Tag: Data Center Technician

I’ve spent the last week posting content about how to get a Data Center Technician job. This week I continue with that theme, but in this post I want to explain why. It’s one thing to tell a person to try to get specific role, but sometimes articles or videos don’t explain why. Or they do explain why and focus on the salary and benefits. While those are good, people also want to work a job that matters, or brings them so joy, or keeps them active. That’s the reason for this post. So keep reading to understand why I suggest Data Center Technician jobs.

Why I Suggest Data Center Technician Jobs: It’s Great For Those Who Like Physical IT Jobs

When I think about the various positions available in the IT Industry many of them are sedentary. I sat in a chair for a majority of my eight hour shift as a Technical Support Technician. I got up to go to the bathroom or to lunch. Software Engineers, Database Administrators, and Network Engineers all sit down for the majority of their day. Some employers installed standing desks, but a recent study shows those don’t really help improve a person’s health.

That’s why I suggest Data Center Technician jobs to individuals who are physically active in their personal life. And they want a job where they can stay physically active. I covered the physicality of the job in this previous post, but I will give a quick summary:

• Data centers are large buildings so there is near-constant walking
• Server racks are tall so one has to squat, kneel, and climb ladders to access the servers
• Computer hardware is heavy, and require a good amount of strength to move it around

Why I Suggest Data Center Technician Jobs: It’s Great For Those Seeking Variety In Their Shift

The next reason why I suggest Data Center Technician jobs is for the individuals who want to work on a variety of tasks during their shift. Some of these individuals want this because it makes the work day go by faster. Others just don’t want to do the same thing over and over.

Just like other IT jobs, this role requires each technician to perform a tasks that came in through a ticket. One ticket could have that individual rack and stack networking hardware and servers in a rack. The next ticket for the day could have that individual run Ethernet cabling across the floor to a communications closet, or into a customer’s rack. Another ticket could have that individual escort a vendor, like a Field Service Technician from an Internet Service Provider (ISP), around so that person can perform a repair, or install some equipment.

With this job the tasks change constantly, which means little to no repetitive tasks. And each work day is different.

Final Reason: It’s Great For Loners

My final reason why I suggest Data Center Technician jobs is for the loners. Depending on the shift there may be only one to two Data Center Technicians working in the entire building. I see this happen more-so with night shifts. Thus, if that individual prefers their own company and only talk to their coworkers when needed this job works out well.

I worked night shift as Data Center Technician at a previous employer so I speak from good experience. Granted, I got a little lonely, but overall I liked it. It did get a little stressful when I had many tasks to do. It would have been nice to have a coworker around then.

While my goal this week is to help readers get a job in the Data Center Industry, I must be honest about the physicality of data center jobs. These roles require individuals who have the energy and stamina to perform manual labor consistently. As a long-time Data Center Technician myself, I’ll explain the type of physical movements a person must perform on a daily basis. Thus, anyone interested in applying for a job as a Data Center Technician or Facilities Technician knows what’s in store for them.

Physicality Of Data Center Jobs: Constant Movement

When it comes to the physicality of data center jobs one has to be able to do the following:

• Long bouts of walking
• Repeated squatting, bending, kneeling, and climbing
• Lifting heavy objects like servers, batteries, switches and/or routers

Data centers are large buildings so its employees will get their steps in during their daily shifts. I can easily hit 10,000 steps by the middle of the afternoon. If I’ve been walking back and forth doing certain tasks, I can hit that number just before or after lunch time. I’ve seen people not used to walking much suffer leg and foot soreness.

Now the soreness one can get from squatting, bending, kneeling, and climbing may not go away as easily. Especially if a person lifts or bends the wrong way. Practicing proper ergonomics is vital, but some people don’t either believe in it, or don’t want to spend the time to learn ergonomics. Again, if a person hasn’t kneeled much, or climbed up and down a ladder repeatedly, these actions lead to muscle soreness. In addition, if a person has joint problems this level of physical work can worsen those problems.

