Forum Home
PC World Chat
Thread ID: 128937	2013-01-24 06:57:00	To you guys working in IT at the moment and/or went to university for IT	8ftmetalhaed (14526)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1324703	2013-01-24 06:57:00	I'm about to start floundering around for my final semester at uni, and assuming I can catch up and keep up with my project work (and everyhing else that comes with the feb/march rush) I find myself more than ever wondering: What the hell have I learned while I've been at uni? It certainly doesn't feel like much. I mean, I've learned a bit about subnetting and setting up cisco routers, but for the most part I've just cruised on by not really doing much. And yet, all the jobs on offer seem to want years of experience, experience with linux (which for the most part has been optional throughout my degree) and even some of the networking jobs (my major is networking) want experience with sql and some other languages, which I did for a paper or two and forgot as quickly as the exam paper was handed in. So how am I supposed to go about getting a job? The idea after I leave uni is to get a job as a system administrator, but it doesn't feel like my degree has qualified me to do anything but spend a whole lot of money and waste a whole lot of time. Is this a usual feeling for university graduates? For those of you that have made it into the workforce, was anything you learned at university relevant? Or did it apply more to your interests outside of university? Where did you start? I'm feeling a little lost and disheartened at this point, so I'm looking for a little guidance. As it is I feel like I'm about to be dumped into as uncertain a position as I was in when I was leaving school 3 years ago.	8ftmetalhaed (14526)
1324704	2013-01-24 07:19:00	:2cents: My degrees were in business. I started with a stint as a temp call centre in govt and made it thru to admin and then into analyst roles within govt, even the last role been quite generic, it wasn't like a economist role or anything. Some had generic degrees too or at least applied, like pharmaceitical, engineering, arts degree, or even no degree at all. I wasn't smart enough to get into those graduate positions when they headhunt you at uni .. I did a course after working to get into finance and know what ya mean .. even thou I have worked there before in those other roles even when I have been shortlisted for an interview again at govt, they still look for very relevant experience ......... I heard from a few people I know in IT, they started in helpdesk or desktop support ie Datacom or Telstra (in Aussie), a few mature students started their own company in service/support/repair/training.	Nomad (952)
1324705	2013-01-24 08:10:00	What inspires you about IT? What do you enjoy doing, what excites you, and what would inspire you to get up early in the morning to work on? What courses did you enjoy, and what have you done in your own time related to IT that has interested you? Or... did you just choose IT for the money? I think it's natural to feel a little bit lost - "IT" is a very broad industry, and one that can be a little frightening to begin with. You might find yourself changing jobs several times before you find an area that you really enjoy and can excel at. Right now the project I'm working on isn't overly exciting, but in the last 12 months I've worked on some very high profile (no, NOT Novopay!) and challenging opportunities. My general comment would be that there definitely are jobs out there, but you need have the right attitude, be excited and willing to learn, and also get out there and sell yourself. For example, the company I work for is doing a bit of a graduate recruitment drive at the moment, with the intention to hire some exceptional graduates (or those who have been in the industry for a few years and want a change) over the next couple of months for junior roles, and provide them with the appropriate training and mentoring so they can grow. The main thing we're looking for is people with the right attitude and personality; we can teach people the technical skills they need to do their job, but we can't teach them to be motivated, passionate, and have a good work ethic. Edit: Regarding the comment you made about being unsure if your degree has prepared you for a sysadmin role, you need to remember that university won't teach you everything, but should have (hopefully) given you a good foundation of skills. In the first few years of employment you will learn a lot - the key thing is to keep learning (in your own time, as well as at the office).	somebody (208)
1324706	2013-01-24 18:33:00	I've learned a bit about subnetting and setting up cisco routers, but for the most part I've just cruised on by not really doing much . And yet, all the jobs on offer seem to want years of experience, experience with linux and even some of the networking jobs want experience with sql and some other languages, which I did for a paper or two and forgot as quickly as the exam paper was handed in . So how am I supposed to go about getting a job? . With difficulty . You may have to start on helpdesk or something else low on the career path . Or do some free work experience . It's not just IT, it happens with lots of grads . You could keep an eye on Webdrive, the usual move from Helpdesk is to Tier 2, and more networking stuff . . . . . or companies like that .	pctek (84)
1324707	2013-01-24 19:48:00	So how am I supposed to go about getting a job? The idea after I leave uni is to get a job as a system administrator, but it doesn't feel like my degree has qualified me to do anything but spend a whole lot of money and waste a whole lot of time. Is this a usual feeling for university graduates? You're unlikely to be able to land a SysAdmin role straight out of Uni without any prior commercial experience. It's not impossible, just unlikely. Your safest bet is to look for a desktop support role in a mid-to-large size organisation, or for an outsourced support company. If you get a couple of years experience in SME support, you're a far stronger candidate for SysAdmin type roles. That said, there is a shortage of quality SysAdmin candidates at the moment, so more places may be willing to take on promising-looking new graduates for Junior SysAdmin roles.	inphinity (7274)
1324708	2013-01-24 20:04:00	What inspires any one about IT?? i think the first answer would be "you get it"	Gobe1 (6290)
1324709	2013-01-24 20:33:00	Yeah basically think of it like this: Uni has given you the knowledge to do a lot of things, now you just have to work up your experience. inphinity is right on the money, start small and work your way up. It'll take a couple of years but it's not difficult. Basically a company isn't going to give you the reigns to their whole network when you've never done it before, they'd be shooting themselves and you in the foot, you've gotta work your way up the corporate ladder. There's a truckload of jobs out there, it's a massive and rapidly expanding industry, with a ton of variety! Hell I just had a job offer from a competing company just this week... I'm with Gobe1 though, for me it's just that it's logical when it comes to working through it. That and I enjoy solving problems :D	Chilling_Silence (9)
1324710	2013-01-24 20:41:00	Yeah problem solving skill helps a lot Chill, its amazing when some one says "how the hell did you work that out?? or notice that?"	Gobe1 (6290)
1324711	2013-01-24 23:48:00	I was in the same boat many years back There are guys with Degree's & 10 years Computer experience competing for the same jobs as you. They often come into our workshop looking for jobs PC repair\network admin is all about experience This is the modern world there are no guaranteed jobs out there. Jobs are hard to find even for those with experience. All you can do is start knocking on doors, sending out CV's & hope to impress a potential employer with your persistence & attitude. Treat your job hunt like a full time job, ie 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.	1101 (13337)
1324712	2013-01-25 00:54:00	www.gradconnection.co.nz Yeah like others have said, walking into an Junior SA job would not be normal. I worked 3 years as a tech before I got a roll as an SA, and always tried to dip into the networking/SA type jobs at my tech job to build up some skills. I'd say you will learn more relevant stuff in the first 6 months of a tech/helpdesk job that you did in Uni.	Alex B (15479)
1 2