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Home > Archive > General Discussion > January 2001 > Help needed - Possible career switch to tech field
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Help needed - Possible career switch to tech field
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| I currently work at an office in Atlanta, GA and make what I consider to be pretty decent money (45K/yr. + bonus) for my education level (High School only).
I really like my job (not really IT) and the people I work with. The hours rock and the commute is reasonable. I really couldn't ask for a better job.
Here's my dilemma, the 30 year old company that I have worked for for the past 5 years just had a really bad year while most of our competitors had very good years and I'm thinking that this job may be going down the tubes. I currently don't have any certs or other training to fall back on if this job goes bust.
Where should I start certification/education wise to get a job a comparable salary in the tech field? I'm studying for the A+/Network+/i-Net+ exams and all of them seem passable to me. I can't really do the college thing since money/wife/kids (3 of them) won't allow me to attend full time. I'm just wondering if anyone here has been in a similar situation and how they handled it.
Any comments/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Purple Hayes
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| Well similar, but I ended up layed off from work. Got a medical secretary/receptionist job. (Good benefits and easy hours) Busted my behind studying (Novell) while looking for a tech support position. Didn't find it but found a place within my (previous)company to advance into application support 
If you think it is going under you have nothing to lose by studying something useful. No matter where you go things are technology related it will give you a possible edge over the next candidate.
If you seriously want to change fields than you have chosen a good path to start on (COMPTIA).
What line of work are you in?
Ciao,
GalaxyGal | |
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| Not trying to be negative, but without any experience, certifications will not land you another 45K job. It will take some time (and a pay cut) to work up to that level. Of course, the more time and experience in the field, the more money and you can go far higher than 45K. But time and experience will definitely be limiting factors for you.
Since you have a family to think about, I just thought this was worth mentioning. | |
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| Thanks for the responses.
GalaxyGail, I'm have an office job in the manufacturing/engineering business. Most of the time I do word processing, database stuff and AutoCAD. I'm also the tech go-to guy for everything which is the part I like and do best.
I've got the 'mad' money for taking all three of the certifications I mentioned. So even if I just take and pass them for my own enjoyment, I'll consider it money well spent.
Cheers!
Purple Hayes
And please, keep the suggestions/comments coming.
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| I would definitely go the CompTIA route first as well, then on to either Microsoft or Cisco deoending on your interest...
Good luck!
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| I did something simular. I graduated college with a business degree and had a decent paying job for two years. A buddy of mine said if I got MCSE and other certifications I would be rolling in money. So I quit my job to go back to school, which the school stated the same thing. So hear I am now a year and a half later after attending school with MCSE, CNA, A+ and Network + with no job. I have been looking since September. So I will start a job in January as a Purchasing agent again with certification that no one cares about. My studying hard and hands on lab work was a waste because people using braindumps have lessened the value of the certifications. If I were you and you really want t career change them get all the Web Site development knowlege you can, HTML, JAVA, ect. This is what everyone wants not MCSE and A+. I to live in Atlanta and trust me from my experience that is the way you need to go. Good luck and do some good soul searching before you make a big decision like that.
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MCSE, A+, Network+, I-Net+ | |
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| That's what I was saying in my earlier post.
This is a very difficult career to break into...at least nowadays it is. Honestly, certifications don't mean nearly as much as they used to. I have talked with prospective employers who flatly state that they could care less if someone is certified. They want experience.
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| Actually he has some experience but needs to play it up more since he states:
Most of the time I do word processing, database stuff and AutoCAD. I'm also the tech go-to guy for everything
I know of 2 others classmates who did just that and moved into tech support at about 40-42k, which is not that much of a cut to take.
Both were doing similar things one for an airline ticket office the other in accounting. So go figure. Alot has to do with how you sell what you already have. It is not easy but learn what you can and keep your eyes open for opportunities! They will come just don't pass it up.
I have no reason to lie about this but I am not saying it is easy as pie. It isn't!
GalaxyGal | |
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| Even though we live in a cruel world, but we need to keep our chin up eh!
In order to be survive in this IT field everyone need to work a little harder to achieve their goal. so keep on studying trying your best then one day you'll get what you always dream of.
I too live in Atlanta and been looking for a better place right after I got a MCSE in June
even though I haven't gotten any job offer yet but I'll keep trying until I get it one day.
so purple hayes...let get the Comptia first and go from there.
IronMask | |
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| The CompTIA stuff is a good start. And again the info would be useful in most any career choice anyway.
As for "certs don't matter". Like anything, it depends on who you talk to. If nothing else, certs give you one more "feather in your cap". Besides, some companies have to have a certain number of certified techs to remain a "solution provider" for various vendors, and some, particularly smaller IT companies are going to value a certified applicant vs. an uncertified applicant a bit more for that reason.
Anyway, it seems you have some experience. If you've done work with databases and AutoCAD you've been doing some advanced work that would apply well towards a desktop support position in an engineering environment. Emphasize that at an interview.
Good luck. Better to plan now when you have some choices than to sit and do nothing until it's too late.