Finally, I find that individuals underestimate the amount of strength they have. They think they can lift a server weighing 40 pounds until they actually try. They soon realize computers aren’t like the weights in the gym. Especially since these computers can be unwieldy. That’s why companies invest in server lifts, and there’s no shame in using one. However, using a server lift can be an exercise in itself due to how large they are, and the power one needs to exert to push them around on the floor.

Data Center Jobs Usually Involve Extreme Heat And Cold

Another part of the physicality of data center jobs that interested individuals don’t know about is the extreme heat and cold present in data centers.

The hot aisle of the data center contains all the heat from the back of the racks into a confined area. Then it’s sucked through the building’s HVAC system. Unfortunately, employees have to work in the hot aisle on occasion to install hardware, troubleshoot a device, or run cabling. Thus, they may have to deal with temperatures greater than 100 degree Fahrenheit for an extended amount of time.

This heat isn’t just present on the data center floor. Electrical room and generators can be extremely hot, especially those inside buildings outside of the data center building. Especially those in hot climates.

Now the opposite is also true of these locations. Extreme cold weather can settle in pretty easily, making it difficult for individuals to work. Many employers usually limit how long one of their employees can work in either temperature as a safety precaution. They don’t want someone to collapse from the heat, or develop hypothermia from the cold. So if interested individuals aren’t ready to deal with short bouts of extreme temperatures, then these jobs may not be for them.

This post provides several Data Center Technician interview tips that can help candidates successfully pass the interview and get a job offer. I can’t offer a guarantee, though. My overall goal with today’s post is to help those actively trying to get employment to get the job.

Data Center Technician Interview Tips: Know The Role

Candidates need to know the role inside and out to have a successful interview. This means reading the job description many times, and understanding the required daily tasks. I suggest to copy the job posting or job description into a text document and save it. Some companies remove their job listings on a certain date, or when interviewing starts. Thus, if the candidate wants to revisit the listing to get additional details that person can’t.

Finally, use various sources to understand what a Data Center Technician does. There are YouTube videos about the role, along with social media accounts discussing the job. Lastly, candidates could always contact those currently working in the position for information. That’s happened to me and I have no problem answering questions. I prefer communication through LinkedIn.

Data Center Technician Interview Tips: Ask Questions

Another one of my Data Center Technician interview tips is to ask questions. Candidates should have questions about the role, the team, the company, and how can they grow in the company. If candidates don’t ask any questions then the interviewer will think they aren’t serious. That can prevent those candidates from getting a job offer.

“Brittany, I don’t know what questions to ask. What are some questions you asked on previous interviews?”

I always ask the following:

• Can you tell me what a normal day is like?
• Is overtime required for this job? If so, how much?
• What is a big project the team is currently working on? If there isn’t one, is there one upcoming?
• What are some difficulties the team is running into at the moment?
• Is there something I can prepare for now to help out immediately if I get hired?
• How can I succeed in this job? What technologies or skills I need to learn?

That’s just a small sampling of questions, but you can find more online. In addition to those, candidates should think of what is important to them and delve deeper into those topics. If career progression is a key goal then ask the interviewer. Or if candidates want to improve their data center skills then ask about how the employer can help you. Remember, a job interview is the only opportunity to learn specifics about the role and the employer. If candidates don’t do proper due diligence they could end up in a job you hate.

Data Center Technician Interviews: Know The News

Another of my Data Center Technician interview tips is to know the latest industry news. This is important because major technology improvements will require employers to change their hiring criteria. And if candidates don’t know about these improvements they’ll be left behind.

Currently in the data center industry Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) is causing data centers around the world to change. Those companies are investing in water-cooling technology, which wasn’t a need a few years ago. Other companies are changing their servers to offer more GPU options than CPU options so customers requiring the power for modeling and training will have it. Finally, companies are looking for individuals who have experience working with Machine Learning (ML) or can learn it quickly.

Now, I keep up with the news because I thoroughly enjoy working in data centers, and this knowledge helps me determine what moves I need to make when it comes to improving my skill-set. I need to invest my time wisely into learning topics that will help my career.

