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Jobs...

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 3:25 pm
by ybik gnome
So Im attempting to break into the IT field, and against my better judgement, Im gonna post this question here.

I currently make 13.75 an hour, full time. I "CAN" get up to 4 hours of OT a week, just by taking 30 minute lunches instead of an hour, or you can use that 4 hours to take time off and only use 4 hours of time off to take a whole day off.


I just got offered a job for 13.50 an hour entry lvl IT so itd be a GREAT growth, and help with my learning curve also. Its also M-F, 1st shift job.
With holidays off.

WHatcha guys think?

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 3:27 pm
by Stabfase
im sorry, did you say something? that baby is telling me to buy a ps3

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 3:27 pm
by Gargamellow
what education do you have

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 3:27 pm
by Tikker
help desk or call centre isn't IT


seriously tho, $13.50 for a real IT jobs sounds really low and suspicious to me

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 3:40 pm
by ybik gnome
Its a PC tech position, which is as entry lvl as you can get. he mainly described it at first as doing software upgrades, setting up new printers, taking phone calls and doing over the phone support. Most help desk around here are 15$ an hour, which isnt a huge jump, but the only help desk position Ive been offered is 1st shift, but Wednesday-Sunday working Holidays.

I initially want to go into Cisco field since Ive got my CCNA and want to keep going up that route.

The company owner, said they would pay for my test cost, which isnt to shabby considering there 150-250$ a peice. They are a microsoft partner so I may get a raise when I nab my MCP. At the moment I only have A+, Network+ and CCNA.

This has been like the only offer so far, that doesnt require me to drive 2+ hours, or take a shitty shift and work weekends however.

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 3:45 pm
by Mop
jesus I make double that in retail QQ

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 3:47 pm
by ybik gnome
Mop wrote:jesus I make double that in retail QQ


I dont like having to sale shit. >< and how old are you mop ?;p

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 3:51 pm
by Gargamellow
do what you want to..it is your life....just make sure you consider the effects of this job chan ge on your marriage..and don't forget to leave the job you are at responsibly in case the new one doesn't work out, if you choose to do it

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 3:55 pm
by ybik gnome
Gargamellow wrote:do what you want to..it is your life....just make sure you consider the effects of this job chan ge on your marriage..and don't forget to leave the job you are at responsibly in case the new one doesn't work out, if you choose to do it


Oh Im never coming back to this job, but I will give a weeks notice. Ive turned down all my other offers for my marriage so far. Wife doesnt want me working third shift or weekends, so that severly limits all my "easy ins" to the IT world.

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 3:58 pm
by Gargamellow
Do what makes you happy. But never assume you can't be replaced in any job, anywhere, always. That was the best advice my Dad ever gave me.

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 3:58 pm
by Tacks
Doesn't sound like an IT job to me. Anyone out of highschool can basically do what they're asking.

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 4:03 pm
by Gargamellow
Hmm..Virra says it sounds like you might be getting offered a break.

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 4:11 pm
by Tikker
ybik gnome wrote:Its a PC tech position, which is as entry lvl as you can get. he mainly described it at first as doing software upgrades, setting up new printers, taking phone calls and doing over the phone support. Most help desk around here are 15$ an hour, which isnt a huge jump, but the only help desk position Ive been offered is 1st shift, but Wednesday-Sunday working Holidays.

I initially want to go into Cisco field since Ive got my CCNA and want to keep going up that route.


Yeah, see I wouldn't call that IT at all

it's Geek Squad (and i'm not trying to be derogatory)

that being said, if there's an upgrade path, and the company is willing to pay(or help pay) for further certifications it's not bad

ps, cisco certs are nice, but cisco's starting to lose a bit of the battle to Alcatel for IPTV networks (which is basically the future)

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 4:14 pm
by ClakarEQ
Starting help desk in most cities IMO is roughly 30-40k so it doesn't sound that far off.

Help desk is what I'd call level 1, this is where you field calls, do a good bit of phone support, you know your hardware pretty well, you know your software pretty well.

The life span of a help desk person is maybe 24 months, if you're in help desk for longer than that, then you have no real skills, OR, enjoy that "peon" roll, OR can't find another job.

In the 7 years of management I've hired roughly 5 help desk folks and worked with about 3 or 4 temp contractors (working the help desk).

