job advice needed!

johny28

Hi,

I have being working as Technical support and I do have an BSc (computer science) I've being trying very hard to get a job as System or network admin , OR a junior IT consultant with no success.

I'm 28 years old; and when I look around I find younger people with less experience , knowledge and qualifications get into these type of positions while I move in the same circles.

the question is: what do I need to do to or have in order to become a junior IT or software consultant?

Any constructive suggestion would be appreciated.

Thanks

TempestSabre

Widen your experience, do some certs and go contracting. The try again in 2 yrs.

seanybiker

All you eed is patience mate. some of the people that got ahead of you might have nowing peiople int he job or whatever. the best thing for this is time. you got your qualifications, and soon enough the boss will see that these people they got at the moment are not good enough. stick with it buddy, you'll get where you want.

TempestSabre

I'm not trying to be mean, but theres loads of people with degrees who have done tech support. Theres even more without degrees. So employers could perchieve that they can pay younger/less skilled people less to do the same job.

In my experience employers like to see you've experience and are serious about the career. Which means doing certs to raise your skill levels and basically be a professional. Doing contact work will do both. It will also very quickly give you more references to use. Employers love references. Theres too many muppets around.

esskay

Microsoft MSCE qualifications are worth looking in to also. If a company wants to become a Microsoft partner they need techs with certain Microsoft qualifications. The microsoft security qualification (Internet Security and Acceleration Server) is rare enough afaik and might get you in to a job over someone else as security is a big issue these days.

johny28

Folks many thanks for your advice and recommendations.
but two things no1 I cannot do certs at the moment because I'm studying MSc part time and the second point few of you mentioned contract work what is the benefits of that?

TempestSabre

You'll just get a lot of experience of different jobs fast. (they don't last long) and people (you'll meet loads) etc. Obviously if you get a 2 yr contract thats different. But I found when I was contracting it kinda put my own skills in perspective and made me more aware of the market. Whereas if you are in the same job for a few years you lose that perspective. Also contracting you might meet people and hear of more job opportunities.

Its only my opinion.

johny28

TempestSabre; thats great i appreciate your thougths in this regard i'll consider contract position from now on.

TempestSabre

Oh and another thing. I found that most employers were more interested in my 2yrs contracting than what I done prevously while working in a larger company. My contracting was varied though. Everything from programming, support, hardware rollouts, analyst work. I guess it depends what kind line you are going into.