I Want A Computer Job - Page 2

lol I have not seen ditto for so long. But Braingoo is right about the side thing I just made 100.00 for setting up a wireless network.

$100 for setting up a wireless network. You are definately not a business person huh. The lowest price wireless network install I've done cost $300! And they are more on the $2000 side now because the security side implementations that need to be done for small business. Heck OSHA even has a wireless network install compliance!

It was my next door neighbor. BTW I own 5 adult sites

5 adult sites...any major ones or just ones that are lost in the shuffle of the other 5 million adults sites out there? lol

You know what I would have done...setup my neighbor with his/her wifi connection on the Internet and then cancelled my Internet and just used theirs for free without them knowing ;-) eheh

But that's just me lmao

In terms of getting credentials for a the certification, running a little business on the side to get some experience is definitely the way to go. Though I'm still in school (college), I've definitely done some side business work while I've been studying. In fact, right now I'm working as an IT intern. However, I build computers on the side and have been working with a friend of mine at school setting up wireless networking for small businesses.

Also, work on the people skills. Nothing scares the lay people more than having their computer guy rattle off a billion terms in computer speak. In time, you'll learn how to size up the people you're dealing with by the way they talk and what kind of stuff is on their computer. The guy with the clean desktop and no spyware is definitely easier to talk to than the person with 3 gigs of temporary files and their computer sitting next to a water cooler.

But one thing I do have to say. IT can be one of the easiest and hardest jobs you can have. Easy in the way that if things are going right, you can literally get paid to sit there and surf the net or organize the computer room. However, at the same time, you're responsibility is to make sure every PC is up and running with no hitches and that every worker is able to do their thing. If anything goes wrong, it'd immediately your fault and your phone will ring off the hook. Problems can literally range from someone deleting a shortcut off the desktop to someone jamming 3 floppy disks in the drive. I've had someone cut half the wires behind the computer even though they were tied up nicely and taped to the back of the cubicle. And I won't forget to mention the person that lost their mouse ball.

No just 5 out of the five million and some for strip clubs and an Italian market. I do connect to his network and use his printer to tell him to come over and have a beer.

$300 thats why us litle guy under cut you and get all the good home user jobs!

You could always go to college. Get a degree maybe? That's how most people get jobs.

I just got another computer to wokr on here I tell you ll you got to do is do some work and do it well and let it spread by word of mouth how good you are. I have made about $200 this week in my spare time just installing adaware spybot and doing a few tweaks. a complete optimization usualy takes me 2hrs and I charge 20$ and hour wich compared to the people that doit for a living is a bargain to most people. I do it for 2 reasons 1 becasue I think its fun to make computers work better and 2 the expereince and advertizeing by word of mouth that I do this sort of thing. I would love one day to open my own shop but for now I need the stability of a regualr paycheck and the benefits arn't bad either. Oh well all in all its been a great week for computer repairs.

Hey Braingoo, are you in college? What is your major if you are and where do you go?

Well I used to be I only went 2years debating in weather to go back for the other 2 years. (i fI do it will be with Old dominion university out of Norfolk VA) I just went to your average local community college and gratuated head of my class with the first ever computer \ electronics associates degree from blue ridge community college. I also got lucky beacuse I did not have to pay for a bit of it. I got a full scholarship from a local company called comsonics. they paid for books classes every thing. After that I immeniatly went out to find work I ended up working sodering stuff together but that sucked (lasted 3 months) so I found another job where I was fixing realy old HVAC controlers (lasted 1 year). Almost like computers but not quite. Then I got the job I have now working at a bank fixing thier computers and computer systems. This one I think is a keeper. That and in this job i get to sit here and type to you guys all day. How sweet is that! So dont knock Commuity college as dumb peoples college because well it can make even an averae joe such as my self seem uber briliant!!!

Duke,

Most people don't have college educations, the figure is about 27% with bachelors. Many of those, like most people I know, don't even work in their degree area. Most of the people I work with (programmers) went to a tech school for a year or two, and now make excellent salaries.

