Job questions for IT guys.

[Birdie2000]

I may be looking for a new job soon and have a couple questions for those in the industry. To start, I have no formal training in anything IT. No A+/Cisco/etc. certs, no IT-related college courses. That being said, I have been a hobbyist since I was in elementary school and I have done side-work for many years as an in-home computer technician and have several very loyal customers. I also have supported a small network where I work for the last several years. I also am pretty familiar with hardware and wiring. Save for programming and databases, I'm a bit of a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to computers and electronic systems. Obviously some areas I'm stronger in than others. I also have pretty decent interpersonal and communication skills and usually am a pretty quick learner in this arena.

I'm still in college as a business major and probably will be for a while since I'm currently a part-time student and considering switching to engineering after my associates degree is finished next semester. In the mean time, if I have to find a new job I would like it to be something that is more technological (computers/electrical/consumer electronics) in nature because I enjoy that work more plus I would like to learn and develop my skills for my own personal satisfaction. However, I'm a bit nervous because I've never done computer support in a more formal corporate setting. I figure because of this I'm best suited to a deskside support position. I know the basics of networking and if I don't know something I can usually learn it pretty quick, but I've never supported dedicated servers before nor have I dealt with Novell software or Exchange. Also, I'm not familiar with the help desk software some companies use nor the process for tracking calls/work tickets. I feel I can hold my own just fine in troubleshooting, installation, and communication, but I will be new to doing this in a corporate setting and may need a little guidance on the logistics.


Basically my questions are these:

1.)Is there a standard software package out there that companies expect you to be familiar with, or is there generally some training as to their help desk/remote troubleshooting software and general practices at that company?
2.)Is there any formal training I should seek that will give me a little bit of experience with software outside of the Microsoft realm?
3.)Is there any formal training I should get that will help me with the transition from home technician to business technician?
4.)Am I barking up the wrong tree with the skill set that I have?
5.)Any comments or suggestions?

 

[98yellowcobra]

I would call around to Kelly Services in Ann Arbor. They hire IT help desk all the time for Borders Group. Thats basically how I got in the IT industry. That opened the doors for more jobs. Check around to local temp agencies. Or craigslist always has entry level type jobs to get youre foot in the door.

 

[robvas]

1.)Is there a standard software package out there that companies expect you to be familiar with, or is there generally some training as to their help desk/remote troubleshooting software and general practices at that company?

Obviously, get up to speed on Microsoft Office, Exchange, and Windows server. It's pretty much the standard these days. As far as specific software goes, that's on an individual basis by the industry and even the company.

2.)Is there any formal training I should seek that will give me a little bit of experience with software outside of the Microsoft realm?

Getting Microsoft, Cisco, and A+ certified never hurt anyone. Taking some classes on SQL, Access, Crystal Reports, and AutoCAD wouldn't hurt.

4.)Am I barking up the wrong tree with the skill set that I have?

No, everyone has to start somewhere, even if your first job is just unpacking PC's or running cable.

 

[Birdie2000]

Ok, I guess I should be a little more specific in one regard. As I stated in my first post, I am still attending college for an unrelated subject and I will probably have to start attending full-time at some point. If I get IT-related training I would like it to be outside of the college realm so it doesn't affect my GPA nor my course load. Where can you take these classes and how long do they usually take? If I end up needing to find a new job it will be within a month or so. I do not necessarily plan to pursue IT as a permanent career, although if an opportunity arose I would strongly consider it. For right now I'm mainly looking at refining and utilizing my current skill-set so I can pay my bills until I graduate from college. Also since I'm a hobbyist I would love the experience and learning on a personal level.

Like I said I have a pretty good understanding of a lot of things and am pretty adaptable and intuitive. I'm usually pretty good at figuring things out if I'm thrown into a situation. I know my way around Office and I do have some experience with AutoCAD but I am not trained in drafting. I feel I would do well in a helpdesk or deskside/end-user support position, but I do prefer to do things in person and get to know the person I'm dealing with vs. over the phone. If I was lucky enough to get hired in a small business environment I feel that I already could do pretty well since they're usually a bit more relaxed and less formal.

 

[robvas]

Helpdesk can be hell. Phone support is hell.

Business degree+IT can be very valuable. A friend of mine has a Finance degree, but we were working at a consulting place a long time ago, he ended up getting a project manager type job in IT at one of the local hospitals and makes quite a bit of money.

