Re: Computer repairs - job question

From: hemyd (mydspamhen_at_optusnet.com.au)
Date: 09/02/04 

Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2004 19:45:00 +1000

"James Sweet" <jamessweet@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:34zZc.3173$A63.1389@trnddc09...
>
> "Mike" <littleboyblu87@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:3e7445e7.0409012136.5969926c@posting.google.com...
> > I apologize if this is the wrong place to ask this but I didn't know
> > where else to ask.
> >
> > I'm 22 and am interested in working with computers as a career. I only
> > have a high school education and diploma, I never went to college. I
> > guess what I want to do is repair computers and custom build them for
> > people at a computer store (like Best Buy, as an example) or something
> > like that. I looked in the phonebook under computer repairs and some
> > of the store ads say that repairs are done by certified technicians
> > and/or A+ certified technicians but I don't know anything about that.
> > Does anyone know what the job title for someone like that would be or
> > what kind of training I'd have to have? More importantly, how much
> > money would someone like that make?
> >
> > I'd call the stores and ask about jobs but, 1)I don't know if that
> > would be appropriate or whatever and 2) It would help to know a little
> > about what I'm talking about before asking them questions like that.
> >
> > If anyone can help I'd really appreciate it. If this is the wrong
> > place to ask this then I apologize and perhaps someone could tell me
> > where I should ask this.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Mike
>
> A+ certification is a joke to get if you've been messing with computers
for
> a while, it costs money to take the test but it's not very difficult. As
far
> as careers go it's pretty dismal and is getting worse. Computers are dirt
> cheap and have become throwaway items like everything else. I had a friend
> who worked at CompUSA back in highschool and made around 10 bucks an hour,
> keep in mind this was almost 10 years ago but I'd be shocked if the
average
> computer shop pays more than $12-$14 today for a really solid tech. If I
had
> to make money in computer hardware without a formal education, I'd look
into
> doing it on my own, do house calls to install peripherals and nuke spyware
> from people's machines, won't get you rich but you might squeek by if
you're
> ambitious.
>
>
I agree with that wholeheartedly. Working here in Australia for a big IT
company for decades, I have seen the hardware repair jobs degenerate
immensely. One reason is that PCs - even midrange equipment - have become
immensely easy to repair, with an emphasis on "remote support" where a
technician has so much support that he is reduced to just a dummy to carry
out repairs. His job is now worth considerably less than it was many years
ago. He can be replaced by many willing to work for half the price. Partly
that is due to the "throw away society" where equipment is far cheaper to
replace than to repair, and partly it is due to the public mentality of
getting everything as cheaply as possible.

I also agree regarding the A+. Having had many years experience with
computers I sat for the exam on the strong suggestion from my employer. I
did not study for it at all and easily passed both the hardware and software
components. I greatly doubt the relevance of this exam in getting you a
"better" job. If anything, I would go for certifications such as MCSE and
CCNA, both of which are expensive. Both of these are also of debatable value
unless coupled with a lot of experience.

If you do get into "computer repairs", don't just settle for the hardware
side - a 12 year old boy could replace a hard disk or even a motherboard.
Get into software, especially networking. many problems which seem to be
hardware turn out to be software. A hardware technician will wash his hands
of such a problem, but a technician versed in both will resolve it.

I don't think it is wrong to approach this newsgroup for such ideas - you
should explore the market thoroughly before embarking on such a career. On
the other hand, if this is your dream, then go to it. But as I said -
hardware AND software, not just mundane replacements.

Henry
Australia

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