I want to become an IT engineer

Dan271091Dan271091 Registered Users Posts: 4 ■□□□□□□□□□
Hi guys,

i am 23, work a Change Administrator at a big Technology company and i have been wanting an IT Engineer job for a while now, i applied for an internal role with our side company, they provided me with the details and then practically offered me the job before i could say a word, i told them i would think about it knowing full well i was going to decline the offer. Here's why:

I have a 2 year old son, a mortgage, a wife and bills that i am responsible for.
The contract they were going to have me signed was an annualised hours contract for 2080 hours (40 hrs a week) and the base salary was £14,260... they told me that this would rise to around 18k-19k with bonuses but it wasn't guaranteed that i would have a bonus every month. Also, i couldn't pick and choose when i put the hours in. I was told that sometimes i had to work 70 hours a week including weekends and then i would not be working the next week at all, the bonus is a paper based system, so if i do a job, i write up what i did and it works it out with that (didn't quite understand) so if i wasn't working for a week, that's a week without bonuses. The pay drop was too much as i struggle to get by now so the 3k drop in base salary was too much to lose.

My ideal job is to be a field service engineer, driving around in a van with my tools, getting calls to go fix stuff. I know its not a glamorous job i have an interest in computers and fixing stuff, it seems to tick everything

I need help with getting a job, even an interview. Any hints, tips from employers, advice from engineers, anything

Also, my CV sucks, i will post in this thread if anyone will be able to help me with that

Comments

  • BlackoutBlackout Member Posts: 512 ■■■■□□□□□□
    There is a ton of different paths in IT, if your looking to be a field Tech, you could look at local ISP's, or you could look at companies like Cisco who have field service technicians who go onsite to resolve issues. Either way in most cases you will need to get some certifications. Do you have certs?
    Current Certification Path: CCNA, CCNP Security, CCDA, CCIE Security

    "Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect"

    Vincent Thomas "Vince" Lombardi
  • Dan271091Dan271091 Registered Users Posts: 4 ■□□□□□□□□□
    I have no certs or qualifications that will help me, i would love to get the training and certs but they cost around 2-3k each
  • scaredoftestsscaredoftests Mod Posts: 2,780 Mod
    See if your work will pay for training
    Never let your fear decide your fate....
  • bpennbpenn Member Posts: 499
    I assume these would be training/boot camps? Try getting the certs through self study, if you can. You can save quite a bit of money that way if money is an issue.
    "If your dreams dont scare you - they ain't big enough" - Life of Dillon
  • Dan271091Dan271091 Registered Users Posts: 4 ■□□□□□□□□□
    they ONLY JUST gave me approval for a Effective comms course that i need for progression within this company that cost £75.

    I doubt they would approve a 2.5k course for something, that if i take it, will allow me to leave this company.

    icon_sad.gif
  • Dan271091Dan271091 Registered Users Posts: 4 ■□□□□□□□□□
    bpenn wrote: »
    I assume these would be training/boot camps? Try getting the certs through self study, if you can. You can save quite a bit of money that way if money is an issue.

    there is a 8 day CCNA course for the above mentioned 2.5k

    have you got any websites or recommended books for self studying?
  • pinkydapimppinkydapimp Member Posts: 732 ■■■■■□□□□□
    Dan271091 wrote: »
    they ONLY JUST gave me approval for a Effective comms course that i need for progression within this company that cost £75.

    I doubt they would approve a 2.5k course for something, that if i take it, will allow me to leave this company.

    icon_sad.gif
    many boot camps will reimburse the company if you leave quickly after finishing the course.
  • SoCalGuy858SoCalGuy858 Member Posts: 150 ■■■□□□□□□□
    If you're just starting out with certs, and the CompTIA "trio" (A+, Net+, Sec+) aren't below your current level of knowledge, these videos helped me a ton (and are free!):

    Professor Messer IT Certification Training Courses

    Good luck!
    LinkedIn - Just mention you're from TE!
  • Danielm7Danielm7 Member Posts: 2,310 ■■■■■■■■□□
    If you are looking at the CCNA specifically there are a ton of free materials out there. A few months ago on reddit I saw a guy posted about a entire CCNA series on YouTube that was very well done, don't have the link handy.

    Cybrary has a bunch of free courses including the CCNA
    https://www.cybrary.it/course/cisco-ccna/

    You can download GNS3 for free to setup virtual labs on your own. If you don't want to spend money on this you really don't have to, you'll have to pay for the tests of course but it's a far cry from $2500
  • xnxxnx Member Posts: 464 ■■■□□□□□□□
    That's a horrendous salary, I wouldn't take less than 20k - I live in a seaside resort up north icon_wink.gif

    Even basic admin jobs pay more
    Getting There ...

    Lab Equipment: Using Cisco CSRs and 4 Switches currently
  • adam220891adam220891 Member Posts: 164 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Get your A+ for starters. Plenty of free material on the Internet and each test is like $150.
  • ImThe0neImThe0ne Member Posts: 143
    xnx wrote: »
    That's a horrendous salary, I wouldn't take less than 20k - I live in a seaside resort up north icon_wink.gif

    Even basic admin jobs pay more

    Thats still only, what, $31k? Are UK IT jobs really that low?
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