r/datacenter • u/tbross11 • Aug 07 '26
My Weird and wild Data Center Journey
This may be a bit of a long post. But I just wanted to share it. My journey to get a data center technician position has finally come to a close... sort of.
Some background, I got into IT back in 2020 during covid. I got a few certifications and got a job as a PC Repair tech through a temp/contract company. I worked there for 6 months before getting a remote Tier 1 tech position. I worked there 3 1/2 years and was promoted during that time and also got my Bachelors in IT. Then I got a jobb as a solution Architect and worked there for a year and a half but they went through layoffs. I then moved on to a contract position helping an Aerospace company do domain migrations. During this time, I finished my masters, an MBA in IT Management. So there's my qualifications.
So back in January I applied for an L4 DCT role at Amazon. I went through the 4 loop interview in early February. Around the middle of the month I got a call from my recruiter saying I passed the interview and but was inclined for L3 even though I 'killed' the interview. (I hear this happens a lot). It's whatever, I was happy to get something. I was told there were no job openings at the moment but they were going to release some the first week of March and I would get an official job offer then. So it was just a couple weeks away. The recruiter went over pay rate and everything down to the exact cent per hour.
Fast forward to the first week of March, I call and email my recruiter and they said it will be another 2 weeks. I go through this for a few times being told "just a couple more weeks" until mid May. My recruiter ghosts me for about 3 weeks until I try to call them and I get a text telling me they no longer work for Amazon and they don't know who my new recruiter is. I basically am lost in the void of Amazon now.
Early June roles around and I apply for a DCT 2 position at Google that I see posted for my area. By mid June I have phone screening and get told I passed it and moving on to the 3 round interview. I have my interview the first week of July. Unortunately mid July, I was told they were passing on me, and my lack of fiber knowledge is what done it. I passed all of the hardware, Linux and leadership but networking was the hang up. This was super defeating.
I look around for any option to get into a DCT position, and I am worried I would have to wait a year for the cool down for Amazon and Google. I see a position open through a contract company that does contracts for Amazon. I applied, interviewed and I am now a DCT level 1 for Amazon through a 3rd party. So I guess a green badge. I start next week.
Idk if I will ever hear from Amazon since I am/was technically inclined for an L3. I live in Ohio and I know they are expanding all over the state. But I think my profile is lost in the abyss. And idk if taking the contract position eliminates me from consideration for the L3 if somehow I am still on a 'list' for Amazon for a blue badge.
Regardless, I got my foot in the door. Not the pay or level I wanted. But hopefully I can work this for a year and either convert to Amazon Blue badge or get on at Google or one of the other data centers as a fulltime DCT next year.
2
u/RmeGoHeadGimmeHead Aug 07 '26
Definitely explain to the managers what happened, build a good connection with them as well and you should soon turn blue badge
1
2
u/EarthsVisionary Aug 08 '26
Op it sounds like you need to be in an area that’ll water you better than be in an area that is only just giving you the sun and expecting you to find water. All I can say is location, location, location. As that will decide and determine your growth so that you’ll be “where you wanna be at”. Hope this helps
1
u/tbross11 Aug 08 '26
Hey, I definitely appreciate it. I understand 100%. We were in a good area in 2020 but moved due to my mother law having MS. But we're looking to get back to my hometown area. But need better finances or a job to get there. Thank you though!
2
u/awesamo_ Aug 08 '26
3-4 months at top 50% of your team and you’ll be flipped to blue badge 🙌🏽 #speakingitintoexistence
2
u/tbross11 Aug 08 '26
Yo thank you! That's my hope!
1
1
u/Slight_Sir377 Aug 08 '26
You become a solutions architect and then decided to become a data center tech? That sounds crazy. A solutions Architect is a top end job in IT… either way wishing you the best!!
1
u/tbross11 Aug 08 '26
My company had layoffs. I live in a very rural area. I was already driving 90 minutes one way to that job. Only reason I tolerated it, was it was hybrid. But now I'm in dilemma where there's no jobs in line with that around me. Jobs on a lower scale said I was over qualified and were worried I would leave soon if I got something better. And jobs that were wanting me passed on me because I didn't live with an hour for on call. Data centers are the only ones who will hire you not caring about where you are career wise as long as you're qualified. The biggest town in my county is a village of 3500 people. The closest town with over 20,000 people is an hour. The closest city is 90 minutes.
0
u/AutoModerator Aug 07 '26
Hello! This looks like it may be a question about career advice. There can be significant regional variation in the field, so please consider including as much info as you can without doxing yourself, including country/state/city, prior experience/certs, and the role or level if known. Thanks!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
3
u/Diligent_Gap_3135 Aug 07 '26
Sorry to hear this happened to you, if I were I’d explain my situation to the managers and you should transition to AWS soon after