Any advice for someone trying and failing to make a career change?

In My Humble Opinion
1

OK, I’m going to give some background information. Most of what I will say I’ve said before in other threads, and I’m sorry to repeat myself, but I feel it is important to my questions.

From 1990 to 1995 I worked as a cashier/bartender/cook in a pizza parlor. From 1995 to 2007 I was a production worker. From 1999 to 2001 I was a volunteer data entry operator.

The plant I was working in in 2007 closed down. We all qualified for the federal Trade Act. The program helped in lots of ways, one of the ways it helped was paying for two years of education. I always wanted to do programing or be in IT, but had no job experience and knew that an Associate’s degree wouldn’t get me either of those jobs. Well, except for networking. At the time I saw several jobs having to do with computer networking that accepted Associate’s degrees. Furthermore, the networking program I entered was one where companies would hire second year students. Well, that was until the economic crisis hit and companies were laying people off left and right. So anyway, in 2009 I graduate and also have a CCNA certification. I graduate to a field what now wants Bachelor’s degrees, and while job experience can go with an Associate’s, I don’t have any. Turns out I chose a bad time to change careers. Anyway, as posted in another thread, I recently got my A+ certification.

OK, now I’m not being too picky about looking for work. I’ve put in for work at grocery stores, banks, video rentals, etc…, but my two main jobs I want are either IT or desk/clerical/office/customer service. For IT I have my degree, certifications, and the fact that I built (literally) my wife’s and my PCs, and replace parts as needed. As for clerical work, I use my cashier experience for customer service, my data entry experience, knowledge of how to operate a fax, copy machine, and printer, and I also received an A in college classes: Office procedures, Access 2007, Excel 2007, and Introduction to business. I also use Word on a regular basis and use Outlook from time to time.

Now finally the questions.

  1. With such high unemployment meaning people with experience are my competition, what’s the best way to change careers? For reasons I’m not getting into, I am NOT going back to production work. Not happening.

  2. I’ve have heard that to be successful at finding a job you just can’t wait for jobs to appear on job sites. I also check out companies web sites directly. Are there other ways to try and find jobs?

  3. I’m afraid to ask, but I will. I know my non production work experience was a while ago. Generally speaking do HR personnel and hiring managers ignore jobs held past a certain period? For example, is work experience past, say, five years not counted?

2

I used to be in IT and it’s an awful time to be out of work. First of all, all positions that can be possible outsourced ARE being outsourced. Either to companies in such countries like India or by overqualfied people who are now out of work and will work for themselves or under the table.

Right now companies can “make do” with IT people as the need comes up. It’s not a great way to run a business, but it saves money in the end.

If you really want an IT job now, the best way is to figure out WHERE you want to work. What field or company and find a job there. Any job. Why? Because when the economy picks up, companies would rather hire from within.

I got my job as a system admin/analyst at a huge Chicago hotel (back in the late 90s/early 00’s) simply by walking in and applying for ANOTHER job. They saw my resume and said, “Well we have someone for an asst controller but with your computer skills…”

It also works in reverse, in 2005 I got a job as an asst controller, because I applied for asst controller and other candidates were stronger but his hotel had its IT outsourced to India. They were like, “Wow an asst controller AND IT guy for the price of one.”

So what I advise is to go into a company where you can get a job. Start out working and then offer to help. Find out who the IT guy is. When things break then volunteer to help him out. In the mid 90s when I ran a call center, I was hired to do the H/R, booking and collections. But I could also do IT so when the IT guy came, I buddied up to him. Eventually he left and I took that over as well.

I know it’s not a lot of comfort but it’s really bad for jobs. I’ve 25 years of hotel experience and I can’t get a job as a desk clerk in a hotel anymore. And I have NEVER had an issue with that. I could always count on going into a hotel to pick up part time work as a desk clerk or PBX operator. With self check in, even that is outsourced in a way.

I am working overnights on an assembly line for minimum wage and even that is only a five week assignment.

So you’re not alone, but if you want a job, you need to really start thinking creatively.

I would also check into possible volunteer work or something. Perhaps find a hospital or the Salvation Army and offer to do some IT for them. Also don’t rule out things like Craigslist. You got your certification? Fine, put it to work.

Make a simple website, (use 1and1 or GoDaddy as register), get a Google Voice for a seperate phone number and put ads on Craigslist. Perhaps one of these companies that is doing without IT at the moment will need you for only a few days. Maybe they’ll be looking in Craigslist for an IT guy?

This is a bad job market and to land a job in IT you’re definately gonna have to think “outside the box”

3

I would say your best bet is to look at really really entry level help desk positions (even if it’s not technically IT, like how you can do help desk at cable companies). It’d also help if you are willing to move if need be.
I’m in IT doing level 2 software support (I started in a level 1 help desk at the same company). I’ll tell you right now (and I don’t mean to be harsh, but): Excel, Word and Outlook are not going to impress IT departments. Secretaries have to know how to use these; they’re not exactly esoteric software. Building your own PC is definitely a plus, but it’s not something that will set you apart from the crowd.

