Can I have a job? =)

[Aleph1]

If you have a business in San Diego that REALLY needs professional experience to help out with any computer needs...heres your chance.

Seriously thou...I am trying so hard to get a job here in SD and no one is givin me a chance (blown me off). I have gotten 4 offers from Colorado (long story) and some are from large corporations. Anyway...Can some of you nice people gimme some tips or sumthin.....or you could save me a bunch of trouble and gimme a job! =P

BTW- I'm 17. And I have experience from the 386 days....basically 6 years. Also I am mainly into hardware and web development.

thanx

[This message has been edited by Aleph1 (edited 11-03-2000).]

[Undertow]

I am in the same situation Aleph. I am 17 and have experience since 286's. It's unlikely anyone will even consider you, not only because of your age, but also due to lack of "official" education. Everyone wants to see that slip of paper that says you've been taught. I'm not sure exactly what type of job you expect to get but I think your best offer will be retail. Try getting some sort of certificate, such as A+, and you should have better luck. I am going to be 18 in a couple weeks which will help, but I am sure I will still have trouble getting anywhere so I am just going to get an A+ cert until I am done with my Comp Sci Major. My advice: Get a decent job near a good University and get the real degree, Computer Science. You may find a tech job without the Bachelors degree but you won't get far, especially working for a big corporation. Of course I could be wrong, you could have end up having the kind of luck Bill Gates did, and make it big, or you could end up going nowhere. The choice is yours. My choice, work hard at school and make my own good fortune. Do you have any web pages? A good web page would be a very valuable asset in your search for potential employers. Employers always want to see what you've done, have something that says what you are capable, or have several years of experience. Just remember, there's a million other guys in line with you for the same job. You need an edge.

[Ted61]

Aleph, the first thing you have to do is make a really good resume. If you need help send me an e-mail, I am pretty good at them.

After you get a resume, send it out! Do not be bashful, the more people that see the better. You will have to find all of the Mom and Pop operations out there and let them know how you can help them. A couple of years ago a tax attorney refinance my house because I setup his network. he had a pitiful setup using AOL on multiple machines.

There are millions of examples like that, you just have to find them. Small grocery stores and gas stations need web pages a working computers with stable operating systems. You just have to do it.

Ted

[TechJumper]

Are there really all those jobs???

I am 14. Working for myself, my own company. What kinds of businesses want web pages? I have 4 years experience in this. Are they in the medical field, construction, maintnence????


TechJumper

[TechJumper]

Who thinks SysOpt Forums should include a new forum entitled "Job Postings" for the members on this site?

TJ

[jad1097]

Not me.


Anyhow my B-I-L is now working in Colorado designing web pages making **** good money. If the starting pay is decent then go for it just to get experience. If you are not willing to move then go knocking on doors.

[Missing the point]

I am 15 and wanting a job.

I have LOTS of experience with computers and stuff, but noone gives me a chance because of my age.

I am gonna try a computer serplus store next http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[jokostel]

Im 17... i work for a company that has Microsoft as a client and im in the microsoft works/homepub/greetings/pictureit section... NICE... http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif good bonuses too... just got a 967$$ paycheck...before taxes... turned net about 700$$
..jokostel

[alpha]

I'm 14. I have expierience from the 8088 days. No sh1t. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[Aleph1]

I have a resume (Ted61, I'll send you a copy) and a couple pages I've done listed on there. Mostly in Flash.
www.happyvibez.com (http://www.happyvibez.com) - I've had this for a while, gettin tired of it, not much info.
www.happyvibez.com/index2.htm (http://www.happyvibez.com/index2.htm) - a new design I'm going to use for my next site. It will be pretty big.
www.cornisgood.com (http://www.cornisgood.com) - A flash intro I made for my clans site =)

I tried a lot of small local comp. hardware shops. No go. I can't find any "Mom and Pop" businesses, hence "Mom and Pop". I am thinking of opening up an overclocking store, but not like the other ones...I got some original ideas =) But I need my Dad to help me to get a SBL.

-thanx

[Ted61]

Hey guys it is not as bad as you think. I have a degree in Electronic Engineering and I alway wind up getting the computer jobs by default. I don't want these computer jobs but there are more computers in the world than there are computer literate people.

Last summer we hired some coops to work in our plant in Massachusetts, the ones with computer smarts got paid $13-14 an hour while the others were paid $10 per hour. The really sharp ones still have after school jobs today. We were desperate for computer help and wound up stumbling on an excellent resource.

You can't be ashamed, you have to go out and find the computer illiterates and maintain their networks.

When I say aggressive I mean really aggressive. Do something like making up a flyer (make sure you use proper english)and take it out to a chargers game and put your name on every windshield in the park. You may want to check with your parents before you do something like this.

You can tell everyone how old you are because it will keep them from being shocked when they meet or talk to you.

It will take a lot of work but you will be able to afford pizza when you get to college. Not to mention the leftovers from the shop upgrades.

