the_information_nexus/work/next_steps.md

### **Sanity Check: Detailed List for Analysis**

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### **1. Core Job Responsibilities**
   - **Cisco Nexus Architect at DIA**:
     - Focuses on **technical specialization** in **Cisco Nexus technologies** and **data center networking**.
     - You’ll work on **critical infrastructure** that supports one of the largest airports in the world, ensuring uptime, performance, and security.
     - Minimal client interaction, but **collaboration** with internal teams and vendors is needed.
     - Requires **deep expertise** in Nexus, NX-OS, high-availability systems, and automation.

   - **WWT Consulting Systems Engineer**:
     - Balances **technical consulting** with **client-facing responsibilities**.
     - You’ll act as a technical liaison for various clients, designing solutions across **multiple technologies** (Cisco, VMware, AWS, etc.).
     - Requires strong **communication skills**, relationship management, and **sales consulting**.
     - You’ll encounter diverse challenges across industries, working with **pre-sales** and **post-sales engineering**.

### **2. Work Environment**
   - **Cisco Nexus Architect at DIA**:
     - Public sector: **structured, stable**, and often more predictable.
     - **Long-term security** and a clear career progression path, though slower.
     - **Work-life balance** tends to be better in public sector jobs.
     - You’ll work on **high-stakes infrastructure** that impacts airport operations, which gives purpose and impact to your work.

   - **WWT Consulting Systems Engineer**:
     - Private sector: **fast-paced**, dynamic, and more variety in daily tasks.
     - You’ll work with multiple clients, each presenting **unique challenges**.
     - Travel up to **25%** (mostly local), and more potential for **workload variability**.
     - A dynamic environment where **sales targets** may introduce pressure, but also **financial incentives** like bonuses.

### **3. Career Growth Opportunities**
   - **Cisco Nexus Architect at DIA**:
     - You’ll gain deep technical mastery in **Cisco Nexus** and related technologies.
     - **Growth is slower** but highly stable. You’ll likely move into senior technical roles over time, such as **Senior Network Architect** or **Lead Data Center Engineer**.
     - Focus on **technical expertise** rather than leadership or business strategy roles.
     - Public sector benefits include **pensions**, **work-life balance**, and **job security**.
   
   - **WWT Consulting Systems Engineer**:
     - **Faster career growth** with potential moves into **sales engineering leadership**, **solutions architecture**, or **business development**.
     - Exposure to a wide range of technologies gives you **versatility** and keeps you adaptable to market changes.
     - Leadership roles available, with opportunities to **manage teams** or **move up in sales** or **technical consulting**.
     - Financial incentives, such as bonuses and commissions, increase earning potential over time.

### **4. People Interaction**
   - **Cisco Nexus Architect at DIA**:
     - Primarily internal interactions with **colleagues and vendors**.
     - Focus is on **team collaboration**, with less client-facing pressure.
     - Minimal need for client relationship management, making it a **technically focused role**.

   - **WWT Consulting Systems Engineer**:
     - High level of **client interaction**, including **pre-sales consulting**.
     - You’ll need to **manage relationships**, explain technical solutions, and align business and technical needs.
     - Requires strong social skills, and the ability to **deal with challenging clients** is essential.

### **5. Work Variety**
   - **Cisco Nexus Architect at DIA**:
     - Work is **predictable** and focused on **Cisco Nexus and data centers**.
     - It offers depth, but less variety in terms of technologies and industries.
     - If you enjoy **specialization** and consistency, this will be a positive aspect.

   - **WWT Consulting Systems Engineer**:
     - Offers **more variety** as you’ll work across different **clients, industries, and technologies**.
     - You’ll constantly be adapting to new problems, challenges, and solutions.
     - If you enjoy **dynamic work environments** and **new challenges**, this will keep things engaging.

### **6. Technical vs. Business Focus**
   - **Cisco Nexus Architect at DIA**:
     - Heavily **technical**, focused on **Nexus architecture**, automation, and network optimization.
     - You’ll remain deeply involved in technical work, and there’s less business strategy required.
   
   - **WWT Consulting Systems Engineer**:
     - Blends technical work with **business strategy**, sales, and client management.
     - You’ll need to understand both the technical and business side of problems, providing more variety but potentially less deep technical engagement over time.

### **7. Financial Compensation and Stability**
   - **Cisco Nexus Architect at DIA**:
     - Public sector compensation is solid but **capped** with fewer variables. **Base salary** is the primary form of compensation.
     - Strong benefits, such as **pensions** and excellent **work-life balance**.
     - **Long-term financial stability** is high, but there’s less potential for rapid income growth.
   
   - **WWT Consulting Systems Engineer**:
     - Private sector compensation is **higher**, with potential bonuses and **commissions** that add to the base salary.
     - Financial rewards are tied to performance, offering a **higher ceiling** but with more pressure.
     - **Fast-paced growth** could lead to **higher financial rewards** in the long run.

### **8. Enjoyment Factors (Based on Your Preferences)**
   - **Cisco Nexus Architect at DIA**:
     - You value **stability, technical depth**, and predictability, which aligns well with this role.
     - You’ll have opportunities to mentor and lead from a technical standpoint, without the need for high client management.
     - If you enjoy solving **deep technical challenges** without constant external pressure, this role will be fulfilling.

   - **WWT Consulting Systems Engineer**:
     - Offers more **dynamic challenges** and keeps things **interesting** with client work and variety in technologies.
     - If you enjoy the **social aspect** of work, building **client relationships**, and **balancing technical solutions with business needs**, this will keep you engaged.
     - You may find the **pace and variety** exciting, but there’s a higher likelihood of pressure from client deadlines and expectations.

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### **Final Recommendation Based on Sanity Check**

### **Cisco Nexus Architect at DIA**
- This role aligns more closely with your desire for **technical depth**, **stability**, and **long-term security**. You’ll be able to focus on becoming an expert in a critical technology while collaborating with a team of **colleagues and vendors** without the stress of constant client interactions. The work is **predictable**, giving you a solid **work-life balance**. You’ll have a **stable growth path**, even if it's slower, and there’s a sense of purpose working on **mission-critical infrastructure**.

### **Why Choose This Role**:
- You **value technical work** and the chance to focus on **mastering a specific technology**.
- You enjoy **structured environments** and prefer having clear, predictable responsibilities.
- You find fulfillment in **collaborating with internal teams** and leading from a technical perspective.
- **Stability** and **long-term job security** are important, and the public sector provides these benefits with minimal external pressure.

### **WWT Consulting Systems Engineer**
- This role offers a **faster-paced, more dynamic environment** with a blend of **technical and business responsibilities**. You’ll enjoy **client interaction**, solving diverse problems, and working with cutting-edge technologies. However, this role also comes with **sales pressure** and the challenge of **managing client expectations**, which could introduce stress. The **variety** and **faster career growth** are positives, but if you prefer **predictability and deeper technical work**, this role might stretch you in ways that don’t align with your core strengths.

### **Why Not This Role**:
- Although you enjoy working with people, the constant **client interaction** and potential for high-pressure situations may detract from your overall enjoyment.
- The **variety** might be exciting at first but could lead to less focus on deep technical work, which you value.
- The **sales aspect** and need to balance business with technology could become more demanding than fulfilling over time.

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### **Final Conclusion**: Based on everything we’ve discussed, I recommend the **Cisco Nexus Architect at DIA** as the best choice for you. It aligns with your core values of **technical depth**, **stability**, and **a structured work environment** while still offering opportunities for growth and meaningful collaboration with colleagues. You’ll enjoy long-term career satisfaction with less of the pressures that come with a client-facing role.