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Home > Archive > General Discussion > May 2002 > What's Your Story?
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What's Your Story?
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| csiszerd 2002-05-06, 6:12 pm |
| To: Everyone
Give us your story.
How did you end up in the IT field?
I'll start with mine:
I finished high school in 1990 and dabbled in community college off and on but I never found anything as a career that interested me.
After working as a bag boy in a grocery store and other wonderful "just right above minimum wage" jobs I decided to move TO Charlotte, NC from Tehachapi, CA (North of LA).
I landed a job working in shipping in a warehouse the first week I moved. I made $7 an hour. Woo hoo!! I thought that was good money compared to where I was at.
After two years in the warehouse I felt like I was wasting potential. It seemed like the white collar people in the office portion were not too much smarter if not less than me. Plus the factor of the warehouse getting over 100 degrees in the hot humid summers.
Everytime I walked in the office I would feel the cool air conditioning and would just envy working in there.
After awhile I finally just broke. I went in the yellow pages and found a computer school. I went to the ECPI college of Technology office and signed up. Wow, big decision to break me out of the rut I was in!
I didn't even know what I wanted to do so I too the Computer Technology course.
Through the school I started breaking from the point of thinking a computer was just for playing solitaire to seeing the capabilities of computers.
We had some networking courses as well. We had Novell 3.1x with DOS clients on a thinnet network. Barbaric eh?
After the Networking courses I decided "I want to be into networking not a PC repairman"
We had a teacher who was MCSE, CNE, and working on cisco. This was about 97 when MCSE was really big.
Man! Thats what I want!!
I finished the course and was promoted from within the company I had worked for in the warehouse.
We had 25 users on Windows 98 machines and we upgraded the server from Novell to Windows NT 4.0.
Good place to get my feet wet.
I also took some courses at another school for some of the NT core tests.
It was kind of cold in the office, they always had the AC on too high LOL!
Opportunity knocked again. After almost a year in that position I moved on to an architect firm with about 300 people total in a WAN. I learned sooo much there. PBX and voicemail systems, RightFAX servers Exchange servers, AD Servers, Clustered servers and so on. I also went to some more school and passed 4 of the Microsoft 4.0 tests while there.
After over 2 years there I was laid off and I'm still looking. I'm eager for the economy to pick up but I'm glad I'm looking for an IT job not a hot sweaty warehouse job.
David | |
| ccieToBe 2002-05-06, 7:28 pm |
| I've always been fascinated with technology but my interest in the IT field is a recent development. When I was 5 my dad bought me a crystal radio kit which I had a blast putting together. Things just kind of took of from there as far as electronics go. I didn't fully appreciate computers until I was a sophmore in high school. That year I discovered the Internet and bought my first PC, a blazing K6/2 266 
For a while I was into web design and wanted to be a webmaster. Eventually, as I started to get into the more advanced stuff like CGI scripting I saw how cool networking and Unix were. I also took an electronics class that year and when the teacher wasn't looking I got together with a friend and networked two of the class PCs so we could play GTA. Woohoo!
Neither of us really had any idea what we were doing but we eventually figured it out. I guess that's the point where I got hooked on networking. A little over a year later, in the summer between my junior and senior years I got my first, and current job as a network administrator for a small company. | |
| darthw 2002-05-06, 7:57 pm |
| I got into IT after I realized I was too good lookin' to be a Chippendales dancer. The other dancers got jealous that all the attention and tips came to me, rather than them, so I got thrown out of the troupe.
Then I tried to be a ninja, but realized I didn't have the discipline, or any martial arts training (which I'm told is very helpful for ninjas), so IT was my actually my third choice....
Actually, I graduated high school in 1986, and I, too, did the warehouse job in 100 degree weather for seven years while I went to college at night. I earned a B.A. in English, then couldn't find a better job initially, so I went to Emergency Med. Tech. school, and thankfully landed a job working for a home health company as a Customer Support Representative.
The home health company was small, and while it was a nice group to work with, I eventually proved myself to be SO responsible that I was often given the on-call pager 24 out of 30 days a month. Initially it appeared there would be little opportunity for career growth, so I started taking computer classes at the community college, figuring that regardless of what job I performed, a knowledge of IT would be helpful. After four years in home health, and earning two AAS degrees in Comp. Sci., since all my effort was going nowhere except into my bosses coffers, I found an entry-level, desktop support position.
