Re entering workforce

[iLikeCats]

I got my bachelors degree after the dotcom crash and couldn't find graduate work, so i stayed home with the kids while my wife supported us.

What would be the best way for a 30yo computer science grad with no industry experience to re enter the workforce?

TIA

 

[RandeKnight]

There are a few options :
a) get some specialist certifications for something you have an interest in. You might get in where HR just pattern matches for them.
b) Start at the bottom in helldesk. And in a mere 10 years you might be trusted to change the paper in the printer.
c) Do some programming for OSS. Make a name for yourself and you'll be able to claim that as experience.
d) lie like a weasel on your resume.

 

[eyeswideclosed]

I've found the best way to get any job is through contacts, cultivate your friends, network, never burn bridges.

If more than 1 goose are geese, why aren't more than 1 moose meese??

 

[edfair]

Might want to see if you can do some charity work in the field. No or low pay for the duration but the experince counts.

 

[tomed]

Look for a support type position in a small company. A lot of times smaller companies are more willing to take a chance and do more on the job training.

Also, you will get to know the other people in the company and have a better chance at advancing.

 

[lgarner]

I'd agree with looking for a smaller company. Plus, leverage any experience that you do have.

I started as an accountant in a property management firm where I grew to manage their small network. My first real net admin job was with another property management firm, more because of industry experience than technical.

 

[kHz]

I know the "lie like a weasel on your resume" was joking (I hope) but NEVER lie about anything on your resume. I leave some things off my resume if I don't want to do it ever again, but I never list something I haven't done.

A resume is a marketing tool. It will never get someone a job but can keep you from getting a job. Think of it as an advertisement of yourself and what you are trying to sell.

Coca-Cola owns Powerade, but their commercials only point to Coke and leave a good impression of their product but they don't mention Powerade.

A new Levi's commercial starts with a crook running through a neighborhood on cam with the local TV helicopter crew, cuts to a guy laying on the couch with his hot girlfriend wathcing TV. The TV is showing the cam of the crook running through the neighorhood. The guy watching TV notices the cam is showing their backyard where the crook is stealing his Levi's that are drying on the clothesline. So he abruptly gets off the couch and goes outside and tackles the crook and the cops arrest the crook.

The story there is Levi jeans are that good that you will do anything to keep them or in the case of the crook, do anything to get them. Your resume should have the same appeal to a company; "I'll do anything to get that guy or gal because they are good!" or "I am that good you better snatch me before somebody else does."

Again the resume is a marketing tool and you have to know what you want before you can write it. It can't just have a bunch of "stuff" that was plagarized from other resumes that magically creates yours.

They are not easy but they are effective in getting an interview, which then becomes another marketing tool - selling yourself!

With selling you focus on the benefits and what they can do for someone. If a soccer mom is shopping for a car you don't want to sell her a Mini Cooper because that isn't what she wants. You need to foucs on safety and space, then probably comfort and economy and price. But you could probably sell the higher priced vehicle to her if it has a higher safety rating and is more protective than another model that may be a couple thousand less. Same thing in an interview. What can you do for them. Anyone applying for the job can use sendmail and administer company email; what else can you do for them? Maybe qmail would be a better alternative, and maybe you can replace the server it is running on with a newer model that has higher throughput that will increase the amount of emails they can send out, which in turn may generate a higher response rate from their customers, which in turn will increase sales that impacts the bottom line of the company. You just increased their revenue 12% buying a new computer and software that set them back $5000, but that 12% is $100,000 in revenue.

Good Luck!

 

[spamly]

Hmm...

I'd recommend getting a helpdesk job with a larger company. Admittedly, you'd start off fairly low on the totem pole, but you'd get exposed to all sorts of technologies and teams. You can then set your sites on a desirable technology and work internally to get to the team you want.

Just my 2 cents. It worked for many people in my company (~20K employees).

Good luck!

 

[Lilliabeth]

Certify, certify, certify.

College degrees say many good things, including that you were, at some time, at least somewhat competent and able to complete the requirements to get a diploma.

Certifications say you are competent in current technologies - and this is what you are lacking.

You should have been doing this while the kids were napping!
You should have also been setting up a network in your basement, programming something, or practicing whatever craft you want to eventually be paid for.




Lilliabeth
-Why use a big word when a diminutive one will do?-

 

[LadySlinger]

Lillabeth - what you say is true about certs, but many colleges & Unis are now updating themselves with the current technologies. At least the 5 in my area all have the latest software on their computers. Just like degrees though a cert just says You took a test about a current technology and passed.

