Career Direction, What Would You Do?

[dhughes]

I need some advice from the voices of the Internet. This may not be the best place to ask but who knows with such a range of people here the advice may be OK.

Currently I'm stuck in a job I hate, a casino tech, and I'm thinking of trying to do something, finally (again), to change that. My plan is to upgrade my computer skills to something that actually is usable.

My skills at the moment are pretty lacking with no certifications at all not even A+, yes that bad. Well I do have first year Computer Science at the local University which was just Java programming, which I forgot already.

Linux is great I find it very interesting but I was thinking would an MCSE be more practical? Since the majority of IT/Tech jobs near me are Government office user support type jobs. Not many sysadmin openings especially for someone with so little knowledge. With the Boomers retiring I think openings may be appearing soon, although I'm not exactly young myself (39) that may help me in some ways and hurt in others.

Interests are Networking, Linux, Databases I do like interacting with people so even user support would be OK since I get along with people quite well.

Pretty vague I know but if you could pick something right now, something where you could be hired in a second what would it be?

[tamoneya]

Im just entering my second year of college/university so I obviously have less experience than most. However what I have noticed is that skill definitely do not equal certifications.

[cardinals_fan]

I'm just a kid, but I plan to do something involving finance, engineering, or IT. I actually thought about doing IT work for a casino - what don't you like about it?

[dhughes]

I'm just a kid, but I plan to do something involving finance, engineering, or IT. I actually thought about doing IT work for a casino - what don't you like about it?

Well casinos are notoriously cheap added to that the usual corporate BS which I am used to but it's the lack of control for me, I don't have access to the server room (officially). Very high rate of employee turnover due to that restriction.

It's an extremely restrictive environment (think jail or prison) to the point going to lunch is not even worth bothering since I have to get rid of so much sensitive stuff before leaving.

Don't get me wrong though it's fun being in a busy, if dark and noisy, work environment but the shift work took a long time for me to get used to. Working on the floor is a unique job, doing very sensitive work requiring 100% accuracy (which is checked and verified), parts and equipment that has to be watched at all times while customers constantly interrupt you.

I wouldn't mind working in a server room all day on-call or shiftwork if the pay was better, I've been with the company I'm at now for almost six years and in the last three years my hourly pay has increased by only 87 cents total, for the three years. Before that I was on the road making six dollars an hour more but it was phased out and I had no choice but to go where I am now, it's fun being around people but it feels like the company is stagnant and doesn't listen to its employees, experience is not rewarded and in a way its punished (for doing a job of other people aka 'helping'). I guess it's more than company than the conditions I hate but it's the only game in town.

I guess I'm venting a bit :p

[dracule]

Even though I love to program and do stuff w/ tech, I am steering clear of IT feilds. The pay in the jobs just keeps plumetting. My friend who owns a software company hired people for around $80k a year to program back in the 90's, now he gets the same quality people for $30k and they are HAPPY to work for it. Most of them have been working in crummy non-IT jobs anyways and simply take a pay cut to just program.

[lisati]

Im just entering my second year of college/university so I obviously have less experience than most. However what I have noticed is that skill definitely do not equal certifications.
+1 There's something about hands-on experience that beats being able to bluff your way through exams. And in the "real world" you're open to resources that would be considered cheating in an exam situation, e.g. asking someone else. Aren't these forums great!?!?!?!?!!!

[Mateo]

Is all that really necessary? I have a good IT job and I don't have any certificates, didn't get my BA in computer science, have never even taken a computer class since typing my first year of high school. I find that companies hire based on experience and knowledge, not certificates.

[dhughes]

Well Government for sure won't hire without any certs and they are the biggest employer in my town. But really I couldn't imagine any company hiring a person without proof of experience, how did you guys get hired?

At the moment my computer is six years old I can't afford a new one and I can't really buy a server (although I did get an old Dell server at a yard sale for $10 but no hard drives ) and a half dozen hard drives to practice a RAID setup.

How do you guys gain experience, other than reading, without first doing the work you're hired for? I need some hands on experience but I can't ask "mind if I fool around with your million dollar server setup and user data?" :lolflag:

[tamoneya]

Well Government for sure won't hire without any certs and they are the biggest employer in my town. But really I couldn't imagine any company hiring a person without proof of experience, how did you guys get hired?

At the moment my computer is six years old I can't afford a new one and I can't really buy a server (although I did get an old Dell server at a yard sale for $10 but no hard drives ) and a half dozen hard drives to practice a RAID setup.

How do you guys gain experience, other than reading, without first doing the work you're hired for? I need some hands on experience but I can't ask "mind if I fool around with your million dollar server setup and user data?" :lolflag:

I pull hardware out of the dump. Also on the side I do PC support for friends and such. They know they can unload old hardware with me. Then out of all my semi working parts I can throw together server setups and test things. I really never work with lots of data though. That is what I currently need to work on. I guess you could make a database or something and then make yourself some fake data with a python script or something that makes up customer names and phone numbers and fills up your data base. Might be a fun project.

[dhughes]

... I do PC support for friends and such. ...I guess you could make a database or something and then make yourself some fake data with a python script or something that makes up customer names and phone numbers and fills up your data base. Might be a fun project.

Yup I do that, once word gets out it's hard not to help people. I got a friend of my uncle to use AVG, he had outdated version of Norton, once I installed it and did a scan he had 8,000 detections (not sure if all viruses, trojans or not) at only 49% completion, I left it and he finished it. Vista is also high maintenance, especially when it first came out and people couldn't get their applications they were comfortable with, to work on Vista.

Yeah I'll have to hunker down I guess but I would rather have a goal, I find it difficult to make stuff up without a purpose, in Java programming class it was nice to have a goal.

I'll keep on messing around like I always do. Redbull helps.

[era86]

I'd still say going and getting a degree or certification gives you more opportunities as far as a career move. Companies value experience and skill, but education is an important factor for entry level jobs.

[bmac]

Have you considered other alternative types of employment. For example fields like metrology can open up opportunities in facilities for paid educational programs. Usually these types of positions don't require entry level degrees. Field service is another option that provides opportunities and will often take non-degreed individuals and train them. You sound as if you have basic skills which could be utilized to gain entry into many of these positions. Nothing beats a good resume...

I've endeavored throughout my career to maintain an open mind when seeking employment. Starting in an entry level position can be beneficial if one uses that position to either further their education (at the employers expense) or network to a better position.

Just a thought.....

[dhughes]

Well I'm pretty much resigned (maybe not the best word to use) to the fact that I have to have something on paper to show I know something. It's just the process of getting, and paying for, it. I want to anyway since I learn better in a structured environment, even if I never use what I learn I would still want to learn a new skill or learn a skill correctly from A to Z.

I wish my employer would send me on course but they offer nothing, it's hard enough just to get an new ink cartridge, lord help you if you use the printer too much or you'll get flogged! :p

It may be time to drop to part-time and look around for some alternative employment as you say bmac. It's the age-old problem of needing experience but no company will hire you unless you have experience!

[dracule]

sometimes your employer pays for certification.