Help the starting-out type by sharing your success in the IT field! 5

[JoJoH]

Hi all!

Mind to share your experiences of your sucess in the IT field so far? (Such as how you started your own web design company, how you got your mcsd certification, what excellent resouces did you use, etc) I thought this will be extremely helpful to young, starting out type people like me! Its always good to learn from other people's experience!

Many thanks!



JoJoH

http://www.jadeboutique.com

 

[jcp03]

Hi there

Well I myself am back in school studying for a certificate for the next year or so. I am also going for A+ and Network+ certs and hopefully one day MCSE and designing systems, but at almost $1000 for all 7 tests, that is gonna be a while.

I have a small business, I build custom PCs on a client to client level. What that means is that the client decides what goes into the computer for components, and since I don't sell the computers (the client buys all of the parts and I install, test and deliver the final product) it is less of a headache for the client.

I have been working with PCs since 99 when mine was built for me and in that time I learned a lot more than I ever thought possible. That was because I was shown what was inside the tower and I was even shown how to remove the components properly etc.

I am also a webmaster (although not as a professional) I just build sites for fun. I have worked with Frontpage, Composer, Dreamweaver, and Trelix. I hope to build my own Linux based server so I can host my own site and not be limited to free hosts (and lack of really good add-ons like PHP, etc.

Well anyway that is a little about me. ;-)

JCP03

 

[JoJoH]

Thanks for sharing JCP03! I am so glad there is people like you who will take the time to share! I've always asked myself, now... where should I start? And I would just hope to hear from someone who've walked the walk, am I glad there is this forum called Tek-tips ! Basically, I've just finished high school and am planning to go to college next year, in the mean time between now and next year I plan to work on the MCSD cert., and hopefully some time in the future start a web design business.. I've got alot of goals but I do need alot of advices from experienced people like you to help me along the way!

Thanks again JCP03!(oh, and welcome to Tek-tips!)

JoJoH

http://www.jadeboutique.com

 

[jcp03]

No Prop JoJoH, and thanks for the warm welcome ;-)

What kind of advice would you like?

JCP03

 

[mwolf00]

Three years ago, I was a regional manager of a moving company and the dotcom boom was all aroud me. The long hours my job required were becoming an issue since my first son had been born. Having a nack for logic/programming, I decided to get some training. Had no idea what I was doing.

Paid $5000 to an IT training facility for a years worth of training. Took Oracle programming as my first course. Started looking for a job and I saw that "entry-level" jobs were requiring 2-3 years experience! The company started a course where they "guaranteed" employment.

I quit my job, gave the company another $6500 and trained with them for 4 weeks @40hrs/wk. The training was very basic. The 6wks of "on-the-job" training they'd promised was pitiful. I was left in charge of the other ppl I'd trained with to develop an intranet for the company. Then the dotcom boom went bust.

After the initial 10 wks, they gave me a job for $16/hr (less than half of what I used to make) teaching classes for them and maintianing their web site. I was the lucky one. Most of my classmates received sales jobs at $8 - $10 per hour.

After 8 months, I was subcontracted to the gov't through 3 other companies. While on that job I was noticed by others and was able to pick from 2 other job offers. Now, I make more than I ever did and I only work 40 hours a week.

Throughout the whole process, I worked at what I was learning. The formal training I'd received was barely adequate for developing my own website. It would never be enough for a job. I taught myself constantly. I am still teaching myself. This sight is AWESOME because I get to solve others problems before I encounter them myself. People ask "How can I do X?" and I try to figure out the answer. Then I read other's answers and I learn a whole lot from the gurus that are here.

I guess what I'm saying is love what you're doing and make it your hobby as well as your career. Beware of fly-by-night companies who are out to get your money while training you with ppl who know very little themselves.

Good luck.

Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build better and bigger idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning. - Rick Cook (No, I'm not Rick)

 

[ChrisHunt]

How did I get started? Well, a long time ago in a galaxy far away I got "into" computers when I was at school. This was in the late seventies/early eighties - in those days, if you got a home computer (the PC hadn't been invented) you were expected to program it! From school I went on to do a Computing degree, and on graduation got a job in the local council's Computing department (see a pattern emerging here?). After several years I got the chance to take voluntary redundancy & go freelance - haven't looked back since then. Got into web design a few years back. I still earn my living as a database developer, but web work is a useful second string - and has also allowed me to rediscover my computing-as-a-hobby roots.

What mwolf00 says about learning from this forum (and others like it) is absolutely true. There's nothing like the challenge of solving real-life problems for building up your abilities, and of course you pick up a lot from others' answers (even if it's sometimes what NOT to do!).

