After how many certs can one break into entry-level IT?

Hi guys. Short and sweet:

* Currently have A+. Should have Network+ within about 10 days. Security+ after that (ideally by October 31), followed by MCSE track (going for 2003 series before it's retired).

* I worked an IT-related job for only about 6 months. It's on the resume. Entry level management and database stuff and general in-house helpdesk. I landed this job with no certs. Started out as a temp data entry employee and was asked to apply for the position (created just for me). $14.50/hour + good benefits. IMHO it looks bad because I was there < 1 year. But I'm a full-time student so it's hard to juggle.

* Various other data entry jobs.

* Currently making peanuts ($7/hour after taxes) in a non-IT job and am scraping by financially. Not cool. Things are very rough.

* No Bachelor's yet. Have coursework in Engineering as well as Biology. Senior standing but still need about 2 years of Gen Ed, etc. So the university is on the resume but "in progress / Expected Graduation May 2012". Dunno if this makes me look like I will "leave" the job or not.

So my question is, if all I want is $12/hour (but will obviously accept anything higher), when should I start applying for IT jobs? I'm a perfectionist so I'll "never" be ready because I'll keep adding more certs. Will I be successful with just the A+ and Net+ and be able to land a $12/hour job? Craigslist lists a lot of entry-level jobs in the $12-20/hour range, but it seems too good to be true.

Thanks for your advice! I'm really needing a better paying job ASAP.

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Cert Poor

mikej412 wrote: »

Unless they are hiring Comedians, skip the fun. Did you state as in your original post? Or did you list it as a FBLA High School Award. I'd toss a resume that claimed a national championship in computer concepts in an awards section.

It's not on my resume but put it on the application since I don't have any IT awards except for this one. I just listed it as "1st Place, FBLA Nationals, "Computer Concepts" " or something to that effect.

mikej412 wrote:

I don't see a resume posted -- I just see a quick list of work experience with no actual job duties or tasks listed for most of them
http://www.techexams.net/forums/jobs-degrees/58704-after-how-many-certs-can-one-break-into-entry-level.html#post462272

Without knowing how you actually listed/presented the jobs it's hard to tell if they help or hurt.

I attached a PDF in post #25. That's my full resume before I chopped it down to an IT resume.

mikej412

Cert Poor wrote: »

I attached a PDF in post #25. That's my full resume before I chopped it down to an IT resume.

What does your IT resume look like?

That one you posted on 10/14 is hard to figure out.....

Are you a college student looking for a part time job? Or someone looking for an IT job so that they can afford to continue their education?

Without the dates you attended the schools, it looks like you're a professional student who held lots of jobs -- but no clue if they were internships (which would explain the short times) or someone who can't commit or get the job done. Or were you a part time student who found jobs close to campus (which may explain why it will take you 12 or so years to earn a degree)? And the gaps in the employment history could be explained by school.... or by a stretch downstate in the big house.

Cert Poor

mikej412 wrote: »

What does your IT resume look like?

That one you posted on 10/14 is hard to figure out.....

It's the same format except with about half the jobs deleted. And only left A+ and Net+ for certs; the rest deleted. References deleted. Education section at the bottom instead of the top.

mikej412 wrote:

Are you a college student looking for a part time job? Or someone looking for an IT job so that they can afford to continue their education?

The latter. I'm enrolled in 6 credit hours of school to keep my ~$85,000 in student loan debt in deferment; otherwise I'm screwed.

I don't have financial aid to pay for living expenses + tuition, which is why I'm looking for full-time IT jobs (or any job) to pay for food, rent, and tuition.

mikej412 wrote:

Without the dates you attended the schools, it looks like you're a professional student who held lots of jobs -- but no clue if they were internships (which would explain the short times) or someone who can't commit or get the job done.

Several of the jobs on the resume were temporary jobs or 1-semester jobs. Others were jobs offered to undergraduate students. A lot of the gaps in employment were because I was enrolled as a full-time engineering or full-time biology student that semester and had to focus on school (no time for work).

I also transferred back and forth between Ohio and Missouri between schools as a full-time student so work wasn't a priority since I had financial aid.

