How to break into hardware ?

[Ipno]

Until recently, my wife was working as a Certified Nurses Aide, but now, she's developed trouble with her knee, and she really can't handle all the bending and lifting thats required for the job.

She's always been really astute at working with our home PCs. I let her build her own, and she's done a lot of stuff in Windows, Linux and the ilk.

But she's never really worked as a professional, just messed around with PCs. My carreer path in the industry was rather based on the fact that I was more at the right place at the right time. My first IT job I got cause I was friends with a doctor. I don't have a degree, but I've had jobs that were positioned for people with degrees based on my experience.

I was wondering, is there a way into the hardware field that is relatively quick? She's talking about getting a degree, and thats great, but she also wants to work in the field while she's working on it. Would certification be a good path? And if so, what kind of certification? If so, where do we start with that?

 

[Woodie]

OK, you fooled me with the title (I'm in security

I'll offer my $.02 anyway:

A+ certification is a pretty good start, and it's not too hard. Once you have that, get a job doing desktop/hardware support, aiming for a larger company (>1000 employees). Usually this is a job with relatively high turnover, so there are frequent openings. Once in the door, use that to get manufacturers certification for whatever vendor the company is using (Compaq, IBM, Dell, HP, etc...).

Then try and get into the server-support area: more expertise required, less down-time acceptable, therefore more skills required.

It's been my experience that the software side of support is better paid, and has more opportunities for advancement, but it takes more training to start, and to keep current.

--Woodie

 

[Ipno]

Doh! Now that I reread it I guess it does sound misleading!

Thanks for the information. Can anyone recommend a book on A+ certification?

 

[Wallysaurus]

All-In-One A+ Certification by Michael Meyers is really a good book. You can get it at his web site, Total Seminars, or you can get it at Barnes and Noble or Amazon by doing a search for ISBN: 0-07-212679-5.

Although it is aimed at the A+ certifidation test, it is really a very good reference for all things pertaining to PC repair.

 

[Dufusyte]

The best way to break into hardware is with a screw driver and a ski mask.

 

[4824guy]

The best way to break into hardware is to practice, practice, practice.