Frustrations Mounting

I get a phone call today saying that someone wants me to do some work for them. A 3 week contract job for $9 an hour. Although that was less than what I was hoping for, it is work. So I told them I was interested in the job, and we talked for a while. She was very impressed with my ability to get all my certifications on my own and was further impressed with my technical knowledge. I learn that the job is primarily just building new computers, which is a very simple process as you all might know. She talks to her supervisor, and he tells her that I am not qualified for the job because they want someone with 3 years of experience. Now, this is probably the easiest possible job in IT, and they want 3 years of experience. On top that they're only paying $9 an hour. If I had 3 years of experience I would laugh at $9 an hour. She made me think that others have laughed at it too by the fact that she asked me if I knew anyone that could fill the job. I've never had that happen before. I'm getting rather frustrated by the closedmindedness of the work force. If I can't get a job that's as simple as this, what's the likelihood of me finding a systems administrator job? I'm starting to question whether I should even continue with my MCSE, as it seems pointless. Try to cheer me up please.

Cheeblie

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Comments

jlambert

It seems rather odd to me that they want someone with 3 years experience in order to build computers. Someone with experience in IT if I dare say it, may not neccesarily have built a computer themselves. My advice to you is to try and prove yourself in someway to this person. Send business letters, ask if you can come in and show them that you know what your doing. See if they will let you take some sort of a test. Worth a shot if you need the money

Webmaster

If I really wanted the job I would call them again, tell them I'm not happy with the results of the previous phone conversation and going to give this another try. Then I would suggest to work for them 1 day, no-cure no-pay, to show them my abilities.
Or, I would ask them if I could come over personally, just don't accept a 'no'.... ok, there are limits, when people start yelling it's usually time to get out

If I can't get a job that's as simple as this, what's the likelihood of me finding a systems administrator job?

Not very likely, unless you got a couple of years experience, many MCSEs today start with PC repair, calldesk/support jobs 'just' to build up a resume with experience.

I'm starting to question whether I should even continue with my MCSE, as it seems pointless.

Don't let something like this demotivate you, it will pay off eventually. When you done system administration for a couple of years and want to move on to network design for example, you'll have the same thing again. It does seem unfair, while I think most jobs can be learned best by doing it, it sometimes hard to get the chance. And I do agree, they should give you this chance.

cheeblie

I can't really call them back, because I have no clue what their number is. It was some staffing agency, so I assume they can't give the job to me if I don't meet their client's qualifications. They said that they would keep my resume on file, because they said that they knew they could use me in the future. Hopefully that won't be too long, because I've been looking for a job since the beginning of May and am getting rather impatient. I think I may just drive around and talk to PC repair places and find out if they could ever use any part-time workers. I guess that would be my best chance.

Cheeblie

jlambert

well, best of luck to you in whatever you decide to do

KernelXP

I wouldn't be too hard on your self, it took me a long time to get my job as a Systems Administrator.

I started out like you getting my qualifications before experience, so firstly I got work in computer store, just fixing up some old PC's, nothing overly exciting. Then I did volunteer work at the local Council, learned lots about how networks work in the real world.

Now I'm working as a Systems Administrator at the local school and haven't looked back, just hang in there, things will get better.

nethersdenizen

Don't worry, they might call you back because who on earth with 3 years experiance would do that for 9 dollars and hour? That's crazy, building a PC needs 3 years? Someone could be building PCs with 3 hours experiance at the dell assembly line. You'd make about the same amount of money working just about anywhere. I would suggest keep working on your MCSE and like other people have suggested look for another job. One place to find jobs is at local communinity colleges, they post jobs in the hallway for that stuff. I saw a job like that for $12 an hour but I didn't apply because they wanted A+ certification which I don't have. Might get A+ next month but I think it's too basic, but have to do what the ignornant IT personal departments want. Sometimes I think they ask for people with lots of experiance for basic jobs because they don't want know it all kids just out of high school telling them how to do things or questioning the boss. See if you can get an interview or a trial run then show them you are a true professional.

Fishfood

Ya got to remember that recruiters don't have any idea of what you can or can't do... They are just looking for someone to sick in front of their customer before their competition does. The recruiter was probably working for some HR manager... Once again...no clue as to what skills are needed, they only know that they need to fill the position. It is really a no win battle.

Your best bet is to find some repair shop, even Best Buy is better than nothing. You need to get some type of PC Technician position on your resume. It doesn't matter what the work entails, this is a case where you title means more that you job duties. That will get you pass the recruiters and the HR people and get you to the people that you really will be working for.

System admin positions don't come easy. I had 3 part-time temp jobs going at the same time before I got a full time job on a help desk and worked my way up from there, it was almost a year before I got to really get hands on with a server. Now I administer 15 Windows and 3 Novell boxes, everyone that comes in to the IS department in my company follows the same path.

Just my 2 cents. Good Luck!!
Fish

janmike

Trying to start a new career myself. Thought I was a shoo-in for a PC tech job deploying new computer systems through a private contractor at a government facility. They wanted A+ minimum--I had that. However, I could not swear to 6 months minimum experience because all of my experience is spread out over 30 years in using and maintaining calculators and PCs at engineering and construction companies which no one in house knew anything about, and maintaining my own PCs and for friends.

Prior to that application, before I had a certification, at various times pretty much the same story.

About 15 minutes ago submitted another resume to a different contractor for computer deployment at same facility. It's a 6-month job maybe longer. Odd--says"A+ or Network+ but not necessary....."--well, I have both. Anyway, even if I don't get hired, I'll keep it up and I'll gain experience some way. That is my goal now, to gain experience working for an employer in an IT position.

And, honestly, I'll never see my 50th birthday again, and over the years I've seen a lot of young men come into eng tech positions and trained several in construction surveying work. So, I believe, from the posts that you make on this forum, that you could work in a very substantial position even now. But, I'm not seeking an employee, but hope that is some encouragement to you.

Anyway, don't give up cheeblie. You've got to have a plan. Stay with your game plan. I'm staying with mine!

Zumpel

Don't let a contact with a recruitment agency get you down. Unless they specialise in IT staff they generaly know zip in that area. (..one had me doing a "words per minute" typing test and tortured me with questions like "how do you copy and paste" and "how do you toggle".. even though my CV shows only PC related tech jobs for the last 6 years...)

Have you checked with some community organisations that offer "Internet for oldsters" and stuff like that ? You'd prolly work for free, but it usually isn't that much work and should count as "real life experience" and maaaan can those folks be grateful

cheeblie

Thanks guys. Your comments have been very helpful to me. It just gets very frustrating when I'm learning things that I know I won't be using until 5 years down the road. Hopefully my knowledge of Active Directory will come of some use in a PC technician job, but I highly doubt it. I will continue to get my MCSE, however, because I think it would be a waste if I quit now.

Cheeblie

janmike

Well, a Post Script on this subject. I am to report to work in the morning for orientation! The resume I submitted along with certs(seems HR man a little more impressed with certs than add indicated)got their atttention.

The pay is certainly of the "small variety", but at least there is pay and experience to gain. And it's only about 8 miles from my front door to the site--a nice country drive on a good state highway at that.

Don't know, I may get kicked out of the game first thing, but I'll be there on time.

Hang on cheeblie! Stay with it.