How Do You Gain from Your IT Knowledge?

[RituallyPure]

This thread is intended for discussion for those who do, have, or are interested in attaining financial gain from their IT knowledge (essentially, having an IT-related job, business, etc.)

So what have you guys done? What are you doing now where you're applying your IT knowledge?

I'd especially like to hear from those among us who are small business owners!

I just seem to have hit a dead end and need a way out. I love hardware, but any sort of small business that delves into that usually requires a lot of start up capital. Which I, unfortunately, don't have.

R.P.

[ShawnD1]

Right now, I'm the tech support guy for a school but I'm gonna quit when the school year is over.

Before you plan to start a small business, before any sort of planning into the business, look at if there is a market for it. Where would you plan on setting up this business? Are there lots of competitors in your city (as in custom build places, not Best Buy).

Really look into the situation before you try anything or even begin planning.

[vass0922]

You'll have to work for awhile for an employer to get on your feet. If you don't have any job experience or Serious degrees, no way a bank is goign to give you the funds for a shop because its too high risk.

I work in IT as a network admin, and I do programming/scripting for the network as well. Myself I prefer working for a company.. less risk, and far less BS involved (don't have to worry about getting xyz contracts a month or no food!). I'm also not much of a people person (yeah yeah I know, hard to believe right! coughcough) so I'm DEFINATELY out because of that

Get your feet wet, get some experience then try to work your capital up to where a bank maybe able to consider you. IT IS TOUGH right now because of all the people that were flocking to IT jobs pre-bubbleburst are now scavenging for any job available.. makes it difficult for people just getting into the field.

Most important...
Confidence without a bit of confidence that you CAN do the job (no you won't "try" to do the job).
NEVER say "I can't do it" .. if you don't know how ASK, find out.. google knows all

Good luck

[mctribble]

December last year I opened my own small PC repair and building company.

Did not have much in the way of funds (only about £4000) but by looking around I managed to find a small shop with workshop area on a main road neer the town centre for a good price.

It is a good way of making a living, but you must not expect to make a good profit for at least a year or two.

So if you are serious about starting up i have a few hints for you:
1) location, location and locaton - you need to be near a town or centre centre, also having a car park helps alot.

2) Money, look around and try to find a shop that has closed down, you can then get a very good deal on rent etc. Cut down to a bare minimum your personal costs for a few months.

3) Advertise, many small business in my area have failed because they did not advertise. I leaflet the whole town every 3 months and every couple of weeks do new leaflets with special offers.

4) Certificates, I have my MCP and A+ certificates at my shop. I have been asked many times what qualifiactions i have.

So with plenty of planing and research you can do it with with out much money.

[ShawnD1]

Make sure your company has a website to list all products and prices.

Make sure you do this stuff as well:

-free assembly and setup of a new computer meaning you put it together and you install all the software for components such as the overclocking program that comes with Gigabyte motherboards.

-set the home page of Internet Explorer to be the website of your store.

-give at least 1 year warranty on service. if the store doesn't guarauntee their work, it says they probably don't know what they're doing.



Another thing is to be honest. If your supply of old stuff starts getting too big and you have to dump it, don't try to lie to somebody to get rid of it. If they catch you lying, they will never ever come back. One of the reasons I stopped buying computer parts from Best Buy is because their salesmen are the worst liars I've ever seen; I know I can't ask any questions because they'll just lie to me to make a sale.

[M_Six]

I started out working as a geologist for an environmental engineering firm. I picked up some computer knowledge and became their sys admin. That led to a full-time position at a college and I've been in the academic system ever since. I have done private freelance work. I prefer to be hired as a part-time employee of the small businesses I work for. I think you'll find small business owners are more comfortable paying a wage to a part-timer than paying a fee to a consultant. Plus you don't have to worry about doing your own taxes that way. AND, they can't sue an employee like they can a consultant. They can't withhold wages either.

Try asking around some small businesses and see if there's any interest in having a part-time computer admin on their staff. Get a part-time position at 3 or 4 firms and you'll be all set. Of course you'll have to arrange your own insurance.

If you do end up working a few part-time gigs, make sure you NEVER talk about one firm's business while working at another. No cross-talk.