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Home > Archive > Certifications and IT jobs/Salaries > September 2002 > How am I doing?$
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| ******This is the original job description for my job I've had from January 99.*******
JOB DESCRIPTION/MIS 12/98
PERSONAL COMPUTER SUPPORT TECHNICIAN
REPORTS TO: MANAGER OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS
COMPENSATION: Non-Exempt Grade III T
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Maintains hardware and software on personal computers
company wide, and troubleshoots the Novell network.
1. Installs, modifies, and makes minor repairs to microcomputer hardware
and software and provides technical assistance and training to system
users.
2. Inspects microcomputer equipment and prepares microcomputer for
operation.
3. Installs or assists service personnel in installation of hardware and
peripheral components.
4. Loads and tests specified software packages.
5. Diagnoses system hardware, software, and operator problems.
6. Recommends remedial actions to correct problems based on knowledge of
system operation.
7. Replaces defective or inadequate software packages.
8. Refers major hardware problems to service personnel for correction.
9. Troubleshoots, modifies and maintains network as required.
QUALIFICATIONS:
1. One year vocational training in p.c. repair and network administration.
2. Certification as Novell Administrator.
3. Knowledge of windows based p.c. systems.
4. Prefer two years experience as p.c. support technician.
*****And here is my current resume*****
Summary of Qualifications
Network communications professional possesses extensive experience with the
connectivity and administration of 200 plus users in multiple workstation and network
server operating system environment. In addition, possesses the ability to combine
short and long term solutions to meet the constantly evolving information technology and office automation needs of an expanding organization.
Skill Areas
Installation, support, and administration of the following server and workstation software.
All Microsoft operating systems and Office products, including Windows NT 2000 and XP.
NetWare Administrator 4.11 and 5.1. GroupWise 5.2 for NetWare.
Veritas BackupExec for NetWare. McAfee Netsheild and Vsheild for NetWare and Windows.
Castelle Faxpress for NetWare. TES and Reflections for DEC mainframe access for Windows.
Citrix Metaframe on NT Terminal Server with ICA client for WAN users connectivity.
Microsoft Terminal Server Administration. PowerChute Plus for APC Back UPS.
Power Quest Drive Image hard disk imaging software for PC and Server deployment.
Lucent Definity and Intuity for phone system and messaging services.
Lucent Intuity Message Manager Client. ACAD 14 and 2000. HP Jet Direct Jet Admin.
Installation and configuration of workstation and server hardware and software including
service patches and updates company wide. Installation of all peripheral network and
local devices with their various firmware updates.
Architecture and documentation of network cabling, switches and hubs as well as installation and configuring UPS units for server emergency power.
Provides technical assistance and training to system users, and understands all
different skill levels and trains accordingly.
Negotiation and cost effective procurement of computer systems, hardware and software upgrades and peripherals resulting in maximum utilization of productivity enhancements.
Accomplishments
Successfully planned and implemented a workstation cloning strategy for the deployment
and hand down of 100 plus computers for up to five different departments requiring unique images.
Completed successfully a systems migration of remaining departments from a DOS to Windows 9x/NT environment for word processing and document management.
Implemented and configured a standard printing procedure for a four location WAN via Citrix Terminal Server for ISO 9001 documents as well as Virus Dat deployment procedure.
Collaborated and assisted consulting personal with NetWare 4.11 to 5.1 server upgrade and data migration to higher performance server.
Comptia A+ and Network+ Certified.
Job History
Network Administrator/PC Support Technician.
January 1999 to Present. Computer Technician.
September 1997 to January 1999.
*******I make $15.25 hourly, 40 hours a week 8:30am to 5:00pm Any comments or ideas on anything will be appreciated.***** | |
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| tech274 2002-09-25, 11:51 am |
| According to the 2002 Salary Survey, you are doing crappy, but I have yet to see a brand new A+ get the 40K.
You have a job,while it's not great $$,many of us are out of work.
I see your position as an opportunity to grow.At some point, things will turn around and you may become valuable for a higher position and more $$.
I see the interest in Cisco as a positive move for your future.
Good Luck | |
| jackiechan 2002-09-25, 2:02 pm |
| let's do some maths:
your 5 years experience + hardly any certs=low wages
if you had 5 years experience + many certs=high wages
if you had many certs + hardly any experience= no wages
if you had hardly and certs + hardly any experience= forget about computers. | |
| evhdlr 2002-09-25, 2:22 pm |
| A few questions:
Is that what you were making when you first hired 3 years ago? If so, then it is time for a raise.
Let me give you a little perspective: I have no certs,less than 2 years Help Desk experience, and no degree. I work on the Help Desk for a major investment firm answering the phone. I reset passwords for the most part. I have no Admin rights to remote into user's PC's to install or configure anything. I make $15 an hour.
Yes, you are very underpaid. The hard part is that you have been employed for over 3 years at the same company while most people have had no job for the same amount of time. You are very fortunate. It would be tough to just quit and go somewhere else. Things are not very steady. You should, however, think about asking for a raise.
Just my 2 cents. | |
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| I think I started out at like $13.25
I'm doing everthing my boss don't want to do. Admin, PC, Phone. Yeah they don't pay very good here I'm not the only one though every department has people making low dough.
My raise last Jan was 2% along with (most) everyone else. So thst was $.27 per hour. Im looking around non aggressivly though hoping find something in the high 30's to 40.
