I love this economy . . . . .

pwjohnston

No sarcasm there.

I was just told that a Bachelors Degree was REQUIRED for a helpdesk/desktop support position.


It's a good thing that I'm too retarded to deploy a windows service pack without a 4 year degree. My XP system runs just fine without one. HA!



JOB description

---

CURRENT PROJECTS:

* Deploying and managing the Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3).
* Assist with Dell Image Direct project.
* Future projects as they arise.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Desktop Analyst position is a key member of the information management office. The job entails support of the company's desktop and laptop network as well as planning and implementation of new software packages.

Responsibilities include:

* PC Hardware Selection and Image Creation
* Software Deployments
* Help Desk Support
* Desktop and Laptop Security
* Software Management
* Hardware Life Cycle
* Hardware Support
* On-call support rotation

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS:

* 4 year college degree and minimum 4 years of related IT work experinece.
* Team player who can provide excellent customer service in a fast paced environment.
* Demonstrated ability to participate in technical projects, handling day-to-day task management, and providing effective communications with team members, including status reporting.
* Expertise in planning, design, implementation, and ongoing support of Microsoft desktop operating systems and related applications (MS-Office, Internet Explorer, etc.).
* Understanding of overall IT infrastructure architecture and the ability to assist in the definition of desktop hardware and software requirements based upon business needs.
* Expertise in developing and maintaining Desktop images and managing our image library.
* Strong knowledge of Windows scripting tools and developing unattended software installations.
* Experience using desktop system management appliance to deploy software to the entire enterprise.
* Wonderlic score greater than or equal to twenty-four (24); acceptable results on Profile XT Assessment.
* Dell hardware and Microsoft professional certifications are a plus.

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

* Hardware Supported: Desktop and Laptops PCs, LaserJet and DeskJet printers, Print Servers, VPN routers, switches, DSL and Cable modems, backup devices, etc.
* Networking Protocol: TCP/IP
* Windows Operating System: 98, 98 SE, XP and Vista.
* Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Excel, Outlook, Outlook Express, Outlook Web Access (OWA), PowerPoint, Access, and Publisher
* Miscellaneous software/applications: Adobe Reader, Internet Explorer, McAfee Anti-Virus software, and Accuterm.



Yup, that's some complicated stuff there.

skrpune

I hear you, it's tough finding a job right now. It's hard, but think of it from the hiring company's perspective: if they're going to drop a lot of cash to bring you on full time and give you benefits and select you over the hordes of other people clammoring for work right now, they have to have some sort of assurance that you're worth their time & effort. They're obviously looking for someone to serve as Tier 2/3 support and don't want to deal with someone who'd be at level 1 or who'd need help for tasks they haven't come across in their experience thus far.

That being said, APPLY FOR THE JOB ANYWAY! Companies put up their "dream candidate" qualifications. If you have ANY degree (it didn't specify IT!) and maybe 2+ years of related IT experience, then you probably still qualify...even in hard economic times when there are throngs of applicants, companies are often hard-pressed to find the perfect combo of education + certs + skills + personality/attitude. If you can show you have at least some or (better yet) most of those, then you're ahead of a lot of people.

networker050184

skrpune wrote:

I hear you, it's tough finding a job right now. It's hard, but think of it from the hiring company's perspective: if they're going to drop a lot of cash to bring you on full time and give you benefits and select you over the hordes of other people clammoring for work right now, they have to have some sort of assurance that you're worth their time & effort. They're obviously looking for someone to serve as Tier 2/3 support and don't want to deal with someone who'd be at level 1 or who'd need help for tasks they haven't come across in their experience thus far.

That being said, APPLY FOR THE JOB ANYWAY! Companies put up their "dream candidate" qualifications. If you have ANY degree (it didn't specify IT!) and maybe 2+ years of related IT experience, then you probably still qualify...even in hard economic times when there are throngs of applicants, companies are often hard-pressed to find the perfect combo of education + certs + skills + personality/attitude. If you can show you have at least some or (better yet) most of those, then you're ahead of a lot of people.

+1 on all the above

A company is going to want to get the best return on their investment into an employee so they might as well try to find the perfect one. They will most likely end up settling somewhere in the middle between what they need skill wise and what they are willing to pay.

I definitely agree on the apply anyway. Every job I have had "required" a four year degree but I don't have one and I applied anyway and got hired regardless.

Bokeh

Couldnt agree more. My current job was like that, wanting a 4 yr degree. I applied anyways, and got along great with the op manager and president of the company. In fact, I even got paid more than what they were originally offering. They called on a Sun, and made their pitch. I told them I would get back to them on Monday. They called back 30 mins later and upped the anti another 5k.

Been here 6 months now, and having a blast.

blargoe

They are always going to put overqualifications in the ad, and usually they'll talk to anyone who is honestly qualified to do the job regardless of what got published.

eMeS

Requirements listed in job postings are often intended to provide sound reasons to disqualify candidates without violating laws or impacting a protected class....

MS

kripsak

Don't read too much into detail on the requirements. I've meet some candidates where they had a lot of certs, and they didn't know squat. On the flipside, there are guys with degree's, but they catch on really quick.

Go ahead and apply for the job, you may be the lucky candidate to fill that position. Always stay positive, even if your applying to a job or in an interview, confidence can carry you a long way.

