Career Advice in IT thanks

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heretohelp

370 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#107124 7-Aug-2012 22:06

I am unsure if this is the place to post, im not going to give to many details away in case prying eyes read this.

Just want some advice on my career.

I started out as what I would call a laborer, from share boredom I retrained into IT.

I am currently working as a PC repair technician and have done so for about 5 years in a small repair shop. I would consider my self well paid for the work that I do but and becoming board with domestic issues. We do have some business clients but would consider their issues domestic.

I would like to increase my skill level, currently have a level 5 diploma in ICT.

Where would you suggest I go from here, would like maybe some exposure to servers or a corporate environment but don’t have the exposure required by most employers.

thanks

Hu? did i do that?
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E3xtc

782 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 164

#669977 9-Aug-2012 10:59

I would say trying to get into a IT service desk department within a corporate - exposure to a lot of different scenarios across a variety of technology platforms.

ChevronX

280 posts

Ultimate Geek

#672480 14-Aug-2012 20:35

I am having the same issue, trying to get out of the old Town PC repair shop (which I have been working for 10 years) and into a corporate environment to something more specialised, I also have Level 5 Computing, but am stuck looking in the Hamilton area.

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DaveDog

336 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 169

#672685 15-Aug-2012 10:26

I would have thought that some further formal training is required MSCE or similar perhaps wouldn't go amiss?

garethbezett

39 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#672692 15-Aug-2012 10:41

The service desk route is a well-established way to build an IT career particularly because recruiters from corporate IT organisations can understand the "normal" career progression. I'd investigate that avenue for some progression unless you have a goal or outcome in mind for the medium or long-term.

wasabi2k

2102 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 860

#672746 15-Aug-2012 11:43

Bit hard, depends on where you are located.

Markets are usually (in order of employment):

Consumer (PC Shop)
Small Business (Usually through a small business IT company or one man band)
Corporate (Either directly or through one of the big IT shops - Datacom, Gen-i etc).

Outside the main centres you normally stop at Small Business as there is very little market.

As far as role a common jump is local pc shop to small business, which can get you some exposure to servers, exchange etc.

Going into a the corporate you would likely be looking at service desk or desktop support as a starting block. Best way in is usually knowing someone who knows someone - at that level there are a ton of people applying for fixed number of roles. You are more likely to be judged on social skills and presentation than anything else. Everything relevant on your CV will help you get past the first gate, but don't put crap like your high school results on there.

Some industry qualifications usually help. A+ and Network+ are usually good baselines, if you have been doing PC repair for that long probably just Network+. MCSE (or MCITP now) is good but not particularly relevant for entry level. If it is something that you are into do the study and get it. If IT is a way to pay the bills and nothing more don't bother.

Once you get that first role it is up to you how far you go. I know people still doing desktop 10 years in, I also know people who are in architect roles now in the same period.