Re: New to the field

"new2IT" <new2IT@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:CE549016-0663-472C-803A-16223E530B3E@xxxxxxxxxxxxx:

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@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> http://www.VistaRIP.com | Vista Resource & Information Page
>
>
> "new2IT" <new2IT@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:90E74F56-6762-4BE0-8A1E-B3D4263B001D@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > 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/


.

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