Reason for this post, is that I was recently (yesterday) turned down for a job that I've been doing for 2+ years but as a contractor for the company, the job was perm. I'm trying to decide what to learn or get involved with next.
There were a couple of positions opened in the desktop support area of this large company. They had 75+ candidates apply, they interviewed around 25, 3 got hired. I did not. In my time here, I've had lots of great feedback from customers/managers etc. I had several co-workers put in a good word for me, but it wasn't enough. They hired people who've worked directly under the manager, whereas I've had almost no exposure to him as I've been working at a different geographic location.
So, my brief history:
Worked retail at CompUSA. Blech, lousy pay, but I had no experience, just my A+ cert and a contact within CompUSA.
That didn't last long. (6 months)
Became involved with contracting for 3+ years, and have done mostly Windows 2000 rollouts for various firms. Over the last 2+ years, I've done day to day desktop support, supporting about 400 people in a mix of Windows 95/NT/2000. Network connectivity issues, software configuration, general troubleshooting, etc. Most recently, I took and passed the Network+ exam.
Ideally, I think I'd love to get involved with network administration. Configuring group policy, domains, dns, dhcp, etc, sounds like fun. Although I haven't had any direct opportunity to do any of that.
I had started studying for the MCP for 2003 server. I don't know if I'll ever get an MCSE (yes, I've heard all about how worthless those certs are) but how else can I show a prospective employeer that I have the ability to do network admin stuff, if I've never actually done it? Therefore, I was going for the certs.
It also seems to me, that if you get "specialized" knowledge in an area, whether it's some kind of programming, or database admin, or some weird application that only 10 people in the world know.... you can make some great cash.
So, to end this rambling, my questions are this:
1st If you were in my shoes, would you continue to pursue the MCP/MCSE network admin stuff? Or will that be a hard field to get into? Or, should I maybe learn some sort of database app, and get good at that? Maybe Access or SQL or something? I have almost no interest/apptitude for Programming...
2nd, I'm earning about 17 bucks an hour. Do you think that is low, middle of the road, or high considering my experience? It sure seems like everyone else is making phat cash. Is it because I don't have enough experience, yet?
Edit: I do have a bachelors in Business Admin. Just found out I liked this field better...
also am A+ and Network+ certified.
Helpful feedback only, please, thanks!
Thanks
There were a couple of positions opened in the desktop support area of this large company. They had 75+ candidates apply, they interviewed around 25, 3 got hired. I did not. In my time here, I've had lots of great feedback from customers/managers etc. I had several co-workers put in a good word for me, but it wasn't enough. They hired people who've worked directly under the manager, whereas I've had almost no exposure to him as I've been working at a different geographic location.
So, my brief history:
Worked retail at CompUSA. Blech, lousy pay, but I had no experience, just my A+ cert and a contact within CompUSA.
That didn't last long. (6 months)
Became involved with contracting for 3+ years, and have done mostly Windows 2000 rollouts for various firms. Over the last 2+ years, I've done day to day desktop support, supporting about 400 people in a mix of Windows 95/NT/2000. Network connectivity issues, software configuration, general troubleshooting, etc. Most recently, I took and passed the Network+ exam.
Ideally, I think I'd love to get involved with network administration. Configuring group policy, domains, dns, dhcp, etc, sounds like fun. Although I haven't had any direct opportunity to do any of that.
I had started studying for the MCP for 2003 server. I don't know if I'll ever get an MCSE (yes, I've heard all about how worthless those certs are) but how else can I show a prospective employeer that I have the ability to do network admin stuff, if I've never actually done it? Therefore, I was going for the certs.
It also seems to me, that if you get "specialized" knowledge in an area, whether it's some kind of programming, or database admin, or some weird application that only 10 people in the world know.... you can make some great cash.
So, to end this rambling, my questions are this:
1st If you were in my shoes, would you continue to pursue the MCP/MCSE network admin stuff? Or will that be a hard field to get into? Or, should I maybe learn some sort of database app, and get good at that? Maybe Access or SQL or something? I have almost no interest/apptitude for Programming...
2nd, I'm earning about 17 bucks an hour. Do you think that is low, middle of the road, or high considering my experience? It sure seems like everyone else is making phat cash. Is it because I don't have enough experience, yet?
Edit: I do have a bachelors in Business Admin. Just found out I liked this field better...
also am A+ and Network+ certified.
Helpful feedback only, please, thanks!
Thanks
