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Thread ID: 47670	2004-08-02 05:20:00	Off Topic: Tech Support Job	Ashley Matthews (550)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
257499	2004-08-02 05:20:00	Just wondering what qualifications one would need to get to obtain some kind of tech support job part time. I'm a Computer Science student, would that be enough or would I need some kind of certificate. I'm talking maybe at an ISP like Orcon or something..	Ashley Matthews (550)
257500	2004-08-02 05:35:00	In reality - Qualifications only help Experience goes a long way in jobs like that! Try Teletech :-) Chill.	Chilling_Silence (9)
257501	2004-08-02 05:39:00	> I'm talking maybe at an ISP like Orcon or something.. Email them and ask them.	tommy (2826)
257502	2004-08-02 07:51:00	Although money for work is good, try work experience (often unpaid). Organizations will often be keen to take on work experience volunteers. If you stick with one organization for your work experience, it may lead to a job later. Qualifications are a big help but practical experience can never be replaced.	beama (111)
257503	2004-08-02 08:23:00	Try door knocking. You just may impress someone. There is no need to just wait for adverts in your local paper_ = NZ General Chat / Debate =================================================N Z= Msg : 1626 [1-1681] From : Heather Lennox 16-Jun-04 21:01:13 3:772/100.10 To : Miles Maxted 3:772/1 Subj : Pussyfooting around ================================================== ==================NZ_FIDONET= MM> Did I ever tell you how we acquired this cat ? We were MM> looking for a bit of office help and put an ad in the local MM> paper saying "HELP WANTED. Must be able to type, must be good MM> with a computer and must be bilingual. We are an Equal MM> Opportunity Employer." MM> A short time afterwards, this cat trotted up to our front MM> door and scratched for attention, sat on the mat and looked MM> expectant. MM> Getting the idea, we said "We can't hire you. The ad said you MM> have to be able to type." MM> The cat leapt past us, went to the keyboard and proceeded to MM> type out a perfect letter. He took out the page and laid it MM> on the desk neatly. MM> Stunned, we told the cat, "The ad said you have to be good MM> with a computer." MM> The cat went back to the computer and proceeded to MM> demonstrate a considerable expertise with various programs, MM> produced a sample spreadsheet and database, laying them out MM> on the desk beside the letter. MM> Then he printed off the email that posted the ad in the MM> paper... with the bit about Equal Opportunity underlined ! MM> By this time, we were totally dumbfounded! We pointed out MM> that our ad said, "that you have to be bilingual." ... and MM> the cat looked at us straight in the face and said, "Woof !" MM> But he didnt say anything about karfing up dinner... <giggles> But was he house-trained as well? - From the insane desk of Supernerd - Ave, Rex Moderatus Physicus! / Taglines by Taglinator - www.srtware.com / --- * Origin: The Rock BBS - Where sanity is an option. (3:772/100.10) All copy put here and was not from the Internet. Not my own work. Comes from Fidonet.	Elephant (599)
257504	2004-08-02 09:54:00	What you're doing now would be more than enough to get you into first level tech support for an ISP	Greg S (201)
257505	2004-08-02 10:42:00	> What you're doing now would be more than enough to > get you into first level tech support for an ISP I tend to disagree with that. It would depend very much on the ISP in question, as the quality of tier 1 helpdesk staf varies greatly from ISP to ISP. In my brief tenure as IT support at a university, I was involved with supporting people with PhD's in Computer Science, Honours students, lecturers and students - the majority of them could program up anything they like, or build a database but a practical IT problem like 'put this PC on a network' or 'I can't print' completely flummoxed them. A CompSci honours student I worked with deleted all the files on his C: drive (windows, the lot) in an attempt to save a word document - seems the floppy wasn't big enough. Computer Science/Information Systems and technical support definitely do not go hand in hand - completely different disciplines. While I don't know you, you might have the skills to do it, however a larger number realistically will not. As stated, qualifications mean little in the IT industry - every man and their dog is touting some kind of a qualification, it's real skills and experience that is the tester. I've just finished a 2 year stint on an ISP helpdesk, with no IT qualifications to speak of aside from experience - it complemented my study nicely, I'm now further up the ladder at the same company - still without an IT qual and in fact studying in a completely different field, go figure!?	whiskeytangofoxtrot (438)
257506	2004-08-02 10:57:00	> I've just finished a 2 year stint on an ISP helpdesk, > with no IT qualifications to speak of aside from > experience - it complemented my study nicely, I'm now > further up the ladder at the same company - still > without an IT qual and in fact studying in a > completely different field, go figure!? That's exactly where I was a few years ago - with nothing remotely like an IT qualification - so if I could do it (or you) then someone with at least a modicum of IT training will definitly have the apptitude even if not the experience, to get into entry-level support	Greg S (201)
257507	2004-08-02 11:10:00	I would recommend some, like polytech ones, but my qualifications tend to be discredited around here...	Growly (6)
257508	2004-08-02 21:40:00	I would think that customer service skills would be just as important as IT skills in a role like this. I'm looking for work at the moment and, because I have a keen interest in technology and experience in customer service, this thread has got me thinking about the possibility of entry level tech support work. Is there much helpdesk work available outside of Auckland?	Alasta (1420)
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