Silentsoul

eMeS wrote:

Requirements listed in job postings are often intended to provide sound reasons to disqualify candidates without violating laws or impacting a protected class....

MS

^^^^^^^^

Pay attention to this.

itdaddy

holy crap use to be only a 2 year degree but to me certs would be better than a 2 year degree
i guy who has mcsa or mcse would out do a 2 year degree guy anyday wtf???
man! i sware. I tell my son this. that is why i am finishing my 4 year degree due to this factor
stupid and just the job game.
I agree with all above; but yeah apply anyway man they do ask a lot in a ttight market
they want more for their money but yeah that is how it alway been..

ladiesman217

same here. I only finished a 2 year IT course and this is the reason why it's hard for me to get a job. I've seen a lot of stupid IT degree holders and bachelors and they don't even know how to format a floppy disk.

msteinhilber

Each of the three jobs that I have worked through my 10 years in the industry so far have listed a degree as a requirement, only one of them was showing any real concern of that as evidenced during the interview process by asking me questions why I never completed a college degree. That position however I did a fine job of selling myself which I seem to have a good knack for, and I also had a existing relationship with the IT manager since I was his primary contact for on of the vendors they utilized and assisted him with configuration/setup previously.

So it's not all about having the degree as it may sound, it's a best case scenario for the employer, but if a good qualified candidate comes along and demonstrates that they have the knowledge and drive to add value to the organization, or if the candidate has an "in" at the organization, then they should have no issues not having the degree for many entry level positions.

rfult001

I am currently working full time in a call center as a 2nd tier coordinator (think 1st tier with extra responsibilities). They were very strict about my having a Bachelors degree, I just happened to be in my last semester when they hired me. I am the only certified person in the office and there are 2 others in the same position I am in who have Bachelors in non-technical areas like management and sports therapy

They are looking for a 3rd to do the same thing but asking for a Masters Degree and certs now (guess I upped the bar a little )

I'd apply for the job if I really needed work and then see where I can go from there. I moved from $7.50/hr as a hardware tech/mobile specialist to a (much) better paying position at the same university by applying for a position that looked exactly like that. I got some more experience, have one more test for my MCSA, and a little birdie told me that they need someone to manage the Exchange and Sharepoint servers

Anyway...back to the main point. The market is getting tougher and there are more people who don't have a clue what they are doing getting the jobs that we are certified to do. You've only got 2 options: get the degree or take whatever jobs you can get until you have enough experience on your resume to make you look like a seasoned tech. Work on your certs either way because they will count as experience to many employers.

BTW...They haven't asked me to do 3/4 of the crap that they had listed in the job description. I was so disappointed.

laidbackfreak

rfult001 wrote:

BTW...They haven't asked me to do 3/4 of the crap that they had listed in the job description. I was so disappointed.

ah yes the carrot to bring in the masses..... usually listed towards towards the bottom of the job spec....

nel

Yeah that description doesnt suprise me - and what emes said doesnt suprise me either (emes will be spot on with that too - he always is). That doesnt mean i agree with the requirements but it seems to me everyone is doing this nowadays.

If this is a job you are interested in and want them go for it. They can only say no. You've gotta be in it to win it

zen master

These guys are getting thousands of applications for jobs. You really think that an application that doesn't meet the minimum requirements is going to make it off the cutting room floor? I can't speak for everywhere, but where I am, if you're not meeting the minimum requirements, you'd be VERY lucky to even make it to an interview. Right or wrong, a degree is becoming a minimum requirement, there's no point in pussy footing around it anymore, it's a fact.

undomiel

zen master wrote:

Right or wrong, a degree is becoming a minimum requirement, there's no point in pussy footing around it anymore, it's a fact.

Fiction says I!

I've got plenty of notice without a degree and just running around with an MCSE. MCSE definitely made it easier but I could still get into interviews without it but it was a lot more difficult.

msteinhilber

zen master wrote:

These guys are getting thousands of applications for jobs. You really think that an application that doesn't meet the minimum requirements is going to make it off the cutting room floor? I can't speak for everywhere, but where I am, if you're not meeting the minimum requirements, you'd be VERY lucky to even make it to an interview. Right or wrong, a degree is becoming a minimum requirement, there's no point in pussy footing around it anymore, it's a fact.

I have to disagree, it's good to have as it can increase your odds of getting the job. As far as getting noticed and making it off the cutting room floor, that is your job as the applicant. If you just submit your resume regardless of if it meets the employers requirements or not, you have to exert yourself to get in contact with the correct party to get your resume noticed and put into the interview stack.

paintb4707

Just apply man, who cares. It's all about selling yourself. If you haven't noticed, there's tons of entry level job postings out there that "require" 2-3 years of experience. Do you really need 2-3 years of experience to do level 1 help desk? Typically you could perform such duties with a high school degree.

They post high requirements for that very reason, to scare you off so that they could weed out the best candidates, ones that are confident in their ability to perform. Just apply and see what happens, it can't hurt to try.

TechJunky

This economy seems to be great from where I am sitting.

I have had 3 interviews in the past week and have one today. It seems as though the jobs keep coming. My company even opened a position for me and suggested I apply. Location, Location, Location.