I've been in IT for four years now. In terms of opportunity, I've got a lot more earning potential than I would have otherwise. Now I do some LAN admin. and design, as well as desktop support. In spite of the recession, and once the economy picks up again, I think I'll be in ever better shape. Six years ago, I'd have never thought I'd be working on computers, but I'm glad I made the change. | |
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| came in the US in 1994 to teach linguistics. Met this great woman, whom I married later on. She went to college in Boston, so I followed and taught at MIT. Had some cool computers to play with there
decided to stop teaching and worked as a secretary for the guy who founded Bain and Co. in boston. Fixed his laptop one day when he had a big need and the IT dpt was in no rush to help, and he promoted me to the IT side.
Came back to Maine cos I hate big cities, and worked as tech support, then went up the ladder to network engineer and supported 350 clients.
Went to take classes to be certified in NT and got offered a position to stay and teach there.
I am still teaching there today
Thoroughly boring, huh?  | |
| wicket 2002-05-06, 8:36 pm |
| boring ??? hmmm don't some of the best hackers and crackers in the world come from mit??? I hear its a big warez party up there.  | |
| csiszerd 2002-05-06, 8:42 pm |
| A short story but I sure would like all them certifications | |
| Supertech 2002-05-06, 9:39 pm |
| I don't like to get my hands dirty.
Actually, I'm into systems and the process industries. I'm the guy who keeps the machine running. | |
| csiszerd 2002-05-06, 10:05 pm |
| How did you get into that? | |
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| Tech Ranger 2002-05-06, 10:25 pm |
| "IT" was originally a hobby for me. I started learning about and building and tinkering with PC's about 5 or 6 years ago. A little over a year ago I began studying for certs. I have never attended a computer class. Today, I teach part-time in mid-town Manhattan. | |
| kappagamma698 2002-05-06, 10:33 pm |
| Well I got into this because I just love to work on things and to see how things work. I enjoy working on cars and to see what makes them work and how to make them work better and I think that is the same with computers for me. I guess I could have went the doctor route and tinkered with people but that whole blood and being responsible for a life is way to much for me. I know some of the people that work on the network think that if the server goes down there life is over but I can deal with that pressure.
I started by working with the college I went to, we had a team of students that went around working on other students computers and the staff's computers. Actually a good Idea because most of these kids new more than the desktop support and 3 or 4 of them worked for the same price as one desktop support. Then while I was there I got another job because the job did not pay anything so I went looking for a second job. I found one at a local ISP/computer repair shop. I worked their for about 6 months. Left both of these jobs and went working for a local video store that all the college kids worked with.
At the video store they asked me to run a computer to the back were they had converted a bathroom to an office, real simple work the computer was nothing more than a dump terminal that had a phone cable that ran into the back of a Unix box in the front of the store. They seemed impressed and they also knew where I had worked so then I joined up with another guy and we were in charge of setting up the network at new locations around the region. Finally got tired of the video store and a friend who was working with a WAN team got me my current job working at a computer helpdesk. the hours are good and the phones hardly ring so I just sit back read the forum and study for my certs. I am hoping that soon the Network Admins will have a position open so I can transfer and take the next step. | |
| Supertech 2002-05-06, 10:38 pm |
| I learned systems as a submarine sailor (digital satellite communications). That sort of just carried over into the process industries because everything is a systrem and very few people understand systems.(really)
I do instrumentation and controls in a high speed manufacturing facility. I do mainframes, PCs, networking, fiber optics, NT, DOS, Unix, flow meters, temperature control, pressure, you name it. I had two callouts last night for power failures. We are in Tornado Alley. It is always varied and different. If I'm doing my job, I don't have to work very hard, ya know?
I'm a Senior Member of the Instrumentation, Systems & Automation Society (ISA) and a Certified Control Systems Technician Level 3.
I love my job. | |
| csiszerd 2002-05-06, 10:38 pm |
| kappagamma698
Have you seen the site www.howstuffworks.com ? That site is quite amazing, they have diagrams, flash, and animated gifs showing how about everything works.
They are even good on network components, as well as steam engines, submarines, and so on..... | |
| wicket 2002-05-07, 1:33 am |
| quote:
I have to say that MIT was fun. So was teaching at the Naval Academy -- not!