Computer business is all about experience, not degrees. A few years of business programming will you get a higher salary than a 4 year degree in CS. If you want to work your way up the management side, yes, a degree will help. And a computer science degree is always going to get you a job, but most people do not have degrees. in this world. It just depends on what you want to do.

I completwly agree. I know people with CS degrees that don't know Jack because they never Used the knowlege the only way to learn computers is to work with them every day end even than you will never know it all so don't ever get to the point where you think you do. You can't learn computers from books beacause by the time you are finished reading the book or taking the class what ever you leaned is now obsolete and changed! Just think how much Hardware knowlege will go out the windows with the new PCI-E and DDR2 upgrades as well as software knowlege with the new windows xp SP2! Now Im not hating on people in college by anymeans its a great place to start but them main reason I went at all was to get a pice of paper to tell others that I know what I already knew I know! Or something !

I sorta agree with you...I see what you're saying...but I find it hard to imagine that someone with business programming will make more money than someone with a degree in CS or in my case, Electrical Engineering. I just don't see that happening. Esp. if a school has a co-op program (like mine (which i am on)) Give me an example and I'll believe you.


true, experience makes the world go around, but I know a lot of companies that won't even talk to people if they do not have a 4 yr degree...
people can get away without a degree in a s maller company rather than a large one

I agreein the small town im from most people don't have degrees and wheni tell them I build my own computers they are still amazed! I guess its allwhere you live. I personaly love smaller towns with smaller businesses you get to know more people and the atmosphere is generaly more freindly. Unfrotuanlty my peacful little valley is grwoing by leaps and bounds. In fact I would not live anywhere else we have no traffic, no smog, great mountain views the beach is only 2 hrs away. we get all 4 season in moderation and we don't have eathquakes or tornadoes well at least not that often we did have a 4 ricktor eathquake last year right before our category 3 hurricane. Oh well no place is perfecct goo news is the huricane was only a tropical storm by the time it got over the mountains. OMG I'm way off topid someone pull me back!

Wow...you see things the same way I do. And you're right, it IS where you live. In my case, i love living in Boston. In fact I would not live anywhere else we DO have traffic, but if you know how to get around its fine...no smog, great mountain out west or north, great skiing the beach is only 40 min away. we get all 4 season and we don't have eathquakes or tornadoes, best schools in the country along with some of the most desirable and exclusive places to live and we have the PATS and SOX...

Hmm boston sounds nice Im gonna have to make trip up there some time sounds like my kind of place. Minus the traffic anyway. I hate traffic. AHh but i digress.

wow, where do I start. I work in a software development company based in california, not huge but well over 300 employees. there is only 1 programmer in my office with a 4 year degree in CS. We've both been employed for the same amount of time, and I make more money. The other programmers have the approximate same salary. That probably has more to do with my other functions than the degree holder, but the point is made.

Electrical Engineering is a different ballgame, and I'll defer to you on the value of the degree - I was speaking solely on breaking into the computer business as a programmer, or hardware person, or even Quality Assurance.

You're right, some companies won't even consider you without a degree - which is garbage. I would much prefer a programmer with 4 years of real world experience over a degree-holder fresh out of college. I've hired a few based on their experience alone. College teaches how to program, technically. Experience teaches not just how to program, but how to overcome problems, work with customers, understand RFPs, etc.

When you're in high school and college, people are continually telling you how you have to have a degree to get anywhere, and for my part, I would tell my son the same thing. It's MUCH easier if you have a degree. But it's hardly a requirement. Do you really need 2 years of Psychology, Philosophy, Sociology, Biology and electives to fill out your core, when all the knowledge you really need you get in the last 2 years of your degree program? A good technical school (very hard to find the good ones) will teach you what you need in 18 months, and then you have a few years of business experience under your belt instead of a bunch of worthless classes.

Starting salaries will be more for degree holders, for sure. But 5 years into the business, you'll see how everything evens out. And with the economy today, the higher salaried programmers are the first to go. I've seen it.

I guess what it boils down to, is, what are you trying to do with your career? That will decide if you really need a degree or not.

p.s. boston is one of the best cities to live in, bar none. i was born and lived near hudson for years, and weekend trips into boston were the highlight of my young life.