I am making ~115k a year and I am about to be converted to salary at a rate of ~$80k. I am in my early 30's, professionally certified as a project manager from my time working on large government transportation contracts and delivering VxBlocks for VCE, no EMC, no DellEMC. I picked up my lean six sigma certs from my time in the Marines when I spent over a year being a part of a 4 man team that ultimately looked into everything that went into aircraft readiness rates for the Marine Corps. I've got my undergrad in biological/chemical sciences and I have collected a few management certs for month long programs at top tier schools like Berkeley and Harvard. My dream goal would be to make ~150k salary, great life would be 130k and I will honestly accept anything over 105k. I live in Chicago, I don't believe I am being unreasonable and hoping someone can help with a path forward.
Microsoft has a program called MSSA that tries to help vets prep for and land tech jobs. I'm mentoring a recent hire from this program now and it seems pretty solid. I don't know if they work with folks already in the public sector, but it might be worth looking into.
Don't have any advice I just wanted to say good luck. The tech industry is paying really high salaries right now. I have a feeling the "certs" aren't worth as much as experience, a good attitude, and leadership qualities.
Thanks - I went from union construction project management to salaried tech project management doing data centers. I love the tech culture and not getting up at 5am along with the increase in pay. Some of my certs are BS - I will admit that but they get me past HR screenings. The on campus programs I attended though were backed by top tier business programs with 4+ weeks on M-S campus education.
Comcast has an office in Chicago and there’s a special program to hire veterans
I live in Chicago as well and from my personal experience think the best start for you might be to look into management roles at a tech firm, that should give you a fairly good start.
Thanks - That is kind of what I was thinking. I am getting tired of running the Project Manager role like I have been for 10 years now (yikes its been that long!). I would love to have a team I could help develop at this point or take on business challenges not just "resourcing and client issues" that come with managing only projects.
Is your vertical Federal gov?