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Home > Archive > General Discussion > December 2000 > I need some advice from anyone!
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I need some advice from anyone!
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| Hi I am a person very interested in the tech field. I want to get my foot in the door! I got my CCNA from a school that gets Government money so it cost 300 bucks, and I had access to a Router lab any time I wanted. It was good, however I have sent a Resume to a couple of places to no avail. I have been researching a tech school that wants 13,000 dollars to get me the cna, mcse2000,and the ccnp. They claim to place into real jobs that are not tech support or something that gives you no real experience. When I asked them for a job guarantee they said that they couldn’t because they couldn’t promise because it all depended on how I did in the interview’s they set up. I have been watching this school for the last year and a half and I have no reason to believe that they will go out of business. I could very easily go to a university and get a business IS degree, my plan has been to get into my first job making more that 30,000 a year and get a as or bachelors degree in business while I work. I don’t know what to do. The only reason I would go to this private school is to get their connections in getting me that first job. Otherwise I don’t see what good they would be to me. I am 19 years old. I would love any advice on the topic and any personal stories would be awesome. I just plain don’t know what to do and if this school would rip my a## off or if they are my connection to a decent job.
Love
Hyrific
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| Do yourself a favor and grab some experience ASAP before you spend money taking more classes... this coming from an MCT!
Your CCNA is a very valuable cert, but your age is going to play against you.
Look for an ISP around that would love another CCNA on staff, and try and get a help desk job or something similar to build up that resume. If you have the time, study on the side and get a couple of MCPs... then you will get job offers!
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| Well let me tell you my experience.
I went to a computer tech school famous in NYC for its top notch computer training in fact they also do placements. Companies actually contract with them to hire however as with everything they too want experience.
Class started with about 20 lost 5 people along the way. 15 grads and only 2 were actually sent out to interview. Yes 1 got hired, but what about the rest of the class?
They claim a 90% placement rate does it sound like it to you? The tuition was 12,000 and covered Novell and MCSE no gaurantees on certs. They did provide career counseling - whoopee!
Save your money and get a foot in the door first then perhaps do some classes towards a degree, do they certs on your own.
By the way I was one of the first to find a glorious new help desk job, my classmates found it harder, but I am better with clients and customers which helped a whole lot. Helpdesk is 80% psychology, you need to figure who you are talking too and draw them out to a positive place. As you know they are all negative when they first call in!!!
Hope this helps,
GalaxyGal
[This message has been edited by GalaxyGal (edited 12-22-2000).] | |
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| I greatly appreciate the responses they have made me rethink this whole thing I hope you feel good about the help you have given me!
love
Hyrum Kirton | |
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| Go to college, learn the connection to the real world in the traditional way.
Life is a B*t**, su** it up!
Don't rely on those job report and TC claim what they are. They are all B.S
College with good grade and working experience guarantee u a jobs.(at this time)
[This message has been edited by Kasor (edited 12-21-2000).] | |
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| Go to college part-time or full-time and get a Bachelor's degree. Get a part-time or full-time job in IT, even if you make a pittance the work experience for a couple years will b=make you more marketable at 22 than most of us were at the same age. In between the work experience and during breaks from school, do some self-study to get the basic certs, like A+ or N+, and certs for those things you're using at work. At your age make education the priority, because no matter where you go your age will work against you. A nineteen year old typically needs the opportunity to prove themselves a reliable employee by maintaining a stable job for awhile. Don't waste 13,000 to go to a tech school at the moment. All you'll get is deep in debt, then probably end up working for the same rate of pay you would get if you just got some basic certs through self-study. | |
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| GalaxyGal,
Was that the school on Cortland St above Century 21 who's other biggest pitch is a free laptop?
The guy quoted me $14,000 for MCSE and the same lines in your post. I thought they may be the same.