Since early 2007 I haven't really had financial aid, and that's when my full-time employment really began.

mikej412 wrote:

Or were you a part time student who found jobs close to campus (which may explain why it will take you 12 or so years to earn a degree)? And the gaps in the employment history could be explained by school.... or by a stretch downstate in the big house.

Yup, found jobs close to campus/in the general area. Gaps in employment explained above. Basically full-time student with financial aid. Now I'm completely on my own for food/shelter/tuition, so I need full-time employment + part-time school.

I hope this clears things up.

I was interviewed for a police dispatch job in August, but they expressed fear that I was overqualified and would move on to bigger and better things rather than stick around for 10+ years making $12/hour. They didn't like the fact that I was finishing up my education. So they hired someone less qualified that they could pay less.

mikej412

Cert Poor wrote: »

Gaps in employment explained above.

When you apply for a job you only have your resume and cover letter to explain things so that you hopefully get an invitation to a job interview.

Are you owner/manager of a million dollar company? Do you do 3 Million dollars a year in sales company? How many employees? Do you manage both subsidiaries? Or do you have someone else to handle the day to day operations when you're in school?

A lot of people won't hire someone who's running their own business since they think you'll be working on that instead of the job they hired you to do. And unless you have some references for work you've done for your company, that looks more like a made up resume filler than a real job/experience.

Cert Poor

Applied for a job last week and got an interview invitation very quickly - I worked at a summer camp her daughter went to, heh (networking FTW!). I returned the call and there was a 10 minute informal phone interview, then an invite to a normal interview, which I had on Monday.

IMO I think I did well. For a Help Desk position. They didn't really ask a single technical question. I was sure to emphasize customer service as well as taking a complicated issue and translating into laymen's terms, thinking on my feet, etc. 1.5 hours later they gave me a tour of their floor and then took me to HR to talk to the HR recruiter. I interviewed with her, and she brought up payrate and benefits and asked me to sign paperwork for a criminal background check and then told me to get a drug screen within 48 hours. She also asked for 2 references and asked why I wanted to change from my current job.

She said she'd call me back Wednesday (yesterday).

Wow, did I read the signs wrong? Usually if a company is willing to escort you to HR and invest in a drug screen, they're at least somewhat interested. I sent a thank-you e-mail to the IT Manager yesterday and no response.

Meh. I'm not getting my hopes up. Not sure what I'm doing wrong... Found out there are 3 positions open, which increases the odds too. The HR Recruiter said I could call her with more references, since I kind of winged those on the spot. I'm thinking about calling. Don't want to be annoying, but don't want to fall off the radar either.

Edit: Called and left a voice mail with references and phone numbers. I'm done pushing this. :P Not gonna put all my eggs in one basket. Onward and upward!

Hypntick

Have you looked into a staffing agency? RHI or Teksystems, someone like that? Sure you're working a contract 90% of the time, but you also get your foot in the door. You're not gonna be blowing up with next to no work experience in IT but you should at least net yourself a help desk spot with your certs. Heck I had one with no certs so I know it can be done.

Cert Poor

Hypntick wrote: »

Have you looked into a staffing agency? RHI or Teksystems, someone like that? Sure you're working a contract 90% of the time, but you also get your foot in the door. You're not gonna be blowing up with next to no work experience in IT but you should at least net yourself a help desk spot with your certs. Heck I had one with no certs so I know it can be done.

A contact gave me his 2 contacts at TekSystems and told me to e-mail them. I e-mailed them about a month ago with my resume and they never responded. I'll look into signing up on the RHI and Teksystems websites. Maybe Monster/CareerBuilder too.

Hypntick

I can also suggest dice.com. It's pretty much a IT specific posting website. Within 2 days of having my resume available there i've gotten 3 emails and a couple of phone calls. A few of my former colleagues have gotten good results there as well.

edit: also call Teksystems and RHI if you want to get in touch with them, i've found I get better results that way.

Cert Poor

I clearly worry WAY too much. Got the job!!!!! End of thread.

katierose

Congrats!

mikej412

Cert Poor wrote: »

Got the job!!!!!

Congratulations!!

Cert Poor wrote: »

End of thread.

Except for all the Congratulations