I've been lazy about getting the CNA that they want me to get but I doubt they would throw any more cash at me now anyway with the way the economy is now days. Your right though I am happy to jsu have a job in the industry though. I'm 32 and started learning computers basically from scratch back in 95 and just managed to work my way up and into the industry.  So go for it you can make it happen! | |
| RichardJW 2002-09-25, 5:12 pm |
| quote:
I've been lazy about getting the CNA that they want me to get but I doubt they would throw any more cash at me now anyway with the way the economy is now days.
This sounds accurate concerning the economy. 32 is young. You should be motivated and trying to advance your career. This is not always trying to gain certifications but other things too - simply gaining more expertise in the areas you are interested in: maybe specialising. Also, gaining contacts and assessing the state of the job market (even given its current low) this last at least on a 6 month basis. If you don't do it someone else will. | |
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| I am prolly gonna be too critical, so get ready...
"I've been lazy about getting the CNA that they want me to get "
isn't this the problem? think about it, from their perspective... Here they are indicating to their junior/employee that they should be certified in novell and he has been dragging his feet...
note this: even I notice it, you think your boss does not? job qualification: cna certified. you? given a chance, close to 4 years, still no cert for them to increase their billable hour or what not. Your lack of motivation to do this for the team/company does not speak well to your supervisor/senior when they write that report.
You seem motivated by the dollar amount now, and recognize that this is difficult time in general... yet why aren't you doing everything you can (including getting what your boss want, cna certified?) again... base on the limited information on your situation, this simply does not speak well imo...
4 years... no upward movement... minimal increase in salary, even during the *boom* time of IT... I personally would be concern if I am a marked man... You SHOULD be motivated to do everything to advance/secure yourself, even tho there may not seem to be an immediate monetary reward for doing so. 32 is NOT young... not old tho, but this is a critical time in your career where you either make it and establish yourself as quality hire or just another easily replaceable support personnel. | |
| revjapaca 2002-09-26, 7:34 am |
| WOW! | |
| mikop 2002-09-26, 12:20 pm |
| quote:
4 years... no upward movement... minimal increase in salary, even during the *boom* time of IT... I personally would be concern if I am a marked man...
I should add another perspective.
What does this say about the company you work for? Is it a company worth working for, when there have been so little reward for hardwork?
Again, this imo is a critical time in your career, you need to *breakout*... Only you know the facts, is it a lack of effort on your part or lack of opportunity provided by employer?
Good honest evaluation of your work habit, history etc would be benefitial, when you get rid of the ego, inflated vision of self worth and all that, the truth is almost always somewhere in between. I would not want to stay too long and waste my time in a company if that is not benefitial in helping me reach my career goal. 4 years in the same position qualify as not helping me move myself along the career ladder... If this is a good environment, I would prolly go talk to my supervisor, or when the issue of cert comes up, I would joke, hey, I will deliver the cert in 1 week if you will give me an immediate raise! to just gauge their reaction. This can partially eliminate some factors that's on my part and can help me decide if this company is just a dead end in my career path.
... I still just can't get over it tho... the lack of motivation for getting a cert that your employer obviously want, all the while wondering about current pay, possibility of asking for a raise, and employment opportunity elsewhere... | |
| RichardJW 2002-09-26, 4:20 pm |
| quote:
32 is NOT young... not old tho
Actually it is. Remember that this generation will live on average for a great deal of time and from that perspective 32 is young. I'm quite a bit older by that and hey the secret is out - I'm 37.
mikeop, I am interested by what you say about things being "a critical time in your career." Let me add another perspective - as you might know if you followed some of my fairly recent posts, I've been employed recently after a long period of unemployment and the salary is good. However, it is perfectly arguable that I am worth twice that amount. Why? Because I am worth it. So why does it not happen? It probably boils down to a lack of ability in conmanship. I wish to contrast the candidate who sells themselves aggresively to the ideal candidate that doesn't. You can argue that inter-personal skills are hardly the concern of a programmer or a network expert yet the fact remains that they could prove crucial in determining the flow of a career. | |
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| My perception is always this.
20's - building foundation, trying various things, time of exploration... this can from career choices, place of employment, or just different geographic area.
30's - time to build your career, this is time when you have relatively decided on a career path and making your case for it. I regard this period as the time when you really have to climb that corporate ladder... focus focus focus
40's your winding down on that mad climb up the ladder. more or less, you are *defined*. There will still be upward movement, career changes, etc, but in general, this is the settled down, children going to school period where your job focus is now stability rather than mobility characterize with rapid job changes to reach that goal.
One thing we discuss among friends and colleague is this... this is a time for placement... we are not necessary looking for upward advancement now... mostly lateral. What does this mean? its like 1000 ppl on the starting line for the run, ppl elbowing, ppl sneak their way up to the front, ppl find othes that's in their perceive skill level so they can use them to pace themselves... all sort of things is happening now. that's why I think it is critical time for him, not only the age factor, but what his current job is (support personell is easily replaceable... least look on for upward movement if you don't show that strong desire to demonstrate mtoivation...), what his salary concern (he is being underpaid... tho I don't know what the local trend is... but 15... heh. I htink star bucks offer $12 to start here at silicon valley  ), motivation factor etc (your job is not secure, your pay sucks... why can't you find the motivation when the reward is not as obvious as a immediate raise/reward?)...
I think it is important to note for the original poster, there is no hard/looking down/or anything ill intended. if criticism move you to evaluate, great, if it does not, don't take it personally. |
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