NOT THIS TYPE OF NOT OF GEEK

THIS TYPE OF GEEK!!!

What is a geek? • A person who is interested in technology, especially computing

and new media. Geeks are adept with computers, and use the term hacker in a positive way, though not all are hackers themselves.

• A person with a devotion to something in a way that places him or her outside the mainstream. This could be due to the intensity, depth, or subject of their interest. This definition is very broad but because many of these interests have mainstream endorsement and acceptance, the inclusion of some genres as "geeky" is heavily debated. Persons have been labeled as or chosen to identify as physics geeks, mathematics geeks, engineering geeks, sci-fi geeks, computer geeks…..

• A more recent school of thought sees nerd as being a derogatory phrase, whilst geek is simply a description. It is taken to be someone who is an enthusiast, often in things outside of the mainstream spectrum, of note is that in this definition, there is no reference to being socially inept in the slightest.

Wikipedia

iPod music list• Jay-Z• Oasis• Drake Mixtape• Lil’ Wayne• Nas• Michael Jacksons Number 1’s• Wu-Tang• Ice Cube• Kanye West

IT PAYS TO BE A GEEK!!!

Larry Ellison CEO of Oracle CorporationNet Personal Wealth – $28 Billion

Bill Gates Former CEO of MicrosoftPersonal Net Worth $ 53 Billion

Steve JobsFormer CEO of ApplePersonal Net Worth $5.5 Billion

IT PAYS TO BE A GEEK

Lisa Jones /CEO of EyemailDevelops customized marketingstategies that deliver audio and video content via email2009 revenues - $300,0002010 revenues – expected to exceed $1,000,000.

Amos Winbush III / CEO of CyberSynchs L.L.CPhone data and backup recover2009 revenues - $ 2,000,0002010 revenues - expected to exceed $4,000,000Because of recent partnerships with Sun, Samsung, and Microsoft BizSpark.

Phara McLachlan /Founder/CEO of Animus Solutions Inc. Provides best practices consulting and implementation services to accomplish I.T. asset management, software license compliance, I.T. infrastructure and library based IT security and services management goals. 2009 revenues exceeded $1,000,000.

www.blackenterprise.com

How did I get here?

Hang with the geeks.• By this I mean seek out others who are also

interested and passionate about I.T. Don’t be afraid to engage with others just because they may seem “geeky”. The term “geek” is overstated nowadays anyhow. We are not the pocket protector wearing, high water pants, never interact with members of the opposite sex, people that we are portrayed as being in movies. There are “geeks” everywhere. You’d be shocked as to who is a fellow “geek”.

Organizationswww.blacksintechnology.net

www.bdpa.org

www.blacksgonegeek.org

Get a computer, break it, then fix it.

• Nothing beats hands on experience. Reading a book is good for theory but some of the real word problems you will encounter are not in any books. Do something wacky to the computer then learn how to fix it. Google the error if you have to. Google is a great tool.– Craigslist– Ebay– Local Company going out of business or buying new equipment.

Learn the basics then move on to bigger

things.• learning hardware and operating system fundamentals (installation, file system structure, how hardware interacts with the OS, etc.) before you move into more complex areas. The A+ certification exam is a good start for most. It teaches you about hardware and operating system basics.

• Network+ is a good certification for those wanting to move into the network/sysadmin/network security side of I.T.

Learn TCP/IP.• Since the fundamentals of

networking rely and use TCP/IP, I suggest learning as much as you can about it. I am learning new stuff about it every day. TCP/IP is the building block behind the internet and networking as a whole. Learning it is key in understanding networks.

Find out what part of I.T. you want to focus on and bust your butt to learn it.

• Online resources– Subscribe to newsletters and RSS feeds from reputable IT sites– Google, Google, Google

• Read books on current technologies– For Dummies books

• Certifications– A+

• Hardware and Operating System– Network+

• Networking basics– Linux+

• Linux Operating System basics– Microsoft Certifications

• Administration of desktop as well as server operating systems.– CCNA (Cisco Certified Networking Associate)

• Advanced networking concepts

Get a job working as a technical support analyst.

• Volunteer work– Churches– Community Centers

• Family and friends• Tech Support Analyst• Desktop Support

– Helps with honing basic troubleshooting skills – Learns how IT enterprise infrastructure works

College education• Not a prerequisite but definitely helps• Coop programs• I.T. management requires it

– CIO, CTO, CSO– IT Manager– IT Director

• Analytical thinking skills– Troubleshooting– Providing solutions

Last but not least, PASSION AND DEDICATION.

• Have to want it in order to gain it• No dedication leads to being left

behind• Be passionate in what you do• Dedicate yourself to what you want

to learn

I.T. Job Salaries

Top Tech Certifications that keep Workers in Demand

1. Vmware Certified Professional (VCP)

2. Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

3. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

4. Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)

5. Cisco Certified Design Professional (CCDP)

6. Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE)

7. Citrix Certified Administrator (CCA)

8. Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE)

9. Red Hat Certified Technician (RHCT)

10. Sun Certified Programmer for JAVA