Saying hi to everyone!

Discussion in 'New Members Introduction' started by Ro, Feb 9, 2010.

  1. Ro

    Ro New Member

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    Hey everyone,

    <--Insert generic repeated overheard whining intro post here -->

    Yep, thats right, and i apologise unreservedly to anyone i will force into a coma reading this post, but i really am at the end of my rope.

    I am 20 going on 21 now, and it has been dawning on me for ages that i seriously need to get into IT as a career. Yes i am incredibly late, and its taken about 4 extra years for me to realise what i want to do as a job, and here i am. I left school after gaining my GCSE's having no clue what to do as a career, and it stayed that way until about 19, when i realised that the answer was blindingly obvious, IT. I have 0 qualifications in IT aside from a microsoft office specialist certificate in Excel 2000...<--Truly Pro :tongue . I have been messing about for too long without making any clinical decisions. i was originally planning on joining the army as a royal signals communications systems engineer, but honestly i dont think i could achieve it..big burly guys yelling in my face, early morning wake ups, getting a barrett 50.cal bullet to the head..i bottled it basically.

    I then looked at learning a course from a company, but honestly didnt know what route to take. So now i have found your site, and it seems like an absolute godsend, i have looked around at all the info on here and its brilliant, i got so excited i just need to post something...somewhere!! Trust me i will go back to lurking around the site after this and learning more and more.

    But anyway, i need some advice from you guys. Im looking to get into a role (eventually) of looking after a companies network of computers, be the main guy with regards to serious problems with computers, setting up networks etc. Until then I am looking to head to the technical support side, 1st line/2nd line support, helping troubleshoot that sort of stuff. I love IT, im forever messing with my pc, and am always helping family/friends with computer troubles, sometimes work colleagues depending on what it is. I enjoy solving problems, learning new things and helping people with IT, i just wish i had realised this when i was 16. I pray im not too old to make a true impact. I take it the best route to take would be to get certified for A+, N+, MCDST. I have looked at Computeach offering a course, do they charge for a year then you learn whatever courses you can jam in that time? I'm not sure i understand their pricing fully. Or do i study at home? Or do i just ctrl+alt+del my life :P

    There we have it guys, be kind. I apologise again if i bored anyone with problems members here may have experienced as well.

    Cheers :cheers P.S sorry for poor spelling/grammar...i was just so excited :biggrin
     
  2. BosonMichael
    Honorary Member Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    Welcome!

    Incredibly late? Not even close! Rather early, I'd say. I got started at age 28 and have made a fine career out of it (at the ripe young age of 40 now!). I've known people to get started in their 50s. So comparatively, you're a newborn babe barely out of diapers! :)

    You can do anything you set out to do. I was a scrawny geek going into the Army as an Electronic Warfare Analyst/Linguist, and had drill sergeants screaming in my face... until Basic Training was over and they treated me like the man and soldier I had become.

    No need to lurk - become an active part of the community! We're all here to help one another. So be vocal. It's so worth it.

    That's a good plan and a good goal. Don't expect it to happen overnight... but if you take it one step at a time, I can say with some degree of confidence that it will most likely happen. :)

    Not too many places will entrust 16, 17, 18 year olds... or even 21 year olds... with a network. So don't feel that you've wasted your life away. You've got PLENTY of time!! And a 7-year head start on me!

    In any case, you have the right mindset. Those who love IT tend to do best in the career field, quickly surpassing those who do it for the money or who don't have the drive and determination to advance. Oh, you'll definitely encounter those along the way, I can promise you that.

    You've done your reading... I like you already.

    ...ah, but you haven't done enough reading. ;)

    You don't need a course. Grab a book and some old hardware and learn on your own. Then go take the exam. It's as simple as that.

    Welcome again, Ro. Enjoy the community. :)
     
    Certifications: CISSP, MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCSE: Messaging, MCDST, MCDBA, MCTS, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
    WIP: Just about everything!
  3. onoski

    onoski Terabyte Poster

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    Hi and welcome to CF:) and I'd look into the advice listed above if I were you as it's spot on.
     
    Certifications: MCSE: 2003, MCSA: 2003 Messaging, MCP, HNC BIT, ITIL Fdn V3, SDI Fdn, VCP 4 & VCP 5
    WIP: MCTS:70-236, PowerShell
  4. Notes_Bloke

    Notes_Bloke Terabyte Poster

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    Hi & welcome:D

    NB
     
    Certifications: 70-210, 70-215, A+,N+, Security+
    WIP: MCSA
  5. LukeP

    LukeP Gigabyte Poster

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    Hey

    Welcome to CF :D
     
    WIP: Uhmm... not sure
  6. Becki

    Becki Byte Poster

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    Hi Ro,

    I am the same fore mentioned age as yourself and have been working in IT for the past two years.

    I have no degree and i left college age 18 with a few a-levels when a flyer from Zenos got mailed to me from connextions, so i went a looked around and applied. Although a lot of my experience there was class-room based my trainer managed to re-light the spark i had for computers a few years earlier in my teens (breaking the home pc - windows 98- on purpose just to fix it to my parents dismay!:twisted: )

    They were able to let me study for my A+, N+, MCDST (5 month intensive course) along with NVQ Level 3, ADITP (advanced Diploma for IT Practicioners - very useful i found) and MCSA over the past 2 years since leaving the course all for free! (i think that they now charge for the N+ exam).

    But Michael is right, you don't have to go on a course, you could study at home!

    If you have any more questions, just Ask

    Welcome:biggrin

    Thanks, Becki
     
    Certifications: NVQ IC3 A+ Network+ MCDST MCITP MCTS Vista & 7
  7. singe1642

    singe1642 Bit Poster

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    Hi there,
    BosunMichael is spot on with advice, wish I'd found this site before getting burnt with a TP going out of business (sorry guys):oops:. Looks like self study for me now.
     
    WIP: CompTIA A+ Essentilas

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