This document provides advice and guidance for getting started in an IT career. It recommends hanging out with other tech enthusiasts, volunteering for technical support roles, getting hands-on experience fixing computers, learning networking fundamentals like TCP/IP, pursuing relevant certifications, and most importantly, having passion and dedication for the field. It also shares stories of successful Black entrepreneurs in tech and lists some of the highest paying IT jobs and certifications. The overall message is that with effort and perseverance, a career in IT is achievable.

1. Greg Greenlee Systems/Network Administrator Co-Founder/Co-Owner of Blacks In Technology www.blacksintechnology.net

2. www.blacksintechnology.net

3. NOT THIS TYPE OF NOT OF GEEK www.blacksintechnology.net

4. THIS TYPE OF GEEK!!! www.blacksintechnology.net

6. 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…..

7. 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 www.blacksintechnology.net

9. Oasis

10. Drake Mixtape

11. Lil’ Wayne

12. Nas

13. Michael Jacksons Number 1’s

14. Wu-Tang

15. Ice Cube

16. Kanye Westwww.blacksintechnology.net

17. IT PAYS TO BE A GEEK!!! Larry Ellison CEO of Oracle Corporation Net Personal Wealth – $28 Billion Steve Jobs Former CEO of Apple Personal Net Worth $5.5 Billion Bill Gates Former CEO of Microsoft Personal Net Worth $ 53 Billion www.blacksintechnology.net

18. IT PAYS TO BE A GEEK Lisa Jones /CEO of Eyemail Develops customized marketing stategies that deliver audio and video content via email 2009 revenues - $300,000 2010 revenues – expected to exceed $1,000,000. Amos WinbushIII / CEO of CyberSynchs L.L.C Phone data and backup recover 2009 revenues - $ 2,000,000 2010 revenues - expected to exceed $4,000,000 Because 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 www.blacksintechnology.net

19. An opportunity is only as good as the person who can take advantage of it --me www.blacksintechnology.net

20. How did I get here? www.blacksintechnology.net

21. 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”. www.blacksintechnology.net

22. Organizations www.blacksintechnology.net www.bdpa.org www.blacksgonegeek.org www.blacksintechnology.net

23. 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. www.blacksintechnology.net

24. 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. www.blacksintechnology.net

25. 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. www.blacksintechnology.net

26. 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 www.blacksintechnology.net

27. 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 www.blacksintechnology.net

28. College education Always helps Coop programs I.T. management requires it CIO, CTO, CSO IT Manager IT Director Analytical thinking skills Troubleshooting Providing solutions www.blacksintechnology.net

29. 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 www.blacksintechnology.net

30. I.T. Job Salaries www.blacksintechnology.net

31. Top Tech Certifications that keep Workers in Demand Vmware Certified Professional (VCP) Project Management Professional (PMP) Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Cisco Certified Design Professional (CCDP) 7 Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) 8. Citrix Certified Administrator (CCA) 9. Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) 10. Red Hat Certified Technician (RHCT) 11. Sun Certified Programmer for JAVA www.blacksintechnology.net

32. Thank You !!!! Visit us at www.blacksintechnology.net www.blacksintechnology.net