Trying to get started, just don't know how.........
 

I've just recently joined this news group and would like to start this by
saying it's amazing, I never knew there were so many people out there
willing to help one another. Ok well here is my question that I am asking,
not sure if I should even be asking but here I go. I have been fixing
computers for friends and family for about 5 years now and I've decided that
I'd like to work full-time doing so. I've taken about 6-8 courses in
college for computers in everything from PC and Hardware Support to Windows
Server 2003. I don't have any technical background to land any job in the
I.T. Technical field. My books for the Mcdst tests are in the mail right
now. I am just asking does anyone have any suggestions on how I should
approach job hunting? I list my skills on my resume' but when employers
read them they don't pay attention to the part in bold that says FOR FRIENDS
AND FAMILY. Then when I go to sit at an interview, they say "we see that
you have listed your experience with computers and networking, but we don't
see it in your job history". This is the most frustrating thing ever. I'm
in central New Jersey, by the way. Any help/advice would be greatly
appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Jason

RE: Trying to get started, just don't know how.........
 

"Jason Johnson" wrote:

> I've just recently joined this news group and would like to start this by
> saying it's amazing, I never knew there were so many people out there
> willing to help one another. Ok well here is my question that I am asking,
> not sure if I should even be asking but here I go. I have been fixing
> computers for friends and family for about 5 years now and I've decided that
> I'd like to work full-time doing so. I've taken about 6-8 courses in
> college for computers in everything from PC and Hardware Support to Windows
> Server 2003. I don't have any technical background to land any job in the
> I.T. Technical field. My books for the Mcdst tests are in the mail right
> now. I am just asking does anyone have any suggestions on how I should
> approach job hunting? I list my skills on my resume' but when employers
> read them they don't pay attention to the part in bold that says FOR FRIENDS
> AND FAMILY. Then when I go to sit at an interview, they say "we see that
> you have listed your experience with computers and networking, but we don't
> see it in your job history". This is the most frustrating thing ever. I'm
> in central New Jersey, by the way. Any help/advice would be greatly
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Jason
>
Hello Jason

You are getting interviews at last, so you must be doing something right!

What work experience did you have before deciding to go into IT? Do you
have experience of helping users in those jobs with IT-related problems (even
if that wasn't your primary role)? Do you have in-depth knowledge of a
particular industry that you could bring to an IT role? I say this because I
spent over 20 years working as a secretary for various law firms. I have
worked on the Help Desk of one major law firm and and am now working as a DST
for another large law firm!

I would say that, to bridge the gap from secretary to IT Help Desk Analyst,
I did have to take a very poorly paid trainee position for a few months in
order to get that all-important first step on the IT ladder. You may have to
do the same.

However, when I went for my interview for the Help Desk position at the
first law firm, the fact that I knew how lawyers "did things" and was
familiar with the terminology and the types of software they used was IMO a
major factor in my getting the job.

All the best.

IT Girl

Re: Trying to get started, just don't know how.........
 

As far as having work related experience I worked for an insurance company,
was really the go to guy for pc problems, there was a small network for the
machines that we worked with, I was also the go to guy for that too. I was
told to list my skills and abilities on my resume' so I did but it seems
that when I did employers wanted to see it in my career history which I was
unable to provide. I have plenty of knowledge in I.T but I don't know it
all obviously. I am aware that I will possibly have to take a lower paying
job but it seems tough to find that job. Most jobs say entry level but want
a 2yr degree or equivalent work experience. I thank you for your response
IT Girl. It's tough and frustrating but I know in due time i'll gain the
job I seek. It's just the road seems quite dark at the moment.

