How many software vs hardware people?
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@BMarie said:
I want to end up building programs, writing code, build websites, working with pub (yeah I know out of the box)
Doing software work is especially conducive to learning and working from "home" to build a portfolio. Experience counts far less than demonstrable skills do and in software and web you can demonstrate skills in a way that general IT cannot. You can't build a show portfolio of "problems I have fixed" or "customer service" but you can build a portfolio of websites, programs, etc.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@thanksajdotcom and NTG has its own lab too, which is growing a lot. If you want to do cool projects and post about it, they provide a lot of opportunity for that stuff.
Plus NTG is not just regional but national in the US and does work around the world. So there are chances to work with people from all over and once in a while even travel. For example, I'm working in Austin, London and Panama City this year!!
Yup, my lab has been steadily growing over the past 3 years. First I built a server. Then I setup NASes and my own networking equipment. Now I have 3 C@C servers, two Linux and one Windows. I've setup a primary/secondary DC environment, Pertino for a VPN solution, etc. I take every opportunity to learn. When I started working with Pertino via NTG, I used it to learn about SaaS (software-as-a-service) and VPNs even more than I did. I still am quite a rookie compared to some, but I try to learn not just about products, but the technology as a whole behind it.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@BMarie said:
I want to end up building programs, writing code, build websites, working with pub (yeah I know out of the box)
Doing software work is especially conducive to learning and working from "home" to build a portfolio. Experience counts far less than demonstrable skills do and in software and web you can demonstrate skills in a way that general IT cannot. You can't build a show portfolio of "problems I have fixed" or "customer service" but you can build a portfolio of websites, programs, etc.
Exactly. The fastest way to learn is just to do. Start simple and work your way up. Every step you take is progress, regardless of how small the step. The key is to just keep moving forward, as Walt Disney would say.
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@BMarie said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@BMarie said:
I just seem stuck, not really using my skill set. How are employers gonna look at me serious when I'm been a glorified Secretary and a girl at that. I'm already facing an uphill battle.
Okay, let's analyze. What are you doing today? What do you want to do tomorrow (two years out, five years out and 10+ years out.) What is your background and areas of interest? What experience do you have?
Now, I'm working with public transportation as a Dispatcher. Don't get to use my skills that much here, except when I'm helping other's with there computers.
I want to end up building programs, writing code, build websites, working with pub (yeah I know out of the box)
I've been a Secretary most of my working time, here and there I get to do what I really want, now I'm a dispatcher and don't really use it at all. Maybe once in a blue moon.
The most IT I get now is talking to our IT guy.
Having "The goto techie chick" on your resume will be helpful for getting your foot in the door.
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@BMarie said:
That's a god idea! I see that most work at NTG!
LOL, not most. But NTG does primarily hire only people with the discipline and desire to be active in social communities. It's a great way to "interview" people months or years before hiring them, know who lives where, what people are interested in, that their dedication to IT is a long term thing and not a passing fad, how they interact with others, etc. It's actually incredibly effective.
NTG did just hire someone in Kentucky too!!
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@scottalanmiller said:
@BMarie said:
That's a god idea! I see that most work at NTG!
LOL, not most. But NTG does primarily hire only people with the discipline and desire to be active in social communities. It's a great way to "interview" people months or years before hiring them, know who lives where, what people are interested in, that their dedication to IT is a long term thing and not a passing fad, how they interact with others, etc. It's actually incredibly effective.
NTG did just hire someone in Kentucky too!!
Oh she knows...
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@scottalanmiller said:
@BMarie said:
That's a god idea! I see that most work at NTG!
LOL, not most. But NTG does primarily hire only people with the discipline and desire to be active in social communities. It's a great way to "interview" people months or years before hiring them, know who lives where, what people are interested in, that their dedication to IT is a long term thing and not a passing fad, how they interact with others, etc. It's actually incredibly effective.
NTG did just hire someone in Kentucky too!!
Yup, I was interviewing for NTG long before I ever even knew it. It was pretty cool.
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@thanksajdotcom said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@BMarie said:
That's a god idea! I see that most work at NTG!
LOL, not most. But NTG does primarily hire only people with the discipline and desire to be active in social communities. It's a great way to "interview" people months or years before hiring them, know who lives where, what people are interested in, that their dedication to IT is a long term thing and not a passing fad, how they interact with others, etc. It's actually incredibly effective.
NTG did just hire someone in Kentucky too!!
Yup, I was interviewing for NTG long before I ever even knew it. It was pretty cool.
and a little scary.
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I live for the hardware - software issues are just bumps to get through on the way to the next juicy hardware problem.
Edit: one must be careful & acknowledging your bias is important. If you become too narrowly focused on your hammer, everything begins to look like a nail.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@BMarie said:
That's a god idea! I see that most work at NTG!
LOL, not most. But NTG does primarily hire only people with the discipline and desire to be active in social communities. It's a great way to "interview" people months or years before hiring them, know who lives where, what people are interested in, that their dedication to IT is a long term thing and not a passing fad, how they interact with others, etc. It's actually incredibly effective.
NTG did just hire someone in Kentucky too!!
I know
He's our IT guy, he's the one who told me about this site. And I have to say it's defiently helped out a lot and I'm getting a lot of feed back, help & info!. -
LOL. Okay, that's muy perfecto then
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And we are happy to have him!
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Does this present an opportunity to step into his shoes where you are now, then?
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@scottalanmiller said:
Does this present an opportunity to step into his shoes where you are now, then?
It probably does, just don't know if I'll have what they are looking for. I have been here 2 years and done a lot.....Didn't really think about it. But they are hiring two now for his job. Two full timers. It's something I can look into, can't take to long though. He is leaving April 3rd after all.
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Start talking to them now. Explain that you have the background to be the junior position of the two. They know you already - that's a bird in the hand. Tell them that you will work on being trained and mentored as time allows, starting immediately, so that you are ready to hit the ground running and minimize the loss of tribal knowledge making for the smoothest possible transition.
Make the case for yourself. Think about the ways that you have advantages that no one else has ..... like knowledge of how things used to work, time to be trained, training, history with the company, existing relationships with the business, etc. The time to train you is minimal compared to someone completely new and the amount of trust built up in you is large instead of needing to trust the keys to the kingdom with someone that they just met.
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And you will have access to the person leaving though ML!
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Ya'll are lighting a fire under my ass......THANK YOU!
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Start on your resume tonight. Get it polished as much as possible. But they've seen it before, might not even matter. Figure out anything that you are missing skills or experience in, this is your chance to read up on those things, ask questions, etc. so that when they ask you if you are prepared for those things you can honestly say that while you aren't completely skilled you have taken the initiative to start learning about them and have familiarity not only with them in general but with the specific details as they apply to where you work today.
