how did you land your first entry level job (specifically with no certs or just a+)

Where you a proverbial god already and just walk into a job solving problems right away or did you get the job then fumble around and learn as you went? what was required of you as a helpdesk tech or a desktop tech? Im getting paranoid about not having the proper knowledge, not being able to perform fast enough, etc to even apply for jobs that I know I could land. Call it performance anxiety, but even though Ive been putzing around on pcs for over 20 years (dad was a programmer and analyst), i still feel less than for some reason and im wondering what you had to do in order to feel good about landing that 1st job.

this is my 1st post here too by the way and I want to tell everyone thanks for making such a great tool/place.

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N2IT

Welcome to Techexams.

I fumbled around like most people. I had a really good understanding of the AS400 server/operating system and some experience with Outlook/Lotus Notes and Remedy incident management model when I took my first desktop support/service desk job. Other than that I had to learn a lot on the job. I had the opportunity to do some system support while with the government "collerate responsibility". However most of the skills I learned I had fumble around with.

I took a lot of notes, stayed late, and got over my fear of trying new things. Once I built up some confidence it was off to the races.

I had A+ training but not the certification and a non IT related bachelors degree and some experience with Remedy, AS400, and Outlook/Lotus notes. That was it for me.

olaHalo

internship

Kinet1c

Started my own company doing PC/Laptop repair. Built it up to monthly server/network maintenance for SME clients. Had A+/Network+ when I started it. Have closed it down now and taken up a corporate position as I want to get exposure to a lot more technology and avoid the sales/marketing cycles.

MrAgent

I got my start via the military. I was in for 5 years. Once I got out, I had no trouble finding a job.

cyberguypr

Keep in mind that very environment has a learning curve. Some are easy to understand because technologies are simple, there are not many users, and other reasons. Other environments have a lot of in-house apps, complex dependencies, and legacy systems that require more time to assimilate. In addition, not everyone learns at the same rate. If you and another equally credentialed tech start at the same time, you can't feel left behind if it takes a you bit longer to get up to speed.

Nyblizzard

My first IT related job experience came from an unpaid IT support internship that I got through a sibling. I had no certs or experience.

YuckTheFankees

I applied to 20+ jobs over Labor day weekend on Craigslist, and on that Monday I received two calls back...eventually received an offer from one of them. But I would like to mention, I did have to take a pay cut to get into IT.

puertorico1985

First IT job was as a Help desk specialist, and I was as lost as ever. No idea of what I was doing or any concept of IT. No certs, no experience, no degree. Got the job because I knew the IT Manager, and I had told him that I was studying the A+, which was not entirely true

networker050184

MrAgent wrote: »

I got my start via the military. I was in for 5 years. Once I got out, I had no trouble finding a job.

Same here. Great way to start your career!

nkillgore

My first job (I had an A+ from a high school class) was in a computer repair shop making just over minimum wage. From there, I got an MIS degree and had a full time help desk job before I graduated. I have moved around a couple of times for different reasons (family moving for school, looking for more opportunities, etc.), but in every job that I've had, I have injected myself into as many non-help desk projects as possible. You can either sit still and do help desk for 20 years or keep learning and doing new things and be out of it very quickly.

Find a place to work that isn't so big that you are doing only help desk with no opportunities to learn new things.

I'm 26 now, and I am a network admin managing a network with 500 nodes in 15 locations in 3 countries. Do I feel comfortable with everything that I get asked to do? No, but I make damn sure I'm comfortable with it before I make a change that could impact uptime. To me, if I'm comfortable with a technology, I'm not learning anything.

People look for experience when they are looking for someone for a job. In an entry level position, experience isn't as important. An A+ certification can go a long way in showing that you are willing and able to learn.

theanimal

From my personal experience, being a smooth talker, or being suave in interviews can make a huge difference even if you don't know the material or fit the job description. Being smooth and likeable seems to almost make people forget about the job requirements and what you fit and don't fit.

FloOz

Internship as well

Cisco Inferno

theanimal wrote: »

From my personal experience, being a smooth talker, or being suave in interviews can make a huge difference even if you don't know the material or fit the job description. Being smooth and likeable seems to almost make people forget about the job requirements and what you fit and don't fit.

100% true for any job interviewed for.

My first job was being the IT guy for about 80 users with full rights. This allowed me to get some server and network experience with permission, NTFS and Active Directory. I only had my A+ and N+. I did some googling of my interviewer and found out that he went to the same Community College as I was going to before getting his BS elsewhere. With that in mind I made sure I mentioned it to him and made it part of the conversation. Also be sure to mention your future goals as it shows aspiration which is admired by most. This pleased him and I was quickly hired over many others for a job on Wall Street.

Bringing an interview to a personal level always works. Learn to flow with the conversation as if it were your friend, not meeting your girlfriend's father for the first time. Speak well and communicate properly. Learn to have the interviewer talk a lot as it draws more time towards them. Anyone who likes to do the talking will like you more (works great with girls too:p )

xocity

Worked as a sales associate for a local cell phone store. Then Showed off some computer skills and slowly they started taking in computers to do repairs on. Wasnt much at first maybe one computer a week if that , but then it became a full time job. Was doing that for 4 years, attained my A+ and N+ and changed jobs and now Im closer to that career job.

