Did I make the wrong career choice?

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rayonline

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#76029 27-Jan-2011 17:46

Did I make the wrong choice? I used to write reports and do various forecasting and benchmarking. I am in my 30s.

I underwent a career change to IT. Like many I did a Diploma and a no. of IT certifications in computer hardware.

I had a look at the ICT labour market and it appears most jobs for graduates are Helpdesk. There is really just a few, 5% which might be Application Support or Entry Technician. For any of the roles they do ask for 1 or 2yrs ICT experience so would that be true to say should a graduate get a job it would most likely be Helpdesk?

I also had a look under a different category at the SEEK site, like hardware. Pretty much all them wanted people with lots of engineering experience.

My peers have pretty much gotten only Helpdesk roles but they are the young lot without any work experience. Either directly into the Diploma course or they went to uni first and then straight into the diploma course. They did a course in Network CCNA or just the Desktop Tech or a Level 4 (?) Diploma in Client Support.

I am in the 30s

Answering telephones is just not my thing, absolutely hated it, I was a CSR out of University then contract fortunately ended and I got a desk job as a Administrator then becoming .. a Business Analyst.

Would it be true that in IT hardware there are v few different type of jobs for graduates? Because I find that for other jobs, you could just do any CSR jobs or a office administrator; with some work experience you could get a more indepth job but entry level.

I could see the software graduates might have a easier route because they could work as a office administrator, dealing with spreadsheets, databases, financials, webpage maintenance, colltation of reports, taking minutes at meetings. Assist in improving data capture. They could pretty much work for any team / organisation.

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#431900 27-Jan-2011 18:04

When I finished my A+ Cert for Comp Engineering I was working part-time for Insite building PC's to order.
Having graduated top of my class, a business asked who would be a good candidate for a Systems Analyst & IT Support role for their Farming Co-op.

As soon as I had an interview for the Farming Co-op, Insite instantly offered me a full time position with them (they didn't want to lose me). I was left with the dilemma, do I want to work mainly in Software, or stick with Hardware.

I ended up taking the Farming Co-op job. I left after 2 years working there, only to find getting another job in IT rather difficult within IT Networking Support which is what I ideally wanted to work in.

I pretty much side-stepped IT for a whopping 7 years, and finally made it back in, with a Customer Software Support Role. Where I do software testing, customer support, and technical support working along side other IT professionals & learning about some of the cutting edge software developments and infrastructure within NZ. Now in my early 30's it sometimes feels like I have gone backwards, but the reality is, I have never been happier.

But thats just me.
But basically, I think you should take any job within IT that you can get, and then work your way towards what you want. Don't leave it too long, as that time-out of IT could become degrading towards your prospective employer.

rayonline

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#431905 27-Jan-2011 18:15

I am one of those who just cannot do telephones.

I am even thinking back to my old sort of job and doing a Chartered Accountant part time and branch into financials. Numbers is something I enjoy more than just the commentary. March is near .. that's the time to enrol.

gardenman

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#431924 27-Jan-2011 19:50

Did you seriously think you could change careers and not have to start at the bottom again?

To be honest you just sound like GenY person who wants everything now and doesn't want to have to work towards your goal and if your CV and covering letter is anything like your post its any wonder you aren't getting far.

Think outside the square, you mention going back to a CA firm, why not try and utilise your CA experince and IT skills and get into IT audit or Internal audit or something like that. Forensics utilises hardware skills as well.

Get proactive and approach firms directly or go to recruitment agents. There are so many people in the market at the moment that a lot of jobs don't even get advertised.

rayonline

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#431931 27-Jan-2011 20:13

Just concluding the course now .. haven't applied for roles. Had a look around but every role is Helpdesk. Therre are hardware roles but they ask for experience well senior than I.

I have my CV and letter previwed by consultants etc ..

