Its hard to find a job!

eventhough i got those certs, i still can't find a job.
I live close to D.C area, and most IT jobs here require Secret Clearance. DO i need to relocate to Cali or somestates that are not high on Top Secret Clearance??
I know that there are some people working as Help Desk positions without any certs, and all they have is High School Dip.
I also have Associate Degree, and it is not helping.
I will keep looking, but this is getting depressing.
Please give me advise.

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Comments

Inc

No it is not hard. Lower your ambitions for the start-up period. Helpdesk job for at least a year will get you settled in no time.

blargoe

You aren't going to start out in a mid to high level admin position. More than likely, you won't start out as a permanent employee. Don't rule out helpdesk/support jobs and don't rule out contract or temp to hire positions. The important thing is, just get started! If you are good you will advance.

garv221

what is your experience?

coldbug

I don't have experience in IT field..all i have is ambition.
How could i have experience if i can't get a job, and how could i get a job if i dont have any experience. It is crazy.
I am taking MCP next month..would it help?
I can't be down at this moment..I will keep on trying.

Gundamtdk

Mikephyu wrote:

I don't have experience in IT field..all i have is ambition.

I know that there are some people working as Help Desk positions without any certs, and all they have is High School Dip.
I also have Associate Degree, and it is not helping.

You have an associate degree in what?

Go enroll in a college or university and go for a tech. program.

emmajoyce

I feel for you man. I know exactly what you mean by the experience "catch 22".

famosbrown

The problem is that their are those hiring managers who forget that someone gave them a chance when they didn't have the experience. Get you certs and education, land the interview, then show them you know your stuff. If you show them you know your stuff, they will most likely give you a chance utilize your skills and get the experience you need. YOu might also be cheaper than someone with the smae skillset, but more experience.

coldbug

hey guys,

I am 29 years old. I got an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts on 2001, and aimed at Bachelor of Businees Administration in Information Systems. I dropped out, since i became a pot smoker. I became a stoner, i mean everyday. I lost job, relationship, friends, and worst thing was i lost my ambition. I tried to quit, but i couldn't function anything without that stupid stuff in my system. I ignored everyone, everything, every reasons, and kept on smoking it worry-free. I worked at fast food restaurants, gas station, department stores, packaging warehouse, you name it. Places where drug test was not necessary to work. I couldn't hold on to one job for more than 5 months, but somehow i worked at CVS for more than a year.
I was almost 28 years old, and was working at a convenience store, night shifts. One day i was bored, and reading some magazine about a story of a guy who used to be a pot head, but today a succesful IT guru. It was interesting, but i did care less. Then, i met a girl one day, and really really liked her. I quit pot, because she kept fighting about it. Due to the withdrawl symptoms of quitting that, i lost interest in everything, even in computer games that i liked the most. I have lost interest in my girlfriend, too, but i pretened i was ok with her. She probably knew. I quit for more than a year. I went to tech school, and got A+ and Network+. I was still seeing my gf. Me, and my roomate had to move because the landlord sold the house. So, we moved to another house. There was a college student living there, and he was going for Law school. He smoked pot sometimes. I could smell it, see it, and they asked me if i wanted to try. I told them, i just quit that stuff a year ago.
I had tolerance, but it was very annoying knowing they were doing it. Then, my girlfriend found out that i was living with pot heads, and she lost it. I told her i was not doing it again, but she did not trust me.
She married to some business guy two months later. I was devastated. Not because of her. I was so pissed off at myself for being such a loser. I knocked on the pot head's door, and i told him that i want to smoke pot. I became a pot head again. Not soon after that, college kids moved out, but i was still smoking on my own.
I put my MCP and CCNA books in the closet, and i have lost ambition again. She called one day with Caller ID blocked, since i was not answering her calls. I told her to get the #@$! out of my life, and never call me again. She said "Do you know why i didn't choose you?" i said "yea, because i dont have money like your guy" she said "NO! because you can't quit marijuana" i said "what the @#$%ever!!" and i hanged her up. She never called again.
Pot destroyed everything i loved. Pot is selfish. It just want you to love it, but nothing else. It ruined my life. Its a motivation killer!
On February 27, i quit again. This time, i didn't quit for my girlfriend. I quit it for me. A week after i quit, i went into the closet, and picked up my dusty MCP book. Then, i logged in to this Techexams.net site, again. I am now studying, again.
So, my questions to you guys are, am i pretty much screwed? As i said, i had jobs that had nothing to do with IT, and i have no hands on experience besides 6 months at Tech school. I completed multi certification program that includes A+, Network+, MCP, CCNA, and Security+ at Georgetown Univeristy, Virginia.

