u/Mandalorp — reddlx

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some realistic advice from current AV/IT Officers, ETOs, or anyone who runs the network on board.

A bit of context about me:

Tech Background: Telecom Engineer (Telematics) with experience in 4G/5G networks, Oracle SBCs, and Kubernetes.
Hospitality Background: 5 seasons working as a waiter in Ibiza (where I'm from).

I’m currently getting my STCW and ENG1 sorted. I know pure Junior AV/IT or Assistant ETO roles are rare for green crew unless the boat is considerably large. My realistic plan is to aim for a Deckhand/IT.

My questions are:

Is the Deckhand/IT route actually a realistic entry point for my profile, or is it just a waste of time?
How hard is it right now to land a role that values this hybrid tech/deck skillset?
Is becoming a AV/IT Officer eventually a plausible long-term career path, or is the market overly saturated?
What are the day-to-day expectations for the "IT guy" on a 50-70m boat? Any reality checks I should hear before dockwalking?

Appreciate any insights or brutal honesty!