I don't have a CA background. I come from non financial reporting in the public sector, like annual reports but not the financial ones but have worked alongside accountants. I do have a Economics background and the option is to maybe do my CA qual part time and shift towards financials.

I knew I start at the bottom again but for other jobs you could do jobs like administrators etc .. but it seems to me now the jobs which are out there for IT graduates are pretty much just Helpdesk. I am just not the type for constant telephone work.

muppet

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#431936 27-Jan-2011 20:32

Are you passionate about your new choice? Do you enjoy talking about the hardware, the software, the ways and hacks to fix it etc? Then you made the right choice! Stick it out, show people your passion and you'll be set.

Are you doing it because you were hoping it might be the "right thing" but really, you couldn't care about the tech itself? Talking to people about boring things you couldn't really care less for? Then you probably made the wrong choice.

I've met a few people in my career (I'm a network techie type person) who have been fresh out of school but really loved the whole networking thing. They're doing fantastically well, they can teach me stuff and in a few years will probably be my boss.

I've met people who signed up for the money. They're the people you have to explain to 10 times how to add a static route to a router. They don't understand why, they just learn by rote. They ain't going anywhere and will be lucky to be doing the same thing in a few years time.

Maybe this is a bit harsh? But I think to succeed in IT, you have to enjoy it. You have to want to learn, you have to understand what you're doing, not learn how to do it from a manual.

I don't have a degree. Some of the smartest people I work with don't have one either, but then again some of the uber smart ones do. I don't think it makes much difference either way, except to get you in a door.

muppet

Audiophiles are such twits! They buy such pointless stuff: Gold plated cables, $2000 power cords. Idiots.

OOOHHHH HYPERFIBRE!

Dratsab

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#431939 27-Jan-2011 20:37

+1 - it's exactly the same in any job. Those that are really good are the ones with passion.

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wreck90

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#431947 27-Jan-2011 21:04

Is there good money to be made in IT? I don't know if that is so true these days.

NZ IT salaries have not really increased much in the last 12 years or so. In fact, after taking into account inflation, maybe IT is paid less in real money.

But, I enjoyed the work . I recall an american associate who was amazed at my enthusiasm :)

The one thing I now dislike about IT (as i get older), is the knowledge churn : which is far greater than in other vocations IMHO.

oldmaknz

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#431950 27-Jan-2011 21:06

There was a great post on here about how you have to be an IT specialist - not a generalist (or was that gpforums?). There are a massive amount of people doing BIT's and the like and the market for labour is very much flooded.

Pick a particular area of IT that you enjoy and get very, very qualified in that area. Then you'll be favoured upon over a generalist.

muppet

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#431954 27-Jan-2011 21:11

wreck90: Is there good money to be made in IT? I don't know if that is so true these days.

NZ IT salaries have not really increased much in the last 12 years or so. In fact, after taking into account inflation, maybe IT is paid less in real money.

But, I enjoyed the work . I recall an american associate who was amazed at my enthusiasm :)

The one thing I now dislike about IT (as i get older), is the knowledge churn : which is far greater than in other vocations IMHO.

This is such a vauge question that it's impossible to answer. What part of IT are you talking? Fixing computers? Probably not. Designing complex solutions for customers that fit their exact needs? Probably yes.

IT is like saying "medical". What part? Are you a nurse? Or interested in how to reattach fingers to people? Being a nurse probably isn't "good money" (I wouldn't know) but if you can reattach fingers to people, I'm sure you'd be doing Ok.

IT's the same. Can swap out a keyboard? Good for you. Can debug a faulty file in a critical infrastructure situation? You'll do well (probably).

Audiophiles are such twits! They buy such pointless stuff: Gold plated cables, $2000 power cords. Idiots.

OOOHHHH HYPERFIBRE!

networkn

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#431965 27-Jan-2011 21:29

I have just advertised a role for a junior IT Technician. I had 220 applicants.

When I got it down to just three the choice was pretty easy.

IT is hard work, in order to survive you have to LOVE it. I mean be passionate about it.

