Arrrh For a decent JOB!!!

Louie6666 · Dec 13, 2002, 02:21 PM

Many of you will know me from my posts around driverheaven, I'm stuck in a Job Rut. I have no formal quaifications in IT(non worth mentioning), all my knowledge has been self taught, but when I apply for Jobs, I'm often brushed off because I do not possess an MCSE(can't afford one) or I'm told that I am too bright for the Job (they think I'll jump ship after a couple of months) which is ridiculous as my current CV shows I've worked in my current post for 3 years (don't laugh too much, I'm actually working on a Accounting Helpdesk at the moment, was supposed to be temp when I moved here from Wales)

If anyone has any sensible tips or advise, I'm open to sugguestions, as I'm at my wits end in a Job I hate (finance people are generally quite nasty to deal with day in day out)

kinetic · Dec 13, 2002, 02:35 PM

I sympathise with ya, nothing worse than doing a job you don't like!

My advice is to look at your local college to see what's on offer at night school. I know they cater for a wide range of interests and you may be surprised at what's on the curriculum.
If you can't find the exact course you're looking for, any prospective employer may finance further education if you show them that you are willing to learn. Good luck!

digitalwanderer · Dec 13, 2002, 03:30 PM

Ya gotta remember when looking for a job that most of the people you'll be interviewing with are complete idiots. Instead of going with the hard & expensive option of getting an MCSE, why not just get a MCP to start off with? (I'm NOT recomending that site, it's just the first one I could find describing it. )

I know it's pretty much a useless bit-o-cert, but I've actually thought about picking that one up just 'cause it looks so easy to get and it would be at least SOMETHING to put on the resume to make the managerial types impressed. "Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer" and "Microsoft Certified Professional" will actually sound about the same to anyone who doesn't know better.

Just a sneaky tip. If nothing else it'd help you in your current job hunt and I think you only have to pass two $60us tests.

Shaith · Dec 14, 2002, 03:58 AM

Here's a good reason why: Having an MCP won't get you a roll of toilet paper to wipe your ass with.

--Shaith, MCP

Shaith · Dec 14, 2002, 03:59 AM

FYI: MCP is 1 test from the core requisites. Can't do Networking as the MCP core. I did the 70-270, took me less than 17 minutes to finish.

UberLord · Dec 14, 2002, 07:17 AM

A bus driver I know got an MCP recently. Kinda says it all really

Louie6666 · Dec 14, 2002, 12:48 PM

You & I know that there a pile of poo, but what do the recruiters think about them...Can't belive i'm having this conversation about an MCP lol..I am getting that desperate to get out of finance...now starting to wish that i'd finished that IT degree(which was also poo, unless u like pascal..lol)

Thanks for sugguestions so far, keep em coming

~~Mac Daddy~~ · Dec 14, 2002, 06:41 PM

Hey Louie Louie,

I take it that last interview you were telling me about, didnt pan out. That's too bad man. I was really hoping you'd get it.
Sounded right up your alley !!

Some of the advice above is realistic, start small, even if it seems insignificant at the time.
In particular I'm refering to Kinetic's post. VERY GOOD advise.

As far a these certificates and degrees that were mentioned, quite frankly are French to me. My background is Electronics Engineering. And since I graduated in 1988, all my Puter, and Networking knowledge has been self taught as well.

A few certificates from short programs in your field, look good on your resume. Thats what my EX did, went back got her Legal Secretary, Medical Secretary and Legal Clerk. Part time, while stilll working. Took her 4 years.

I know you dont want to wait that long, but even one certificate, will change peoples attitudes. Lets face it WE know you'd kick ass at that job. But these assholes won't open there eyes and ears unless you meet criteria, Thats Bullshit YES, But thats life!!

That's about all the advise I can give ya bud !!

Short of actually checking too see what qualifications these people who are getting these jobs hold !!

Cheers Mate, hope you get that one job, that you want SOON

Best of luck, sorry I couldn't be of more help

reno · Dec 14, 2002, 08:55 PM

Better yet, go back to school, take out a loan, and try and study something NOT related to IT. It's dangerous to be in now, it's oversaturated and under-funded, beware!

