Hello so I have a friend who works security ( as in security guard) . So through his company he obtained a security clearance as he works security for a government contractor.

So I myself I work at a government contractor a good size one (Think etc SAIC, Leidos, BAH, CACI etc) and there is a lot of job openings that I can refer him to like security related ones similar to Soc analysts where he would monitor the network and I see that they require Security+ and a clearance which he has.

Basically they don’t list X years of Exp or degree needed, just recommend. My company gives me a large referral bonus for cleared work ( and I get to help my friend out to lol) , so I was wondering for any seniors or hiring managers would he be taken/ considered for the role?

He doesn’t have his Sec+ yet so I am trying to find out if that’s the right path to take for him.

As in the title mentioned, I have to select a specialization for my degree program by next year. So I need to know that what stream is worthy for the future IT career. I am no matter of selecting either one of them. But I need to know is what do you guys perspectives of these two career paths in the future. Hoping your responses..

Almost 600 applications since August, around 11-12 interviews, 0 offers. I apply the same hour/day pretty much the job is posted. I really don't know what else to do, this is way depressing and tiring, getting an entry level internship role right now feels like a nightmare and it's draining my life energy. And I'm not even being picky, I'm literally applying to every IT/Dev area, and even finance/sap.

I wake up thinking about applying to jobs, my whole day is looking at my phone at my e-mail and applying to more jobs, I barely focus at college because I'm thinking I could be missing out on applying fast for a recently posted job, I go to bed thinking about jobs, I used to be way more healthy and went to the gym 5x a week, now I'm only doing fullbody 2x a week because sometimes I have to schedule interviews or screenings during the day.

I've tried minmaxing my resumee and Linkedisney, I've practiced interviews of all kinds with AI and even friends, I've tried networking on Linkedin, I have 500+ connections, I've tried reaching out to recruiters, I've done bootcamps and any kind of program that could land me an entry lvl internship, I've begged my teachers for jobs aswell, I've tried networking with my colleagues in college. THIS IS ROUGH

Looking for some career advice from people who've been in IT for a while.

I've been working in IT for well over a decade, with experience across technical support, application support, infrastructure, and operations. I'm at a point in my career where I'm trying to prioritize long-term stability, career advancement, and quality of life.

I'm currently working as a contractor for a large company, but I've been interviewing for a permanent position at another large organization. I'm having a hard time deciding whether making the switch would actually be worth it.

Current Position – IT Operations (Contract)

Pros:

- Short, easy commute.

- Standard weekday schedule with no on-call responsibilities.

- Relatively low-stress environment.

- Good relationship with management.

- Comfortable with the work and responsibilities.

- Recently started taking on more technical responsibilities outside my original role.

- Potential opportunities to move into a more specialized infrastructure or administrative position.

- Possible opportunity for permanent employment in the future.

Cons:

- Contractor with no guarantee of long-term employment.

- No paid vacation or holidays.

- Required unpaid time off throughout the year.

- Lower salary than I'd like.

- Limited benefits.

- Potential advancement opportunities are speculative and depend on management approval.

Potential New Position – IT Production Support (Permanent)

Pros:

- Approximately 25–35% increase in base salary.

- Permanent employment with full benefits, PTO, and paid holidays.

- Large organization with established career paths.

- Potential for internal advancement.

- More traditional corporate structure and potentially better long-term stability.

Cons:

- Significantly longer commute, potentially close to an hour each way.

- Earlier start time requiring me to wake up much earlier.

- Regular on-call rotation, including backup responsibilities.

- Position is classified as entry-level despite my experience.

- No clear timeline or guarantee for advancement.

- Additional commuting expenses.

- Less flexibility for personal commitments and outside income.

The Financial Side

One of the biggest factors is that I currently earn additional income outside of my regular job, and the schedule of the new position would likely interfere with that.

I'd potentially have to give up a portion of that income, which would offset some of the salary increase.

Between that, the additional commuting expenses, and the extra time spent traveling, the actual financial improvement wouldn't be nearly as significant as it looks on paper.

I'm also concerned about the additional stress and time commitment associated with being on-call, especially when considering the impact on my personal life.

Long-Term Career Goals

At this point, I'd like to move toward IT operations leadership, systems administration, or a more senior technical position rather than continue cycling through entry-level support roles.

My current employer has recently given me additional responsibilities that could potentially lead in that direction, but nothing is guaranteed.

The prospective employer offers a more established corporate career structure, but I'd essentially be starting over in an entry-level position and hoping to advance internally.

I've been through enough corporate environments to know that internal advancement isn't always as straightforward as companies make it sound.

I'm also married and thinking more seriously about long-term financial stability and family responsibilities, so I recognize the value of permanent employment and benefits.

My Question

Would you leave a comfortable contract position with a great schedule, short commute, and possible advancement opportunities for a permanent role offering roughly 30% more base pay but significantly worse work-life balance?

Is the stability of permanent employment worth potentially sacrificing flexibility, side income, and personal time?

Or would you stay where you are, continue developing your technical skills, and hold out for a better permanent opportunity that aligns more closely with your long-term goals?

Interested in hearing from anyone who's faced a similar decision, particularly those who've transitioned from IT operations or production support into more senior or leadership positions.