What do i put on my resume for job experience?

I know i am strong. I never gave up on things. Giving up is not my option. It is not on my list. I am untouchable. I fell, but i always got up again. I have confidence to know i can accomplish things if i try enough.

Thanks all for reading this. Wish me luck finding a job.

crap I forgot my old pwd

I like your story; I hope everything works out for you. If you have that ambition again, anything is possible. You just have to ask yourself, "How bad do I want it?" I'm sure that you'll do just fine. Good Luck. Eventually, once everything gets straigtened out, I think you should go back and finish that college degree too.

moss12

jesus christ what a story please take care of your self

good luck I hope you get the job

coldbug

thanks moss and crap i forgot old password!
i hope you find your password..lol

computerguy9355

Dude, its never too late to start

It is good that you quitted. Remember, quitting is for your own HEALTH, not for other people.

it is a misfortune that you lost your beloved g/f..she loved you

Feel free to pm me if you need help on your studying

also, do you have a resume? if you don't have one, get one. if you have any questions on how to format your resume, ask me or other members here. People at Tehcexams will help you.

coldbug

thanks dude!
i am having problems settin up a resume, since i dont have any IT experience..yea one dude was right..it is catch 22
yes, this site has people with warm hearts..thats why i have posted my life experience here.. i will set up a resume at my best and see if i can post it, so you guys can help me.

good luck with your certs!
p.s i don't know if she loved me..because if she did..she would be with me today..right here..right now, but i dont blame her,and i forgive her.

computerguy9355

yes she 'loved' you.

just think about it..if someone doesn't love you, would he/she care whether you smoke pot or not?

anyway..i sent you a private message, did you get it?

litehedded

Mikephyu wrote:

hey guys,

I am 29 years old. I got an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts on 2001, and aimed at Bachelor of Businees Administration in Information Systems. I dropped out, since i became a pot smoker. I became a stoner, i mean everyday. I lost job, relationship, friends, and worst thing was i lost my ambition. I tried to quit, but i couldn't function anything without that stupid stuff in my system. I ignored everyone, everything, every reasons, and kept on smoking it worry-free. I worked at fast food restaurants, gas station, department stores, packaging warehouse, you name it. Places where drug test was not necessary to work. I couldn't hold on to one job for more than 5 months, but somehow i worked at CVS for more than a year.
I was almost 28 years old, and was working at a convenience store, night shifts. One day i was bored, and reading some magazine about a story of a guy who used to be a pot head, but today a succesful IT guru. It was interesting, but i did care less. Then, i met a girl one day, and really really liked her. I quit pot, because she kept fighting about it. Due to the withdrawl symptoms of quitting that, i lost interest in everything, even in computer games that i liked the most. I have lost interest in my girlfriend, too, but i pretened i was ok with her. She probably knew. I quit for more than a year. I went to tech school, and got A+ and Network+. I was still seeing my gf. Me, and my roomate had to move because the landlord sold the house. So, we moved to another house. There was a college student living there, and he was going for Law school. He smoked pot sometimes. I could smell it, see it, and they asked me if i wanted to try. I told them, i just quit that stuff a year ago.
I had tolerance, but it was very annoying knowing they were doing it. Then, my girlfriend found out that i was living with pot heads, and she lost it. I told her i was not doing it again, but she did not trust me.
She married to some business guy two months later. I was devastated. Not because of her. I was so pissed off at myself for being such a loser. I knocked on the pot head's door, and i told him that i want to smoke pot. I became a pot head again. Not soon after that, college kids moved out, but i was still smoking on my own.
I put my MCP and CCNA books in the closet, and i have lost ambition again. She called one day with Caller ID blocked, since i was not answering her calls. I told her to get the #@$! out of my life, and never call me again. She said "Do you know why i didn't choose you?" i said "yea, because i dont have money like your guy" she said "NO! because you can't quit marijuana" i said "what the @#$%ever!!" and i hanged her up. She never called again.
Pot destroyed everything i loved. Pot is selfish. It just want you to love it, but nothing else. It ruined my life. Its a motivation killer!
On February 27, i quit again. This time, i didn't quit for my girlfriend. I quit it for me. A week after i quit, i went into the closet, and picked up my dusty MCP book. Then, i logged in to this Techexams.net site, again. I am now studying, again.
So, my questions to you guys are, am i pretty much screwed? As i said, i had jobs that had nothing to do with IT, and i have no hands on experience besides 6 months at Tech school. I completed multi certification program that includes A+, Network+, MCP, CCNA, and Security+ at Georgetown Univeristy, Virginia.