 

[Birdie2000]

If I continue with the business degree I probably would eventually use it with IT experience, but I've been giving a lot of consideration to EE lately which is why I want to keep my options open at this point.

 

[Stalker]

Basically my questions are these:

1.)Is there a standard software package out there that companies expect you to be familiar with, or is there generally some training as to their help desk/remote troubleshooting software and general practices at that company?

Generally speaking most corporations will run a Windows/Exchange environment. Know your Windows and Office apps like you know the back of your hand. Outside of that, knowing your basics like TCPIP and the sort is good.

2.)Is there any formal training I should seek that will give me a little bit of experience with software outside of the Microsoft realm?

I have no formal training in anything, but I have 8 years of experience. The IT field is a tough one to break into to be honest. You're gonna have to embelish your experience at your current job to even catch someone's eye. Using a headhunter helps. I've used Sonova, Tech Systems, and Robert Half Technology. For you, it's gonna be extra hard. It also depends on what type of pay you're looking for. If you're ok with 10/hr then you shouldn't have a hard time really.

3.)Is there any formal training I should get that will help me with the transition from home technician to business technician?

No formal training. Getting in a large corporation gets you name recognition as well as some really good corporate experience. Trust me, Having corporate experience can be a huge plus on your resume.

4.)Am I barking up the wrong tree with the skill set that I have?
Not really if you're ok with a low entry level job that'll pay you about 10/hr

5.)Any comments or suggestions?

Get in a company and don't leave. Get at least 5 years experience in their environment then worry about a new job. If you can't do that, you're gonna have a hard time proving to any other potential jobs that you have the balls and skills learned to make it in their corporation.

 

[Birdie2000]

How difficult is it to get in the 15/hr range?

Honestly I would love to work for a smaller business vs. a large corporation. If I got a job somewhere in this industry I'd prefer to stay in one spot for as long as possible to offer some stability in income and schedule while still going to school. Maybe I'm hoping for too much. It almost sounds like I could make the same amount of money or more working for Geek Squad or something. I don't want to be an administrator per se, more of a technician or end-user support. Do those types of jobs exist any more?

I will admit that I'm being slightly modest on my experience/abilities, but they tend to gravitate more towards home/small-business users than corporations. You tell me to get into a company. Do they usually offer any kind of guidance or training, or at least tolerance while you're learning the environment? I know you have to start somewhere, but everyone seems to want you to start somewhere else.

 

[Stalker]

15/hr is possible. I know Kmart's help desk makes 12/hr and Kmart tends to pay right on the average. So with your exp you probably could pull off 15/hr. Problem is finding a company hiring, then beating out the 45 other people who apply.

 

[Birdie2000]

How long does getting the various certifications generally take? Also where do you find classes on SQL, AutoCAD, etc. etc., or is a college/university pretty much the only place?

Thanks for the help so far.

 

[Stalker]

classes range. If you actually take a class, you can genearlly take the easy ones like A+ etc in a 4 week fashion that is on Sat for like 6 hours each sat, or 3 hour sessions on 2 days during the week. As for SQL or AutoCad, I'd Google and see what certs/classes there are for it.

 

[Birdie2000]

How long do the Microsoft/Cisco certifications usually take? Basically I want to do everything I can this summer while I don't have to worry about school.

 

[Stalker]

Here's the thing. So many of these boot camps are out there that jobs now aren't overly concerned with certs. It shows your ability to learn forced information to you, but not to adapt and be a contributing member of a team. What they want to see if experience. Bootcamps are EXTREMELY expensive, but they are quick. The MCSE one I looked at a few years back was 8,000 for the 2 weeks.

 

[Birdie2000]

Damn, that's pricey, forget that.

Is there experience to gain in the entry-level positions, or is it just basically being able to associate your name with their company? I guess what I mean is, will they actually try to teach you anything or challenge you? For some reason I get the impression that even in an entry-level job most places won't be tolerant of someone who's learning, nor will they have the time/resources/ability to train you/help you develop skills.

 

[Stalker]

It depends on the company. Some companies have scripts you have to follow. Once you've exhausted your options in the script it then gets bumped up to level 2. So in that situation, the ony way you're gonna show getting actual experience is to stay long enough to get to level 2. Other places it's more open and you're the tech. You research the problem, fix the problem then move on. Those ones will give you more experience. Both options are ok with you not having a ton of prior experience.