I love teaching where I teach now though. It is a perfect environment for me. Check us out at www.vtec.org
yeah, I'll bet fun is putting it mildly
I just wanted to comment on the vtec website@!!!!! thats some slick shit!! | |
| Widgewaam 2002-05-07, 1:39 am |
| Just a thought, the words "slick" and "shit", DO NOT go well with your avatar! | |
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| csiszerd 2002-05-07, 7:03 am |
| You gotta admit, that is a tripped out animated gif | |
| Tech Ranger 2002-05-07, 7:13 am |
| Don't pick on his avatar. What two consenting animated graphics do is no ones business! | |
| csiszerd 2002-05-07, 7:19 am |
| I need to find me an animated gif | |
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| quote:
Originally posted by Tech Ranger
Don't pick on his avatar. What two consenting animated graphics do is no ones business!
lol | |
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| quote:
Originally posted by wicket
yeah, I'll bet fun is putting it mildly
I just wanted to comment on the vtec website@!!!!! thats some slick shit!!
actually I really like that web site. My buddy Paul designed it. He teaches our Web classes and he is very talented. He is also an MCSE by the way | |
| Teck Shark 2002-05-07, 8:58 am |
| quote:
Originally posted by freak
actually I really like that web site. My buddy Paul designed it. He teaches our Web classes and he is very talented. He is also an MCSE by the way
I like the site too! Very cool! Well designed too! | |
| Teck Shark 2002-05-07, 9:30 am |
| I got into IT by mistake! I guess I can thank my parents for buying me my first computer when I was a freshman in High School back in 94. I can also thank Packard Bell for having the worst tech support in the whole world!
So my first PC, a blazing fast Packard Bell Legend Series 486 SX-23MHZ, Windows 3.1, 4MB RAM, 2400bps modem, 2X CD-ROM... all top of the line at the time! Anyway, I was big into sports, I played everything & anything, and if that didn't work out in college I was shooting for broadcast journalism or something like that.
Back to the point, right out of the box we had a problem. The dreaded error in config.sys line X...... Windows wouldn't start up. So my parents made me call Packard Bell! ARRRRRRRRRGGG Well, 2 & 1/2 hours later I finally get a tech & when a read him the error message, he says, "What's a config.sys, are you sure you're reading that right...? I've never heard of that!"
So I figured out how to restore the PC with the Master CD & ran into another problem with the modem not working right. Another 2 1/2 to 3 hours on hold, and this next tech couldn't even figure where the modem was much less how to test it or remove & reinstall it. That's when the radar went off.... career change. So basically I dedicated myself to learning everything I could about PC's so I never had to call there crappy tech support again! Thanks Packard Hell!
Only 1 1/2 later, at age 16 I was working tech support for Gateway 2000, the biggest PC maker at the time. I moved from a tier 1 phone tech to fee based, then as a tech lead, and then eventually to onsite support. All together I worked there for almost 3 years before moving. I worked a summer job as a Network Admin for American Family Ins. before starting college again. Just a small network... 15pc'S, 3 servers.
I also spent over 2 years as the Lead Technician for 2 different Best Buy Stores.
Now I'm the ripe old age of 22, with 6 years in the IT field already. I currently work as a Network Engineer and I love what I do. I consider myself pretty fortunate, and I'm glad I chose this field. I wish the best of luck to everyone out there... whether you are already in that dream job or breaking in. 6 years ago a started as a help desk/ tier 1 phone support for Gateway & moved on up from there. You have to start somewhere... but it's worth it in the end.
Alrighty, that's enough ramblin from me! | |
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| interesting story of dedication and perseverance. Thanks for sharing | |
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| was always into Pc's or computers... typewriters.. anything electrical... even the commadore 64
graduated school in 99, did college for a year in electronics, payed more attention on the girls then anything else which resulted in me failing that year... went off for a year saving for a private course in IT.. as I was paying so much I could not afford to not study !!! after college, I had 1 Nt4 mcp under my belt and a entry level network admin job
I'm still at that job now, more salary but and more certs! | |
| csiszerd 2002-05-07, 11:23 am |
| What MCSE course are you studying now? | |
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| Drummer 2002-05-07, 2:02 pm |
| quote:
Originally posted by ace123
I always love playing with computers dating back to the Atari 800
Heh. I had an Atari 800XL which was the later version of the 800. Remember when having 64K was da bomb? It's still at my parents house. I tried to see if it was worth anything on Ebay but the prices were pretty low.