What do i put on my resume for job experience?

I know i am strong. I never gave up on things. Giving up is not my option. It is not on my list. I am untouchable. I fell, but i always got up again. I have confidence to know i can accomplish things if i try enough.

Thanks all for reading this. Wish me luck finding a job.

no offense but if I was a chick I'd **** you too
you couldn't quit smoking pot? withdrawal symptoms? it's not heroin bro.
LOL

I smoked pot everyday for years and eventually i just outgrew it
but it does really sap your ambition and kudos for eventually putting it down

garv221

The problem with pot is not what happens to you when your getting high, but what doesn't happen to you. Best of luck to you.

iDShaDoW

litehedded wrote:

no offense but if I was a chick I'd **** you too
you couldn't quit smoking pot? withdrawal symptoms? it's not heroin bro.
LOL

I smoked pot everyday for years and eventually i just outgrew it
but it does really sap your ambition and kudos for eventually putting it down

That's the thing, he did quit. He just lived with some people who still smoked and she accused him of still smoking and lying to her about it.

When she broke up with him over it, he got hurt and said f*ck it and smoked. People do stuff like that all the time.

Glad to hear you're doing what you gotta to get back on your feet. Good luck with everything.

It can be a real pain in the arse finding work with the experience "catch 22". See if there's not someone you know who can help you land a job. Otherwise you'll have to settle for something like Best Buy or CompUSA or something... The place I'm currently at now I got the interview because my friend was the website administrator and put in a good word for me.

Pay sucks but what can I expect. Been here almost 5 months now. I'm about to get a job over at Fairfax County working for the government as an electronics specialist. Better hours, better pay, better commute.

I had hesitations since the actual job title wasn't something IT related and it'd be like the 5 months I put in here will be down the drain because who puts 5 months of work on their resume? I guess I should since my resume has nothing else on it really that's professional work.

Supposedly I'll get to work with lots of computer related things so I'm not complaining. It'll free up time for night school and self-study for certifications as well.

If you really want, you can PM me and I can give you the company information and you can submit a resume. One other guy put in two weeks notice and is leaving end of this week. I have to get some TB test done and other stuff so I'll probably be out of here within 3-4 weeks myself. They'll be needing new people so maybe you'll be one of the people they hire.

It's located over in Falls Church right down the street from Tyson's Corner Mall on Route 7.

I'd say I'd put in a word for you but I haven't really been here that long so... It'd be up to you and some luck to see if they give you the interview and how you perform. I have my reservations about this job myself. Don't see much of a future here, you won't get paid great, probably won't learn much. I haven't, but I figured my job title and chance to get experience was worth the cr@p you gotta put up with, pay your dues you know what I mean?

Anyway, sorry bout the long post.

mrhaun03

litehedded wrote:

