I am 34 years old and have decided to make a career change from sales (which
I have been in for over 10 years). I have enjoyed working with computers for
over 17 years and should of made this decision a long time ago. I am taking
courses with a company called New Horizons to work toward my MCSE 2003 certs.
In this program I do get hands on experience and will be placed in an
internship within the next month. If everything goes well I will have
completed all my exams within the next 10 months. Just wanting to see if
anyone has any suggestions or guidance that they can give me concerning the
field.

Re: New to the field by Dustin

Dustin
Thu Feb 21 20:46:04 CST 2008

You will go as far as you want, with what you know. Certs are pieces of
paper. Experience and know how are what gets you the job. You can have all
the certs in your resume, but an IT interviewer will find out if you know
what you are doing or not.

Most employers wouldn't trust someone with an MCSE 2003 and 1 year of
experience with their network. They will with someone with 15 years
experience with no certs.

Just plan on starting small and working your way up.

This is all common sense stuff, but a lot of people don't get it ! :)

--
Dustin Harper
dharper@vistarip.com
http://www.VistaRIP.com | Vista Resource & Information Page


"new2IT" <new2IT@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:90E74F56-6762-4BE0-8A1E-B3D4263B001D@microsoft.com...
> I am 34 years old and have decided to make a career change from sales
> (which
> I have been in for over 10 years). I have enjoyed working with computers
> for
> over 17 years and should of made this decision a long time ago. I am
> taking
> courses with a company called New Horizons to work toward my MCSE 2003
> certs.
> In this program I do get hands on experience and will be placed in an
> internship within the next month. If everything goes well I will have
> completed all my exams within the next 10 months. Just wanting to see if
> anyone has any suggestions or guidance that they can give me concerning
> the
> field.


Re: New to the field by new2IT

new2IT
Thu Feb 21 20:53:00 CST 2008

I completely agree with you Dustin, which is why I am hoping that the
internship will lead into a full time position so I can start building that
experience. Problem with switching careers is that my resume looks great for
sales but not having the experience in the networking field pretty much makes
it impossible to get a job any other way than doing the internship and
courses with New Horizons.

"Dustin Harper" wrote:

> You will go as far as you want, with what you know. Certs are pieces of
> paper. Experience and know how are what gets you the job. You can have all
> the certs in your resume, but an IT interviewer will find out if you know
> what you are doing or not.
>
> Most employers wouldn't trust someone with an MCSE 2003 and 1 year of
> experience with their network. They will with someone with 15 years
> experience with no certs.
>
> Just plan on starting small and working your way up.
>
> This is all common sense stuff, but a lot of people don't get it ! :)
>
> --
> Dustin Harper
> dharper@vistarip.com
> http://www.VistaRIP.com | Vista Resource & Information Page
>
>
> "new2IT" <new2IT@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:90E74F56-6762-4BE0-8A1E-B3D4263B001D@microsoft.com...
> > I am 34 years old and have decided to make a career change from sales
> > (which
> > I have been in for over 10 years). I have enjoyed working with computers
> > for
> > over 17 years and should of made this decision a long time ago. I am
> > taking
> > courses with a company called New Horizons to work toward my MCSE 2003
> > certs.
> > In this program I do get hands on experience and will be placed in an
> > internship within the next month. If everything goes well I will have
> > completed all my exams within the next 10 months. Just wanting to see if
> > anyone has any suggestions or guidance that they can give me concerning
> > the
> > field.
>

Re: New to the field by new2IT

new2IT
Fri Feb 22 11:36:04 CST 2008

Just want to thank you guys for your comments. I do want to say that I am
very passionate about the IT field (have been for years was just to much of a
coward to make a change). Will keep you all posted on my progress :)

"TheITGirl" wrote:

>
> "Michael D. Alligood [CertGuard, Inc.]" <mdalligood@bellsouth.net> wrote in
> message news:%23qpEspRdIHA.4968@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> >
> > I worked at New Horizons for many years in my past. I have taught many
> > career changers and will be totally honest with you. Less than 5%
> > currently have jobs in the I.T. field. Now understand, this was a number
> > for my geographical area and the time that I worked there. The problem is
> > that someone told them that I.T. was the field to make money in or that
> > since they could change the background on a friend's mother's computer
> > that they should look into a career in computers. Change occurs. Sacrifice
> > begins. Frustration sets in. Back to the previous career they go. Now, the
> > mother of all questions: Who's to blame? Certification vendors, I.T.
> > instructors or the institution that educated you, the employers' who
> > wouldn't hire you, your wife/girlfriend, your husband/boyfriend, your
> > kids, lack of money, lack of experience (see employers), etc.. Everyone is
> > to blame for your lack of success but you. People spend their whole lives
> > "hoping" things will happen. If your hoping for something to happen, you
> > didn't do enough to make it happen. Hoping is for the uncertain.
> >
> > Point being, if your determined this is what you want to do, then you will
> > do it.
> > --
> > Michael D. Alligood, MCITP, MCTS, MCSA, MCDST
> > The I.T. Classroom - http://www.theitclassroom.com/
> > CertGuard, Inc. - http://www.certguard.com/
> >
> >
> Just to put my two pennies worth in ...
>
> I'm one of the 5% of career changers (I was a legal secretary) who has
> managed to secure a job in the IT field.
>
> I'd just like to reiterate what Michael says - you do have to be very
> determined to do it, and also passionate about IT to succeed. You have to
> be the sort of person who likes to come out of your "comfort zone" once in a
> while and pick up a ticket in respect of a problem they know little about,
> in order to gain more knowledge and experience.
>
> You'll also more than likely have to take a drop in salary to gain that
> all-important first job and get the experience to enable you to apply for
> the better paid jobs.
>
> I'd also say that I was a little older than you (41) when I actually made
> the move into IT (though I'd been studying part-time for my degree for a
> few years before that!
>
> Just to let you know that it CAN be done, if you really want it badly
> enough!
>
> IT Girl MCDST
>
> Hope you're
>
>
>

Re: New to the field by CBIC

CBIC
Fri Feb 22 15:39:00 CST 2008


"new2IT" <new2IT@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:8D12518C-2DDE-4109-87DF-E30562A9B8F9@microsoft.com...
> Just want to thank you guys for your comments. I do want to say that I am
> very passionate about the IT field

Don't worry, that will wear off after a few years of dealing with clusers.
You'll be left an empty shell only staying in IT for the money. Dreaming of
the day you are debt free and can start your own custom motorcycle shop. No
I'm not talking about myself. Shut up and leave me alone. You don't know me
so stop judging me.



Re: New to the field by John

John
Fri Feb 22 17:44:31 CST 2008


"CBIC" <spam.thisbiotch@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:euhmXtZdIHA.4844@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>
> "new2IT" <new2IT@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:8D12518C-2DDE-4109-87DF-E30562A9B8F9@microsoft.com...
>> Just want to thank you guys for your comments. I do want to say that I
>> am
>> very passionate about the IT field
>
> Don't worry, that will wear off after a few years of dealing with clusers.
> You'll be left an empty shell only staying in IT for the money. Dreaming
> of the day you are debt free and can start your own custom motorcycle
> shop. No I'm not talking about myself. Shut up and leave me alone. You
> don't know me so stop judging me.
>

Ain't it da truth. (Not the "Shut up" part, the part about it wearing off
and the motorcycle shop).

60 % of my job is reading log files, 20 % is making changes to the phone
system, 15 % dealing with users who don't understand that they can't
undelete a file from a network share, and the rest is actually working on
good projects. I thought there was a lot more excitement going in.

John R



Re: New to the field by Jtyc

Jtyc
Fri Feb 22 18:32:48 CST 2008

> I do want to say that I am very passionate about the IT field


you must have a thing for pain...