Ted

[Ted61]

Alpha, I am 39 and learned how to design 8088's in college http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif.

Ted

[crockett]

web sites look good Aleph1...as far as jobs go...guys just keep learning ...you may not get a job in computers right away cause of your age but you will....the kids now are very lucky to be getting the training in school.when I was in High school computer class was pretty much telling you how to turn the computer on and off..lol.

I've pretty much had to teach myself computers.I'm 28 and I cant find a job in computers because I don't have the on the job experience and no training.The area I live (close to NASA in Fla) has tons of computer related jobs but no 1 will touch you unless you have blahh,blahh years of experience or a college degree.

So I would suggest getting all the training you can get 4 free in school, then go straight to college and get a degree.I plan on going after a degree in either programing or something to do with 3D grapix.I like the 3D modeling stuff but I'm really not sure there are many jobs doing it,on the other hand I know there are tons of programing jobs.

btw if anyone has any job opening in central Fla let me know,I'm looking too...lol

[alpha]

College, pff, that's for cheaters.... (grins) http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[ablang]

You guys are lucky to be young.

I am 29, and don't see myself going back to get a Masters in CS or Computer Engineering. I am just planning to make due with what I have. You'd think a BS in Electrical Engineering would be useful...

[Harold7]

Aleph1, I realize the young are impatient with us old timers, but the reason employers look for degrees and other sorts of proof of education is to see if the person who wants to work for them has a proven track record of being able to commit the time and effort necessary to achieve something. Proof that you're willing to apply yourself to stay the course to complete a degree (or even graduate HS) goes a long way toward making you a valuable employee. What they won't take a chance on is a flake who can't be counted on... plus getting a degree or technical certification is certainly going to get you more money in any job you take. A little tip: what ever you do , don't exagerate too much on any resume, the people who read them know BS and boilerplate when they see it... if you can get positive references from others you've done work for (even if you received no pay) that will certainly help. Be honest about why you want a particular job and why you think your skills can profit a future employer... whatever you do tell the truth, once you're known as a liar, it sticks with you for life. Good luck, with a little patience and diligence on your part I think you'll go a long way. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[jman01pa]

Geez! I am only 34 years old and feel like old man compred to you young'ens. Hehe...

J http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[evenorel]

Aleph,hey dude I'm here in Ocean Beach another boring day in paradice, I.m going to need help plenty just plugging in my computer.

[big_block_buick]

you guy's seem surprised at not being able to get jobs with no cert training..the mom and pops are the only places you will work if you dont get it..and youll end up getting the shaft(wage wise)by someone who knows you need the job..i'm not in this field,i'm in the automotive industry.from the way i've seen you guys make cracks at a+ cert..it seems to be easy enough for you people who have practically been raised on pc's..get whatever training you need to break into the industry and go from there..the sky is the limit..literaly,my bro who has been in the biz since late70's took night classes worked in rome for 18 months..it paid for his house..my bro inlaw same thing night classes(boom) works for miami air..getting paid your american dollars..

[Aleph1]

Thanx for all the great replies ppl, I will take your advice and get a **** job! =) I'm still trying, I'm sure someone will gimme a break. Also...YGM evenorel.

[muno]

One more =) Don't you have rental services there in the states? I got a nice job at it via a third party, and my background is only high school.
- M

[evenorel]

Sorry dunno what YCM means? You can E me, address in profile. Ittook me weekstofigure how to plug inmy headphone,phoneheadset. Just hook up apinball machine to these motheers and I'd get it to boot upforsure. Been sd long time 19 yrs maybe Ican give ya lkocal reference? Known that kiddhis whole life..ha ha.

[neo_otyugh]

another thing that makes it hard for you young guys to get jobs is the averagelevel of responsibility for people your age. i ahve worked with several people in the 15-19 year old range. they are all brilliant with computers. there is a 15 year old where i work, he knows his stuff, hardware and software. the problems though are the fact that he would much rather sit arounf and talk about high end systems instead of trouble shooting network cards. he also caused an incident where a customer of our company was on the verge of going to court and the police. another younger guy that used to work here (he got fired twice) was brilliant as well. he could code in multiple languages including assembly. he had already been offere $55k a year by amd. his problem was htat he did not like to work late when his friends were going out. he finally got the axe for setting up a system to do a network time clock entry so he could take advantage of an adjusted time clock so he could cheat the clock.
these guys are not the rule, they are the exception. but it is because of them that you guys who really want to work have a hard time. as a manager having to choose between someone that is young, brilliant and untested or older, not as swift, but has a proven record, most managers will tend to go with the proven record.

one job you may look into is ISP tech support. they will often hire younger people. admittedly it wont be as much of a challenge, but there is a lot of potential with smaller ISPs. one guy here made himself a webpage of links for DSL support information. he kept working on it and making it better and now most of the techs here use it as well as techs at Northpoint. he isnt getting much of a payoff now, but in the future that pag will look awesome on his resume.