Mikephyu wrote:

hey guys,

I am 29 years old. I got an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts on 2001, and aimed at Bachelor of Businees Administration in Information Systems. I dropped out, since i became a pot smoker. I became a stoner, i mean everyday. I lost job, relationship, friends, and worst thing was i lost my ambition. I tried to quit, but i couldn't function anything without that stupid stuff in my system. I ignored everyone, everything, every reasons, and kept on smoking it worry-free. I worked at fast food restaurants, gas station, department stores, packaging warehouse, you name it. Places where drug test was not necessary to work. I couldn't hold on to one job for more than 5 months, but somehow i worked at CVS for more than a year.
I was almost 28 years old, and was working at a convenience store, night shifts. One day i was bored, and reading some magazine about a story of a guy who used to be a pot head, but today a succesful IT guru. It was interesting, but i did care less. Then, i met a girl one day, and really really liked her. I quit pot, because she kept fighting about it. Due to the withdrawl symptoms of quitting that, i lost interest in everything, even in computer games that i liked the most. I have lost interest in my girlfriend, too, but i pretened i was ok with her. She probably knew. I quit for more than a year. I went to tech school, and got A+ and Network+. I was still seeing my gf. Me, and my roomate had to move because the landlord sold the house. So, we moved to another house. There was a college student living there, and he was going for Law school. He smoked pot sometimes. I could smell it, see it, and they asked me if i wanted to try. I told them, i just quit that stuff a year ago.
I had tolerance, but it was very annoying knowing they were doing it. Then, my girlfriend found out that i was living with pot heads, and she lost it. I told her i was not doing it again, but she did not trust me.
She married to some business guy two months later. I was devastated. Not because of her. I was so pissed off at myself for being such a loser. I knocked on the pot head's door, and i told him that i want to smoke pot. I became a pot head again. Not soon after that, college kids moved out, but i was still smoking on my own.
I put my MCP and CCNA books in the closet, and i have lost ambition again. She called one day with Caller ID blocked, since i was not answering her calls. I told her to get the #@$! out of my life, and never call me again. She said "Do you know why i didn't choose you?" i said "yea, because i dont have money like your guy" she said "NO! because you can't quit marijuana" i said "what the @#$%ever!!" and i hanged her up. She never called again.
Pot destroyed everything i loved. Pot is selfish. It just want you to love it, but nothing else. It ruined my life. Its a motivation killer!
On February 27, i quit again. This time, i didn't quit for my girlfriend. I quit it for me. A week after i quit, i went into the closet, and picked up my dusty MCP book. Then, i logged in to this Techexams.net site, again. I am now studying, again.
So, my questions to you guys are, am i pretty much screwed? As i said, i had jobs that had nothing to do with IT, and i have no hands on experience besides 6 months at Tech school. I completed multi certification program that includes A+, Network+, MCP, CCNA, and Security+ at Georgetown Univeristy, Virginia.

What do i put on my resume for job experience?

I know i am strong. I never gave up on things. Giving up is not my option. It is not on my list. I am untouchable. I fell, but i always got up again. I have confidence to know i can accomplish things if i try enough.

Thanks all for reading this. Wish me luck finding a job.

no offense but if I was a chick I'd **** you too
you couldn't quit smoking pot? withdrawal symptoms? it's not heroin bro.
LOL

I smoked pot everyday for years and eventually i just outgrew it
but it does really sap your ambition and kudos for eventually putting it down

I agree...you act like it was heroin or meth. Weed ain't even a drug.

Inc

Well, the form of protest was wrongly chosen, imho.

Debate is the key. Only one problem - both sides have to accept it as a path to resolution.

garv221

mrhaun03 wrote:

I agree...you act like it was heroin or meth. Weed ain't even a drug.

Either is alcohol but tell that to you an alcoholic. It all depends on the person, some people just have an addictive personality.

The hardest drug/habit to break is smoking cigarettes.

litehedded

garv221 wrote:

mrhaun03 wrote:

I agree...you act like it was heroin or meth. Weed ain't even a drug.

Either is alcohol but tell that to you an alcoholic. It all depends on the person, some people just have an addictive personality.

The hardest drug/habit to break is smoking cigarettes.

hardest thing I ever did in my life
quitting weed is nothing...at least for me

drakhan2002

Wow! What a story. I am suprised you posted a problem like this on a public forum.

I can tell you that I've known people very, very close to me who had similar struggles as you and were successful in changing their lives. They were heavy pot smokers at one point in their lives and finally realized that if they didn't change their habits, they were just going to get more of the same.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

If you think that continuing to smoke pot will get you a job, friends, a girl, etc....just look at what it has given you so far...is that what you want? If not, then you have to change.

