomed. Thank you very much in anticipation of your response.

with your profile, your best bet should be Canada, you can go through the express entry link to Canada and get your permanent residency on arrival in the country. The job prospects are good over there considering they're seriously looking for work force in Canada.

Oloniyan:
hello Mackynaija I've been following this thread from day 1 and i must commend you.
Please what chance does an industrial Chemistry student has over there? I will be wrapping up Undergad program this year and hoping to write Gre to pursue Msc in chemistry and major in medicinal chemistry because I'm a certified pharmacy technician currently working in nigeria.
Hope medicinal chemistry is a good prospect over there?

Anybody with some answer to this should please satisfy my curiosity

Zendmann1:


If you really love networking I think you should go for it. Personally I think it is stable with less stress. You will begin to enjoy it once you have a lot of experience. Although, it is quite difficult to break into with less experience but with time you will definitely like it.

Software is cool but if you are not in any of the FAANG you are paid as much as anyone else and God save you if covid-20 comes out you are likely to loose your job.

I started straight out of masters in 2018 with 19$/hr with no experience in networking. My first job was as desktop analyst which I did for three months and wrote my CCNA then got a job for 60k.. as an entry level network engr. I worked there for a year then got another one for 100k but the stress level was just too much and it was customer facing so I quit after six months after getting my CCNP then got my current job for 95k with 10% yearly bonus. I really don't do much even though it is huge data center and telecom company.. it will take a serious natural disaster for any of the data center to go offline so for now less work.

Thanks to Covid-19 I now work completely from home. As not to get bored I got a second entry level job with a different company which I only do at night.. no stress and pay ain't bad(about 70k working as a non-exempt employee with excellent benefits)....


Here is the issue with software.. even though they make more money they also undergo more stress and except you work for a software focus company or FAANG you are likely to loose your job... half of the software and business analyst in my telecom company lost their job during the height of covid-19 because finance was cut.

I suggest you continue with networking but make sure you always get at least one certification a year.... and if possible buy a very good laptop install EVE-NG or GNS3 then begin to lab.. there are a lot software image and tutorial out there.. then learn python and make sure you learn atleast one cloud.. for me I suggest AWS. Even though is not easy trust me you will eventually enjoy it.. and if you are a citizen ... after few years in networking move to security (target jobs with security clearance) and the world will be yours.

Sir, please can i PM you? i have some questions. Thank you.

Zendmann1:


If you really love networking I think you should go for it. Personally I think it is stable with less stress. You will begin to enjoy it once you have a lot of experience. Although, it is quite difficult to break into with less experience but with time you will definitely like it.

Software is cool but if you are not in any of the FAANG you are paid as much as anyone else and God save you if covid-20 comes out you are likely to loose your job.

I started straight out of masters in 2018 with 19$/hr with no experience in networking. My first job was as desktop analyst which I did for three months and wrote my CCNA then got a job for 60k.. as an entry level network engr. I worked there for a year then got another one for 100k but the stress level was just too much and it was customer facing so I quit after six months after getting my CCNP then got my current job for 95k with 10% yearly bonus. I really don't do much even though it is huge data center and telecom company.. it will take a serious natural disaster for any of the data center to go offline so for now less work.

Thanks to Covid-19 I now work completely from home. As not to get bored I got a second entry level job with a different company which I only do at night.. no stress and pay ain't bad(about 70k working as a non-exempt employee with excellent benefits)....


Here is the issue with software.. even though they make more money they also undergo more stress and except you work for a software focus company or FAANG you are likely to loose your job... half of the software and business analyst in my telecom company lost their job during the height of covid-19 because finance was cut.

I suggest you continue with networking but make sure you always get at least one certification a year.... and if possible buy a very good laptop install EVE-NG or GNS3 then begin to lab.. there are a lot software image and tutorial out there.. then learn python and make sure you learn atleast one cloud.. for me I suggest AWS. Even though is not easy trust me you will eventually enjoy it.. and if you are a citizen ... after few years in networking move to security (target jobs with security clearance) and the world will be yours.

Hello
I am a recent graduate of electrical engineering. I am currently interning with an ISP company in Nigeria.
I seem to be enjoying the work after months of dabbling into so many things (Data Analysis, Machine learning ) because I don't know which one would open the door.
I am currently preparing (taking tutorial videos) to take the ccna certification so I'll have more qualifications but I don't seem to know where to go from there.
Rather than work on the front end of networking, connecting routers and switches, I would like to develop myself on the backend, like configuration and so on.
How can I go about this, what certifications and areas do I need to work on for these?
thanks.