Start a career in IT

gedas

can anyone please tell me how to get an IT job, preferably in networking. I am A+ certified and studying for CCNA, but I've no experience whatsoever. went to agencies, no luck. companies that i've applied to either give me a no or no answer at all. Please HELP!!!

Thanks

carveone

gedas wrote: »

can anyone please tell me how to get an IT job, preferably in networking. I am A+ certified and studying for CCNA, but I've no experience whatsoever. went to agencies, no luck. companies that i've applied to either give me a no or no answer at all. Please HELP!!!

I'm not going to be of much help here seeing as I'm looking for a job too!

With some certifications it should be easier, but unfortunately most resumes hit HR first who likely discard based on experience (and recent experience at that). One of my first jobs was in Gateway 2000 who, at the time, hired anyone who could string a sentence together - useful as a springboard. Not sure if there is any companies like that any more! Dell maybe??

Aside from that, drop us a PM if you need some advice with the CCNA. I've done the exam myself (twice! 97% the second time) and there are some tips that can help significantly

Conor.

MIN2511

gedas wrote: »

can anyone please tell me how to get an IT job, preferably in networking. I am A+ certified and studying for CCNA, but I've no experience whatsoever. went to agencies, no luck. companies that i've applied to either give me a no or no answer at all. Please HELP!!!

Thanks

Right, i have looked at this thread 3 times now. What other qualifications do you have? How are you selling yourself? What agencies have you been to because there are companies out there that would train you e.t.c. We all had to start somewhere, how long have you been searching? Where are you based?

gedas

Thanks for reply. Now, I have no other qualifications, but as soon as I pass CCNA, I'm planning to take either Security+ or Server+ or Linux+. As for selling myself - I haven't got much experience in job searching, so I don't really know how to do it properly. I've been to nearly all of the major recruitment agencies in dublin. I've been searching for quite some time now, but every negative answer puts me off every time. I can't get even the worst paid job. I'm based in ratoath, so dublin is where I want to work.
Thanks again

cronos

gedas wrote: »

Thanks for reply. Now, I have no other qualifications, but as soon as I pass CCNA, I'm planning to take either Security+ or Server+ or Linux+. As for selling myself - I haven't got much experience in job searching, so I don't really know how to do it properly. I've been to nearly all of the major recruitment agencies in dublin. I've been searching for quite some time now, but every negative answer puts me off every time. I can't get even the worst paid job. I'm based in ratoath, so dublin is where I want to work.
Thanks again

Ever thought doing a Degree? Might be the way to go. Once you are in one mabey do some part time networking work on the side.

cronos

Or you could get an unpaid job with a non profit org for a while to prove real world experience. That may allow you to avoid college.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055176381

Eoin

I think you're going to have to cut your teeth doing PC support for a while.

Once you get in the door there may be an opportunity to branch out and work in different areas, but I doubt many companies will be keen on letting someone with absolutely no experience work on their network.

cronos

eoin_s wrote: »

I think you're going to have to cut your teeth doing PC support for a while.

Once you get in the door there may be an opportunity to branch out and work in different areas, but I doubt many companies will be keen on letting someone with absolutely no experience work on their network.

Thats not always true I worked for a pharma company which had 100 users in the second year of my degree. I provided preventative maintenance and 1st level support on the networks as their was only me and my boss doing IT for the company, I spent most of my time running the servers and doing anti virus checks and she did management type stuff. I had external contractors I could contact and bring on site if I got stuck with any particular issue. Twas basic enough and was basically a combination of deskside support and network admin stuff. I had not done any networks material as part of the degree up to that point and learned everything on the job and in comunication with the contractors I brought on site. Your problem is that the HR people dont know what is envolved in certs so they will dump your CV before a manager/engineer in the company who would know the cert can see it.