Really in the end its about gaining experience. I highly suggest starting off in Help Desk or anything technical support related and go from there.

 

[eyeswideclosed]

I'm not sure I agree about the importance of certifications, while they can't hurt, those in the industry know they aren't much good without actual hands-on experience on real-world systems, otherwise it's just theory, there are many things that can't be taught in schools, and knowledge of a business' structure and data rules are as important as anything and can only come from experience. I've never worked anywhere where anybody was certified in anything, we've all just been doing this for a long time, but it would be a good starting point if nothing else was working for you.

If more than 1 goose are geese, why aren't more than 1 moose meese??

 

[Lilliabeth]

Ladyslinger, I'm glad to hear that universities are more-up-date, but I was actually commenting that he apparently hasn't done anything since graduating to keep his skills current.

eyeswideclosed, Certainly hands-on is a must - that's why he should have used his time while raising kids to hone his craft. Experience doesn't necessarily mean job experience. My suggestion is that he should have both experience and certifications.

I agree, a golf pro who memorizes and is somehow able to pass exams is of little worth to an organization, but this fellow does have a degree in CS.

Some people say that certifications don't help get a job. Some people say that they are overly important to hiring managers. I think the truth is somewhere in the middle.


Lilliabeth
-Why use a big word when a diminutive one will do?-

 

[eyeswideclosed]

Well they definitely can't hurt, that's for sure. I guess I've been lucky, most of my jobs came through contacts, but I did get an as degree in cs first too, so I guess that looked good on the resume. I agree on setting up a system at home too, maybe even getting it online so you can show it during the interview.

If more than 1 goose are geese, why aren't more than 1 moose meese??

 

[kHz]

I have never been asked if I had certifications and they have never been a requirement for getting any job or keeping any job; and I have worked for a Fortune 400 Financial company, a Fortune 100 Transportation company; a Top 50 Internet Retailer; and the Fed Gov't.

Nobody cared about them. All any of them expected was experience, experience, experience.

A tech support job is the best place to start, unless you want to be a programmer then you can probably find a programming job with a small company of the family-owned variety that has maybe $100-$200 million in revenue and about 5 IT people and a couple hundered employees. Or the same place for the general IT job.

Good Luck.

 

[iLikeCats]

<whinge> // skip this section if you don’t like whinges.
I looked for helpdesk positions, large and small. The only job I was able to land in the last year was in a user department of a company with a few hundred staff, ZERO IT people and general IT chaos. I was hired because of my IT education background, and I lasted 2 months. Their loss really, as I could have organized their customer relationship mess into databases, but the undocumented network jungle was over my head. All passwords, scarce IT related knowledge and keys were desperately guarded by a pair of unhelpful sales people who were probably trying to hedge their positions against underperformance. So management called in contractors, who without the distraction of operational admin and filing requests were able to understand the architecture after a week. Were they expecting too much, or should a graduate be able to swim in a pool like this? I should also mention that my CS degree was the classic type, heavy on theory and mathematics.
</whinge>

My question next question: Without true entry-level positions or ANY on the job training or mentoring, how does one gain an adequate level of competence? If I setup some servers at home and get certified will that furnish me with the skills needed in the workplace?

 

[RandeKnight]

I think the only place I've seen with proper training and career progression was for the government.
Defence in particular.

Otherwise, yes, it's all too common to have the information you need to do your job spread over a wide range of Word docs, databases, trusted people, and postit notes. (I'm currently in a position like that).

Perhaps you were overoptimistic in thinking that as a helpdesk person you could do anything about this - helpdesk people for the most part only get to answer the phone and solve users problems. You can make suggestions for improvement to the people who can make a difference, but don't bet on anyone listening.

Getting up from that sort of position is often more about who you know than what you know. If you make friends with the people higher in the foodchain, then promotion is a possibility.

Rand

 

[kHz]

The first question you need to answer is what it is that you want to do. You can buy equipment and set it up at home for experience, so are you wanting to go into networking? Or programming? That is the first step.

You may want to get a diploma or AS or something from a Community College in networking (if that is what you want) and that would help in you job search. BS in Comp Sci with an AS in networking. You should be able to find a job with that combination.

Otherwise, it is having a small company hiring you and put in 3 or 4 years getting experience and then move on. Fortune 500-size companies generally don't hire tech people unless they have years of experience. Although they do hire college interns and usually offer beginning jobs when they graduate if the student wants to work there.