Got my A+ and am constantly rejected

Discussion in 'A+' started by Methuselah, Oct 1, 2012.

  1. Methuselah

    Methuselah New Member

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    Hello I'm new to this forum and I'd just like to vent/get some advice. Ive been an electrician (now carded) for almost 8 years now and was looking for a career that wasn't as hard on my body and didn't slow down during the winter months. I settled on IT (I've always liked computers but didn't honestly have much technical knowlege about them) and studied 200+ hours in my spare time to get A+ certified. All I have is my GED but I thought this cert would at least get me a help desk job. I have been putting in applications on every craigslist/monster PC support post I've found for the past 2 months and haven't received a single email back! Should I start studying for my Network+ or just accept that I'm never going to get into this field without some kind of college degree? I am severely dissappointed at this point. I can't go back in time and change the fact I didn't complete high school but I thought with enough effort I could overcome that. Now I'm not so sure...:(
     
  2. Beerbaron

    Beerbaron Megabyte Poster

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    Welcome to CF. Unfortunately there are many people in the same situation as you right now. All you can do is press on and try to make yourself stand out from the rest. N+ would be a good place to start.
     
    Certifications: BSc (Hons), MSc, ITIL v3F, MCP, MCDST, MCITP: edst7, MCTS, MCSA: Server 2003, MCSA: Windows 7, N+, NVQ IT lvl 3, MCSA Windows 7, VCP5, CCENT, CEH
    WIP: CISSP
  3. kevicho

    kevicho Gigabyte Poster

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    Have you had your CV checked? Getting a helpdesk job is just as much showing your Customer Service skills as well as the techy side, but as beerbaron says, applications will be in the hundreds at the moment so you just need to keep trying.

    Good luck
     
    Certifications: A+, Net+, MCSA Server 2003, 2008, Windows XP & 7 , ITIL V3 Foundation
    WIP: CCNA Renewal
  4. jvanassen

    jvanassen Kilobyte Poster

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    Dont give up, get cracking with the N+ and your time will come.
     
    Certifications: CompTIA A+, Network+, CCENT
    WIP: ICND2 200-101
  5. Methuselah

    Methuselah New Member

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    Thank you all for your words of encouragement! I'm going to start cramming for N+ next week as it seems that none of you have come out and blantantly stated I need a degree to get into this field. Although eventually getting one would undoubtabley help. All I can do is keep trying if I really want to switch careers....haha I'll be the first MSCE, A+, N+, Security+ certified person who's never had a job with computers by the end of this I'll bet.

    - - - Updated - - -

    And all I have is a resume attached to a cover letter. I've only worked 2 places as an electrician over the past 8 years and wasn't fired from the first one so my work history is alright. I wouldn't know how to write a CV or the major difference between that and a resume :eek:
     
  6. The Zig

    The Zig Kilobyte Poster

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    Yeah. You don't seem to need a degree for a lot of IT. As far as I can tell, it helps in some of the more abstract parts of IT, such as software design and business IT analysis. Stuff like that. In most of the places I've worked so far, degrees don't even come up in discussion. It's all about A+ this, MCITP that, CCNA the other. Sounds like you're on the right track, and you certainly shouldn't feel that lack of a degree will hold you back.
    Maybe you can do one later.

    As for what to do now... Keep going. It's tough now. Given you say "college degree" and "high school" I'm gonna guess you're not UK-based, but from my experience here I know IT can be regional. Outside of the hotspots, it can be slow to get started.

    Key things you've got going for you are clear evidence of motivation and enthusiasm (studying in spare time) and a solid work history. Make sure they're clear in your CV. The other things I'd look out for:-
    • make sure you emphasise any customer service experience
    • make sure the English in your CV doesn't let you down (get someone to read over it for you)

    And is there a difference between a CV and a Resume?! I don't think there is. I think it's just a name. CV is what UK people tend to say. Resume's more popular in the US if I remember right. I don't think there's any actual difference...
    Could be wrong tho!
     
    Certifications: A+; Network+; Security+, CTT+; MCDST; 4 x MTA (Networking, OS, Security & Server); MCITP - Enterprise Desktop Support; MCITP - Enterprise Desktop Administrator; MCITP - Server Administrator; MCSA - Server 2008; MCT; IOSH; CCENT
    WIP: CCNA; Server 2012; LPIC; JNCIA?
  7. NetworkMD

    NetworkMD Bit Poster

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    I agree if you stick with it everything will work out. If you haven't already consider visiting some of the sites and put an application in person and push your face to face as much as you can. When you get an interview consider putting together a high level gameplan of what you will do in the first 90 days that will sit you apart from most of the applicants. Good luck I have been in IT 32 years
     
  8. snahfu

    snahfu New Member

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    this is predominantly a uk member forum?
     
  9. GSteer

    GSteer Megabyte Poster

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    I believe it started out that way - but there's a few overseas people involved now too.
     
    Certifications: BSc. (Comp. Sci.), MBCS, MCP [70-290], Specialist [74-324], Security+, Network+, A+, Tea Lord: Beverage Brewmaster | Courses: LFS101x Introduction to Linux (edX)
    WIP: CCNA Routing & Switching
  10. shadowwebs

    shadowwebs Megabyte Poster

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    The jobs that you are applying for, are they looking for the A+ along with other certs in the job / person specification? As even though you have the A+, if you are going up against someone else and they also have the A+ but a few years of experience doing the job then that other person is going to get the job over you
     
    Certifications: compTIA A+, Apple Certified Technical Coordinator 10.10 (OS X Yosemite, Server and Support)
  11. AlanNicholls

    AlanNicholls New Member

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    where did you do your a+ ? can you recomend any training companies ?
     
  12. l4ter

    l4ter Nibble Poster

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    @ alan a+ training professor messor videos on youtube, the man is a ledgend! (obviously find some structure for the actual exams)
     
    Certifications: BSc Computing, A+, N+, MCITP Enterprise
    WIP: MD-100
  13. snahfu

    snahfu New Member

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    did you only watch his 801/802 videos? (and ignore all the 701/2 stuff?)
     
  14. shadowwebs

    shadowwebs Megabyte Poster

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    when i studied the exam, the 801/2 was not out at that point, so i only did the 701/2, if your studying for the 801/2 then study the 801/802 and not the 701/2
     
    Certifications: compTIA A+, Apple Certified Technical Coordinator 10.10 (OS X Yosemite, Server and Support)
  15. Learntec Glen

    Learntec Glen Bit Poster

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    I think that your ambitions need to be realistic. If you think that a A+ cert is going to land you a £30000 job, then you'll waiting a very long time. A+ is just the very basics as far as an employer is concerned. Realistically you'll need A+, N+, win7/8 and server 2k8/2012 to get a job for around £21000. To get a job for £30000, you'll need at least an MCITP Administration/Enterprise or MCSA/MCSE 2012 and ideally 2 years experience. If you want to achieve this quickly then self study isn't the answer, instead you will have to invest in some courses and study full on for 1 to 2 years. All in all you will probably spend £2000 to £3000. Sorry if I bursted your bubble. I'm not out to make you depressed, I'm just being honest.
     
    Certifications: A+, Sec+, MCP, MCTS, MCSA, MCSE, MCITP, CVE
    WIP: Server 2012

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