I also messed around with Apple IIe computers in junior high, mostly playing games. I did learn Basic and wrote a few simple programs with it. Other than word processing and one class on Waterloo Basic, I didn't do much with computers in college. Then the web came along and I saw the potential. I was doing TV production at the time. I started building web pages as a hobby. Eventually I got laid off from my TV job and took the plunge to get my CIW certs. | |
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| My first computer was a Sinclair ZX 80. I was 9 | |
| csiszerd 2002-05-07, 2:51 pm |
| Did the Sinclair ZX 80 have a hard drive? | |
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| quote:
Originally posted by csiszerd
Did the Sinclair ZX 80 have a hard drive?
no HD. Just RAM. A whopping 1KB of it. But I was king of the hill: I bought the 16KB add-on module It used a tape deck as removable storage device, and a black and white TV as a monitor.
I still have it | |
| Ling663 2002-05-07, 3:16 pm |
| 
I think I've been here before... I've been reading this "What's Your Story" forum, and I think I need to go stick my head in my oven (it's electric, probably won't work huh?).. no offense intended to anyone.
It's just that i'm pushing 4-0, been in the field for over 13 yrs, and I'm ashamed to say that I've let my IT skills go to heck. (This is a family show right?)
Now I've spent the last several months researching certs, and trying to decide where and how to start over. And now I'm more confused and completely overwhelmed than ever before. I do not have the natural aptitude and/or jewels necessary to be a success in this field (or any other for that matter), and to "compete" in the job market/slaughterhouse with folks who landed "real" jobs in the field at 16! No offense TechRanger!
I've bought books, get my QODs and read and print them, read and print all I can from the likes of TechRepublic etc, yet it doesn't do much good. (I will say I do know what the config.sys file is, which is more than that "support" guy from PBell did!) Maybe it's a matter of my priorities or just not enough interest in the field that holds me back, and of course the abject fear of interiewing after all these years, knowing full well I don't have the skills you young whippersnappers (just what is a whippersnapper anyway?) have.
So what am I doing on this site, whining????? Every day I hope for inspiration or something to fall in my lap. Yes I know that's not what life is > you have to go get what you want. What about those of us who simply do not know what they want?? I had an opportunity in my present position to be all things IT. Well I am actually >> this place is small, and waaaay behind the times! So they don't know the difference, lucky for me. And honestly it's not always been this way, just the last few months of having little to do around here.
Our system was designed, installed, and custom written (in Cobol no less) for us. My experience as the liaison to the outside vendor was my ticket back out into the real world, so I thought. Now I painfully see that while it was great to see a system from the code up, and be part of the team, this is simply not enough to get me to a new position. There must be money taken out of my pocket for cert exams and prep materials, etc. Why do the exams have to cost so much? Maybe it's just me. And, like anything else, all that money spent is no guarantee of a new job. (And they won't help me much in this one either, and I do know that if you don't use what you learn, you will forget it all, plain & simple.) So there's my catch-22.
Anyway, I so admire those people who knew what they were destined to do, or at least have a natural aptitude for a specific thing. I wish so much that I was one of them. These are the people who got us into the 21st century. Unfortunately those of us who sort of got into this field because we didn't know what else to do have been left in the silicon dust.
Hey, someone asked the question, and I answered it. No harm done? Hmmm, prob gonna take some heat for being such a whiner.
I do enjoy this site, and have learned a few things anyway. There's just too much to learn... too too much... | |
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| no gripes from me. It is not easy to know what you want to do with your life. I went to college when I was 18 after waiting two years because I didn't know what to study after I graduated from High School.
Then I thought I would like to teach languages, so that's why I went to College.
Now I am a Network Engineer -- go figure
At the end of the day, you must decide for this industry whether you like networking or coding. If you like coding, you must decide whether you like web or app coding. For networking, decide whether you like OSs or Routers. That is pretty much your options as far as I can see them
Good luck and let us know if we can help.
Oh, and I have no idea what a whippersnapper is either -- though I heard the term used for young blues guitar players like Kenny Wayne SHepherd and Johnny Lang many times LOL | |
| cruss575 2002-05-07, 5:58 pm |
| Yes, that's exactly what BB King called kenny after picking him up on a blues tour a few years back.