Final Tip: Practice!

My final tip is for candidates to practice their interviewing skills. They can do so with a friend, a family member, or hire a career coach. This way they will feel confident when it’s interview time.

I also suggest watching YouTube videos to learn different interview techniques, and how to handle certain questions, topics like that. It’s always best to have the knowledge and not need it, than need it and not have it.

This post continues my series of posts trying to help individuals get a job as a Data Center Technician. This role has seen more positions open, along with increased popularity, due to the boon of Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) here in America. Companies continue to invest in their own on-premise compute, or buying compute from other companies. Thus, data centers need more employees (such as Data Center Technicians) to meet customer demand. Where are those jobs located? I’m glad you asked! In today’s posts I provide the best data center work locations in America.

Why Choosing One Of The Best Data Center Work Locations Is Important

As an experienced Data Center Technician choosing where to work is important because there are some states where data centers aren’t plentiful. Thus, if one lives one of those states getting a Data Center Technician job is going to be difficult, if not impossible.

So it’s best to move to a state and/or city where there are dozens of data centers. In turn, the chances of getting a job in one improves. Also, I want interested applicants to get paid what their worth, which means choosing to live in one of the best data center work locations.

Data Center Techs Best Work Locations In America

Here’s the list of the cities providing the best data center work locations in America in no particular order:

• Ashburn, VA
• Atlanta, GA
• Phoenix, AZ
• Central Ohio

Ashburn, VA

Ashburn, VA is on the list because it is “Data Center Alley.” This city is home to Silicon Valley data centers like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, to colocation providers like Equinix, QTS, and Digital Realty. In addition, there are many data centers providing the U.S. Federal Government support.

Why should data center technicians choose Ashburn, VA? Here are two reasons:

Plenty of employers: With over 60 data centers in the city there are plenty of employers to choose from. Which means it will be easier to find an entry-level data center position for those new to the role, or find a senior position for those more tenured. Also, with so many employers vying for workers they offer higher salaries and better benefits.

Great networking opportunities: The city and the county holds events constantly where Data Center Technicians can get together and talk. These events also help those individuals find better jobs, or improve their skill-sets by learning about new technologies.

While this city is a great place to move to there are two downsides:

• High cost of living
• Traffic

I’ve been to this part of Virginia since my employer has a few data centers there and life is expensive there. Housing is crazy expensive, no matter if you rent or buy. Food is expensive, even if one shops at Walmart. Going out on the town is expensive. Just everything is expensive.

Finally, traffic is bad in the city due to its closeness to Washington, DC. Yes, the toll roads help, but that’s another added cost. I didn’t take the toll road when I worked there and just dealt with the traffic.

Atlanta, GA

Next on the list of one of the best data center work locations is Atlanta, GA. Georgia is my home state so I’m biased, but there are several data centers in the Atlanta, GA metro area. They range from major Silicon Valley companies like Google and Meta, but they are located in suburbs (Douglas County and Walton & Newton County respectively). However, the city contains major data center colocation providers.

Why should data center technicians choose Atlanta, GA? Here are a couple of reasons:

Most of the employers are located in Downtown Atlanta: This really helps with commuting purposes. One could decide to live close to downtown and walk to work (or take public transportation).

Various types of data centers are available to choose from: If you want to work for a data center handling state lotteries there’s Scientific Games. Or if you want to work with various types of customers then work at Digital Realty, QTS, or Equinix.

While this city is a great place to move to there are two downsides:

• The cost of living continues to increase
• Terrible traffic

I lived and worked in Atlanta for about 8 years (2014 to 2022), and I saw the cost of living continue to increase year after year. My rent increased from $650 to $800+ before I bought a house in 2020. Today the rent for my previous apartment now just under $1100 per month!

Finally, the traffic in Atlanta is just plain terrible. There’s too many people, not enough public transportation, and the highways weren’t built to contain it all. Yes, the city continues to expand the highway system and its city streets, but it’s not enough.