-- Chris Hunt

http://www.extracon.com

http://www.mcgonagall-online.org.uk

http://www.napitalia.org.uk

http://www.leicesteryha.org.uk

 

[tmphuskers]

I got into computers through a buddy in the early days of BBS’s prior to the Internet. I always wanted to try and make money doing something with computers someday. I never went to school for it, in fact I went for a Criminal Justice degree, way on the other end of the spectrum. I have always just toyed around. I saw my first flash website several years ago and really was interested how it was done. I got the program and a book and started trying to make a ball bounce across my screen. All I do now is read read read, with lots of trial and error. I built my first website for my wedding using Frontpage. It looked pretty bad but matched my skill at the time. Later I heard about Dreamweaver. I got the program and a book and started my learning. Then I wanted to start making money. Through tons of research I was able to find the right hosting company, the right shopping cart (Miva), and the will to succeed.

I had no idea about how to start a business. I mean it was really overwhelming. I made a list of things I knew I needed and read about the rest. I got a business name, license, etc… I got tips from family and friends, others that have started business. That helped me pick up valuable pieces along the way.
It took me about 6-8 months to complete my first full ecommerce website. Again lots of trial and error and help from this forum. I have been up and running for a while now and have been getting orders on a weekly basis.

I just recently had enough confidence to want to build sites for others. I always thought I needed tons of experience and a large portfolio to show off my talent. Not true. I am building one now for a bad promoter. I knew how much time it would take for me to build but had no idea what to charge. I mow yards on the side and have been doing that for several years, so that helped give me an idea where to start. I thought I was worth $25.00 an hour and thought it might only take me 18 hours to complete (cheap I know). And I boiled it down to basically what do I want out of it. And I wanted people to know I built that site. Many many bands and local club owners would be looking at the site. That can potentially get me a lot of business. If I make the site look good of course. But have you looked at some amateur bands sites lately. Not a lot of competition. : )
You will definitely need to do your own homework because you don’t want to get caught doing something for nothing, which happens all the time. Every job is a lesson learned and experience gained.
And as mwolf00 mentioned stay away from fly-by-nighters. That sounds simple but you will be amazed how easy it is to fall into that trap. Always give youself time to think. Make good rational business decisions. Don’t get hooked on a lot of the fluff.
I have made mistakes and failed at things along the way but my end goal is always right in front of me.
Now I feel pretty good about tackling complicated tasks and jumping right into the uncomfortable conversations about money and what to charge etc..
Good luck. And to this day, I am still reading and learning.

 

[JoJoH]

Wow, thanks mwolf00, ChrisHunt, and tmphuskers for taking your time to share!

mwolf00:Wow I do hope that someday when I do get a job I'll have "multiple" job offers and be "noticed" and make "more than I ever did"! Yep I agree with you, when you love what you are doing, you'll do it well, you are a perfect example of that! And thanks for the warning about "fly-by-nighters"(my, you've spent quite a huge sum of money there)


JoJoH

http://www.jadeboutique.com

 

[byteofram]

I have been one of the fortunate ones during this IT downturn, and I contribute it to having a great IT background, good problem solving skills, and personality that is likeable. I started out in college as Pre-Med, but working part time at the computer lab on campus (which is one of the best in the country, the lab that is!). By the end of my freshman year, I had switched to computer science. I worked my way up in the University's computer department, until I was one of the "top dogs" so to speak. During the summer before my senior year, 4 of my buddies and I started a computer consulting company. Ended up firing 2 of them (one my best friend) because they didn't have the drive and dedication. So I worked my part time job at the computer department and ran my computer business. When I graduated, AT&T hired me as a Network Administrator, which is almost unheard of straight out of school. But my job experience and interviewing skills helped me get the job. I worked there 5 years, and now work for a Plastics company as the director of IT operations. Good computer people will always be able to find great jobs....if you have the traits mentioned above. Running a business is a lot of work, but worthwhile. I do side jobs now at $100/hr, but prefer to have the steady paycheck each week at this point in my life. I like the side jobs to buy the "toys" and vacations!

 

[JoJoH]

Whoops, pressed "Submit post" too early in my previous post!

tmphuskers/Todd: Thanks for sharing! Talking about "Trials and errors"! I understand perfectly! I've encountered gazillions of them! Thanks for excellent example on facing the problem, deal with it and finally suceeding! Its always such an inspiration to hear real life stories like this!


ChirstHunt: Thanks for sharing! Yes I agree completely with you on learning through experiencing and picking up bits and pieces from other's experience, in fact that's how I've learned alot of the things I know today! (You've helped me out quite a few times too before, thx!)


byteofram: Thanks for sharing! Glad you are having such a successful life, having the traits you've mentioned about is indeed essential to be successful!

Thanks again guys!

JoJoH

http://www.jadeboutique.com