Re: New to the field by Dude

Dude
Sat Mar 08 16:34:01 CST 2008

This is a great post. I once knew a Novell CNE who passed the exams but
couldn't even configure a NIC or operate a screwdriver correctly. Then you
get your Hot Shots that act like they know everything, but it's really just
smoke and mirrors. I've been working in IT for 20 years now and I've seen it
all. The good Admins will always find good jobs. The others will be the
first to go when it's downsizing time. It's a long way to the top if you
wanna rock and roll!

"Michael D. Alligood [CertGuard, Inc.]" wrote:

> "new2IT" <new2IT@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:CE549016-0663-472C-803A-16223E530B3E@microsoft.com:
>
> > I completely agree with you Dustin, which is why I am hoping that the
> > internship will lead into a full time position so I can start building that
> > experience. Problem with switching careers is that my resume looks great for
> > sales but not having the experience in the networking field pretty much makes
> > it impossible to get a job any other way than doing the internship and
> > courses with New Horizons.
> >
> > "Dustin Harper" wrote:
> >
> > > You will go as far as you want, with what you know. Certs are pieces of
> > > paper. Experience and know how are what gets you the job. You can have all
> > > the certs in your resume, but an IT interviewer will find out if you know
> > > what you are doing or not.
> > >
> > > Most employers wouldn't trust someone with an MCSE 2003 and 1 year of
> > > experience with their network. They will with someone with 15 years
> > > experience with no certs.
> > >
> > > Just plan on starting small and working your way up.
> > >
> > > This is all common sense stuff, but a lot of people don't get it ! :)
> > >
> > > --
> > > Dustin Harper
> > > dharper@vistarip.com
> > > http://www.VistaRIP.com | Vista Resource & Information Page
> > >
> > >
> > > "new2IT" <new2IT@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > > news:90E74F56-6762-4BE0-8A1E-B3D4263B001D@microsoft.com...
> > > > I am 34 years old and have decided to make a career change from sales
> > > > (which
> > > > I have been in for over 10 years). I have enjoyed working with computers
> > > > for
> > > > over 17 years and should of made this decision a long time ago. I am
> > > > taking
> > > > courses with a company called New Horizons to work toward my MCSE 2003
> > > > certs.
> > > > In this program I do get hands on experience and will be placed in an
> > > > internship within the next month. If everything goes well I will have
> > > > completed all my exams within the next 10 months. Just wanting to see if
> > > > anyone has any suggestions or guidance that they can give me concerning
> > > > the
> > > > field.
> > >
>
> I worked at New Horizons for many years in my past. I have taught many
> career changers and will be totally honest with you. Less than 5%
> currently have jobs in the I.T. field. Now understand, this was a number
> for my geographical area and the time that I worked there. The problem
> is that someone told them that I.T. was the field to make money in or
> that since they could change the background on a friend's mother's
> computer that they should look into a career in computers. Change
> occurs. Sacrifice begins. Frustration sets in. Back to the previous
> career they go. Now, the mother of all questions: Who's to blame?
> Certification vendors, I.T. instructors or the institution that educated
> you, the employers' who wouldn't hire you, your wife/girlfriend, your
> husband/boyfriend, your kids, lack of money, lack of experience (see
> employers), etc.. Everyone is to blame for your lack of success but you.
> People spend their whole lives "hoping" things will happen. If your
> hoping for something to happen, you didn't do enough to make it happen.
> Hoping is for the uncertain.
>
> Point being, if your determined this is what you want to do, then you
> will do it.
> --
> Michael D. Alligood, MCITP, MCTS, MCSA, MCDST
> The I.T. Classroom - http://www.theitclassroom.com/
> CertGuard, Inc. - http://www.certguard.com/
>
>
>

Re: New to the field by Neil

Neil
Mon Mar 10 09:00:19 CDT 2008

did you hear =?Utf-8?B?RHVkZQ==?= <Dude@discussions.microsoft.com> say in
news:3E3A4AED-0F28-4EF5-8E15-9DEDFD807A58@microsoft.com:

> operate a screwdriver correctly

TMML

--
The InterNeil "V2 w/tabbed browsing & decreased verbosity" MCNGP Triple X

- Shh! I have to use my incomplete, divided attention here.