Corrsta

Similar to Kinet1c, I started my own business. Started with basic web design and development, and I've just expanded to providing basic desktop / network support for small businesses. I'm hoping it grows to the point where I can manage it full-time and finally start living the American Dream.

nosoup4u

Reported some issues at my high school's website, and was offered the opportunity to fix them, moved onto trying to find sites the firewall didn't filter and on to desktop support.

SgtBOOM

I was currently in college and found an ad while walking down the hall one day for a paid internship with a software company for a help desk type role. I applied, had an interview 2 weeks later and landed the position. My first real entry level position was obtained after I had an associates degree and A+, but I was hired because of how well I interviewed. Cisco Inferno is pretty spot on with his interviewing tips.

SteveLord

First job was through my technical school. No experience, no certs. Employer also probably liked me because being new, he could pay me less.

Second job (5 years going now) I only had A+, which I knocked out since I had just moved and wanted to help my job hunt. But my experience in the first job was most attractive about my resume.

HushLives

A friend set me up with an interview for an internship. The closest I got to doing what my company does is my ISOM minor. My background was in politics so I interned in the privacy division of our company. I was supposed to be hired within the privacy division, but when they dismantled the privacy division, I was given an analyst assignment instead.

DB Cooper

I was attending a tech school, just learning PC repair and basic networking. I applied with a temp agency and got hired on with a company that was outsourced phone tech support for Gateway computers. After three months I was rolled over into the company. After two months on the job, I had learned more at work then my fellow students. So I dropped the school, looking back I'm glad I did. Why keep paying for schooling that I didn't need and wouldn't lead to an accredited degree. But it was enough to get me started in the industry.

ptilsen

A+, no certs, and a good resume with lots of skills on it. I probably knew as much about PC hardware and basic Windows troubleshooting as I do to this day, or close to it. I was going into my senior year of high school and was luck enough to find a part-time helpdesk job.

It's all about having the actual skills and being able to present them and explain them. The qualifications themselves matter much less. I left the interviewers with no doubt I could do the job well, and that's all the matters at most organizations.

alan2308

After getting laid off and opportunities in the electronics field becoming nearly nonexistent, I used what I had left of my GI Bill benefits and got a degree in IA. Sending out 10-20 resumes a day finally landed a call back and an interview.

elderkai

I haven't officially landed it yet, but I'm interning and things are looking good. Hopefully I'll be able to make a post about it in May.

I got the internship by having the CCNA to stand me out and being liked during the phone interview. At least, I hope.

TBickle

first Network job I landed, I received via the backdoor. I got hired at Time Warner Cable in the Sales Dept, and about a year later, I made the move to Network Analyst.

Once you get that first shot, all others come pretty easy. I would say, don't be fooled by your new colleagues. Even the masters sh*t in their diapers once. Just take good notes, review your notes frequently, read ALOT, and don't be afraid to ask for for help or say you don't know something if you don't. BUT, for that last bit about asking for help, that is, of course, until you've utilized all your resources. Especially our most knowledgeable friend, GOOGLE.

Complete_IT_Professional

I started straight out of university in an Application Support position. There was a lot to learn, the hardest part was how the company's systems worked. I also had to learn what the company process was, regarding the support and resolution of issues. After the first few months I felt pretty confident in what I was doing - and learnt a lot of transferrable skills!

halaakajan

Some schooling and then was able to get a job.

ChickenNuggetz

I got a cert, moved to a city/region that had a huge IT market and started applying to any entry-level IT job that I could find and eventually landed a 3-month contract job with a federal agency. Honestly, moving to a better job market is what really helped IMHO.

droolmonkey

Wow! I love these stories. They make me feel like I will do just fine. Im about 2 weeks out from my A+ and 4 weeks out from my network+. Ive spent the last 4 months building and configuring systems/servers for different purposes and remembering all of my DOS commands though the newer command shell is a little different. I like building and configuring. I hate maintenance though I like troubleshooting. I think I am going to go the way of security/penetration testing. ...Still to get that 1st IT job though!! Im in Los Angeles. Anyone know the state of the industry here? Ive had my eye on craigslist but it looks like slim pickings and they want 2-3 years for 19/20 jobs I've seen. I've started sending out the word through friends and family so we'll see if nepotism fares in my favor.

If anyone else cares to share their story, please keep 'em coming!!

nkillgore

droolmonkey wrote: »

they want 2-3 years for 19/20 jobs I've seen.

Everyone says they want 2-3 years experience for entry level jobs, but they will hire someone with no experience. Just apply to all of them.

darkerz

They wanted 2-4 years of experience for a Helpdesk role.

I had 2 years running my own teenage "computer repair" gig, I fixed peoples machines for 20 dollar bills and googled.

I had 2 years after that, interning at my college 20-40 hours a week at their data center and being a cable / rack / stack / configure monkey.

4 years baby.