anyone else that can't get a job?

[kingink]

Hi everybody,
I saved up money for a year, quit my job at an independent bookstore, and went to a community college (cc) to
get some IT skills. It has been looking about three weeks and no job offers. I have my ccna, network+, a telcommunications certifcate from my cc, and am taking steps to take the Solaris certification and another Unix certificate from the cc (one class away.)
I am a T. A. for a Unix System Administration class at the cc. I don't have any other work experience in the networking or system administration fields. I have started temping as a file clerk. All I have is paper certifications. Any advice for someone desperately trying to get started as a sysadmin or network admin.

Thanks,
kingink

 

[warcleric]

Same as everything else, start small, look around at the nuts and bolts computer shops, ask if you can work there as a low paid tech or even a volunteer. Also look for hell desk work, although it wont help as much, or a entry level network admin job. Dont expect to make $50k/yr with nothing but pieces of paper.

 

[kingink]

thanks for the advice warcleric. I am looking for entry level jobs. I don' expect $50K, but something over $15/hour
because it is really expensive here.
I applied for jobs at eff and other nonprofit groups, but no paid positions were available and the internships ask for
FT. I need to pay rent and really enjoy the problem-solving situations related to the two fields.
Thanks again and to anyone else who cares to give advice.
Best,
kingink

 

[Emulex]

Problem is, paper cert's really don't equate to knowledge. Anyone who can read a book, can get a cert these days. Folks count real work experience more than anything. It's important to coop these days in college, especially if in the IT business.

also all the dot bombs lately have provided an abundance of very skilled IT folks who will work for anything to pay their rent..

 

[Windogg]

The best place to start is help desk and support positions. It's important because it teaches you skills like how to deal with people and developing interpersonal skills needed to be a good network/tech person. Starting there also teaches you tricks that aren't written in any book.

Windogg

 

[warcleric]

Windogg: heh, you must be getting different help desk people than I do....if it isnt in their book they are clueless.