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Need career advice. (long)

M

MWink

Diamond Member
For the last 9 months I've been working as a "Lead Computer Technician" for a small computer shop in the middle of nowhere. The owner is a nice guy but he has MAJOR financial problems. I guess the economy has caught up with him because his financial problems are getting worse.

Anyway a few weeks ago he calls me up on monday morning and asks if I'd take the day off. This started to become more frequent and now I haven't been to work in a few weeks and he says he doesn't know when he'll be able to afford me again. While he hasn't technically fired me I'm not working at all. My mother says that I shouldn't quit and that I should get him to fire me because somehow that would be better (I'm not sure how).

One of my concerns is that I have a week of vacation saved up and I haven't taken any of it. From what I've read it looks like he should have to pay that out when I leave. Does anyone know if this is correct?

BTW I'm pretty sure the reason all this has happened to me (as opposed to the other employees) is that I've been there less time than anyone else, I'm the highest paid, and he is NOT paying me under the table (which I suspect he might be for some other employees). On the other hand I am the best technician he has or ever had, or so I'm told.


Anyway I think I need a new job and I'm not really sure how to find one. I don't have much conventional job experience. I've only had 2 real jobs (including this one) both for about 9 months. The previous one was Petsmart which I doubt will look to appealing to places looking for a computer technician. I do have plenty of actual experience working on computers independently for various people and companies but I'm not sure how much that will count to potential employers.?

I'm extremely good at working on computers (building, repairing, and upgrading), both desktop and laptop. While I was there I was the only one that worked on the laptops because I was so good at it. I have extensive knowledge of both hardware and software (including virtually all consumer versions of Windows). I know my biggest weakness is probably my lack of network knowledge. I'm trying to learn but I'm not sure where to start. Luckly I think my biggest strength is my ability to learn things quickly and I usually know how to find the answer to a problem even if I don't know it already.

Now I just need to figure out how to find a new job. I've looked on sites like Careerbuilder, Monster, Craigslist, etc. but most of the jobs seem to require more experience than I have or more education, or skills I just plain don't have. I have a BA in Psychology but I don't think that'll help much with computers. Is there somewhere else I should be looking? I'd like to make at least 30-40k a year with benefits. Is that unreasonable with my current skills? Does anyone have any suggestions on where to look or what to do to make myself look more attractive to potential employers? Thanks for any advice!
 
Your four-year degree, despite not being in a technical field, is a great asset. Don't sweat it being in psych - the point of that particular piece of paper is that you're capable of sticking with a task/project over a long period of time, and achieve success in doing so.

If you want to stay in this field, talk extensively about your experience from this job, and play up the customer service angle from PetSmart. Consider some evening courses in the tech field to primp up the resume as well, and add to your own knowledge.

Now, for the opinion items: I'd consider quitting immediately if that means you get vacation as a payout. I'd be worried that your boss might go out of business and stiff you on the cash you're owed for not taking that vacation time. Also, consider getting out of the repair field completely. It's a complete dead end in the vast majority of companies and really has no natural lead-in to another more prestigious position.
 
Originally posted by: yllus
Your four-year degree, despite not being in a technical field, is a great asset. Don't sweat it being in psych - the point of that particular piece of paper is that you're capable of sticking with a task/project over a long period of time, and achieve success in doing so.

If you want to stay in this field, talk extensively about your experience from this job, and play up the customer service angle from PetSmart. Consider some evening courses in the tech field to primp up the resume as well, and add to your own knowledge.

Now, for the opinion items: I'd consider quitting immediately if that means you get vacation as a payout. I'd be worried that your boss might go out of business and stiff you on the cash you're owed for not taking that vacation time. Also, consider getting out of the repair field completely. It's a complete dead end in the vast majority of companies and really has no natural lead-in to another more prestigious position.
Click to expand...

I am kind of feeling this whole mentality is BS, as I was in buying a car yesterday and the salesman said he had a 4 year in theatre, and couldn't get a job for the life of him. The other salesman had one in psych as well, couldn't get a job either.

