What are your thoughts on the IT industry? I want to become a PC Technician or Help Desk Technician

Armymanis · 04-22-2011, 02:35 PM

Hello everyone. I really want to become either a PC Technician or a Help Desk Technician. I currently hold my A+ certification and I almost have my AA in Technical Support. Many people on other forums like Dice are saying I should give up on IT because the industry is going in the tank. I really love computers and want to advance in the world of IT. Currently I am 21 years old, and believe I have lots of time to try and get into a PC Technician job or a Help Desk job.

I am going to start studying my Network+ certification and I am hoping that will make me more marketable.

What do you guys think? Is there anymore certifications I should be considering? I thought about getting Server+ after Network+, just because I heard Server+ was an upgraded exam of the A+.

I really love computers and do not see myself in another career. I want to make money and I know everyone has to start at the bottom. I am sick of being in retail.

Give me your opinions on what you think!

Lexluethar · 04-22-2011, 03:57 PM

Who are you talking to that said the tech industry is going down? Every article I read says its going up, in fact I was just listening to CNN on XM and they were talking about how tech jobs are the only ones that seem to be hiring right now and there is actually a shortage of IT people to fill IT jobs (realize when i say IT people i mean qualified people, i realize the unemployment rate is around 8% so there are plenty of bodies, just not enough qualified people).

Helpdesk or desktop support is the right step for a first job. You've also done right by getting your A+, get your Net+ next then I would get a windows 7 certification. You should be set at this point though and start applying. Realize EVERY job, even entry level require experience. I know - stupid but that's how IT is, you have to have experience for anything yet you can't get experience without being hired.

Just don't give up hope, keep focusing on getting those certificaitons and you'll be set.

Armymanis · 04-22-2011, 04:40 PM

Thanks dude, I have around 6 months of volunteer experience for supporting 30-40 computers in a student lab as well. I am just really worried because a lot of people who i am talking to on other forums are saying oh, you should forget IT. Are these people who say this mostly people who are 30-40 years old and are wanting to switch into different careers? What is their reason behind why their are no jobs in IT?

Lexluethar · 04-22-2011, 05:40 PM

You will have to ask them that question. They (and you) have to realize that every industry has been hit hard by the economy. It's not just IT, business, financial, home - all industries have been effected drastically. But if you take a step back, IT has been hit the least and from what i've read has recovered the fastest.

I put CNN to show that it wasn't something out of my local newspaper - it's a national thing and from what i've seen IT is hiring the most. Just go to careerbuilder and do a broad search for your area for open jobs. Tell me, which category has the highest amount of hits? I live in Kansas City, i did a search and IT was 5th.
1st was sales (which is understandable because a quarter of the jobs on this would be bogus sell **** from home stuff)
2nd was management (i agree with that)
3rd was health care (another field that is in high demand right now)
4th was customer server
5th, IT.

I think that's pretty good - far greater than all of the other fields - and realize the ones above IT (other than health care) are very generic and a lot of jobs fall in these categories. Searched Denver CO and IT was 4th. Searched NY and it was 3rd. So how they came up with IT falling off or isn't worth while blows me away. To me this means those people ARE NOT doing their research and have no clue what they are talking about.

Here are some more articles proving my point:
The 50 Best Careers of 2011 - Yahoo! Finance
"Technology positions also account for a good chunk of our top-choice careers. Computer support specialist joins the ranks this year with upward trending employment numbers. Education administrator, which ranked particularly high for job satisfaction, made it onto our lineup of social service jobs. In the business category, we added sales manager, an occupation that's making a comeback along with the economy."

MSN Careers - Hot fields for hiring in 2011 - Career Advice Article
Two of the top four are IT

Who's Hiring? Jobs for 2011 - PayScale Resources
Tech is #1

I don't know why they think IT is dead - ignorance is my only thought.

Armymanis · 04-22-2011, 05:50 PM

Thanks dude! This has really put me at high hopes! I will finish my AA, certs, and maybe even go onto get my bachelors.

FilipiNomad · 04-26-2011, 02:41 PM

The industry is great for those with enough experience. I saw an internship that wanted one year experience.

Go on to your bachelors. An associates isn't really worth much but it is better than nothing. Keep volunteering while you're still looking. If your resume isn't getting any hits, change it up.

Try checking craigslists as well. Small computer businesses are hiring all the time but use craigslists for their ads. Be careful though, do not send in any of your personal information right away. Some of them use the craigslists's e-mail reply. Send them a quick e-mail through that and ask for the name of the company and an official e-mail address where you can forward your resume.

Good luck on the search. I'm guessing you're no longer going for the Mac OS cert.

WhiteFlare · 04-27-2011, 05:39 PM

The IT industry is actually really good atm. I just finished college for network development with no certs and I have been on 4 interviews and 2 offers already within 4 weeks of looking.

You just need to know where to look. Continue working for the Network+, without a technical degree it will make all the difference.

mikesx4911 · 04-29-2011, 01:26 PM

whoever thinks the IT industry is going to TANK or has already TANKED is a complete fool. There are many articles out there that shows it is def one of the hottest fields right now and has been for a couple of years. Think about it medical equipment and IT stuff in the medical field is getting a complete overhaul, which means more jobs and more training. As well as its around the time when a certain age group is on retirement, which also means more jobs available. Not to mention technology is always progressing and there will always be a demand for IT staff. Also I do see a ton of people that is in IT thats not qualified for jobs so they should count lol. Just my 2 cents.