How do i get an IT tech type job???

[PremiumG]

all you guys that do technical support, how do i bust into one of those careers? You know like fixing other peeps computers in the office, updating their software, backing up their stuff, etc. etc. (actually what else do you guys do??!!, do you guys chill when there are no calls?)

I have a degree in computer sci now and only A+ cert. Should I pursue more certs or experience? I have no experience and it seems a lot of people want that. My buddies w/ the same degree as I, they program software now. I dont like programming, its too hair-greying. I like messing w/ computer insides and stuff, lol. How do i get more of a hardware related job?

And if you don't mind me asking, how much do you start off making? (maybe u can PM me this info?)

 

[Adul]

move to india

try off with a few cotnracting companies. They are usually easier to get started and to gain some experience.

 

[Narse]

I actually got lucky, I got hired into the company because during the interviews I impressed my boss. I was one of 1500 people who sent in resumes.

 

[Ogg]

Dont pierce your eyebrow!!

 

[PremiumG]

can u guys tell me some of the things u do during a day's work?

should i get more certs? I don't know too much about networking... i probably should read up on that huh?

 

[Viper GTS]

In this market?

Start here, you'll need something to distinguish yourself from the 100 other people applying for the same job.

My advice would be to avoid this line of work at all costs.

Unless of course you live in Canada or India, where you'll be safe until they start outsourcing to the next place on the list.

Viper GTS

 

[Zombie]

Originally posted by: PremiumG
all you guys that do technical support, how do i bust into one of those careers? You know like fixing other peeps computers in the office, updating their software, backing up their stuff, etc. etc. (actually what else do you guys do??!!, do you guys chill when there are no calls?)

I have a degree in computer sci now and only A+ cert. Should I pursue more certs or experience? I have no experience and it seems a lot of people want that. My buddies w/ the same degree as I, they program software now. I dont like programming, its too hair-greying. I like messing w/ computer insides and stuff, lol. How do i get more of a hardware related job?

And if you don't mind me asking, how much do you start off making? (maybe u can PM me this info?)

You are a moron. If you didn't like programming why the hell did you stay in CS ?

 

[LordThing]

Originally posted by: PremiumG
can u guys tell me some of the things u do during a day's work?

should i get more certs? I don't know too much about networking... i probably should read up on that huh?

Networking is a big plus. Certs are not held as high reguard as experience. Best bet for you is to get in on the ground floor with a job at a local PC shop or even working helpdesk somewhere non-conventional like a hospital or university (if you are still in college). My first techie kinda job was visiting the job fair at WVU and talking with Admissions and Records. They hired me on as PC helpdesk, I learned Novell, switched a few departments and now I am a Novell Admin for a international commercial roofing company.

 

[LordThing]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
In this market?

Start here, you'll need something to distinguish yourself from the 100 other people applying for the same job.

My advice would be to avoid this line of work at all costs.

Unless of course you live in Canada or India, where you'll be safe until they start outsourcing to the next place on the list.

Viper GTS

He is right. Doing first level tech is a soul stealing experience. But if you stick with it, you may be able to move up to where it actually is kinda rewarding.

 

[MadPeriot]

I started my IT job working as shipping and receiving for MicroAge (not around any more). They had me repair PC and printers on the side and trained me going off sites. Repairing PC is cake, def. need to learn networking. Experience over certification. My 2 cent.

 

[Linflas]

It's kind of hard to outsource to India support jobs that require hands on work. You can have your call center in India but ultimately you are going to need an on site tech to fix problems.

 

[ultimatebob]

If you want a IT support job, I would recommend getting some real life job experience as soon as possible. Try to get a job at your local computer store, or try to get a work-study job with IT support guys at your local university. That's what I did, and I learned much more useful information fixing computers at the college I went to than I ever learned in any of my programming classes.

The certifications are nice to have too, but they aren't as useful as having a real IT job on your resume.

 

[munruss]

I'm a Network Admin and I went back to school for my masters in elem. education. IT is pointless work and it means nothing. The industry died and MS makes the O/S's so easy that no experience at all will be acceptable. It's worthless.

 

[damiano]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
In this market?

Start here, you'll need something to distinguish yourself from the 100 other people applying for the same job.

Viper GTS

lol

 

[lokiju]

I've been doing the IT thing for going on 7 years now, it has to be one of the most thankless jobs ever, all you get is people bitching with their repetitive issues over and over, I've come to realize that I enjoy computers and even working on them, I just don't enjoy the assholes that come along with the support side of things. If I could do it over now, I would probably have become an engineer of some sorts.

