The Job Search Woes Thread

[revbob]

I have been there and it is a Purgatory. What kind of work are you looking for?

One that pays.

I'd like to get back into IT but my skills are dated.

What's your skill set and location?

The nice thing about IT is you can bring yourself back up to speed with some self study and access to lots of HW/SW is more accessible than in the past with various open source and virtualization technology. I know it can be tough but it's doable though. I've known plenty of people who have gotten in and done well without much formal college education.

I'm entry level. Worked on a help desk for a while but the lack of training drove me bats. While I was there, I got to shadow the techs and realized I wanted to do that. I like getting my hands in the guts of computers. Then there's all those certifications. Oy.

Certifications are a bought and sold commodity just like our entire university system. It's just like the drivers test. Either take the class or just buy the book and memorize it. Hit the magic 67% correct and you're certified. We can be earnest to a fault and the whole thing is a racket anyway. It's a shitty game.

It is a shitty game but depending on what level you want to be and what environment they (certs) are a necessary evil. Some carry more weight than others. Lots of "free-ish"books are available online. If you like this kind of work get back into it. Try to find a place that will either provide or pay for some formal training but if you can't don't give up explore free resources. There's also a fair amount of contract work where an entity needs people for an equipment refresh and they hire some outfit to staff it. It might only last a week or two and the hours can be shitty but it allows you to get some good experience and to make some connections.

[Mimi]

I have been there and it is a Purgatory. What kind of work are you looking for?

One that pays.

I'd like to get back into IT but my skills are dated.

What's your skill set and location?

The nice thing about IT is you can bring yourself back up to speed with some self study and access to lots of HW/SW is more accessible than in the past with various open source and virtualization technology. I know it can be tough but it's doable though. I've known plenty of people who have gotten in and done well without much formal college education.

I'm entry level. Worked on a help desk for a while but the lack of training drove me bats. While I was there, I got to shadow the techs and realized I wanted to do that. I like getting my hands in the guts of computers. Then there's all those certifications. Oy.

Certifications are a bought and sold commodity just like our entire university system. It's just like the drivers test. Either take the class or just buy the book and memorize it. Hit the magic 67% correct and you're certified. We can be earnest to a fault and the whole thing is a racket anyway. It's a shitty game.

Luckily there are some employers who don't expect you to have the certifications but would like them at a later date. That makes sense to me. Hands on experience beats reading a book. And those damn tests cost way too much money.

[revbob]

One that pays.

I'd like to get back into IT but my skills are dated.

What's your skill set and location?

The nice thing about IT is you can bring yourself back up to speed with some self study and access to lots of HW/SW is more accessible than in the past with various open source and virtualization technology. I know it can be tough but it's doable though. I've known plenty of people who have gotten in and done well without much formal college education.

I'm entry level. Worked on a help desk for a while but the lack of training drove me bats. While I was there, I got to shadow the techs and realized I wanted to do that. I like getting my hands in the guts of computers. Then there's all those certifications. Oy.

Certifications are a bought and sold commodity just like our entire university system. It's just like the drivers test. Either take the class or just buy the book and memorize it. Hit the magic 67% correct and you're certified. We can be earnest to a fault and the whole thing is a racket anyway. It's a shitty game.

Luckily there are some employers who don't expect you to have the certifications but would like them at a later date. That makes sense to me. Hands on experience beats reading a book. And those damn tests cost way too much money.

Yeah that's not uncommon, the better places will pay for the test provided you pass. Passing them often requires a mixture of hands on and book knowledge although some can be done with book knowledge alone. I find books can sometimes fill in sone of the blanks/missing pieces that hands on only training gives you. If this is what you like get back into it.

[JennyB]

This thread has put this song in my head:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8PEdy0uW9A

[revbob]

This thread has put this song in my head:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8PEdy0uW9A

Or there's this...

[Dr. Medulla]

This thread has put this song in my head:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8PEdy0uW9A

Or there's this...

Hey hey, that song popped in my brain cavity this morning. Fantastic meshing of the music to the point of the lyrics.

[Wolter]

This thread has put this song in my head:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8PEdy0uW9A

Or there's this...

Hey hey, that song popped in my brain cavity this morning. Fantastic meshing of the music to the point of the lyrics.

That song has been in my head roughly 95% of the time I've been at any job in my life.

[BostonBeaneater]

This thread has put this song in my head:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8PEdy0uW9A

Or there's this...

Hey hey, that song popped in my brain cavity this morning. Fantastic meshing of the music to the point of the lyrics.

That song has been in my head roughly 95% of the time I've been at any job in my life.

[revbob]

This thread has put this song in my head:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8PEdy0uW9A

Or there's this...

Hey hey, that song popped in my brain cavity this morning. Fantastic meshing of the music to the point of the lyrics.

What's amazing is how such a song can get stuck in your head.

[tepista]

Weren'tcha a bank teller for a little while, Meemz?

[Mimi]

Weren'tcha a bank teller for a little while, Meemz?

I was thinking about applying long ago but thought not.

[tepista]

Weren'tcha a bank teller for a little while, Meemz?

I was thinking about applying long ago but thought not.

I'll always remember you as Mimi the Bank Teller!

[Dr. Medulla]

A pity you can't find work as a heartbreaker, M.

[Mimi]

Weren'tcha a bank teller for a little while, Meemz?

I was thinking about applying long ago but thought not.

I'll always remember you as Mimi the Bank Teller!

[Kory]

This thread has put this song in my head:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8PEdy0uW9A

Or there's this...

Hey hey, that song popped in my brain cavity this morning. Fantastic meshing of the music to the point of the lyrics.

That song has been in my head roughly 95% of the time I've been at any job in my life.

Same here.