What you need to be successful in IT

Someone at work recently has been picking my brain, or what's left of it, about getting into the IT field. After giving him some resources to look at, possible certifications to go after, and fair amount of warnings not to actually do it, I felt I put him on the right track. However, there are a few important things I left out that I'd like to share in case others are also interested in entering the field

#1: A giant box of cables, none of which you have used in at least the past 5 years

Now you're cooking! ©Leslie Sobel

Much like rings on a tree, the size of the box and amount of random cables you have acquired over time directly equates to how knowledgeable you are, IT wise. Those ribbon cables for PATA drives? Totally necessary. Trackball mouse? you got it!

I believe another term for this collection of items is called "Hoarding"...


#2: At least 3 different versions of Windows burned across a collection of CD/DVD burned discs

Don't have this? you're wrong ©Mario Ragsac Jr.

The point of this is not convenience, but to prove your street cred. Who cares that Windows 7 SP1 discs are now out and you have the oldest version? Keep that old disc as a reminder of days of yore. This collection should also include boot utilities and other driver discs for devices you no longer have.
This can also include Linux Distro Discs that have been long since discontinued or replaced with newer versions.

#3: A messy, unorganized desk

Nothing says, "I can't help you right now, I'm busy" quite like a messy desk. It's been said that the cleanest desks are generally the ones that have the least work come across them. Luckily, since you are now in IT, having time to yourself or anything resembling a break in work isn't in the cards. Cleaning your desk will result in you being approached by coworkers asking about problems regarding spyware and other easily fixable PC problems that "just so happened to install" on their home machines.

Here's how you accomplish the messy desk look:
1. Get item of interest, such as a screwdriver or Boot CD
2. Use Item
3. When done with item, place on desk
4. Do not move for approx. 4 months.


#4: A general distrust of fellow People

Just like House, you will become a pain-medicine-addicted, judging person

This is often confused by non-IT folks as "Being an Asshole", but this couldn't be further from it. Over the years, you will develop almost selective hearing when it comes to people telling you about a problem.

Person: My computers doesn't work, cause it's stupid or something. There's a bug or something that must of installed itself, cause I didn't do anything to it recently. I can't use my email or look at my documents, like my pictures of my niece. How cute is she?! Oh jeez she is a gem!

What the IT person hears: My computers doesn't work, cause it's stupid or something. There's a bug or something that must of installed itself, cause I didn't do anything to it recently. I can't use my email or look at my documents, like my pictures of my niece. How cute is she?! Oh jeez she is a gem!


IT folks don't care if it's the computers fault, you're fault, or even god's fault. They just wanna fix whats wrong and get the hell out of there. We know its almost 99% an end user's fault, and even the nice IT people know this. Installing Bonzai Buddy or Weatherbug is not essential, and having 20 browser toolbars is generally a sign that the person using the computer isn't necessarily all there. That's why we generally distrust folks that immediately say it isn't their fault, because it almost always is.