"TheITGirl" <TheITGirl@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:5CBDCD26-59E7-49C8-B177-D40616E7E8EA@microsoft.com...
>
>
> "Jason Johnson" wrote:
>
>> I've just recently joined this news group and would like to start this by
>> saying it's amazing, I never knew there were so many people out there
>> willing to help one another. Ok well here is my question that I am
>> asking,
>> not sure if I should even be asking but here I go. I have been fixing
>> computers for friends and family for about 5 years now and I've decided
>> that
>> I'd like to work full-time doing so. I've taken about 6-8 courses in
>> college for computers in everything from PC and Hardware Support to
>> Windows
>> Server 2003. I don't have any technical background to land any job in
>> the
>> I.T. Technical field. My books for the Mcdst tests are in the mail right
>> now. I am just asking does anyone have any suggestions on how I should
>> approach job hunting? I list my skills on my resume' but when employers
>> read them they don't pay attention to the part in bold that says FOR
>> FRIENDS
>> AND FAMILY. Then when I go to sit at an interview, they say "we see that
>> you have listed your experience with computers and networking, but we
>> don't
>> see it in your job history". This is the most frustrating thing ever.
>> I'm
>> in central New Jersey, by the way. Any help/advice would be greatly
>> appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>>
>> Jason
>>
> Hello Jason
>
> You are getting interviews at last, so you must be doing something right!
>
> What work experience did you have before deciding to go into IT? Do you
> have experience of helping users in those jobs with IT-related problems
> (even
> if that wasn't your primary role)? Do you have in-depth knowledge of a
> particular industry that you could bring to an IT role? I say this
> because I
> spent over 20 years working as a secretary for various law firms. I have
> worked on the Help Desk of one major law firm and and am now working as a
> DST
> for another large law firm!
>
> I would say that, to bridge the gap from secretary to IT Help Desk
> Analyst,
> I did have to take a very poorly paid trainee position for a few months in
> order to get that all-important first step on the IT ladder. You may have
> to
> do the same.
>
> However, when I went for my interview for the Help Desk position at the
> first law firm, the fact that I knew how lawyers "did things" and was
> familiar with the terminology and the types of software they used was IMO
> a
> major factor in my getting the job.
>
> All the best.
>
> IT Girl

Re: Trying to get started, just don't know how.........
 

Tell them you were an "independent consultant" working for yourself. Not
necessarily a lie. :-) That is what you were doing!

--
Michael D. Alligood
MCSA, MCDST, MCP, A+,
Network+, i-Net+, CIW Assoc.,
CIW Certified Instructor

http://yetanotherblog.typepad.com/theclassroom



"Jason Johnson" <Jasonjohnson@optonline.com> wrote in message
news:CE0FB3B1-56A5-45DF-9ADD-D1478A59D74A@microsoft.com:

> I've just recently joined this news group and would like to start this by
> saying it's amazing, I never knew there were so many people out there
> willing to help one another. Ok well here is my question that I am asking,
> not sure if I should even be asking but here I go. I have been fixing
> computers for friends and family for about 5 years now and I've decided that
> I'd like to work full-time doing so. I've taken about 6-8 courses in
> college for computers in everything from PC and Hardware Support to Windows
> Server 2003. I don't have any technical background to land any job in the
> I.T. Technical field. My books for the Mcdst tests are in the mail right
> now. I am just asking does anyone have any suggestions on how I should
> approach job hunting? I list my skills on my resume' but when employers
> read them they don't pay attention to the part in bold that says FOR FRIENDS
> AND FAMILY. Then when I go to sit at an interview, they say "we see that
> you have listed your experience with computers and networking, but we don't
> see it in your job history". This is the most frustrating thing ever. I'm
> in central New Jersey, by the way. Any help/advice would be greatly
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Jason

Re: Trying to get started, just don't know how.........
 

Know the topics you can troubleshoot and list them on your resume. Can you
troubleshoot TCP/IP problems? Can you troubleshoot hardware failures? Can
you trouble a Cisco PIX firewall having an issue? Can you troubleshoot an
Active Directory/Domain issue? Can you troubleshoot DHCP, DNS servers or
Disaster Recovery? There are MANY things to troubleshoot. Get to know your
strengths and weaknesses. Believe me i'm in the same boat. Some big
weaknesses of mine right now are Tape Cartridge backups going awry and the
Windows 2000 Server. Hopefully in time I am going to start listing them on
the other side of the column , under strengths...

