Getting a job in the computer industry

powlesY

powlesY

powlesY

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Seems to be one of those "need the experience to get the job, need the job to get the experience" industrys.

I'm a bit of an all-rounder. Qualified A+, Network+ etc Technican, have some stuff with Systems Supports but can't remember any of it. Some BTEC Web Design and Programming stuff. Taught myself HTML/CSS and know basic PHP. Nothing really available to me, especially in the little area i live in. It's not even as if i want anything proper decent, just a basic full-time job for the time being doing something computer based. I'd love to work as chat support or something for a webhost. Wouldn't even care if there was a half-decent work at home job about that doesn't involve a crappy call-centre.
 
My advice would be to apply for a helpdesk role to begin with, that way you can decide which route you want to go down - also gaining the experiance you need. During helpdesk work begin studying other qualificaions relevant to what you want to do, i.e if networking is your bag then a good place to start would be the ccent/ccna.

Unfortunalty your right about the no experiance part when getting a job, I myself had to stick out a few years of cruddy 1st line/desktop support before getting a more exciting position!
 
Gaz1988 said:
My advice would be to apply for a helpdesk role to begin with, that way you can decide which route you want to go down - also gaining the experiance you need. During helpdesk work begin studying other qualificaions relevant to what you want to do, i.e if networking is your bag then a good place to start would be the ccent/ccna.

Unfortunalty your right about the no experiance part when getting a job, I myself had to stick out a few years of cruddy 1st line/desktop support before getting a more exciting position!
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Pretty much the same advice I'd give.
 
powlesY said:
A small town in South Wales with not so much as even a train station.
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Heh, I'm hoping to move out there at some point in the near future, however, I work in IT and there are no jobs that way, you may have to resign yourself to moving or long-distance commuting!

There are a lot of IT jobs in Bristol, so depending on how far West you are, it might not be so bad =P
 
Dwr Cymru used to have lots of offices in South Wales with big IT departments when I worked for them. Have you checked out their website?
 
Your big problem is that you have restricted yourself to your 'local area'.

Be prepared to work anywhere nationally (just rent a room), and set your sights on London.

Apply for at least 15 IT entry grade jobs a day. You can find them all on jobserve.com.

You'll be in the wonderful world of IT within 3 weeks.

Oh, and don't do first line support if there is any any ANY way to avoid it.
 
Your big problem is that you have restricted yourself to your 'local area'.

Be prepared to work anywhere nationally (just rent a room), and set your sights on London.

Apply for at least 15 IT entry grade jobs a day. You can find them all on jobserve.com.

You'll be in the wonderful world of IT within 3 weeks.

Oh and go for a first line support job, you'll get one easy, get experience and if you are hard working and not stupid you'll be 2nd line within a year
 
amigafan2003 said:
My advice - don't get a job in the IT sector.
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Terrible advice. If you're good then it's a fantastic sector to work in, it's taken me all over the world. If you're lazy and don't move around then there probably aren't many great opportunities. I imagine in your case there is a bit of stalemate going on - the company won't get rid of you because you are a union rep and you won't get a decent job anywhere else because your only skill is that you're a union rep so you're stuck in a boring dead end IT job. Thats the impression you give off anyway. ;)
 
gettothechopper said:
Your big problem is that you have restricted yourself to your 'local area'.

Be prepared to work anywhere nationally (just rent a room), and set your sights on London.

Apply for at least 15 IT entry grade jobs a day. You can find them all on jobserve.com.

You'll be in the wonderful world of IT within 3 weeks.

Oh and go for a first line support job, you'll get one easy, get experience and if you are hard working and not stupid you'll be 2nd line within a year
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Meaning you get to tell people how to plug in a mouse, as well as fill the printer with paper ;)
 
J.B said:
You keep advising people that but in many cases it is the easiest way in to start a career
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Thats the whole trouble .. I know so many people who have got into it, and can't get out of it, that have then had to sit on 20K or less for the first 15 YEARS of their career.

I'd say it's well worth the extra push required to get into any other discipline of IT.

Helpdesk just seems like a dead-end trap. The people high up in the company don't appreciate these people when it comes to (proper) promotion to management or higher. They see programmers, DBAs, network administrators, system architects, everyone else - as highly intelligent and brilliant people. In my experience, as unfair as it seems, directors etc see the helpdesk people as the geek kids who still play dungeons and dragons, live with mom and dad, wear hevy-metal t-shirts, and would be TOTALLY UNSUITABLE for any promotion which would give them real power to (potentially) harm the company. not fair. BUt what I see kind of happening and I've been at a LOT of client sites ..

I know way too many 30-something lads who are still wandering round their companies with a disk with a device driver on it, timidly asking Bruce when he can spare 5 minutes without his computer so they can install a new printer driver :( the boss doesn't think it takes any skill, so doesn't think it warrants respect or promotions out of the role .. :( of course he'll never say this -- but he certainly thinks it :( Just leave 'support guy Tim' where he is ..
 
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How basic is "first-line support"? Is it literally on the phone and telling people how to i dunno, change their browsers homepage? Minimum wage i'm guessing?
 
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