Your N3w Job (get it it's like my name :D )

[Cyb3RSoldi3R]

K here's a good one for everyone to think about, new jobs. What's everyones opinion on good starting level jobs that anyone can score with a certian computer based talent (no not juggleing monitors)? Any ideas? Oh and one rules PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DON'T SAY BEST BUY.

[astcell]

How about Circuit City? :D Actually I think nowadays folks are looking for security at work, at least to the point where you can quit before they fire you.

Your best bet is to network, like you are doing here. Let everyone you know know that you are looking.

[blackbeetle]

I think your question is too general.

So as a general guideline- It all depends on where you ultimately want to end up and do (get a 3 year plan in place and develop steps and attainable goals that will get you there). Obviously working retail for 3 years is not going to get you into a a developer or analyst position.

It also depends on where you are in life- if you're a high school or college kid, waiting tables to make ends meet isn't so bad if you can get a long term, possibly unpaid internship at a really desireable place and develop some real skills and experience in a field related to where you want to be.

If you've been unemployed for 2 years and are still looking for that magic job then either you're in the wrong place at the wrong time or your skills and experience are seriously lacking. Not to say that ambition, drive and determination aren't good qualities, but they won't do you any good if you have no talent.

And be real about salary- you wouldn't believe how many people come through here that want 6 figures to tape down network cable twice a year.

[Cyb3RSoldi3R]

WOW beetle, I never got 2 years unemployed looking for a magic job out of that question. Here let me make it easy then. List where you started and where you plan on ending up.

[ch0l0man]

do phone support, that outta start you off.

[Chris]

Originally posted by blackbeetle


And be real about salary- you wouldn't believe how many people come through here that want 6 figures to tape down network cable twice a year.

You say that as if it isn't the going rate ;)

[blackbeetle]

My three year plan:

First 4 months out of college:
I started at a big corportation- lower pay than I would have liked, not what I really would have liked to be doing, but paid the bills and looked good on the resume. Got to work with a lot of different people with lots of different skill sets - learned tons from everyone. Company emplyed 600 people, 20 in my dept.

Remainder of year 1- moved onto a slightly smaller company, different work, better pay and benefits, and twice as much responsibility. Worked for really great people, more experience. Company employed 400 people, 7 in my dept.

Year 2- moved to a different company, worked in, again, a different "position". Asshole boss but I stuck it through for a year, and worked on a lot of different projects. 300 people, 8 people in my dept.

Year 3 - moved to a company that had 30 people, managed my dept (well, there were only 2 of us), got to come and go as I pleased, great pay, great benefits, 15 minutes from home.

End year 3- move back to where I grew up and where most of my family still lives, work 3 months to get to know the people in the area, "officially" start my own business (got incorporated, actually have to pay taxes, got a business license). Now I work my own hours, pay myself fairly, can pick and choose my clients, even with the crappy economy. I get to sleep in and grow my zoo.

That was my 3 year plan and it took about 4 years to get it all realized. The year I went "independent" was tough at first (cash flow problems - I was owed but wasn't getting paid- got an attorney friend to help out in exchange for some work and now that is hardly ever a problem).

I don't know, maybe I got lucky (never made any dot com millions or won the lottery) but I am pretty happy and consider myself successful. Don't get me wrong - I lost a lot of sleep and worked a lot of hours, gave up a lot of my social life, etc for those first 4 years but it worked out for me. I got what I wanted.

And about the being unemployed- my point was that you aren't going to get very far if you hold out for that "dream job" right off the top.

[skroo]

From experience...

You need to pay the bills. Take a headset job doing support somewhere as an interim paycheck. It'll suck but keep you in gas & booze. Equally importantly: it'll keep you in books for any discipline that may interest you.

Start hitting up corporate websites. QA is a good department to slot into, regardless of whether or not you know exactly where you want to end up. I did 2.5 years of development QA for two different companies, and ended up going into systems and network engineering.

Of course, this is largely because my degree (modern foreign languages) does not directly apply to the field I work in. However, QA is a good foot-in-the-door position, and looks good on a resume after a year or so. It shows that you have good reasoning and analytical skills, something sorely lacking in the industry.

From there, it's up to you to figure out what you want and how to move to get it. Never stop looking. Even in the present economy there are openings; you just have to find them (actually getting hired into them is another matter, though - I've waited 15 months to get into my present job even though they wanted me in 2001). And, as I said before: keep reading up.

[Gadsden]

Originally posted by Cyb3RSoldi3R
List where you started and where you plan on ending up.

I started out at the university changing out paper trays, etc. After meeting other computer geeks, I worked my way into retail then on up the ladder from there. Networking is critical, and as Skroo said, STAY IN THE BOOKS.. never let your knowledge and quest for knowledge grow stagnant. Don't be too proud to take the shit jobs every now and then, I had to take my share of them to pay the bills, but I made sure I was still looking while I was shoveling rice, etc... then got the fuck out of there the first chance I got..

[converge]

It appears che and I may have a lot in common...

I too started as the workstudy... although the environment tended to be all work and no study. Moved up through hardware/software tech stuff into network admin, webmaster, and general IT departmental tasks...

I got so burnt out on repeatedly doing the same shit I already knew, that I ditched it for two part time jobs at first, then a 2/3 pay 30/hour job. Tried school, but couldn't stand how horribly slow the CS degree was, and have come to the conclusion that I don't want to dish out the bucks for a better school... so I continue my lurking in a cheap job with lots of spare time to play and learn (if only the cash part were as glorious)

[astcell]

Check out Brown and Root. They hire civilians for military support overseas. You can make good money working where others won't just because they are afraid of land mines and bullets.

[pyrophite]

Re: Your N3w Job (get it it's like my name :D )

Originally posted by Cyb3RSoldi3R
K here's a good one for everyone to think about, new jobs. What's everyones opinion on good starting level jobs that anyone can score with a certian computer based talent (no not juggleing monitors)? Any ideas? Oh and one rules PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DON'T SAY BEST BUY.

if you got a job at compusa you could get a discount on bawls :D