- Aug 31, 2012
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Starting a minority owned small defense contractor business ....please talk more about this...i'm interested
John Wick
formerly jayzonmytoes
- Oct 5, 2006
- 7,270
- 3,056
W W)taps
I don't think there is nothing wrong with help desk or desktop support a lot of people in the IT industry look at the help desk as an entry level positon which it really isn't. It takes some really good troubleshooting skills and customer service skills to do that job on the daily. Plus its your first line of support for your company for employees to call when they are having IT difficulties. Its a must needed role but its severely underpaid. I wish folks at help desk and desktop would protest and show these companies that cant run a network without them.
If the help desk position has potential for growth than stay. I saw a guy start at the bottom of the help desk stayed for a couple years next thing you know he was the manager of it.
I have Net+ and I would say its is worth it to understand how a network runs and talks before you should learn how to secure it. The more knowledge the better.
- Mar 20, 2008
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yeah after 5 years in Help desk or desktop support you should try to branch out. its very underpaid and managers , directors and such often think the job is easily replaceable. I advise people daily to get your certs and move along 10 years help desk and desktop is max because you can be promoted to different tiers within that time while gaining knowledge and experience.
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- Feb 23, 2015
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After a couple months of searching for a summer internship, I heard back from a few companies for interviews. Seems like March and April are the prime months for hiring. I have an in person interview with a company as an R & D intern next Wednesday and a video interview for another company in the next few days. Has anyone here worked R&D? Pros? Cons? Overall opinion?
- Oct 10, 2005
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man it was actually quite peaceful, there was a stigma in Qatar if you committed a crime the penalties were quite hefty and they had cameras on every block in that country. I found it crazy being my first time out there as a contractor to find many American companies they even had a TGI Fridays.I was in country during Ramadan and found out the hard way but other than that you will stick out like an American but they aint messing with you in Qatar like that. It was hot as hell out there tho 100+ degrees in the middle of the night and it rained 1 time over there in the 6 months I was there :x
That's good to know. Are most places closed during Ramandan? Do you have to stock up on food during that time? Sorry about all the questions
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- Oct 10, 2005
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That's why I got into coding too. I don't see myself doing it much longer, starting to look at other options.
John Wick
formerly jayzonmytoes
- Oct 5, 2006
- 7,270
- 3,056
That's good to know. Are most places closed during Ramandan? Do you have to stock up on food during that time? Sorry about all the questions
yea you couldn't be out during the day time, cant have exposed skin like wearing shorts, and you ate during the night to name a few. I worked with some of the nationals working outside in 100+ degree weather and they didnt eat lunch or breakfast :x It was soo hot out there man it wears you out quickly
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- Sep 5, 2008
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I just started working in a Application Support Role with a non profit healthcare company. A recruiter has been on my tail about another position and she offered me between 16-18k to jump ship.DK what to do because I'm just nearing my 90 days at the health company. 
- Nov 3, 2011
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Scope out the other place, but 18k a pretty significant sum to ignoreI just started working in a Application Support Role with a non profit healthcare company. A recruiter has been on my tail about another position and she offered me between 16-18k to jump ship.DK what to do because I'm just nearing my 90 days at the health company.
- Nov 6, 2012
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I can't really tell you more I don't know what it takes to get one up and running. Not something I am doing in the near future.
I think thats the best use for coding if you aren't in love with it.
- May 24, 2008
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Hey guys,
Im thinking of going back to school (Currently have Bachelors in non IT major) and obtaining a AS in Computer Science.
Is this even worth it?
Thank you
Im thinking of going back to school (Currently have Bachelors in non IT major) and obtaining a AS in Computer Science.
Is this even worth it?
Thank you
- Jan 3, 2011
- 18,785
- 10,186
I'm sorry but I have to disagree with a lot of what you said here and here's why:
First off I've been working in the IT industry for 15+ years and most of it has been help desk, desktop support, and even sys admin & sys engineer jobs.
Help desk (call center environment) jobs: It is rightfully viewed as entry level as entry level tier 1 because like you said that person in that role is the 1st line of support. Most people who enter these jobs are usually are starting out in they're careers and are looking to add something to they're resume or are looking to get they're foot in the door with the company.The biggest problem I have with this type of work and why I'll NEVER go back to doing it is because the work environment is always terrible. It's a micro managed job, it's stressful because the person is always dealing with meeting certain stats, being audited, & reviewed on your calls, 70% of the time in this job role is more customer service related and pleasing the people you support instead of actual trouble shooting over the phone or remoting into a persons pc to try and resolve whatever issue they have. But mainly just being on the phone & sitting at a desk or cubicle for 8 or 10 hours a day just sucks and is so un healthy.
