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Need Help With Getting My Foot in the Door
DoubleNNs
Member Posts: 2,015 ■■■■■□□□□□
I passed the N+ about 2 weeks ago, going for my Sec+ in 2-3 weeks and then hoping to get my A+ before 2013 hits.
I have absolutely no professional experience in the field of IT. I have a few retail jobs, a call-center job at my University when I solicited donations, promotion job, and currently work at CVS as a "Front Store Associate." (aka Cashier).
I'm trying to get a tech job now - pretty much anything. I just want to start building professional experience. What are some resources I could use to find me a tech job? What are some keywords I should be putting into job search sites such as dice/monster/indeed?
I applied for Best Buy Geek Squad but haven't gotten any response. It kind of seems like they don't hire anyone w/o an A+, and I won't have that completed another 7 weeks or so. Is there anywhere else I can look in the meanwhile?
I have absolutely no professional experience in the field of IT. I have a few retail jobs, a call-center job at my University when I solicited donations, promotion job, and currently work at CVS as a "Front Store Associate." (aka Cashier).
I'm trying to get a tech job now - pretty much anything. I just want to start building professional experience. What are some resources I could use to find me a tech job? What are some keywords I should be putting into job search sites such as dice/monster/indeed?
I applied for Best Buy Geek Squad but haven't gotten any response. It kind of seems like they don't hire anyone w/o an A+, and I won't have that completed another 7 weeks or so. Is there anywhere else I can look in the meanwhile?
Goals for 2018:
Certs: RHCSA, LFCS: Ubuntu, CNCF CKA, CNCF CKAD | AWS Certified DevOps Engineer, AWS Solutions Architect Pro, AWS Certified Security Specialist, GCP Professional Cloud Architect
Learn: Terraform, Kubernetes, Prometheus & Golang | Improve: Docker, Python Programming
To-do | In Progress | Completed
Certs: RHCSA, LFCS: Ubuntu, CNCF CKA, CNCF CKAD | AWS Certified DevOps Engineer, AWS Solutions Architect Pro, AWS Certified Security Specialist, GCP Professional Cloud Architect
Learn: Terraform, Kubernetes, Prometheus & Golang | Improve: Docker, Python Programming
To-do | In Progress | Completed
Comments
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Optionsbgaudy Member Posts: 28 ■□□□□□□□□□depending on what the market looks like in your area, the A+ might help you get your foot in the door better than the Sec+...
there are generally more technical support/helpdesk jobs that will hire with no experience. these jobs typically require basic computer troubleshooting skills and A+.
these jobs might be weary of hiring someone with 3 entry level certs, since there is a risk that you may move on in just a few months after being hired...
just my 2c, i'm sure someone else will weigh in who has more experience.. but i am in similar situation as you, and I just applied for as many entry level jobs as possible.. There are tons of job boards, and usually you can find a local job board that will have more for you as well. -
Optionsbgaudy Member Posts: 28 ■□□□□□□□□□sorry for the double post but i just reread your post and figured i'd give some more advice when it comes to keywords..
for entry level jobs, try keywords such as :
"technician"
"support"
"help desk"
"technical support"
"junior technician"
etc etc. -
OptionsDoubleNNs Member Posts: 2,015 ■■■■■□□□□□You really think having all 3 entry level certs as opposed to just an A+ would be detrimental to me getting a job? I didn't think of t that way..
I have applied to a few jobs already, but no responses as of yet. As I already explained, my work experience pretty much has nothing to do with any of the tech jobs I'm applying to. Are there any other small notes/tips/advice on how I should approach getting this 1st job?Goals for 2018:
Certs: RHCSA, LFCS: Ubuntu, CNCF CKA, CNCF CKAD | AWS Certified DevOps Engineer, AWS Solutions Architect Pro, AWS Certified Security Specialist, GCP Professional Cloud Architect
Learn: Terraform, Kubernetes, Prometheus & Golang | Improve: Docker, Python Programming
To-do | In Progress | Completed -
OptionsKrones Member Posts: 164You can try working with a recruiting agency such as TekSystems or Robert Half Technology. Another option, if you are a college student is to try and apply for the student helpdesk or computer lab aide type of position. I recently emailed a web company with my resume/cover letter even though they did not have any advertised entry level positions and I have an interview with said company later this week. Keep searching on indeed, craigslist, and monster. Patience and keep studying/working on certs. The A+ will help you out more than the Security+ in the near future. You may want to look into volunteering as well and try local computer repair shops as well.WGU - Security
Current: Start date Sept 1. Remaining: CUV1, BOV1, CJV1, CVV1, KET1, KFT1, DFV1, TPV1, BNC1, RIT1, DHV1, CSV1, COV1, CQV1, CNV1, SBT1, RGT1 Completed: AXV1, CPV1, CTV1 Transferred: AGC1, BBC1, LAE1, QBT1, LUT1, GAC1/HHT1, QLT1, IWC1, IWT1, INC1, INT1, BVC1, CLC1, WFV1, DJV1 -
OptionsDoubleNNs Member Posts: 2,015 ■■■■■□□□□□I was considering volunteering actually. But I'm not too sure how to go about doing it.