It is not a 100% guarantee it will 'save you' I guess it depends on what you can back it up with.
 
Maybe you should call the IRS if you suspect he is not being honest. He might be guilty of tax fraud. Another way to handle this is to ask him to fire you (Lay you off) in writing for tax purposes and legal purposes. Maybe drawing unemployment for example. In some cases you can be fired and still work for him from time to time as a contract employee and then you can claim all of your expenses like travel to and from work as an independent contractor.

You might try to study up for some certifications in your spare time. They look good on a resume. You dont want to say anything bad about your previous employer if you can avoid it. In fact a congenial separation is beneficial. If you can get him to recommend you that might help immensely. Maybe he can write you a letter of recommendation or something like that.

Sometimes as doors close you find that other doors open and all this can be for the better. You never can tell what tomorrow will bring.
 
It's better to be fired as it's easier for you to obtain unemployment benefits. Depending on your state (and most states are this way), your employer is not obligated to pay out your vacation as long as they have a policy stating such. Review your handbook/policy book.

Your degree may not lend itself to helping you achieve a job in a technical field, but if you have experience doing such work, you should look for a position that will utilize those skills. I really can't help out anymore without knowing your employment background, educational background, et cetra.
 
Better to ask to be "laid off" than "fired". I'm guessing your mom is pushing that so you can collect unemployment? Try to keep things in good terms so he can be a decent reference.

How 'bout trying to get your substitute teaching license? Not sure about Maryland, but in Colorado my bachelor's was all I needed (well, and a background check and all that). What interested you in Psych enough to get the degree, and is there anything in the field you'd consider pursuing?

If tech is definitely what you want to pursue, I also suggest studying up and trying to get some certs. You're about an hour away from Baltimore, so I'm sure there's gotta be job workshops/expos there. If nothing else, they usually have free career counselors and resume critiquing at those things to help you get started.
 
Vacation pay may not be available. It is not mandatory.
If you are fired/layed off, then unemployment can be filed for.
When fired, the employer may contest.
 
Yeah when I said "fired" I meant "layed off." I forgot to mention I've been A+ certified since 2001. Guess I should figure out where I put the card. Though I have a degree in Psych I'm not inclined to do much with it. It was interesting to study but I'm not sure I'm going to go any farther with it.

What I think I would like to do is something along the lines of being a network admin for a company. I know I will need to learn some more about networks but I think I should be able to do it. Would that have a decent career outlook? I should mention that I hate programming (though I do know some Basic, and C) and do not want to do anything in that area.

As for my "current" job, I don't have much of anything in writing besides paystubs. He tends not to worry about "little things" like paperwork or doing things right. Some people think he's starting to go crazy. He's been ripped off by "investing" with some shady people and he's got to have HORRIBLE credit because he almost never pays his bills, much less on time.

One thing I'm a little concerned about is if I want to quit/be layed off before I find another job. I'm not sure how it looks to other employers. Thanks for all the help so far.
 
Dude, you can get a job anywhere, don't sweat it. It might take a LONG time, just keep sending those resumes out.

I graduated in 04 with a BS in comp sci, the market sucked so while searching for a job I worked part time at CompUSA fixing computers. 7 months in I got my first "real" job, which honestly had nothing to do with my major and was extremely stressful. Pay was OK. I was then lied to by Vonage's HR, and took a pay cut for what I thought would lead me to the NOC engineer position I originally applied for- they had me working in their call center providing tech support. WTF, I took a pay cut for this? I even got in trouble because I didn't ask them for permission to take a piss. Ended up leaving, worked at another similar call center type place (all in all spent a year in call centers, took me over a year to recover from this).

Then I got lucky and landed a REAL job as a software engineer. I have no idea how they got my application/resume, as I was always submitting resumes online and going to job fairs, but something somewhere worked. I can't really help with your current job situation as I've never been there, but my point was APPLY AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. Trust me, if you try long enough you'll eventually get lucky and stumble onto something good.
 
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