By the way if I have anyone's interest still...

Anyone know how to make a Domain User Account a local administrator on a
Windows 2003 Server PC? This Win2003 PC is not a PDC by the way. Every time
I click User Accounts on it it takes me straight to Local Users and Groups
Utility. I tried adding the user from here by it's FQDN but it didnt help me
when I rebooted it just loaded the local account instead of the domain user
account. Irritating! I am used to XP allowing you to click user accounts in
the control panel and it brings up the User Accounts dialog box where you
can easily add a user account from the domain.




"Jason Johnson" <Jasonjohnson@optonline.com> wrote in message
news:0AFAA91D-5595-4EAF-A98D-2CB31F65AAAF@microsoft.com...
> As far as having work related experience I worked for an insurance
> company,
> was really the go to guy for pc problems, there was a small network for
> the
> machines that we worked with, I was also the go to guy for that too. I
> was
> told to list my skills and abilities on my resume' so I did but it seems
> that when I did employers wanted to see it in my career history which I
> was
> unable to provide. I have plenty of knowledge in I.T but I don't know it
> all obviously. I am aware that I will possibly have to take a lower
> paying
> job but it seems tough to find that job. Most jobs say entry level but
> want
> a 2yr degree or equivalent work experience. I thank you for your response
> IT Girl. It's tough and frustrating but I know in due time i'll gain the
> job I seek. It's just the road seems quite dark at the moment.
>
> "TheITGirl" <TheITGirl@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:5CBDCD26-59E7-49C8-B177-D40616E7E8EA@microsoft.com...
>>
>>
>> "Jason Johnson" wrote:
>>
>>> I've just recently joined this news group and would like to start this
>>> by
>>> saying it's amazing, I never knew there were so many people out there
>>> willing to help one another. Ok well here is my question that I am
>>> asking,
>>> not sure if I should even be asking but here I go. I have been fixing
>>> computers for friends and family for about 5 years now and I've decided
>>> that
>>> I'd like to work full-time doing so. I've taken about 6-8 courses in
>>> college for computers in everything from PC and Hardware Support to
>>> Windows
>>> Server 2003. I don't have any technical background to land any job in
>>> the
>>> I.T. Technical field. My books for the Mcdst tests are in the mail
>>> right
>>> now. I am just asking does anyone have any suggestions on how I should
>>> approach job hunting? I list my skills on my resume' but when employers
>>> read them they don't pay attention to the part in bold that says FOR
>>> FRIENDS
>>> AND FAMILY. Then when I go to sit at an interview, they say "we see
>>> that
>>> you have listed your experience with computers and networking, but we
>>> don't
>>> see it in your job history". This is the most frustrating thing ever.
>>> I'm
>>> in central New Jersey, by the way. Any help/advice would be greatly
>>> appreciated.
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance,
>>>
>>> Jason
>>>
>> Hello Jason
>>
>> You are getting interviews at last, so you must be doing something right!
>>
>> What work experience did you have before deciding to go into IT? Do you
>> have experience of helping users in those jobs with IT-related problems
>> (even
>> if that wasn't your primary role)? Do you have in-depth knowledge of a
>> particular industry that you could bring to an IT role? I say this
>> because I
>> spent over 20 years working as a secretary for various law firms. I have
>> worked on the Help Desk of one major law firm and and am now working as a
>> DST
>> for another large law firm!
>>
>> I would say that, to bridge the gap from secretary to IT Help Desk
>> Analyst,
>> I did have to take a very poorly paid trainee position for a few months
>> in
>> order to get that all-important first step on the IT ladder. You may
>> have to
>> do the same.
>>
>> However, when I went for my interview for the Help Desk position at the
>> first law firm, the fact that I knew how lawyers "did things" and was
>> familiar with the terminology and the types of software they used was IMO
>> a
>> major factor in my getting the job.
>>
>> All the best.
>>
>> IT Girl
>

Re: Trying to get started, just don't know how.........
 