Eoin

cronos wrote: »

Thats not always true I worked for a pharma company which had 100 users in the second year of my degree. I provided preventative maintenance and 1st level support on the networks as their was only me and my boss doing IT for the company, I spent most of my time running the servers and doing anti virus checks and she did management type stuff. I had external contractors I could contact and bring on site if I got stuck with any particular issue. Twas basic enough and was basically a combination of deskside support and network admin stuff. I had not done any networks material as part of the degree up to that point and learned everything on the job and in comunication with the contractors I brought on site. Your problem is that the HR people dont know what is envolved in certs so they will dump your CV before a manager/engineer in the company who would know the cert can see it.

By "work on their network" I meant that you are not likely to jump straight into administering a company's comms setup, you're going to have to do 1st level PC support and all that stuff - either as well, or beforehand. Obviously it varies from company to company - in some places you can be very pigeon-holed and never get a chance to look at IT stuff outside of your responsibilities, while some companies are keen to cross train.

I personally wouldn't let someone with absolutely no real world experience jump straight into network admin stuff, other than user account admin and basic server maintenance.

ViDuchie

I'm afraid all the certs in the world are no replacement for real on the job experience.

What you would be referred as when you have all the certs is "paper qualified". Same as walking out of any degree without experience. You have the knowledge but no implementation exp.

Also, anyone can sit cert exams and get good results. With all the certification sites now available online you could get certified up to CCNP/CCIP level without having a bean about networking. Same applies for Microsoft Certs. CCIE is a bit different as it's tested in a lab environment.

Employers are now very aware of this. Especially those that I have talked to in regards to Networking jobs.

I've actually just got a new job and had to take a hefty, VERY hefty, pay cut to get into it. It's networking based but is a big change in track from my previous experience. Hopefully this will pay off in the long term with a better job and eventually more money .

I'd say you will need to take any IT job you can get your hands on. Desktop support is the most obvious here. Keep plugging away and maybe apply directly to companies rather than using recruitment agents.

V

Kimbot

You could apply to the Civil Service. On www.publicjobs.ie they are currently looking for EO's in IT and its not a bad starting point to be honest. If you have experience in a certain area they will accomodate you.

MIN2511

That sounds good jonn24ie, OP an internship anywhere is worth it even though not in the specific area you worked in. I think i asked this before where are you based?

cronos

eoin_s wrote: »

By "work on their network" I meant that you are not likely to jump straight into administering a company's comms setup, you're going to have to do 1st level PC support and all that stuff - either as well, or beforehand. Obviously it varies from company to company - in some places you can be very pigeon-holed and never get a chance to look at IT stuff outside of your responsibilities, while some companies are keen to cross train.

I personally wouldn't let someone with absolutely no real world experience jump straight into network admin stuff, other than user account admin and basic server maintenance.

Well ya I would agree with that alright. I had a good bit of responsibility but I always had the big gun contractors to call in for the tough stuff. But it was windows stuff no CISCO router type stuff so for the most part it was fairly alright once I got up to speed.

cronos

jonny24ie wrote: »

You could apply to the Civil Service. On www.publicjobs.ie they are currently looking for EO's in IT and its not a bad starting point to be honest. If you have experience in a certain area they will accomodate you.

No way does the OP have even close to the requirements for that job. Even with the CCNA. He would still be a degree and 6 months experience away from it. It is paying 32k a year and the OP has no experience and an A+ cert. The OP could apply for an internship with the government at Clerical Officer level. But its not possible to go in as an Executive Officer as its a first level management job.

Moonbeam

Take on a tech support job to get some industry experience and work your way up from there.

gedas

Thanks guys,

Now, the public job is out of the question, because as far as I know only Irish can do them and I'm not Irish. Well, I might be wrong now, perhaps this info is a bit outdated these days.
Tech support. That's the problem. I can't even get that. No one would even call me. Well, I had an interview with Digiweb. Pathetic hours, pathetic money, I would have to definitely forget about pints and fags, because I also have a mortgage to pay. That's fine, I'll survive. But they even didn't reply to my email saying whether I'm written off or not. This is my problem. I can't get through.
Someone suggested to do a degree in IT. Anybody knows of any night courses? As a joke, I was thinking of doing the masters in gaming in trinity:)
I am based in Ratoath, CO. Meath.

death1234567

gedas wrote: »

Now, the public job is out of the question, because as far as I know only Irish can do them and I'm not Irish. Well, I might be wrong now, perhaps this info is a bit outdated these days.

