Attn: All professional Mechanics: PART TWO

Wow, I am going through the same thing you are, almost exactly. I went to school to learn all about cars, even passed all but two ASE tests, and I am working at a garage now and dread having to do this the rest of my life. Even my co-workers keep telling me that I should be doing something else, computers, or something. They keep saying that it starts out to be fun, but the fun ends quickly and then it becomes hard work, and I am seeing that after only working in the trade for 8 months.

As of now, I will be going back to school, thinking about engineering, mechanical engineering. When I was in school I hated it, I wanted to be done with it ASAP. But now that I am done, I want to go back. I don't wanna grow up! Can't I just play in my garage all day and have no worries or bills to pay. Ugh, life is hard.

I've only met 1 person that got MCSE certified and he left and got a better job. He was one of the one of the hardware guys- setting up new machines, upgrading to more memory, etc. etc. I suspect if you don't have a college degree but you have some network experience getting the MCSE will help you out in terms of pay and mobility. If you're really good with lots of experience I don't think it'll make a difference.

There seems to be a LARGE industry catering to people that want to take the MCSE. Study courses, books, and CD simulation tests abound.

I know alot of people who bought the books and never took the tests. I say something like " I see you have the books but you never took the tests, right?" and they say "Yep." It seems like once you're out there doing it for a living the certification becomes less important.

Here's the best part of all.... When Microsoft upgrades their software you have to get recertified and those tests cost about $100 a pop. Seems like a real good deal.....for Microsoft!

http://www.hurtle.com/cars/mustang/sig.gif
Please contribute to my Reproduction Parts Rating Site

Microsoft Certification is a series of training courses and exams that represent a degree of competency to support Windows NT or Windows 2000. As noted above, there is a large industry built around Microsoft certification, but there are a few things they don't tell students.

First, having an MCSE without hands-on experience is what we refer to as a "paper MCSE". It is only marginally better than having no certification and no experience. However, it will show a prospective employer that you are serious about building your skills to become proficient in a new career. One mistake that a lot of paper MCSE's make is to assume that they can expect big bucks just by having the paper. That rarely happens and, when it does, the individual risks being fired when the employer realizes that the paper doesn't equate with practical experience. Expect to start as a trainee at a commensurate salary and build from there.

Starting in networking usually means starting as a cable-puller and working up from there unless you can get into a Tech Support position with a networking company. With that background, you can quickly (within a couple of years) move into better positions either in the IS department of a large company or other companies in the networking world.

I started on the hardware side, dabbling with computers on my own since 1980. I also had electronics training in the Navy. Today, I oversee groups that architect, build, and support the server and storage infrastructure for global business applications systems in a Fortune 200 company. The work is challenging and often fun, but every job has its frustrations and downside. The trick is to do something where the downside is less than the upside.

BP
1969 Mach 1
1965 A-Code Convertible

I got my Novell Certification about 4 years ago. The Novell Certification is a lot like the MCSE, but for a different brand, It's older than the MCSE. Anyway, I found out real quick that the real world of networking was way different than what they taught you in the class room, fortunatly I was at the top of my class and invested in setting up my own lab at home with used computers, this little bit of practicle experience helped a lot. Within a year of working for someone else, I started my own company and ran it for 2.5 years until I sold it this october, just the client list. The only reason I got out was that the financial opportunity for me to go back to school to finish my degree presented itself and I took it. Otherwise I would still be in it and I look forward to getting in it again. As one of the others said, hardware troubleshooting can get boring fast, and frustrating with the quality of today's hardware. But network infrastructure and adminstration can be very interesting.

If cars are your hobby, I suggest you don't make it you career. I used to come home and work on my cars to get away from the computers, after an 8 or 10 hour day fixing a computer was the last thing I wanted to do.

And remember, they call it work for a reason, it's not always going to be fun or intersting. The main thing is to find something that you truly like to do that can also pay the bills.

Jason
Formerly Bluestangcom
"Got gas?"
Vintage Burgundy'66 Conv. 289 & C4. GT-ized
Strawberry/Silver '91GT
Rust/Red/Turquoise '67 coupe - Parting Out
Guards Red 2000 Porsche Boxster

http://www.bluestang.com