# How do I start a career in computers with no experiance?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-start-a-career-in-computers-with-no-experiance/541949>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 4, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-start-a-career-in-computers-with-no-experiance/541949 "2010-06-04T16:50:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![passerby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a88e57/32.png) [@passerby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/passerby)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-start-a-career-in-computers-with-no-experiance/541949/21 "2010-06-04T22:44:56Z")

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Another option to consider is QA/testing. It’s not as technical or as sexy-sounding as programming so it’s easier to get into. Mind you, QA is all about finding problems and not solving them. Programmers hate it when testers try to tell them how to fix a bug (they hate it when testers find a bug too, but not as much).

Caveat: i’m not in the states so don’t know/don’t care about the job environment there.

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**Author:** ![Caldazar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Caldazar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caldazar)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-start-a-career-in-computers-with-no-experiance/541949/22 "2010-06-04T22:54:28Z")

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> [@DWMarch](#):
>
> FWIW (and I am not in the industry, I only fix friend computers as a hobby) I’d say get into hardware (computers are super easy to put together, especially modern ones) and learn the Windows install process (again easier with every new version). That way you can have people drop their computers off at your convenience. Then they will go away and leave you in peace so you can work (not the case in a corporate environment where they pay is possibly better but you have to put up with non-technical people breathing down your neck as you work) and you get to take your time backing up their data and reinstalling Windows while charging them a shop rate of $30-60/hour. Easy money.

This is a gross mischaracterization of a computer repair shop environment. The business is exceedingly difficult to survive in. The business is unsteady and customers are just as irrational as coworkers. The customers argue, claim that your actions made their system perform even more poorly, and try to demand all kinds of outrageous concessions and refunds. And you get to compete with the Geek Squads of the world, which, while at times providing somewhat poor service at exorbitant prices, have the benefit of giant marketing engines behind them. It can be a decent business to get into depending on the circumstances, but it’s hardly an easy way to make a living.

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