If it's just a paycheck, you are in the wrong career.

It's that simple!

wreck90

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#431970 27-Jan-2011 21:40

muppet:
wreck90: Is there good money to be made in IT? I don't know if that is so true these days.

NZ IT salaries have not really increased much in the last 12 years or so. In fact, after taking into account inflation, maybe IT is paid less in real money.

But, I enjoyed the work . I recall an american associate who was amazed at my enthusiasm :)

The one thing I now dislike about IT (as i get older), is the knowledge churn : which is far greater than in other vocations IMHO.

This is such a vauge question that it's impossible to answer. What part of IT are you talking? Fixing computers? Probably not. Designing complex solutions for customers that fit their exact needs? Probably yes.

IT is like saying "medical". What part? Are you a nurse? Or interested in how to reattach fingers to people? Being a nurse probably isn't "good money" (I wouldn't know) but if you can reattach fingers to people, I'm sure you'd be doing Ok.

IT's the same. Can swap out a keyboard? Good for you. Can debug a faulty file in a critical infrastructure situation? You'll do well (probably).

He he, true.

Corporate IT , mostly in the banking / telecommunication /pharmaceutical industries. More in the applications side of IT.

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gzt

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#432194 28-Jan-2011 13:46

What is it you actually want to do? 'some kind of hardware stuff' is a bit non-specific.

etl

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#432198 28-Jan-2011 13:54

If you know what you want to do, find companies that focus on those areas. Then put together a list of your strengths & personal experiences.
Put together a wish list of what you wish to achieve and why you want to achieve those goals.

Then go around the companies with this little print out, include your grades etc, and try and make a personal impression and sell yourself.

You might make an impression, you might not. You may get at least some un-paid work experience, you might get paid work experience.
You might be no better off.

But at least your putting yourself out there.
Also, tap into your friends in the industry, get them to try and promote you, or let you tag along on jobs (if that is an option) which you could then use as "real life work experience".

Basically its a hard road getting into your favoured area, unless you already know someone, or landed it by accident. Otherwise, its a matter of working in the jobs you can get now, then use that as a buffer to get jobs in different areas (ie, moving from help desk, to software support, to software development/programming, to web solutions etc).

rayonline

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#432250 28-Jan-2011 15:37

gzt: What is it you actually want to do? 'some kind of hardware stuff' is a bit non-specific.

As a graduate desktop support that is fixing, installing, setting up at the lab or on-site.

Wouldn't mind more of a desk job too like being involved in a project - report writing in a IT project like if a department is moving locations or upgrading equipment ....

Do you think at IT roles are harder to get into? I mean if it was outside of IT one could just be a office administrator/assistant/co-ordinator picking up generic office experience and when the opportunity arise they could work in systems design, public policy, statistics, finance ..... Like how many people might just have a Arts degree.

I know a few people who are in their 50s soon to graduate, not sure how would they fair ... they don't like telephone support either ..

gzt

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#432289 28-Jan-2011 16:40

Do you think at IT roles are harder to get into?

I don't think so. Also, for those general 'outside IT roles' you are talking about, there are usually lots more applicants (therefore competition) than there would be for many IT positions.

- Exactly what was the technical|math|process nature of the forecasting and benchmarking?
- Which hardware certs do you have?
- What was your degree or course trajectory at uni?

None of the answers will have any kind of ranking value, but they will identify a particular set of skills you have which will be somewhat unique, and which will identify a unique entry point.

Most likely this is the exact set of experience and knowledge that someone somewhere is looking for and cannot find.

There is every chance this position will not be advertised (or not advertised very clearly) so you might have to put some effort in to find it.

I agree with all ETL's comments above except (sorry ETL ; ) that "You might be no better off" if you do all this. You will definitely be better off for doing this.

Defining all this clearly, deciding what sector and position that fits to, and then making contact with people will expand the opportunities available to you dramatically.

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