 

[PanzerIV]

Originally posted by: PremiumGdo you guys chill when there are no calls?)

That is an understatement. Some days I could curl up under the desk and nobody would notice.

 

[bigalt]

Originally posted by: blazert40
I've been doing the IT thing for going on 7 years now, it has to be one of the most thankless jobs ever, all you get is people bitching with their repetitive issues over and over, I've come to realize that I enjoy computers and even working on them, I just don't enjoy the assholes that come along with the support side of things. If I could do it over now, I would probably have become an engineer of some sorts.

you are aware of how the bitching people view you, right?

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: munruss
I'm a Network Admin and I went back to school for my masters in elem. education. IT is pointless work and it means nothing. The industry died and MS makes the O/S's so easy that no experience at all will be acceptable. It's worthless.

Good point. Any bozo can admin a Microsoft server (not PROPERLY, mind you, as some of the security hardening and Active Directory stuff is a bit tricky), but it still takes some talent to be a good UNIX or Linux administrator. It wouldn't hurt to learn some DBA and application server skills, too.

 

[Narse]

Originally posted by: PanzerIV

Originally posted by: PremiumGdo you guys chill when there are no calls?)

That is an understatement. Some days I could curl up under the desk and nobody would notice.

Me too, but when the sh*t hits the fan I may work 75+ hours in a week

 

[helpme]

Originally posted by: Zombie

Originally posted by: PremiumG
all you guys that do technical support, how do i bust into one of those careers? You know like fixing other peeps computers in the office, updating their software, backing up their stuff, etc. etc. (actually what else do you guys do??!!, do you guys chill when there are no calls?)

I have a degree in computer sci now and only A+ cert. Should I pursue more certs or experience? I have no experience and it seems a lot of people want that. My buddies w/ the same degree as I, they program software now. I dont like programming, its too hair-greying. I like messing w/ computer insides and stuff, lol. How do i get more of a hardware related job?

And if you don't mind me asking, how much do you start off making? (maybe u can PM me this info?)

You are a moron. If you didn't like programming why the hell did you stay in CS ?

 

[Jzero]

You are a moron. If you didn't like programming why the hell did you stay in CS ?

There's more to programming than CS, or at least there would be if the average CS students and faculty would pull their heads out of their asses. But so many of them seem to believe that programming is the dark art that sets us above all of the non-technical Plebes that they don't want to admit that there is value in learning administration, security, advanced networking.

What degree should you get? MIS degrees are mostly business. You won't learn any more about IT security in MIS than you will in CS. Where are you supposed to go?

I've got a CS degree. I knew from the start I didn't want to be a programmer. But I knew by looking at the curricula that CS was the only degree even remotely close to what I wanted to do.

Now I work in IT security. I rarely program aside from PHP and batch scripts to automate my processes. But I would not have been able to get this job without a CS degree.

 

[helpme]

You're right, but then you did have to suffer through classes relating to algorithms, data stuctures, etc... Which I would assume would scare you off if you didn't really like programming.

While I agree that most MIS programs are pretty silly, the CS programs I've seen don't have alot of networking/systems management courses as part of the coursework. I suppose that employers figure you have half a brain and can problem solve if you can get though a CS program.

I guess he's not a moron then, but I hope his Resume doesn't have the same grammer/style as his post

 

[PremiumG]

how plausible is it that I should make 6 digits by 10 years in the field of hardware?

my CS buddies who did software programming started at 40k+ a year. I don't mind starting off w/ a lower salary in hardware but if the potential is not there.. then i don't know. Maybe i should do software even though I was pulling out hairs at every lab I did.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: PremiumG
how plausible is it that I should make 6 digits by 10 years in the field of hardware?

Hardware SUPPORT? Damn near impossible., I'd say. You can make a good living, but 6 figs in this field becomes more of a pipe dream every day.

my CS buddies who did software programming started at 40k+ a year. I don't mind starting off w/ a lower salary in hardware but if the potential is not there.. then i don't know. Maybe i should do software even though I was pulling out hairs at every lab I did.

You really need to find work that you enjoy. The money doesn't mean much to you if you hate your life.

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: PremiumG
how plausible is it that I should make 6 digits by 10 years in the field of hardware?

Ahahaha.... umm, never.