Thanks keith, I've listed them and I believe that's why so many jobs will
contact me but when i sit with them in an interview they ask for me to show
"proof" which is kinda hard to do. I wish they'd give me some sort of test
in the interview, so that I could truly prove what I know.

Michael, that is a great idea that you have, gonna give it a shot, should I
put that in my resume' under jobs?

Jonathan, I've seen postings similar to what you stated and I've been
submitting my resume' but haven't recieved any replys. I will continue to
do so tho.



"Jonathan Roberts" <gremln007@diynics.com> wrote in message
news:OL2WA35XHHA.4000@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Jason Johnson wrote:
>> I've just recently joined this news group and would like to start this by
>> saying it's amazing, I never knew there were so many people out there
>> willing to help one another. Ok well here is my question that I am
>> asking, not sure if I should even be asking but here I go. I have been
>> fixing computers for friends and family for about 5 years now and I've
>> decided that I'd like to work full-time doing so. I've taken about 6-8
>> courses in college for computers in everything from PC and Hardware
>> Support to Windows Server 2003. I don't have any technical background to
>> land any job in the I.T. Technical field. My books for the Mcdst tests
>> are in the mail right now. I am just asking does anyone have any
>> suggestions on how I should approach job hunting? I list my skills on my
>> resume' but when employers read them they don't pay attention to the part
>> in bold that says FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. Then when I go to sit at an
>> interview, they say "we see that you have listed your experience with
>> computers and networking, but we don't see it in your job history". This
>> is the most frustrating thing ever. I'm in central New Jersey, by the
>> way. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>>
>> Jason
>
> There are a number of field service companies that would allow you to
> moonlight doing repair work. In Central NJ, I think you will find plenty
> of this type of work. Once you have worked with one of these outfits as a
> 1099 contractor for 6 months, you can use that on your resume. If you
> couple that and previous experience, I think you can find at least a
> starting job in IT/help desk. Good luck!
>
> Jonathan

Re: Trying to get started, just don't know how.........
 

No problem. I think people should realize, if it's on your resume. You are
an expert in the area. I didn't realize this for a long time thinking that
the more skills I put on there, the better. Wrong. Specialize in an area.
That way you have something to talk the future employers head off with when
you get there. If that's something they are lacking in (which you may
convince them of by your talking to them incessantly about it) they may
"realize" they need you more than they thought they did. And if there is a
need there already for your area you specialize in, you're in the right
place aren't you?

--
Keith Chilton - MCDST,MCP
Data Services Technician
River Valley Financial Bank
430 Clifty Drive
Madison, IN 47250