I studied and passed the 4 available CompTIA exams with self-study. Some experience helped as well. If you're the techie at work you should be well set for them. | |
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| If your current job is ending, and you have a family to support, you may want to give some serious thought to your cert path. Even though you have the "mad money," make sure you take certs that will get you where you are going. If you are headed for a more technical route, and envision a CCNA or related cert, then don't bother with internet application-related certs. If you are more of a programmer/developer, then focus more in that area. Remember that time is money. You may not necessarily need all of the CompTIA certs, although it's definitely a good place to start. I recommend both researching your areas of interest, and subscribing to the free Certification magazine. It's so easy to drop money on the study materials and exams, and pile up the letters after your name. But if you don't have the luxury of earning the certs while you have a steady job, then you need to be more picky. Also, check out the free Brainbench exams. They are all free until March. You will be able to test where your aptitudes lie...and those tests are frequently more difficult than the other cert exams.
Best of luck to you! | |
| rlpisces 2000-12-31, 4:27 am |
| The certs. are worthless (especially MS)if you have no exp. I have a ccna and mcse and they don't mean much and now Microsoft is dumping the old NT track..so there goes about $2000.00 and time and energy down the ****ter !! Hey, I am being honest.... | |
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| Here is the problem that I see. I am trying to get into the IT field. I have an A+ and am going for MCSE. I have no IT experience officially, though. One thing that sucks is that if you want to get a networking or any other kind of job in IT you need a cert. or experience. I went to a job fair with an A+. Employers liked it but wanted network admin. They told me (basically) to call them when I got a networking cert. or about a year exp. at least. That is what stinks. I LOVE IT but it puts me in a crappy bind. I know I have to start at the bottom, which is no problem, but with no experience or a cert. you get laughed out the door. What the hell do you do? I am going to get my cert. There is no other way in the research I have done and I done a lot. I am also aware that a cert. does not even close to guarantee a job. I guess we all have to take chances. In this world it takes money to make money, it just stinks when it has to be your own.
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Crazyone A+ | |
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| I'm a single mother of a 2 yr. old. I work 5 days a week full time and I'm going to school 4 nights a week for 60 weeks and I'll have an Assoc. degree in Computer Systems/Networking. It's hard to do but hey, you have a wife to watch your kids (if she isnt working nights) and its not such a long time. I thought it would totally **** , being so busy, but its not that bad, I dont even open a book outside of school and I have a 97% overall grade. We're supposed to go to class 6-10.30pm but we always get out by 8 at the latest!! So you might want to look into some of the smaller tech schools in your area that offer night classes for IT courses and find out what the hours really are!! Its not too bad only having to actually be there about 6 hrs. a week total!! | |
| next in line 2001-01-04, 10:11 pm |
| Since your competition is doing well, one option I see is to try to get a job with them.
If you want to switch into something else, consider web design. You can learn html on your own. After you design your own personal web site, offer to develop one for a charity or non-profit organization. You might offer to do it for a new business also. They get free work and you get experience. If you can do this you will be able to show someone you have real experience and can then pursue work for pay. If presented properly, someone ought to take your offer.
After designing someone's web, try working for a temporary agency that specializes in IT work or graphics design. That will get you more experience and often leads to a permanent job.
Comptia certifications are so basic, they are not going to get someone any more than an entry level job if you have no experience.
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| next in line - I'm already doing the web design thing on the side. It works well for me. Keeps me in mad money, that's where I'm getting the money to pay for my CompTIA certs and the books I read.
I can't go work for the competition because I'd have to move out of state and that won't work.
I'd never considered a temp agency, that's something I'll have to consider for gaining more experience. I'd like to get just a little night or sideline job doing networking/computer repair. It wouldn't need to pay alot, I;d be in it more for the experience.
And incase anyone is interested, my little web design 'company' is here: http://interwovendesign.com
PH
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| next in line - You've got a good point about learning Java. I may look down that road too. With a few certs and a firm grasp on Java, I should be able to get my foot in someone's door and work up the ladder. I just don't want to start too close to the bottom. 
I must be learning something from all of this studying though, the guy's position I took over at my current company called me for some 'tech support' yesterday.
Purple Hayes
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| next in line 2001-01-05, 2:35 pm |
| It's just my opinion, but after looking at your site, I would think someone would be interested in your talent.
Corestaff is a regular temp agency, but it also has specialty branches that focus on creative skills. Whether or not there is one in your area, I don't know. If I were you I would check to see if one of them is part of their CreativeCore. If not, I would bet money that in Atlanta there are firms that would be interested in your work.
I believe that you could significantly increase your pay by advancing your skills in this field. I would not waste my time with Comptia certifications. Just my thoughts.
http://www.corestaff.com/locations/georgia/
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| I have had horrible times with Recruiters that have no clue what I do or what the employer wants. Anyone else having tht problem? It is all I can do not to ring their neck. I have been sent to several loctions for interviews only to my embarrassment, find that the recruiter was "misunderstanding" about the job description or my experience/skills.
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