He is a clone of Stevie if i have ever seen one. move over Dolly! | |
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| Joined the Air Force in 1972 as an airplane mechanic. After 4 years still in the Air Force got into Maintenance Analysis Running inquiries and maintenance reports with puch cards. Moved on to Files Maintenance on a Burroughs 3500 Mainframe. Then Finally into Database Design for Aircraft Maintenance Systems in 1984. Retired from the AF in 1993 and opened a body shop. Automated the shop setting up a small network with Windows for Workgroups 3.11 for accounting and estimating as well as payroll. The money was great but got sick of working 90 hours a week. Sold the Shop and decided to go to college. Went to the local community college earned a general AA and an AS in Computer Information Technology and an AS in Computer Information Engineering. Working on the side setting up small networks and repairing PC's. In July of 2001 landed a job at a brand new High School setting up their entire network with W2K server with all applications delivered Via Citrix. Just finished my MCSE last week. I love this business. | |
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| SRV still rules, though | |
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| quote:
Originally posted by e7171
Joined the Air Force in 1972 as an airplane mechanic. After 4 years still in the Air Force got into Maintenance Analysis Running inquiries and maintenance reports with puch cards. Moved on to Files Maintenance on a Burroughs 3500 Mainframe. Then Finally into Database Design for Aircraft Maintenance Systems in 1984. Retired from the AF in 1993 and opened a body shop. Automated the shop setting up a small network with Windows for Workgroups 3.11 for accounting and estimating as well as payroll. The money was great but got sick of working 90 hours a week. Sold the Shop and decided to go to college. Went to the local community college earned a general AA and an AS in Computer Information Technology and an AS in Computer Information Engineering. Working on the side setting up small networks and repairing PC's. In July of 2001 landed a job at a brand new High School setting up their entire network with W2K server with all applications delivered Via Citrix. Just finished my MCSE last week. I love this business.
awesome, thanks for sharing! | |
| cruss575 2002-05-07, 6:32 pm |
| SRV had a God-given talent to play, but he did what he loved to do and that's what made him great.
There is a story (true) where SRV played so long, his calluses fell off of the pads of his fingers, causing them to bleed profusely. Stevie calmly picked up his calluses and _glued_ them back on and kept playing.
The same attitude can be brought to anything... | |
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| as I said, SRV rules | |
| csiszerd 2002-05-07, 11:41 pm |
| You can see some Albert King and Jimmi in some of SRV's licks, but quite modified to his own style!
I trip out when he stands on top of his guitar and strums the strings while he pulls the neck up. | |
| freak 2002-05-07, 11:55 pm |
| quote:
Originally posted by csiszerd
You can see some Albert King and Jimmi in some of SRV's licks, but quite modified to his own style!
I trip out when he stands on top of his guitar and strums the strings while he pulls the neck up.
you can see a LOT of Albert and Jimmi in SRV's stuff...
by the way, did I mention that I own a SRV strat from the custom shop. along with an Eric Clapton strat from the custom shop? I wrote part of my first thesis on SRV... I got to meet his brother Jimmy once. I think he may even be a better guitar player than SRV was... | |
| csiszerd 2002-05-08, 7:09 am |
| I have the Ibanez S470, GAX10, Pro Line, Ovation Elite Standard acoustic and a C series 5 string bass | |
| ace123 2002-05-08, 7:22 am |
| srv is one of my favorites
What I have in my colection
1979 Fender 6 string acoustic
199? seagull 12 string acoustic
19?? gibson electric
and my first and my favorite
195? national sold body electric white oak body,rose wood neck,peal inlays,two humbucker pick up, all stock.It has a very good range of sound.It can go from very high tone (like a Fender) to very mellow (like a Gibson).I would not let go for any thing. | |
| cruss575 2002-05-08, 7:30 am |
| When do you guys find time to do all of this?
I have a nice Guild and a Strat collecting dust because of the technology treadmill that we are on (not complaining!)
Fortunately, my class ends this week, so summer should see some quality non-geek time
| |
| csiszerd 2002-05-08, 7:35 am |
| Its great therapy and stress release, you better pick your axes back up once in awhile. | |
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| I play every day with an accoustic (Ovation) because my kids love it. I also play the piano for them -- I am such a hack, that nobody else wants to be around | |
| csiszerd 2002-05-08, 7:42 am |
| Freak, What country are you originally from? | |
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| Planet Mars...
... well France, really | |
| csiszerd 2002-05-08, 7:49 am |
| How many languages are you fluent in? | |
| cruss575 2002-05-08, 7:50 am |
| Some people here would say France is pretty close to Mars | |
| ace123 2002-05-08, 7:51 am |
| I make the time and agree that it is great stress release.
I do most of my study's at work (about 2 to 3 hours a day) between work and home.I take my book everwhere store,doc,...
I try and play every day but avg 3 to 4 times a week. | |
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| quote:
Originally posted by csiszerd
How many languages are you fluent in?
Three... French, English and German | |
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| quote:
Originally posted by cruss575
Some people here would say France is pretty close to Mars
LOL
THen why do we have all those creatures that look like they are from... Venus? | |
| cruss575 2002-05-08, 8:03 am |
| Blame Dr. Gray!
