I have to aggree with KorpDeath, IT gets the short end of the stick on most things. They don't see your value until they need you, so you are always grabbing for scraps at budget time, and begging for this or that. So my first bit of advice is to learn to do what you need to do cheaply. Don't rely on the latest machine as your way to make things work. Learn to use what you have, and either write your own when you can or find it for free. They love the word free.

Also the best advice I can give you is to never stop learning. If you find yourself bored or wanting something to do, it is time to learn something completely new. Never be satisfied with what you know, and stay abreast with current technology and security concerns.

Good luck on your new career, and don't think of it as finishing school, think of it as a warm-up.