(for $14,000 I can buy 10 laptops)  | |
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| I thank everyone for there posts! I am glad, the people at the training center say that my age is not a big problem! I guess there full of sh##.
man this whole thing is getting crazy and much more complicated than I had prieviously thought! Thanks to everyone!
love
Hyrum Kirton
[This message has been edited by hyrific (edited 12-22-2000).] | |
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| Go to college. Now that you're only 19, this will probably be the best route for you if you can afford it. AND, many colleges also have what are usually called "Work-Study Programs". Sometimes businesses looking to hire people look to colleges so that they can get students to work for cheap during the summer or maybe even while at school. The pay is not good, but don't be fooled -- your pay will be in experience -- and this cannot be overstate -- experience is what will get you your job. With a degree in your chosen field and some experience, you will be in a much stronger position than many others. Get a few certifications on the way of you can, but if you miss out on college, it will be hard to replace this loss later, and many employers will consider it a serious fault. 13,000 bucks is a lot of money. And although many schools are very good, it not your but THEIR interests they are looking after. No one can guaratee you a job and when you enter the job market, you will find that it is quite tough. Be prepared to get a less than ideal job to start with and work your way up until you get the experience that you need to have to negotiate. I would really hate for you to spend so much money and find yourself with a bunch of certs but still desperate for a job -- and this happens to many people. And don't underestimate the networking connexions you will make in college -- these can be invaluable as well. Best of luck to you! | |
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| Jprego:
You mean right next to Century21. Yes and a proud graduate at that!! Where are you exactly Mr. Know-so-much? I work just off Wall Street, on Hanover.
The best part was that I honestly came out with a lot of hands and the opportunity to brainstorm with my classmates. So much so we get together every 3-4 months and stay in close touch by email and phone.
We fought the administration daily for decent instructors and materials. Iv'e seen others get less out of the deal simply because of what you put in!
So no I would not recommend that place and certainly not at that price. Go to college, I didn't want to because I have an engineering degree but the price at CUNY would not have been much worse.
Ciao,
GalaxyGal
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| GalaxyGal,
When I started hunting for schools, they were my first choice being friends of mine had graduated from there as programmers.
The first thing I do when I meet with the reps is to hand them my resume, just to show them the level i'm at in the industry, then he went on about the school.
While I was at his desk, another prospect called and the rep gave him the same line he was giving me, word for word. At the end of the meeting he handed me back my resume and said, here i don't need this. That plus the phone call didn't sit well with me, and of course the price 
It seemed he didn't care about the person, just the commission. I finally found a place who asked if they could keep my resume to show others.
As far as where I am, I'm all over the city. I do some temping and have my own clients. I think it's great you keep in touch with the others from your class, I keep saying people networking is the most important part of the IT field.
Happy Holidays
(sorry the post is so long)
[This message has been edited by Jprego (edited 12-24-2000).] | |
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| Jprego,
Ultimately what school or prep center did you go with?
I know 2 trainers in the area,so just wondering.
You are right network for networking as I say is the only way to go now.
GalaxyGal | |
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| Beleive it or not, I chose Gibbs.
The staff there will do anything for you, the price was right, the instructors are very professional and the classes are small.
They even threw in extra days just to make sure you understand everything. I took a few 4 week brush up courses there before testing.
I hear thier placement service is one of the best and of course if you fail an exam you take the class again for free.
I still stay in touch with the reps and instructors, one hand washes the other.
Again, Happy Holidays  | |
| mickjason 2000-12-27, 6:11 pm |
| I can defenitely relate!
I attended college briefly until I was pulled into the IS field by one of the largest IS Consulting firms in the US. Save your money, because an MCSE is not worth $13K. Real world experience is the best education you can have, and don't let anyone tell you differently. It's a world of WHO you know, not what you know. I'm in my early 20's, and will make nearly $70K this year alone. Not including bonuses. The best advice I can give is to shove your foot in doors of big companies. Worry about an education when you reach a point in your career where you know that reaching the next step on the ladder isn't possible without it. |
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