Michelle McLendon ⋅ King Of Prussia, PA United Phosphorus Inc ⋅ 20 years experience

My first advice to new grads is to browse job postings on a trustworthy job board. Find a position that you think sounds interesting, and then look to see what certifications, requirements, education, etc, the hiring organization is looking for. For example, one organization is seeking IT people who have Cisco certifications, some require MS certifications. I hire for four different companies under one parent organization, and while two are willing to teach SAP, the others want hands on experience already.

Like Mr. Cottell, I think you'd be a natural for Supply Chain Management. Most companies look for people who have some kind of operating system experience and, if you're an IT professional, you likely can pick up just about anything.

Good luck, and thank you for your service!

todd moore ⋅ Terre Haute, IN U.S. Army, Specialist ⋅ 4 years served

When you state IT are you referring to networking? If so, there are jobs in CA that will pay for that experience. Coupled with a degree in Computer Science you will make a decent salary.

Tim Feemster ⋅ Dallas, TX Foremost Quality Logistics ⋅ 40 years experience

IT and transportation are indelibly linked in today's supply chain world. I would check out two supply chain professional organization websites- werc.org and cscmp.org. Both have a wealth of information on the industry and access to job sites. Where do you want to live when you leave NY? Your photo shows SC as your location. That makes a difference when you need introductions to folks in that area that I could provide but at least the state would narrow down your search. Let me know at tim@feemsters.com if you want assistance in this regard.

Deb Yeagle ⋅ Tampa, FL Plan To Win, Inc. ⋅ 39 years experience

Devorick-
Thanks for your service!
I had similar thoughts as Mike - combining your background in IT and Transportation to find a unique career. I would suggest checking into possible careers related to Transportation SCADA systems. Skills in cybersecurity and protecting our nation's critical transportation systems are in high demand.
Good luck!
Deb

Susana Moraga ⋅ Hayward, CA California State University East Bay ⋅ 20 years experience

Devorick,
If you haven't already, reach out to the advisors on this site in transportation. Do some informational interviews to better understand the field and how you may fit in.
Then target some companies or organizations to see what would be most appealing to you.
Good luck,

Jim Jones ⋅ Getzville, NY Fidelis Care ⋅ 35 years experience

Hi Devorick, before you gain additional certifications, I would suggest that you research business or industry that interests you, determine the qualifications necessary for the career you seek, then move ahead with additional certifications as appropriate. I would suggest that you conduct informational interviews and reach out to network contacts via LinkedIn to determine the skills and education required to fulfill the career you seek. In some cases you maybe hired and an employer may pay for some or all of the certification expense. Good Luck!

Stefan Beyer ⋅ Kirkland, WA Wipro Ltd ⋅ 12 years experience

I don't have too much info on what certifications you might need for the transportation industry, but I do have an article I wrote about resumes which people seem to find helpful: https://acp-advisornet.org/articles/326/resume-cover-letter-multi-talented-individual

Mike Cottell ⋅ Glen Head, NY Michael T Cottell Consulting ⋅ 42 years experience

Hi Devorick, your combined skills in IT and Transportation make you a natural to be looking at a career in Supply Chain Management, which can cover any business that needs to move product. Today, regardless of industry, the focus is on speed to market with the lowest possible inventory levels and an infrastructure that can move the product, quickly , efficiently and often, globally. The IT component is a huge advantage to you as these supply chains are complicated and run on major platforms. Consider digging a little deeper into this sector and perhaps some other advisors have some leads or suggestions for you.
Thank you for your service to our country and GOOD LUCK!
Best Regards, Mike

John Green ⋅ Cary, NC Information Technology ⋅ 40 years experience

Browse the salary guides. The jobs most in demand are paid more. Find a role that you are interested in , then figure out what credentials you need to qualify.

https://www.roberthalf.com/workplace-research/salary-guides

For example, Cybersecurity engineer pulls down $200k annual base salary.