Do you think I'd be able to walk into a local computer repair shop and ask for an unpaid position?
I know about job board sites, but I know nothing about where to look for volunteer work or internships. I'm currently taking the year off of school too, so unfortunately until I go back or graduate and can prove I'm an alum, the career services there won't help me much.Goals for 2018:
Certs: RHCSA, LFCS: Ubuntu, CNCF CKA, CNCF CKAD | AWS Certified DevOps Engineer, AWS Solutions Architect Pro, AWS Certified Security Specialist, GCP Professional Cloud Architect
Learn: Terraform, Kubernetes, Prometheus & Golang | Improve: Docker, Python Programming
To-do | In Progress | Completed -
Optionsnosoup4u Member Posts: 365You can try working with a recruiting agency such as TekSystems or Robert Half Technology. Another option, if you are a college student is to try and apply for the student helpdesk or computer lab aide type of position. I recently emailed a web company with my resume/cover letter even though they did not have any advertised entry level positions and I have an interview with said company later this week. Keep searching on indeed, craigslist, and monster. Patience and keep studying/working on certs. The A+ will help you out more than the Security+ in the near future. You may want to look into volunteering as well and try local computer repair shops as well.
Deferentially good advice, it's by no means glamorous but I landed some pretty nice contracts with IT recruitment firms back in the day with no certifications and very little experience starting off. -
Optionslsud00d Member Posts: 1,571You should look for larger industries in your area because they often times need help desk technicians, like healthcare, ISP, etc.
Also I'm not sure why you saved the A+ for last, typically you get that first and then follow up with N+ and Sec+. With those certs you will effectively be overqualified for a tier-1 tech position but your experience brings you back down to ground level.
Good luck and I hope things work out! -
OptionsDoubleNNs Member Posts: 2,015 ■■■■■□□□□□I think I'll check out both Teksystems and Robert Half Tech this week. I'm sure there are other temp agencies in my area I could try as well.
If I fear being overqualified for a help desk position by the time I finish w/ my compTIA trio, i could simply leave out my N+/Sec+ right? If they don't explicitly ask me if that's the only cert I have, it's not lying. But would having LESS certs really help me at that point?Goals for 2018:
Certs: RHCSA, LFCS: Ubuntu, CNCF CKA, CNCF CKAD | AWS Certified DevOps Engineer, AWS Solutions Architect Pro, AWS Certified Security Specialist, GCP Professional Cloud Architect
Learn: Terraform, Kubernetes, Prometheus & Golang | Improve: Docker, Python Programming
To-do | In Progress | Completed -
Optionsnosoup4u Member Posts: 365It's simply tailoring your resume to fit the job and that includes editing the certifications but these days it seems everyone wants more for less, so leaving them on isn't a detriment imo
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Optionssomeasiandude Member Posts: 85 ■■□□□□□□□□are u into networking? you should just move on to CCENT then CCNA .. those will definitely get you an entry level job --- i see alot of NOC tech hiring in my area with the only requirement is just CCNA no expA.S. - Computer Networking Student (Spring 2014)
CompTIA A+ (passed 10/2012) ----> CompTIA Net+ ----> CCENT :study: ---> CCNA ---> ??? -
OptionsDoubleNNs Member Posts: 2,015 ■■■■■□□□□□I'm under the impression that studying for the CCNA take a while - going through the materials and performing labs.
Whereas I feel fairly confident that i'd be able to get a CCENT fairly quickly, given the fact that I already have a Net+, I'm afraid that I won't be able to get a CCNA for sometime. I want to start building IT experience, regardless of what, in the meantime.
A year of CVS experience doesn't seem to add anything to a resume for an IT position.Goals for 2018:
Certs: RHCSA, LFCS: Ubuntu, CNCF CKA, CNCF CKAD | AWS Certified DevOps Engineer, AWS Solutions Architect Pro, AWS Certified Security Specialist, GCP Professional Cloud Architect
Learn: Terraform, Kubernetes, Prometheus & Golang | Improve: Docker, Python Programming
To-do | In Progress | Completed