There's a song by the doors -
"People are strange when you're a stranger..." | |
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Great line! | |
| csiszerd 2002-05-08, 8:19 am |
| At least there is nothing from Ur-anus | |
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| csiszerd 2002-05-08, 9:07 am |
| What is the Net + like?
I've taken microsoft's Networking Essentials and I heard that is pretty similiar. | |
| larkspur 2002-05-08, 9:17 am |
| Dude I took it in dec of 2000. It was Ok. The net ess exam probably covered more. Its been my experience the the MS tests are much more in depth with scenarios then other vendors. | |
| freak 2002-05-08, 11:23 am |
| quote:
Originally posted by csiszerd
At least there is nothing from Ur-anus
Oh, man.... | |
| freak 2002-05-08, 11:25 am |
| quote:
Originally posted by csiszerd
What is the Net + like?
I've taken microsoft's Networking Essentials and I heard that is pretty similiar.
about 94% the same material. I know because I had 100% score for Net Ess and without opening another book I got 94% at Net+ | |
| Ling663 2002-05-08, 1:39 pm |
| Don't worry, this will be MUCH shorter than my answer to the Q:What's Your Story!
Just wanted to thank Freak for not torching my butt about all that whining I did in my answer (and there was a LOT of whining!).
I will try to keep any future posts to a minimum length, or at least not cry so much in 'em!
Sometimes it just gets tuff to face the day when you are literally trapped like a rat in your current position in a tiny firm, and the venting helps, esp when it may possibly evoke a response that helps me get off my butt and find out what I wanna be when I grow up!
The co is currently looking at some sort of hi-speed internet access and email server of our own (yep, a dozen of us on separate dialups using msn and aol >> the horror! And b4 we even do anything like a T1 or whatever, they still want to broadcast email etc.! Maybe these kinds of "challenges" actually will give me some "soft skills" to take elsewhere!) They've been "looking" for almost 2 yrs now. It's fairly simple to me, but nothing ever happens quickly here. But at least I have something to look forward to, and hopefully some new meaty skills with email servers and the like to get my paws on and into!
And I share your admiration for the likes of BB, Kenny Wayne, SRV, Johnny L... and may I also add Buddy Guy and Susan Tedeschi to that list?
Thanx again, I'm not quite so embarrassed for rambling on like that now. Once agin this page has made me feel a little better!
 | |
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| No worries, my friend, we are a big family around here, and the point is to help and support each other.
Exchange sounds like a good idea for your company.
I am a huge Buddy Guy fan as well | |
| Ling663 2002-05-09, 12:55 pm |
| Again, thanx...
Yep, Exchange Server 2K seems to be the recommendation from our usual outside consultants and 2 others for the server. Another rec was the full-blown Small Business Server, but that may be far more than we need, at least for right now. I know squat about either of them, and am once again hoping and looking forward to something new in the current comfort zone. I've already picked up a point or 2 about what's needed to get ourselves a nice in-house email situation and hi-spd internet. But I'm not the primary decision-maker, so I just have to help the boss (non-IT) with the terminology etc. As with many places, even a small one like this, the red tape is pretty thick.
Hopefully we'll have something to show for all this in a couple of months. Better go peruse the book club site and start reading.
thx again. | |
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| you're welcome
Oh, and stay away from SBS | |
| csiszerd 2002-05-09, 2:08 pm |
| SBS? | |
| The VMS Kid 2002-05-09, 2:12 pm |
| Small Business Server. | |
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| Took my first computer related course at a summer seminar for high school kids at Perdue University in 1976 - we analyzed drag coefficient on model rockets. Had to punch cards to get data in...lol Went to college got BA in Anthropology and MA in Linguistics. Couldn't find a job so went back to school and got AAS in Programming.
Got a job in mainframe operations at that point. Stayed in operations forever. No one in the mainframe world then had a clue about PCs.
Bought my first PC in late 80's - DOS 3.1. It was a 286 with a whopping 1 MB RAM on board. Spent more money than I had to buy it then broke it a week later and had to learn enough to fix it. I didn't know how to delete a directory so I deleted the "." - which killed my root directory. Then I found a friendly file in my DOS directory caller "Recover". I ran it... OOPS! It renamed all files on my computer - file001 file002...etc and threw all 20,000 files in my root directory after changing the first couple characters of each file. I didn't even have DOS on floppy at that point and you could not buy it from anyone without buying a computer. I had to pay some loser $200 for a bootleg copy on a couple 5 1/4 floppies.