Your biggest asset generally is NOT your leet skilz at IT but your ability to communicate. I would sooner higher a "trainable" IT un-savvy person with good comm skills before I'd higher the super geek out of high school that can't talk in anything other than binary.

The other key thing I look for regarding a position like this is your hobbies. If you tell me you've got a network at home, and that computers have always been a bit of a hobby I'd look at you closer. If you come across as an 8-5 "robot" for the pay, I'd probably pass you over in a blink of an eye.

And yes, there are key questions one can ask to determine your level of "hobby" vs snowballing. Allthough I've been snowballed before too and karma got them in the end... YOUR FIIIRRREEDDDD.

And as Garg said, do your best to find a job you love, that is the best thing anyone could do.

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 4:18 pm
by Tikker
ClakarEQ wrote:
And as Garg said, do your best to find a job you love, that is the best thing anyone could do.


but keep in mind, jobs are for making $$$, hobbies are for fun

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 4:33 pm
by Gargamellow
a job u love makes bigger $$$$$$$$$$

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 5:33 pm
by Tikker
Gargamellow wrote:a job u love makes bigger $$$$$$$$$$



no it doesn't

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 5:51 pm
by Mop
I am 27 and i said retail not sales, ive done sales and made much more but did not like it all that much, people are flaky and follow up calls suck.

I do sell stuff but rarely do I see anything in my paycheck reflecting it, more often than not if I do sell something that results in some sort of comision I give it to the guy making 6.75 a hour behind the counter.

The only reason i made that statement was that amount of money to get shit on as level one support doesnt seem at all worth it - I would think a job that pays more and allows you to go to school to learn all the same shit you would get as a lvl one support would be a better bet. I know how much I shit on the IT guys i have to deal with regularly. Then again at that point I would find a job that pays you well and go get a business or marketing degree ( even an AA ) then go do what ever you want since either of those translate to pretty much anything in the real world

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 9:33 pm
by 10sun
Mop wrote:I am 27


I always figured you for early 30s for some reason -_-

I kinda liked the image of an older woman when I was fapping.

Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 10:37 am
by ybik gnome
Mop wrote:I am 27 and i said retail not sales, ive done sales and made much more but did not like it all that much, people are flaky and follow up calls suck.

I do sell stuff but rarely do I see anything in my paycheck reflecting it, more often than not if I do sell something that results in some sort of comision I give it to the guy making 6.75 a hour behind the counter.

The only reason i made that statement was that amount of money to get shit on as level one support doesnt seem at all worth it - I would think a job that pays more and allows you to go to school to learn all the same shit you would get as a lvl one support would be a better bet. I know how much I shit on the IT guys i have to deal with regularly. Then again at that point I would find a job that pays you well and go get a business or marketing degree ( even an AA ) then go do what ever you want since either of those translate to pretty much anything in the real world



Only bad part of this is in IT, unless you come across an "enlightened" hiring manager, you wont get a job without experience. I have some friends who have CCIE, and got passed over for a MUCH lower lvl certs all due to experience. I go in for all my offer and things today to meet the company so Ill let ya know how it goes.

Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 3:08 pm
by Tikker
certification means fuck all compared to actual experience

the absolute worst fucking IT people are those with lots of certs, zero experience and think they actually know what they're talking about

Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 3:20 pm
by Narrock
Tikker wrote:certification means fuck all compared to actual experience

the absolute worst fucking IT people are those with lots of certs, zero experience and think they actually know what they're talking about


That's always been the age-old argument with any type of business. Who is more suited for the position... the person with 10+ years experience in that industry, or the person who has the education, certs, latest training, etc.

Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 3:22 pm
by Tikker
experience is always better than certification, because nothing in the field ever works exactly like the text book says it does (at least in the IT field)

Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 3:25 pm
by ybik gnome
The job has been taken, I start on the 4th. Its a small company, which is awesome because he explained to me if your not busy, it doesnt really matter what you do. Salary position, and this is A+, esp if there gonna help me pay for more education.

Still a 50 cent paycut, but the guy said if I show what I can do in 3-6 months, he would back me for a raise. They dont do yearly Eval's either, its all merit based, so if you suck, you suck for no raise. Which I kind of like.

Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 3:29 pm
by Gargamellow
Good for you, buttfucker. I hope you progress. God knows you are enough of a geek to hold an IT job.