Interesting Computer Jobs?

Interesting Computer Jobs?

Author
Discussion

adam1330

Original Poster:

1,839 posts

270 months

Tuesday 9th September 2003
quotequote all
I've just finished a course in which I have received a C&G ICT Systems Support qualification, and an ACP Computer Maintenance and Installation qualification. I don't currently work in this sector, but was looking to change careers. I have just started looking for jobs, but the problem I am having is that the few that I have found seem to ask for experience, which I don't have in a work environment.

Just wondering if anyone on here has any suggestions of a good career path that I can look out for, or even good places to be looking?

I am based in the Kent, is it worth the hassle of looking in London. Sorry if this is a bit vague, but I thought I didn't have anything to lose by asking!

plotloss

67,280 posts

277 months

Tuesday 9th September 2003
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I take it you are looking for something more hardware based than software?

206xsi

48,803 posts

255 months

Tuesday 9th September 2003
quotequote all
If you're based in Kent you should have easy access to the City. Be prepared to start at the bottom in 1st line support earning peanuts and work your butt up the ladder

adam1330

Original Poster:

1,839 posts

270 months

Tuesday 9th September 2003
quotequote all
I am looking for more hardware based than software, just been talking to a few agencies and they say that the market is dead at the moment.

jvaughan

6,025 posts

290 months

Tuesday 9th September 2003
quotequote all
yes, the problem is yoru competing against any college leaver who can take apart and put back together a home PC.

as was previously said, if your within reachof the city, there are jobs, but expect to work yoru ass off for peanuts to begin with. not what you probably wanted to hear, but tis the truth

plotloss

67,280 posts

277 months

Tuesday 9th September 2003
quotequote all
Helpdesk - Desktop App Support - Network Support - chosen area in that field I would suggest is your career path for the next few years unless you are lucky...

Harsh but its probably what the rest of us had to put up with...

206xsi

48,803 posts

255 months

Tuesday 9th September 2003
quotequote all
Market was dead - but judging by the number of calls from headhunters I'm getting it's picking up.

Problem is they are all offering me WAY LESS than I'm on.

I'm not going anywhere for a 33% paycut.

Seriously Adam - don't be surprised to start on £15k pa.

grahambell

2,718 posts

282 months

Tuesday 9th September 2003
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Might this be of any interest - at least as a handy short term earner?

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=56482&f=92&h=0

adam1330

Original Poster:

1,839 posts

270 months

Tuesday 9th September 2003
quotequote all
206xsi said:
Market was dead - but judging by the number of calls from headhunters I'm getting it's picking up.

Problem is they are all offering me WAY LESS than I'm on.

I'm not going anywhere for a 33% paycut.

Seriously Adam - don't be surprised to start on £15k pa.
£15k is way more than I earn now. I suppose thats one advantage of having a badly paid job, you aren't likely to earn less if you change careers!

206xsi

48,803 posts

255 months

Tuesday 9th September 2003
quotequote all
3 years ago I was on £15k in a non-IT job. Spent £1k on a 5 week training course and never looked back.

Now on more than double that

Good luck Adam, but don't forget to remove the commuting money and tax from your earnings before you start planning on spending.

agent006

12,058 posts

271 months

Tuesday 9th September 2003
quotequote all
206xsi said:
Seriously Adam - don't be surprised to start on £15k pa.


Be very surprised to start on 15k. Expect no more than 12, grab at 13. I'm afraid the usual definition of hardware skills just doesn't cut it alone. Most if not all sysadmins and support people can do that and bags more besides. In depth knowledge of how everything works, irq, resource allocation knowing the spec and jumper settings of every major manufacturer pretty much off by heart, being able to write machine code. That's hardware skills.

206xsi

48,803 posts

255 months

Wednesday 10th September 2003
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A lot of sysadmins are numptys.

I work in a call centre dealing with disaster recovery. I've come across admins who can't even load Windows Explorer. Most are unable to search knowledgebases for help.

Although there are certainly some who know too much and scare me

rlk500

917 posts

259 months

Wednesday 10th September 2003
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Personally, from a managerial point of few who runs a Systems support team. I would rather have three people with good attitudes than 6 MCSE's. IT is not a 9-5 job, neither is it glamorous, what people don't realise is there is a lot of grubbing around in comms. rooms, lying under desks etc, working late or at weekends.

When you go for interviews make it really clear that you are prepared to do all the crap stuff too. So many people think that IT qualifications are golden tickets to huge salaries and big bonuses, not without doing the ground work first. I as a manager am prepared to do the crap jobs so I expect my staff to do likewise, but you would be amazed at peoples ideas of what they should be expected to do. Once your in, it's easy to look good, because there are so many very average, lazy sods out there. Work hard and absorb.

206xsi

48,803 posts

255 months

Wednesday 10th September 2003
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Peter Ward

2,097 posts

263 months

Thursday 11th September 2003
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A couple of years ago my brother took a home study course in IT leading to MCSE. Before he finished the course he got a job as IT technician in a local school. He's now moved to the NHS as a network manager. Although schools don't pay IT people well they do provide a good all-round grounding because you have to get stuck into anything from fixing hardware through firewall configs to application support.

agent006

12,058 posts

271 months

Friday 12th September 2003
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Peter Ward said:
A couple of years ago my brother took a home study course in IT leading to MCSE. Before he finished the course he got a job as IT technician in a local school. He's now moved to the NHS as a network manager. Although schools don't pay IT people well they do provide a good all-round grounding because you have to get stuck into anything from fixing hardware through firewall configs to application support.


And they're under funded, so you'll be the only person, and have to do everyhting.

bga

8,134 posts

258 months

Saturday 13th September 2003
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a guy I know has a maintenance contract with a few schools and hospitals, apparently they could only bid at a service price of £20 per machine per year.
They are losing much money in the schools but it's a loss leader to more lucrative Local Authority work.

206xsi

48,803 posts

255 months

Monday 15th September 2003
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And local authorities spend like there's no tomorrow!

I had a LA phone up, and because the guy couldn't fit all his backup data on one tape (using a library...) he was going to upgrade the entire hardware to an SDLT drive.

Instead of using 2 tapes in the same library....

powelly

490 posts

289 months

Tuesday 16th September 2003
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rlk500 said:
Personally, from a managerial point of few who runs a Systems support team.


Just to re-enforce this point, it's these things I look for as well as some basic ability:

your attitude, ability to learn, professionalism, approachability, general good communication skills (i.e. you come accross clear and precise in a sticky situation), willingness to get stuck in, not afraid to ask if unsure.... AND NEVER BLAME ANYONE! If there is one thing that puts me off people it's the old "Well so and so did this.... which caused the entire system to go down....."

Get a job, any job. Get your head down and learn. Take on new things and push yourself. Be around, be relied upon but don't get taken for a mug, if you work hard you expect some recognition and progression.

Sorry to bore everyone...

billb

3,198 posts

272 months

Tuesday 16th September 2003
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how about this interesting IT job i spotted yesterday: 60K to play with b&o and other gadgets!!!!

www.jobserve.com/it/jobserve/JobDetail.asp?jobid=DF9F96CD85D9CA40

some people have too much cash