Phone (812) 273-4949 Ext. 348 Fax (812) 265-6730

****River Valley Financial Bank, Internet Email Confidentiality Footer****

Privileged/Confidential Information may be contained in this message. If you
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"Jason Johnson" <Jasonjohnson@optonline.com> wrote in message
news:%23O5x5$%23XHHA.2320@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Thanks keith, I've listed them and I believe that's why so many jobs will
> contact me but when i sit with them in an interview they ask for me to
> show "proof" which is kinda hard to do. I wish they'd give me some sort
> of test in the interview, so that I could truly prove what I know.
>
> Michael, that is a great idea that you have, gonna give it a shot, should
> I put that in my resume' under jobs?
>
> Jonathan, I've seen postings similar to what you stated and I've been
> submitting my resume' but haven't recieved any replys. I will continue to
> do so tho.
>
>
>
> "Jonathan Roberts" <gremln007@diynics.com> wrote in message
> news:OL2WA35XHHA.4000@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> Jason Johnson wrote:
>>> I've just recently joined this news group and would like to start this
>>> by saying it's amazing, I never knew there were so many people out there
>>> willing to help one another. Ok well here is my question that I am
>>> asking, not sure if I should even be asking but here I go. I have been
>>> fixing computers for friends and family for about 5 years now and I've
>>> decided that I'd like to work full-time doing so. I've taken about 6-8
>>> courses in college for computers in everything from PC and Hardware
>>> Support to Windows Server 2003. I don't have any technical background
>>> to land any job in the I.T. Technical field. My books for the Mcdst
>>> tests are in the mail right now. I am just asking does anyone have any
>>> suggestions on how I should approach job hunting? I list my skills on
>>> my resume' but when employers read them they don't pay attention to the
>>> part in bold that says FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. Then when I go to sit at
>>> an interview, they say "we see that you have listed your experience with
>>> computers and networking, but we don't see it in your job history".
>>> This is the most frustrating thing ever. I'm in central New Jersey, by
>>> the way. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance,
>>>
>>> Jason
>>
>> There are a number of field service companies that would allow you to
>> moonlight doing repair work. In Central NJ, I think you will find plenty
>> of this type of work. Once you have worked with one of these outfits as
>> a 1099 contractor for 6 months, you can use that on your resume. If you
>> couple that and previous experience, I think you can find at least a
>> starting job in IT/help desk. Good luck!
>>
>> Jonathan
>

Re: Trying to get started, just don't know how.........
 

Yeah, place it under job experience.

--
Michael D. Alligood
MCSA, MCDST, MCP, A+,
Network+, i-Net+, CIW Assoc.,
CIW Certified Instructor

http://yetanotherblog.typepad.com/theclassroom



"Jason Johnson" <Jasonjohnson@optonline.com> wrote in message
news:#O5x5$#XHHA.2320@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl:

> Thanks keith, I've listed them and I believe that's why so many jobs will
> contact me but when i sit with them in an interview they ask for me to show
> "proof" which is kinda hard to do. I wish they'd give me some sort of test
> in the interview, so that I could truly prove what I know.
>
> Michael, that is a great idea that you have, gonna give it a shot, should I
> put that in my resume' under jobs?
>
> Jonathan, I've seen postings similar to what you stated and I've been
> submitting my resume' but haven't recieved any replys. I will continue to
> do so tho.
>
>
>
> "Jonathan Roberts" <gremln007@diynics.com> wrote in message
> news:OL2WA35XHHA.4000@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> > Jason Johnson wrote:
> >> I've just recently joined this news group and would like to start this by
> >> saying it's amazing, I never knew there were so many people out there
> >> willing to help one another. Ok well here is my question that I am
> >> asking, not sure if I should even be asking but here I go. I have been
> >> fixing computers for friends and family for about 5 years now and I've
> >> decided that I'd like to work full-time doing so. I've taken about 6-8
> >> courses in college for computers in everything from PC and Hardware
> >> Support to Windows Server 2003. I don't have any technical background to
> >> land any job in the I.T. Technical field. My books for the Mcdst tests
> >> are in the mail right now. I am just asking does anyone have any
> >> suggestions on how I should approach job hunting? I list my skills on my
> >> resume' but when employers read them they don't pay attention to the part
> >> in bold that says FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. Then when I go to sit at an
> >> interview, they say "we see that you have listed your experience with
> >> computers and networking, but we don't see it in your job history". This
> >> is the most frustrating thing ever. I'm in central New Jersey, by the
> >> way. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.
> >>
> >> Thanks in advance,
> >>
> >> Jason
> >
> > There are a number of field service companies that would allow you to
> > moonlight doing repair work. In Central NJ, I think you will find plenty
> > of this type of work. Once you have worked with one of these outfits as a
> > 1099 contractor for 6 months, you can use that on your resume. If you
> > couple that and previous experience, I think you can find at least a
> > starting job in IT/help desk. Good luck!
> >
> > Jonathan