The #1 reason why this job is underpaid and is not valued so much today is because a lot of companies small, medium, or big have gone the route of outsourcing the help desk jobs to 3rd world countries like the Philippines & India.
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- Nov 6, 2012
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Depends on what you are getting the CS degree for, also you really need a BS not AS in Comp Sci .
If you are interested in a bootcamp instead I think some people in the Programming thread have done one .
- May 17, 2014
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I finally completed my Associates in Computer support and I'm about to start WGU soon for IT-security. I've failed the the security + exam twice but I'm not discouraged. I'll be taking it again soon also. Are there any good programs I can run so I can get more experience maintaining firewalls and packet tracers? I have a security clearance working on C-130's but that's not gonna transfer well into the IT industry.
- Jul 20, 2007
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Congrats. Setup a virturilized machine and a VLAN and just start testing different networking utilities and environments. Setup servers, protect them, try to bring them down. Attempt to infiltrate your own network at your house and etc. Just get your hands dirty legally. Check Reddit too for tips on testing and certs.
- Jul 20, 2007
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You might be able to do the same amount of hours if you shoot for an IT based field close to your current major to save hours and get Bachelors (4 year degree) if you did something like business or criminal justice.
- May 17, 2014
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Thank you!
- Nov 6, 2012
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Get Certified Get Ahead
Sec+ Ebook
https://www.amazon.com/CompTIA-Security-Certified-Ahead-SY0-401/dp/1939136024[/u]
Practice exams and simulations
http://gcgapremium.com/sy0-401-security-practice-test-questions/
These materials are all you need to pass the exam. I passed with 3 weeks of studying .
- Nov 3, 2011
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How much time did you commit each day to studying
- May 17, 2014
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- Nov 6, 2012
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I studied while I was at work, so maybe 3-5 hours M-F. You know you are ready to take the exam once you consistently score above 90% on the readiness exam (2nd link). I was averaging around 95% so I went and took the test .
There is a bunch of information on TechExam forums about what they did to pass certification exams. Pretty much everyone on there uses Get Certified Get Ahead for Sec+ .
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May I ask where you did help desk? it sounds like it was for a private company
I'm sorry but I have to disagree with a lot of what you said here and here's why:
First off I've been working in the IT industry for 15+ years and most of it has been help desk, desktop support, and even sys admin & sys engineer jobs.
Help desk (call center environment) jobs: It is rightfully viewed as entry level as entry level tier 1 because like you said that person in that role is the 1st line of support. Most people who enter these jobs are usually are starting out in they're careers and are looking to add something to they're resume or are looking to get they're foot in the door with the company.The biggest problem I have with this type of work and why I'll NEVER go back to doing it is because the work environment is always terrible. It's a micro managed job, it's stressful because the person is always dealing with meeting certain stats, being audited, & reviewed on your calls, 70% of the time in this job role is more customer service related and pleasing the people you support instead of actual trouble shooting over the phone or remoting into a persons pc to try and resolve whatever issue they have. But mainly just being on the phone & sitting at a desk or cubicle for 8 or 10 hours a day just sucks and is so un healthy.
The #1 reason why this job is underpaid and is not valued so much today is because a lot of companies small, medium, or big have gone the route of outsourcing the help desk jobs to 3rd world countries like the Philippines & India.
I work as a contractor for the feds and im def. doing real troubleshooting. and I highly doubt the feds are ever going to outsource help desk roles to another country.
someone correct me if im wrong.
- Nov 6, 2012
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Feds is not industry . Totally different realms , most companies are outsourcing help desk .
- Jan 3, 2011
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Yeah early 2000's for me was for a few private crappy companies who focused on being the out sourced company handling the call centers for companies like Gateway PC, Compaq PC, Micron PC, Telocity & Hughesnet DSL service.
Government wise. Yeah they do outsource as well. Back in 2002 The biggest contract the Navy & Marines outsourced and gave EDS which is now a division of HP was the NMCI contract which has a well known history for being HATED by literally everyone involved on it.
. As for working on government contracts or for the DoD. I've done it before. The pay is great but at the same time I honestly don't think it's worth putting up with the CRAP of GS civilian workers
Seriously here is what's wrong with the GS Civilian workers: It's one BIG "Good Ole Boys" fraternity. Where a lot of these people are retired or just got out of the military people who are looking to do another 20 years in their job just so they can double dip and collect a second retirement pension paycheck. Most of the time their work attitudes are bad where they are lazy, they b*tch & moan how they aren't making the same amount as a government contractor. Once a GS Civilian person is past they're probation period it is literally impossible for them to get fired.
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- Sep 5, 2010
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I just got out of HPE and the NMCI contract (NGEN). Now I am part of the Navy.