Phoenix, AZ

Let’s jump over to the West Coast for a moment. One of the best data center work locations is Phoenix, AZ. There are 40+ data centers in the area. And if you don’t mind traveling 20 miles away there is the Apple data center in Mesa, AZ which is considered their global command center. Like the other two cities on this list Phoenix has several major colocation providers like PhoenixNAP, H5, Digital Realty, and QTS.

Why should data center technicians choose Phoenix, AZ? Here are two reasons:

• Decent cost of living
• Various employers to choose from

Unlike the other two cities on this list Phoenix, AZ has a decent cost of living. It is higher than what it used to be due to the influx of Californians moving into the city over the past few years. Yet, when I check out the cost of living for the city is only 4% higher than the national average. Housing is high, however, just like it is in every major American city.

Finally, just like the other cities there are plenty of employers to choose from. So it shouldn’t be too hard to get a job.

New Albany, OH

The last location on this list may surprise readers because it’s not a city well-known to many. However, more people will probably know of it within the next 3 to 5 years: New Albany, OH. It’s a suburb of Columbus, OH, and is home to data centers for Google, Amazon, Meta, and in the next few years Microsoft. In short, this part of Ohio is becoming a place for Big Tech and I expect this part of Central Ohio to become a tech hub in the next few years.

So if anyone wants to work for a major tech company without moving to California this city is the top choice. However, this move is going to come with some costs. Housing is getting more expensive in the area. That’s due to the large salaries these companies pay for talent. And Columbus, OH is the capital of the state, and people move out to the suburbs and commute into the city for work. Finally, you’ll have to deal with traffic. Yet, like with Atlanta, the city and the state are working on expanding the highway system.

Let’s get you a job! Yes, you, the reader of this post. Keep reading to learn how to get a Data Center Technician job. This guide works for individuals already working in Information Technology, or switching to this industry. By following these steps (along with putting in the work) you can land an entry-level role.

How To Get A Data Center Technician Job: Learn Computer Hardware Installation & Troubleshooting

The first part of this step to get a Data Center Technician job is to learn computer hardware installation and troubleshooting. The reason this step is important because one of the role’s daily tasks is to install hardware inside servers like hard drives or memory. Or technicians may have to upgrade a server’s hardware. Thus you need to know how to safely install and remove all types of hardware components.

A great way to learn this is to build a computer from scratch. Now I know this requires individuals to spend money, but learning isn’t free. To save some money I suggest buying a refurbished desktop computer and buying refurbished computer parts. Going this route can save a considerable amount.

The second part of this step is to learn computer hardware troubleshooting skills. Depending on the location individuals may have to troubleshoot server troubles and determine the faulty part. Or a senior technician may do the initial troubleshooting and leave the rest up to a technician. YouTube videos cover this in detail, or people can read troubleshooting documentation from computer part manufacturers. I do consider hardware troubleshooting an art, and it takes a good amount of time to become good at.

How To Get A Data Center Technician Job: Consider Certification

A good way to get a Data Center Technician job is to consider getting an IT certification. I highly suggest an entry-level tech have the CompTIA A+ Certification. This entry-level certification is good for all types of jobs, including those in the data center. To get the certification one has to study and pass two exams. Each exam is currently $253 USD. Yes, I know that can be expensive for some, but there is good return on that investment.

Final Step: Apply For Jobs At Colocation Data Centers

My final step on how to get a Data Center Technician job is to apply for jobs at colocation data centers. These are properties not tied to a particular company like Google or Apple. The reason I suggest this because these jobs are plentiful and offer more entry-level roles.

Also, colocation data centers offer broad experience. Technicians will do everything from swapping faulty hardware to running cabling under elevated flooring. Finally, these roles also and teach individuals how to monitor the health of the servers and the facility’s cooling and generators.

So who are some colocation data centers you can consider? Here’s a short list:

• QTS
• Digital Realty
• CoreSite
• Equinix
• Flexential