280: Don't Be Afraid To Start At The Bottom and Stay Curious with Raffi Jamgotchian

Phil's guest on today's show is Raffi Jamgotchian, the founder of Triada Networks. He is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional and a member of both Infragard and the US Secret Service's Joint Electronic Crimes Task Force.   Raffi talks to Phil about why starting at the bottom is a good thing for anyone new to the world of IT as it provides experience and knowledge.   He also discusses the value of staying curious and why without curiosity, we may sometimes stagnate.   KEY TAKEAWAYS:   TOP CAREER TIP Don't ever be afraid to do the "unsexy" jobs. Starting in support or the equivalent is always a good place to start as it provides you with a broad range of experience and understanding.   WORST CAREER MOMENT Raffi gave notice at a job as he had received a verbal offer of a new one. However, he failed to get this offer in writing, and subsequently the new job fell through. Luckily it all worked out.   CAREER HIGHLIGHT After 9/11, Raffi oversaw a stringent series of systems and processes designed to withstand future outages. This was put to the test during a blackout, and again later during Hurricane Sandy. Each time, these new systems stood up to the test.   THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T The tech world today is changing in so many revolutionary ways, and so rapidly. If you are curious, then being in IT is a wonderful world to work in as the possibilities for innovation and creation are endless.   THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – Money was the initial hook, but also the freedom that IT allows in shaping one's destiny and future. What's the best career advice you received? – Stay curious! What's the worst career advice you received? – Don't go into business for yourself. Starting his own business has been one of the most rewarding things in Raffi's life. What would you do if you started your career now? – Raffi wishes he had spent more time on experimentation rather than going to the book to learn. What are your current career objectives? – Growing the company they have built, and focusing on training and mentoring new members of the team. What's your number one non-technical skill? – Honesty. People are drawn to this quality, so always tell the truth. How do you keep your own career energized? – Always make sure you're learning through whatever means possible. What do you do away from technology? – Raffi is a political junkie, as well as a cyclist   FINAL CAREER TIP Stay curious and don't be afraid to try new things. It separates stagnation from progression.   BEST MOMENTS   (4:00) – Raffi - "Ultimately we're supporting the business, we're not in the business of technology, necessarily" (9:19) – Raffi - "You never know what is going to happen. The best you can do is plan" (13:43) – Raffi – "Testing things – ultimately that was where I learned the most, rather than a formal training class" (14:28) – Raffi – "Let the chips fall where they may. Ultimately you will be rewarded because of your believability"   ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS   Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organizations to design, develop, and implement software solutions.  Phil has always had an interest in helping others to develop and advance their careers.  And in 2017 Phil started the I.T. Career Energizer podcast to try to help as many people as possible to learn from the career advice and experiences of those that have been, and still are, on that same career journey.   CONTACT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:   Twitter: https://twitter.com/philtechcareer LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess Facebook: https://facebook.com/philtechcareer Instagram: https://instagram.com/philtechcareer Website: https://itcareerenergizer.com/contact   Phil is also reachable by email at [email protected] and via the podcast's website, https://itcareerenergizer.com Join the I.T. Career Energizer Community on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ITCareerEnergizer   ABOUT THE GUEST – RAFFI JAMGOTCHIAN   Raffi Jamgotchian is the founder of Triada Networks. He is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional and a member of both Infragard and the US Secret Service's Joint Electronic Crimes Task Force.   CONTACT THE GUEST – RAFFI JAMGOTCHIAN   Raffi Jamgotchian can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:   Twitter: https://twitter.com/triadanet LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raffijamgotchian/ Website: https://triadanet.com/ Book: https://triadanet.com/cybersecuritybook