You are wrong, you don't have to be irish to get a public job (that would be illegal). Its very tough to get a job in IT without expierience at the moment. I work in IT and it sucks ballz.

MIN2511

Griffith do an evening degree, 3 yrs for an Ordinary degree and 4 yrs for a honours degree that said location might be an issue for you.
Why don't you look for an internship position?

fasty

Staff turnover in ISP call centers is pretty high so you shouldn't have a problem starting there and gaining some experience. It's lousy work but it's a means to an end.

Raekwon

OP if I was you I would forget about the CCNA for the time being. You have an A+ so why not go for the Network+ next? You could then do a couple of MCP's (3 to become an MCSA because the A+ & Network+ count as an elective). The CCNA is worth nothing without the experience to back it up and it is very hard exam compared to the compTIA & Microsoft exams.

fletch

One of the conditions of that public service job is that you must "(iv) be serving as a Civil Servant with at least two years service on 31st March, 2008 ". How can they only employ from within, I thought this was illegal???

cronos

fletch wrote: »

One of the conditions of that public service job is that you must "(iv) be serving as a Civil Servant with at least two years service on 31st March, 2008 ". How can they only employ from within, I thought this was illegal???

i believe its an ( or ) condition, by this I mean they will except you if you have a degree or have lots of comercial experience or if you have been in the civil service for 2 years. So you dont actually have to be within to get the job. It is just another way of applying if you dont have all the qualifications that are required. Thats why I suggeste the OP go in on the ground floor as a Clerical Officer then when his chance comes go for Executive Officer. Going straight for EO is madness given that the OP has no experience or degree.

cronos

fasty wrote: »

Staff turnover in ISP call centers is pretty high so you shouldn't have a problem starting there and gaining some experience. It's lousy work but it's a means to an end.

A tip here is if you can get into a second level support team do. First level in a call center is pure stress with little technical benefit as you dont really learn that much. Except doing very basic stuff with evey caller and taking names and addresses. Obviously getting into second level is though but if you ask to do internships with companies then you have a chance. Internships are your best bet.

fletch

cronos wrote: »

i believe its an ( or ) condition,

On reading it again, yes it is an or condition...my bad

DublinWriter

OP - your best best is to find an small Irish I.T. SME and blag your way in.

Rathoat is a bit of a wasteland though. The nearest small IT companies will be based either in Drogheda or Ashbourne. Drag out the local Meath/Louth Yellow-pages and mail your CV to what ever local I.T. companies are about.

gedas

I'll try that. Haven't heard of any IT companies around here though. Only Click! shop in ashbourne. Not sure if they have a tech department there. But I'll try anyway.

cronos

DublinWriter wrote: »

OP - your best best is to find an small Irish I.T. SME and blag your way in.

Rathoat is a bit of a wasteland though. The nearest small IT companies will be based either in Drogheda or Ashbourne. Drag out the local Meath/Louth Yellow-pages and mail your CV to what ever local I.T. companies are about.

I totally agree with this. You should also taylor your cover letter to each job you apply for also.

The things that companies look for that you have are:

- A genuine interest in technology
- You have some ability with technology by doing an A+ cert
- Commitment to the company your going to work for (If you want to get a job in a company without a degree you are going to have to commit to that job for a while -- they will be willing to train you but they dont want to pay the expense of training you and then you just walk out the door) They also will know that it is more difficult for you to move from job to job so that is a major plus
- This will be your first IT job so they wont have to pay you that much ( that will change in time but you need to get your foot in the door )