EcPercy · Dec 15, 2002, 02:48 PM

well i am currently in college getting an A.A.S Degree and i also have my MCP at the moment. I am going for the Windows 2000 MCSE not XP or .Net at the moment because i dont believe that there will be that much of a need for that MCSE once .Net hits the streets. Alot of companies still use NT4.0... anyways i also taught myself alot of what i know about computers and i have been doing it for about 4+ years now on my own and i also want to have an IT job, but people dont want to look at me either... oh well i fugure cause once i have my degree and my MCSE in Windows 2000 (which i should have by June-July) All those that turned me down i will do the same to them when they decide now that i got a piece of paper i am worth something....

To Shaith: I dunno how you were able to take 20-270(Installing, Configuring, and Administering Windows XP Professional) in 17 mins cause i know for a fact that the 20-210(Installing, Configuring, and Administering Windows 2000 Professional) took me like 50 Minutes...i am not arguing with you, but I know my stuff very well and there is alot of material in Win2kpro...more than the 20-215 exam (Installing and Administering Windows 2000 Server)... but yes Shaith you are right about the MCP being 1 core exam from the M$ testing track... good luck if you decide to go all the way cause the 20-216(Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure ) or in your case in the XP- .Net track. I personally would not go with the .Net at this time due to alot of companies just now migrating to 2000 plus if the need arises and you need to "upgrade" your MCSE you can take 1 test and go from 2000 to a .Net MCSE!!!

and yes reno i agree that IT is oversaturated, but not with smart people...lol there are more dumbass admins out there creating network security issues than you can shake a stick at... why do you think that they made windows 2000 so easy? LOL but if you are smart and love computers and dont let the job run your life then you should be alright! i love computers so once i am able to work on them full time i will be happy...and i will be able to finally hold a job that will be fun for me!

One of the Twelve · Dec 17, 2002, 06:04 AM

Well Louie I've got the same thing here; everything self-learned during these last 17 years with computers. Now, the local unemployment office put me to a course/job, they pay all the expenses etc, and the best thing is I get the official paper in few months, while others here study up to five years to get the same paper! Of course it's difficult to wake up every morning & leave my family

Now, they're talking about the Windows pagefile behaviour and display adapter memory behaviour, I'm just writing this

One of the Twelve · Dec 17, 2002, 06:09 AM

...and EcPercy, yes, that's why also we do things here with NT4 and 2K - because the majority of companies are still using NT4 without even planning to upgrade. At home I've got .Net Server, but when I get the papers, they will probably be labeled with "NT4.0 sp6a, W2K SP3 & Linux".

XP is for gamers.

merry · Dec 17, 2002, 06:46 AM

I wouldn't know about MS certificates or the benefits of an IT job these days, I'm pretty much like McDaddy (only graduated 1990 in a different country). What I can tell you for a fact is a. get some sort of license, an employer wouldn't purchase you without some form of waranty - would you buy anything without a quality certificate? And you would agree to pay more for say Sony products than for XTWSQ (whatever).

And b. get a book on interviews and such. I read one by an American female writer, I don't remember the title or the name of the author, but that book completely changed my approach, I started going to interviews just for the fun of it (and finally got a good job).

Good luck

Louie6666 · Dec 17, 2002, 10:26 AM

Thanks for the tips guys, when l posted this friday, l was feeling pretty low, but thought about it some, and came conclusion yep need to get the little bit of paper to keep the recruitment munchkins happy, & that being considered too bright for a £20k a year Job is a good thing, seems kinda funny only earning £13k at moment in accounts, but there again at moment all I have to do when i go to work is, track thru 14, 11i & 10.7 oracle databases (its the dealing with O2 & BT people thats nasty, as I'm only sorting there f**kups, & they throw tantrums when they can't get there own way lol) The suppliers as a whole are genrally really nice, & most of them question why I work where I do & try poaching me..but I hate accounts arrrrhh...

some of funnier things I've seen are how much is paid out to McDonalds each month & how much the Big Brother series hotel bills cost(O2 sponsored it in UK), but NDA could get me sacked if i tell you lol!

Anyway thanks again, you've all been a great help!

fornicatarachnid · Dec 17, 2002, 11:14 AM

The only advice I can offer you Louie is to be patient and

eventually you will get what you want. For various reasons I had

to wait until I was 36 before I was finally given the chance of an

apprenticeship

I'm not saying it will take you that long lol, but

it just shows that if you want something enough, you will get

there in the end.

Good luck !