When the bank I was working for got bought out by another company. I took a job as a supervisor for an Internet support team. I had become a bit of an Internet junky back when getting Internet service meant - getting a shell account with a user name and password and you figure out the rest..ie - Trumpet dialer and Mosaic....
Got a call from an old co-worker from the bank and was pulled back into mainframe operations. Who can turn down better hours and more money when a friend says "Come work for me..." After 2 more years dealing with MVS, COBOL, Easytrieve, JCL...etc, I had enough of that world and took another support job with led to some database development and the chance to spend some time on certs. Got the A+, Net+, Inet+ and a couple MCPs before the company I was working at started closing offices and I decided I needed to move on.
That is when I started working for my current employer 2 years ago. I started as a high level help desk tech and moved into engineering department as Network Engineer which is my current position. | |
| jeff_j_black 2002-05-13, 1:55 pm |
| Graduated high school in 1979. No college, no direction. Always fairly bright and involved in technology as far as a hobbyist. Worked my butt of for 21 years in the restaurant industry, from the ground floor up. Made some decent money as a manager, but somehow both the industry and I changed. It became impossible to continue on in the industry, for me. I had begun some home style MCSE training in 98 and had done some free-lance work. I was able to roll this into a resume of sorts and land my first real tech job. This one was a blast, although it barely paid half the salary I recieved as a restaurant mgr. I was a technician / delivery driver for a computer rental company. Yeah, I know what your thinking. But, actually there were very few private rentals, most of the jobs were at one of the three big resorts, for corporate clients. I got exposure to many different scenarios, like setting up ISDN connections, networks with 30 clients and internet connectivity etc. (All the cables had to be taped down to the floors!) And lots of projectors, printers, laptops etc. I really liked this job. My current job came courtesy of a recommendation by my brother in law. This is a good step up with potential for growth. I am the IT Specialist supporting two offices in my town with travle to other locations as needed. I have been able to seek my certification path here with the company paying for the tests. It was tough breaking into the field. For those of you that are wishing to get in, it can seem impossible. You just have to send resumes, fill out applications, go on interviews and keep honing and sharpening until your break comes. Good luck! | |
| kapell 2002-05-13, 3:28 pm |
| I worked for 25 years in large manufacturing companies. In the first year I worked my way up to production supervisor. In the following years I worked my way up to Production Control Supervisor, Production Control Manager and finally to Materials Manager. Meanwhile, at around age 50 (1991) I got myself a computer, tried some upgrades and then went on to building, troubleshooting and repairing them. I was totally hooked. Since then I have spent every waking moment on computer related stuff. At the age of 55 I decided to move out of California and ended up at a large manufacturing company in Kentucky as an Inventory Analyst Supervisor. Then I heard of an opening in the IT dept. for a desktop support tech and begged and wheedled until I got the job. I have held this job supporting 200 users for 5 years and also took over the company’s intranet server and content responsibilities. At the same time I studied and got my A+ and Net + certifications. I then took HTML, JavaScript, Java 2, and several web design courses. I also taught myself Flash 5. This company is closing down and in July and I will be out on the streets looking for a job. I am really worried that I will not be able to convince anyone to hire me, a 61 year old woman. That is my story on how I got into it, now what? | |
| Psydefx 2002-05-13, 5:09 pm |
| I was doing the Advertising thing and running around in restaurants part time when some of my friends started having me fix their friends and relatives computers. Then I signed on with AOL for tech support. Left that to become a certification junkie and run around talking about and fixing things that I have liked to play with since I was 9 with my VIC 20. | |
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| I’m in the military since ’95 infantry so is not related to the IT industry, did one tour in Haiti and one in Bosnia ….I love computers always fixing, upgrading PC for all my friends and I decided to get some certificates to have a back up job if I get out of the military
Going for Linux+ in June. | |
| mchoirul 2002-05-13, 10:47 pm |
| I finished my bachelor degree in Industrial Engineering on March 1998. Not too related with IT field, I just learn basic programming with Pascal and Information System Design as two of my bachelor credit.
I fall in love with computer in 1996, when I was trained in one month Telecommunication Training at NTT headquarter – Tokyo. I bought 486 DX2-66 on a summer sale. I explore my 486 deeply, I have a lot of hardware experience with that. My beloved 486 is broken now.