Good luck.

mrhaun03

You're right...you can become addicted to anything. And, I'm happy that he was able to beat his addiction. I just don't see it as a problem or a drug. I don't smoke it anymore cause I get tested and I would NEVER let it ruin what I have going for me. There must've been something missing in his life that made him dependent on weed. Whatever it was, hopefully he found it...and I wish him the best.

coldbug

iDShaDoW wrote:

When she broke up with him over it, he got hurt and said f*ck it and smoked. People do stuff like that all the time.

See if there's not someone you know who can help you land a job. Otherwise you'll have to settle for something like Best Buy or CompUSA or something... The place I'm currently at now I got the interview because my friend was the website administrator and put in a good word for me.

Pay sucks but what can I expect. Been here almost 5 months now. I'm about to get a job over at Fairfax County working for the government as an electronics specialist. Better hours, better pay, better commute.

It's located over in Falls Church right down the street from Tyson's Corner Mall on Route 7.

hey guys,

to litehedded, i know it ain't heroin dude, and i dont like heroin..Thank God! i smoked pot since i was 15 yrs old, and quitting it was easy physically, but not psychologically even that bald head guy on T.V said it..what's his name..Dr. something..and..you said you would **** me? aww..lol

to idshadow, oh my God! i live like 20 mins away from Tyson Corner Mall dude!! Jesus ! i live in Fairfax County, but thing is i am moving to L.A on April 11, already got air ticket..
reason i m moving there is this..my cousin and his wife just had a baby, and he goes in and out of the country all the time, he is an oil import representative, and his wife is not really good when it comes about the baby..so he hoping that i could help them..dang..i do have relatives in D.C, and Maryland. One is data analyst <Oracle guru>, and one is System Engineer for stock exchange company, but they can't help me since i don't have Secret Clearance. I won't be able to obtain that because i am not a U.S citizen, yet. i just got my residency in the states last year. it will take 5-7 years to get a citizenship unless i marry to a girl who is a citizen. I will never ever marry someone for that. i am not that type, and no offense to people who have done that.
and I really really dont want to stay in Virginia <anywhere that is close to my ex-girlfriend and her hubby live>..i am strong in other stuffs, not when it comes to about love. i have to admit she brought me down..i must get out of here!

Thanks to all of you for your replies, i really appreciate it. they really help alot!
Good luck with your Certs.

coldbug

drakhan2002 wrote:

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

If you think that continuing to smoke pot will get you a job, friends, a girl, etc....just look at what it has given you so far...is that what you want? If not, then you have to change.

Good luck.

yea..its time for me to change, and i will. i will try my best to forget about the bad things happened to me, and focus on my future.

thanks..and good luck to you too

litehedded

Mikephyu wrote:

iDShaDoW wrote:

When she broke up with him over it, he got hurt and said f*ck it and smoked. People do stuff like that all the time.

See if there's not someone you know who can help you land a job. Otherwise you'll have to settle for something like Best Buy or CompUSA or something... The place I'm currently at now I got the interview because my friend was the website administrator and put in a good word for me.

Pay sucks but what can I expect. Been here almost 5 months now. I'm about to get a job over at Fairfax County working for the government as an electronics specialist. Better hours, better pay, better commute.

It's located over in Falls Church right down the street from Tyson's Corner Mall on Route 7.

hey guys,

to litehedded, i know it ain't heroin dude, and i dont like heroin..Thank God! i smoked pot since i was 15 yrs old, and quitting it was easy physically, but not psychologically even that bald head guy on T.V said it..what's his name..Dr. something..and..you said you would **** me? aww..lol

to idshadow, oh my God! i live like 20 mins away from Tyson Corner Mall dude!! Jesus ! i live in Fairfax County, but thing is i am moving to L.A on April 11, already got air ticket..
reason i m moving there is this..my cousin and his wife just had a baby, and he goes in and out of the country all the time, he is an oil import representative, and his wife is not really good when it comes about the baby..so he hoping that i could help them..dang..i do have relatives in D.C, and Maryland. One is data analyst <Oracle guru>, and one is System Engineer for stock exchange company, but they can't help me since i don't have Secret Clearance. I won't be able to obtain that because i am not a U.S citizen, yet. i just got my residency in the states last year. it will take 5-7 years to get a citizenship unless i marry to a girl who is a citizen. I will never ever marry someone for that. i am not that type, and no offense to people who have done that.
and I really really dont want to stay in Virginia <anywhere that is close to my ex-girlfriend and her hubby live>..i am strong in other stuffs, not when it comes to about love. i have to admit she brought me down..i must get out of here!

