To the Old timers (and not so old) question.

[MrPurple]

Hey all,
I have a question to the old timers and those who have been in the field for a bit now.
When you graduated college, and got your degree did you ever have problems finding work, or questioning your self if you made the correct choice when you persuded the technology field?

I just finished college with a Computer Engineering degree, and finding work has been tought (IT field), mainly because of lack of proffesional lvl experiance. It seems that there is some work out there but nothing in the entry lvl.
I am trying to bolster my resume with some Certifications, but everywhere I hear certs do very little withouth experiance.
I am now starting to question my decisions, and wondering what to do now.
I still have hope, but my loans will be soon coming out of grace and I will need to repay them soon. Grad school is out of question (lack of $$).
Mainly what I want to hear is what you guys did when you were first starting out, what problems you faced, and how you overcame them.

[vass0922]

Loans - Once you graduate you usually get 6 months to a year of deferrment. After that you're Supposed to start paying. Look into forbearance it will allow you to continue not paying for your loans until you can afford it. Talk to your loan people they can work with you.

It depends on what you're looking for as an entry level. If you're looking to manage an enterprise as entry level you're going to get a NO. Your best bet is trying to find a helpdesk to work PC tech or something and get your feet wet. Maybe work best buy or something.. job experience is first priority... high paychecks come later.

Unfortunately you're coming into the field at a bad time

Note: Deferrment, interest on your loans do not accrue. Forbearance, Interest DOES start adding up.

[MrPurple]

I was thinking of applying to Best Buy in their Service departament (I have a best buy that is 5 min car drive away from me)
Also sending my resume to the Best Buy Corp.
Hope atleast that this will work out.

But this has helped me out a bit, since I was not sure if working at a place like Best Buy for a year or two would do something for me in terms of experinace, but I guess it is better then sitting home and hoping someone will call.

[Siliconjunkie]

Vass is 100% correct. Even with a degree your best bet is to get on a helpdesk somewhere, get something on the resume. When the market was flooded with paper MCSEs employers got real leery about someone with no experience.

Once you get on a helpdesk you can show what you know and grow from there. It may also take moving to a few different jobs.

And, now is a TERRIBLE time to be looking in IT. I have friends that worked at Enron and havent been able to find anything since it died.

Don't let the market beat you up too bad, it's not personal.

[to}{ic]

no matter what field you go into... these last 2 years have been tough for those graduating from college.. its been said that 80 percent or so cant find a job their first year....

[MrPurple]

Finding an IT job is hard, that is why I am starting to look into alternatives.
I guess times like these make one question their choices.
Alos getting a help desk job is not that easy, since alot of companies are just not looking for people now.
I am still looking for anything, but the calls are not comming in, eventhough I worked in IS for 3 years while attending school.
Well I just hope Best Buy will hire, so that I can survive this economy with some $$.

BTW Toxic welcom to TechIMO (forgot to welcome you properly when posting comments on your pictures).

[Pexster]

I'm a firm believer in getting your foot in the door somehow -- doesn't really matter doing what, as long as you don't continue at your entry-level position long enough to allow it to define you. The best way to get that "foot in the door" is through a temp agency. It doesn't matter if you're stuffing envelopes or filing documents; you'll be meeting people and demonstrating your work habits.

I worked for 9 months as a "temp" on a project over 13 years ago. When the project ended, our CFO told my boss to "keep that guy." I became department manager, then eventually transitioned from the business side to the IT department as an Oracle developer/analyst supporting our in-house commissions system. All this because I developed a relationship with the programmers -- I knew the data, they knew how to code.

I've seen other people in my firm move from mailroom clerks to service desks to transition assistants to directors and even VPs. Admittedly, not often, but that's the point. If you're good, all you need is the opportunity.

Maybe my point is to not think of yourself as only a "technology person", but an ASSET in whatever way you can be, to whoever can use your abilities.

[MrPurple]

Guys, I have to say thanks.
I knew before that this was a good place to talk and ask about anything, and you will get good advice and feedback. Plus this comunity has people who range from old timers, to new upcoiming technicians, etc. so there is always a lot of advice coming from many different views.
This is one of the main reasons why I venture these forums, and contribute what I can to its members.

Your answers made me think, which made me able to realize what oportunietes I have ahead of me.

You have my greatest thanks.

[vass0922]

Give another thumbs up to temps!!

I started out as a temp in a warehouse refurbishing credit card machines
Asked the IT manager if I could help the network admin to learn some stuff after hours... within a few months I was 100% in IT working with network admin, and within a year I'd transitioned over to their development staff developing an in-house inventory management system

[Siliconjunkie]

I did the temp thing too, but like everyone said, it gets your foot in the door. After a few years of temp jobs I can now bask in the glory that is salary and excellent benifits.