I got my first job as a production planner on May 1998, the position I have dream about when I was a student, cause it is an ideal position as an Industrial Engineer. I got very much trouble in this company, because everyone using Lotus 123 for every job task. They do not use Word or Powerpoint because they do not know how to use it. There is no IT dept in this company. I become a VOLUNTEER since that time. Sharing my knowledege about Windows, Excell and Word. I also doing PC Technical Support task beside my production planner staff. Yes, 2 year as a VOLUNTEER without any additional salary.
I made small inventory program with Access 97 in 1999 for simplify my production planner Job. My boss really love it so much. I take NT 4 & Novell Course at the end 1999, and soon after finished this class I installed my company network with NT4. Yes, my own network with 20 client. I still a VOLUNTEER in this stage, my big boss did not give me any additional money. The most important thing is I have got the experience, so I do not think so much about my volunteer job. I continuously learned database programming area with VB, Access, and SQL Server. I really love it. My background in Industrial Engineering & my Job experience really help me in assisting business requerement.
Finally at the end of 2001, after my 1 year as a volunteer in System Admin area, I discussed with my big boss about future development of IT in this company. I persuaded him that IT is very important for medium business like this.
He give me IT manager position ! I give him my proposal about integrated information system that I want to build. I use SQL7, VB6, and Access 2000. The production control, sales order, invoicing, and purchasing system already running now. I am developing payroll and inventory system now. I have 2 staff doing programming & technical support job.
Not stop until there, I wanna be professional certified. I conducted self study for my DBA track. Passed 70-028 on August 2001, then 70-29 on September 2001. I kill 70-215 on November 2001. I only have 1 exam remaining for my DBA track. I am studying for 175 and 176 now, hopefully finish my DBA next month, also taking overlapping with MCSD track along the way.
That’s my story guys.
Is this boring isn’t it ?
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| boomer4d 2002-05-14, 3:21 am |
| Wow, I always like seeing the reasons other people have gotten into the field it doesn't make me feel as though I wasted a portion of my life in other pursuits. It looks like everyone here takes a great deal of pride in their accomplishments and that's important.
My first PC was an Apple IIc no HD two floppies and I kept it until I moved out of mom and dads house at the age of 18 thinking I knew more than they did. I should have gone on to college then but we didnt agree on what school I was going to attend so my very educated response was "well screw that I'll get a job"  what a dummy.
13 years of building houses later my wife is pregnant with our first child and we relocate somewhere I can get a job that has all the goodies like benefits and overtime........lol. Spent almost 10 years in a book bindery for what was at the time the largest commercial printer in the world. During that time I managed to scrape together enough cash to buy another computer and being a "Tim Taylor" type started upgrading and tweaking and the next thing I knew all my friends are bringing me their systems and I am upgrading and troublshooting them so I started my own little business which I kept for about 3 years. About that time the company I was working for announced $18 million in budget cuts one of which involved the job I was in the process of being promoted for. I told my wife it was time to do something and else and we needed to look at relocating again.
Some friends of hers that she worked for at one time in a small business college in Va wanted her to come to Huntsville and work for them again. They had been trying to get us here for several years but I said no way I was moving to Alabama.........too hot. At that point I couldnt hardly say no but it would be on one condition........I get to go to school. They agreed and said that because my wife was previously employed by the school they would reinstate her benefits and I could go for half price. Needless to say I jumped all over that.
We were here for about 9 months when the evening A+ Hardware Instructor quit the school and they came to me and asked if I would be interested in taking his place. So here I am.......one certification from my 2 year degree and an Instructor for the last year and a half. I also work 3rd shift as a help desk technician for a small state related ISP troubleshooting a 375 router Cisco network...........foot is in the door ya gotta love temp agencies I will be entering the 4 year MIS program in June after I graduate from the 2 year.
Been a long hard process but worth it every step of the way. Congrats to all that have met the challenge and elevated themselves personally and professionally. | |
| eltech 2002-05-22, 11:02 pm |
| I got here a little differently, I was just a labour all over the place, like 6 months at every job---not my fault!! A friend of mine said he would get into computers but he was married with four kids and couldn't do it. I went to a collage and asked about computers, they said are you interested in hardware or software? I said huh? Anyway I ended up taking a Business Equipment Course where you fix everything but computers, because I like working with my hands and I didn't want to be a "geek". Worked for various companies that maintained copiers and faxes mostly. Fastforward 15 years to now and because this is now connecting up to computers I am now learning that too. I find it interesting and confusing at times, but it is a nice break from crawling around a copier gotting toner on my hands.
That is my story..... |
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