Thanks to all of you for your replies, i really appreciate it. they really help alot!
Good luck with your Certs.

I would **** you
but it would be for your own good

iDShaDoW

You're exactly the way I am too. I wasted a lot of time being heart-broken and doing stuff to try to forget about it but in the end that doesn't work.

Just do what you gotta do, set yourself some goals and just get lost in trying to achieve them.

In time it gets better, you'll probably find yourself someone else and will wonder what you ever saw in the other girl. Trust me, I've been there myself. And it's quite refreshing, put a smile on my face even, to see that that girl had no effect on me at all the last time I ran into her.

If it helps any, you can just think that when you get your goals accomplished, you'll be able to show her how wrong she was about you and how she messed up a good thing.

I've spent the last year getting myself back onto my feet. I know eventually something will probably knock me down again but I'll just get back onto my feet and carry on.

Good luck in L.A.

Who knows, maybe you might come back to the area later on down the line and by then I'll have some connections here and can hook you up. :P

Mishra

You have to get some kind of experience under your belt. Networking is THE BEST way to get a job. So make sure you make a lot of friends and keep in touch once in a while. Thankfully, the internet makes that quite easy.

www.linkedin.com

Anyways, if you don't know anyone then I would go be a Customer Support Rep/NOC job/ Desktop guy. I would take pretty much anything I can. I was really lucky with my job experiences because I was able to follow someone... But I will tell you what happened with me at the beginning so you understand.

I worked at Tumbleweed for 2 years when I finally decided what I wanted to do with life. I wanted to go into IT. I started to look for jobs, but the main thing I did was started to ask other people about jobs. My brother was already in IT so he knew a few people and asked me to call an old manager he knew. (That is something I would do as well... ask people if there is someone you can call directly). I called him and he was a CEO on a tiny business. He decided to interview me and hire me and let go the other guy. I was pretty much learning every small thing like PING and TRACERT at that point making 7.17 an hour. I worked there for 3 months when I was laid off due to the business closing. I made sure to learn a LOT there by the way.

After that I jumped into school to get my associates degree and applied for a part time position at a NOC. I got the job as a network analyst and worked 2nd-3rd shirt for a year. After a year, I went looking for another job. I had 2 jobs working for me, one was with my old boss at the first job I had, and another that I was purely interviewing for. I got the job I was interviewing for. I became a consultant at that point.

I only worked as a consultant for 2 months because the other job came up. That was a system administrator at a large company. So I quit the old job and I am still a system administrator now.

I've been there for 1.4 years and already am looking for another job because this job is horrible. But the main thing is that I am extremely motivated and I have done home projects all the time so I know a lot more than my experience shows. So make sure you learn ALL that you can and stay motivated. Show your pride and determination in interviews, it does a lot of good.

Cheebaman

Dude I spent like the from the age of 15 to 28, having the time of my life getting pissed/stoned **** around in crappy blue collar jobs (warehousing, making dog collars, making bandages, etc), always had a passion for computers though even from the age of 11 when i blew my first ZX Spectrum up and took it apart.
At 32 I chilled out a little got myself an entry level IT role and have worked up from there. Your past can hold you back put you plug away till that first offer and then apply yourself from there. I'm now 2nd level support with a lot of respect and get involved in a lot of server and desktop/application build projects. Working on my MCSE as we speak and recently passed my MCP.
So basically what as saying is the past is the past dont let it hold back your future, just aim for the prize and if you have the skills and will to learn you'll start making your way up the tree.

Btw this is my definition of success (related to another thread)

emmajoyce

Cheebaman wrote:

So basically what as saying is the past is the past dont let it hold back your future, just aim for the prize and if you have the skills and will to learn you'll start making your way up the tree.

This is good advice. nice post. The only problem is that its other people holding you back. They want a person to pay "twice" for something they did wrong in the past.

Again, a good post. Like to hear when somebody made it back from the other side.