Basically, every single field, with perhaps a handful of exceptions, really sucks right now because the job market really sucks right now. You’ve already spent 2 years of your life working towards IT, why not keep going? I’d say that in addition to your A+ certification, I’d really recommend going for your MCDST certification. That’s Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician. There are classes you can pay out the nose for, but you really don’t need them. You can find some books and read on your own and take the two tests.

MCDST isn’t super rare in IT support, but it definitely will be an asset.

It really does suck trying to bust into any field right now. :frowning: I’d be willing to possibly relocate and look at any entry level help desk jobs you can.

4

Thank you for the advice. Yeah, I’m pretty much writing off IT work until the economy gets better. A few months ago I signed up for a state program which tries to find people volunteer work for state agencies. I never heard back until last week when I was told that I need to re-sign for the program if I wanted to continue and that there were no volunteer IT positions.

Although it might sound silly, I’ve toyed with the idea of setting up a help-desk type web site where people can send in computer problems and I would solve them, or at least try and solve them. I’d then put this on my resume as job experience. I haven’t done it because there are, I’m sure, probably Websites that already do it, and do it better, and I’m not sure if hiring managers would see that as real work experience, or if they did, if it would count for much.

5

What is going to look better on a resume? That possibly “silly” thing or a blank entry for these months because you did nothing, job-wise?

6

Last week I had an interview for a call center which helps people with iPhone problems. Unfortunately I’m positive that I blew the interview and the people in charge of hiring were concerned that I’d be driving an hour each way for a job that pays on average $10 to $11 per hour, even though I kept trying to reassure them that it was OK. But I didn’t get the job.

Well actually I have two resumes, and I only mention Excel and Access when applying for clerical/desk type work.

True, but since I haven’t had an IT job I’m just hoping that it helps to show that I at least have experience working on computers.

Thank you very much this advice, I will look into it. Kind of sucks that it cost $250 for my CCNA, and a total of $336 for the two A+ tests and I’m guessing the two tests for the MCDST will probably cost around the same, but if helps me get a job, I guess it will be worth it.

Oh trust me, if an entry level position is open, then I’m applying.

7

Exactly, and you’ll have the website to show them as well.

ETA - that was a reply to zweisamkeit.

8

If it doesn’t sound too ridiculous then maybe I’ll give it a try.

9

I’d definitely do it. I mean, if it’s a total bust, you don’t need to mention it. If it works pretty well, then it looks good. It’ll show that you can get creative in a tough job market and that you’re dedicated to learning and practicing your IT skills even if you’re not getting paid for it (if it’s free, I mean).

Plus, if you get some interesting cases (tough virus cleanup steps, weird errors that you resolved, etc.) they’ll be good to have in your mind when you go to interviews. That way you can show that you have had some experience with troubleshooting, thinking outside the box, and working independently. :slight_smile:

10

Well yeah, having no job experience I’m not going to charge anybody. Of course the downside is that people will get what they pay for :smiley:

Good points. Thanks.

11

All I can really offer is my sympathy - I am also trying and failing to change careers, except for different reasons. I was an office worker for the last 13 or so years, and I’ve been trying to get into landscape designing for the last four years. I’ve been sort of blocked at every turn in landscape designing, and now I find that I’ve just lost interest in it. Now I guess I go back to office work, which isn’t bad, but, well, it’s office work.

Best of luck to you, Nobody. I don’t know which is worse; knowing what you want to do and not getting the chance, or not even knowing what you want to do.

12

IMO, the best way to get a job (I’m in IT, but software) is through friends/contacts. If you don’t know anyone who already has one of these kinds of jobs, is there any way to meet any? Local D&D meetup? I’m only half-joking about that.

If nothing else, it helps to always be on the lookout when interacting with people throughout your day. I’ve been asked if I was interested in a job by some random guy I was playing pool with in a bar, just because of the conversation that came up.

My point is that many jobs are gotten by people by chance, thru non-standard means. And by standard I mean combing job sites and the like. The problem with those is that there are a million other people looking at the same ones.

Where you live is going to make a big difference, too. I wish you luck.

13

Have you tried Geek Squad?

I know their reputation, but I also know a lot of really talent folks who started their IT careers with Geek Squad.

14

Thank you. Yeah, I know what I want to do, I just can’t do it.

After graduating a couple of my class-mates found jobs in different states, but that would be difficult for me. I live in Oregon and the city I’m in, and nearby cities, don’t really have IT positions so I’m looking more for clerical work. For IT (and pretty much any other job) I’m willing to work up to 50 miles away so that includes Portland and the Portland-metro area, but I’m still not having much luck.

I’ve checked once or twice, guess it’s been a while so I’ll check again.