What did you do before you worked in IT?

Discussion in 'The Lounge - Off Topic' started by Arroryn, Sep 9, 2008.

  1. neutralhills

    neutralhills Kilobyte Poster

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    I was prepared for everything except getting blown part way through a wall by a natural gas explosion. I'd go back to kitchen work if I was physically able to. It's my first love.
     
    Certifications: Lots.
    WIP: Upgrading MS certs
  2. RickUK

    RickUK Nibble Poster

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    Crikey - you've hit the highs and the lows there! I would love to work as a programmer. But nothing in the world ever ever ever would make me want to be a night shift taxi-driver!
     
    WIP: 70-271
  3. wizard

    wizard Petabyte Poster

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    We all say that, however eventually you get to the point where you will do jobs that you never ever wanted to do, just to pay the bills.
     
    Certifications: SIA DS Licence
    WIP: A+ 2009
  4. RickUK

    RickUK Nibble Poster

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    Indeed Wizard. I note that you are also unemployed. Let's hope that neither of us has to sink too low. I have promised myself that I never want to go back into Sales. I hope that this comes true, but last time I made that promise I ended up in telemarketing.

    I just joined the Open University network on Facebook, by the way!

    R
     
    WIP: 70-271
  5. wizard

    wizard Petabyte Poster

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    I have already been at a lower point than I am at the moment, however I have not reached my lowest point yet, there is still a safety net in place.
     
    Certifications: SIA DS Licence
    WIP: A+ 2009
  6. Theprof

    Theprof Petabyte Poster

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    Before doing IT was a full time student. I started off going to college right after high school and only stayed there for one semester and then I switched to the trade school/vocational school for IT, I graduated after about 1 year and 4 months got my diploma and I've been working in IT ever since. I did have a part time job working at a local grocery store and a video store like blockbuster which I hated, couldn't stand the hours like 6pm-12am and then the next morning 11am-8pm, etc. I guess I would never be good at doing grave yard shifts.
     
    Certifications: A+ | CCA | CCAA | Network+ | MCDST | MCSA | MCP (270, 271, 272, 290, 291) | MCTS (70-662, 70-663) | MCITP:EMA | VCA-DCV/Cloud/WM | VTSP | VCP5-DT | VCP5-DCV
    WIP: VCAP5-DCA/DCD | EMCCA
  7. RickUK

    RickUK Nibble Poster

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    I could do with a safety net as well. Unfortunately I am a bit of an idealist so I tend to myself "next job will be far better than all others". The trouble with idealism in my experience is that it tends to result in - you've guessed it - telemarketing.
     
    WIP: 70-271
  8. Rover977

    Rover977 Byte Poster

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    I was never much good at Sales. The good thing about taxiing is you get to speak to a lot of different people without having the pressure to 'sell' them something. I have listened to a few 'life-stories' in my time, and its like being a social worker at times. I could not imagine ever doing Sales! Taxiing also allows you to study whilst waiting between fares, which is a big advantage. It has helped me get through three computer certifications, and I have read a lot of other books outside of computing as well. :biggrin:study
     
    Certifications: A+, Network+, Cisco CCNA
  9. Arroryn

    Arroryn we're all dooooooomed Moderator

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    Whilst not trying to sound demeaning, IMO there was nothing better than the 'mindless jobs' I used to do - in the respect that you could do them, do them well, but not give two hoots about them when clocking off time came. Labouring, forklift driving, a kiddie job on ice cream vans - fun, satisfying, no need to take your work home.

    With IT, it seems I'm constantly working. Even writing this, I'm not looking at the screen - I'm looking across at my mail traps (hurrah for two monitors!)

    Sales was a sado-masochistically good job.

    A target-driven pressure environment would be hellish, sure. But my-oh-my, don't helpdesk users pale in comparison to the abuse you get hurled down the phone at you when you're trying to cold-call someone? :biggrin

    In all seriousness, when I worked in sales, I wasn't target-driven, and even if I were, it wasn't a 'chase sales' environment. The level of order processing was that high that oftentimes I'd have to leave orders to the next day to input them. But only if I knew they needed delivering later on in the week of course :rolleyes:

    But the time-pressure of getting stuff processed really helped me with regards to dealing with workloads on the helpdesk. Which is why I try to say to people who have no IT experience that there are really rafters of skills you use in your day-to-day jobs and lives that can count towards experience on a helpdesk, if you sit for a minute and think about the skills that need to be applied.

    Even the manual labour job helped.

    Q: "You're a woman. You do know how heavy CRTs are, don't you?"
    A: "You did read on my CV that I used to pack concrete slabs for a living, right? ..."
     
    Certifications: A+, N+, MCDST, 70-410, 70-411
    WIP: Modern Languages BA
  10. Leehaa

    Leehaa Gigabyte Poster

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    ...Was into athletics and county champ at a few things so was gonna take that direction but got fed up of all the training...

    ...So Finished A-levels....was going to do a degree in Journalism (As loved English Language and Lit, writing, poetry)...but took a year out and did night shifts at a computer centre doing disaster recovery...

    ...then randomly went and did an HND in Health and Beauty (long story i'd rather forget)

    ...hated the HND/ beauty industry (but finished it nevertheless) and used the qualifications to work in a Laser company (Lightsheer diode)....but disagreed with some of the safety proceedures the company were using and also felt like I wasn't going anywhere...

    ...so decided to get back into IT and went to a company to do basic data entry...moved onto a bigger company to do first line....left them after 3 years for a smaller company...learned LOADS as they down-sized and the smaller they got the more I took on...then after 2 and a bit years the company went into liquidation and, after a few job offers (yay) and a lot of decision - making, I am a kind of first/second/third line support come network admin come hardware technician assistant type person.
     
    Certifications: MCP, MCDST, ITIL v3, MBCS, others...
    WIP: BSc IT & Computing, RHCE

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