- Oct 29, 2015
- 143
- 3
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Not really sure if this is the right section for this, I thought I'd seen an education section on here before.
So I work at a small computer repair in a small rural town, I've been in this line of work for 11 years now and to be honest I'm getting a bit wore out from my current work environment. I've been keeping an eye on different jobs available in my area but haven't found anything that really lines up with my current set of skills and qualifications, so I'm curious as to what suggestions you guys have.
I currently have my A+ in hardware and software (got this back in 2007), MCDST, and got the certificate from the college for Desktop Support tech. I continued on with the second year option that dealt more with servers (Server 2003 at the time) and Cisco networking (N+), but didn't end up getting my certs for those due to runing out of money on my student loans. Lucky me.
I started as a support technician for Xplornet, but quickly grew tired of the shitty management and jumped ship to an electronics store that also serviced computers. I worked at this place for almost 7 years and during my time there my experience branched out into many different things such as retail, Satellite TV cable installations, network installs, security camera systems, home theater setup, car audio, small electronics repair, and other odds and ends that ended up in my lap.
Not to toot my own horn too much, but I was pretty damn good at what I did. I had clients that would request for me to work on their items because they knew I would do it right and do it much faster than the other tech and manager.
I decided to leave this place for numerous reason, bad pay, lazy aggressive manager, toxic employer. I then went to work for their only retail competitor in town and have been here for almost 5 years.
Started out as a good place to work, much better pay, my day to day work actually centered around what I was hired for. I even began offering my skills in security camera installs to my new employer and expanded the shop's realm of work into some small electronics repairs and a few other things his previous technicians would refuse to do (like anything to do with climbing a step ladder, I know weird bunch). A number of my previous clients also followed me to the new place as well.
Now my current place isn't without its draw backs. Current employer is a bit of a micromanager and can be quiet passive aggressive at times, new guy that got hired isn't someone I feel is knowledgeable enough for me to rely on, now that I have more businesses as clients their demands are pretty urgent and its a challenge balancing them with the home users I have on the bench.
Now I'm a hardworking guy, I really don't view any task as beneath me, if I see something that needs done I do it. When I have a client my focus is on the service I can provide, not what I can sell them.
Not to insult anyone that is a salesperson, but I can't bring myself to be one. It never seems like those guys are off the job, it seems like they're always looking to sell you on something.
So aside from my work experience I'm also a Captain in the CAF (for Cadets, its part of the reserves), I'm currently the CO for the local cadet unit. Through my part-time military career I've taken numerous courses they've needed me to take such as the Admin, QM, Training officer courses, as well as the basic, environmental, and intermediate officer courses. So I've got that under my belt as well.
Sorry for the long spiel, just wanted to let you know where I'm coming from so let me get to the point. I'm hoping to get advice from someone whose been in a similar situation, are there any types of courses you would suggest I look into?
So I work at a small computer repair in a small rural town, I've been in this line of work for 11 years now and to be honest I'm getting a bit wore out from my current work environment. I've been keeping an eye on different jobs available in my area but haven't found anything that really lines up with my current set of skills and qualifications, so I'm curious as to what suggestions you guys have.
I currently have my A+ in hardware and software (got this back in 2007), MCDST, and got the certificate from the college for Desktop Support tech. I continued on with the second year option that dealt more with servers (Server 2003 at the time) and Cisco networking (N+), but didn't end up getting my certs for those due to runing out of money on my student loans. Lucky me.
I started as a support technician for Xplornet, but quickly grew tired of the shitty management and jumped ship to an electronics store that also serviced computers. I worked at this place for almost 7 years and during my time there my experience branched out into many different things such as retail, Satellite TV cable installations, network installs, security camera systems, home theater setup, car audio, small electronics repair, and other odds and ends that ended up in my lap.
Not to toot my own horn too much, but I was pretty damn good at what I did. I had clients that would request for me to work on their items because they knew I would do it right and do it much faster than the other tech and manager.
I decided to leave this place for numerous reason, bad pay, lazy aggressive manager, toxic employer. I then went to work for their only retail competitor in town and have been here for almost 5 years.
Started out as a good place to work, much better pay, my day to day work actually centered around what I was hired for. I even began offering my skills in security camera installs to my new employer and expanded the shop's realm of work into some small electronics repairs and a few other things his previous technicians would refuse to do (like anything to do with climbing a step ladder, I know weird bunch). A number of my previous clients also followed me to the new place as well.
Now my current place isn't without its draw backs. Current employer is a bit of a micromanager and can be quiet passive aggressive at times, new guy that got hired isn't someone I feel is knowledgeable enough for me to rely on, now that I have more businesses as clients their demands are pretty urgent and its a challenge balancing them with the home users I have on the bench.
Now I'm a hardworking guy, I really don't view any task as beneath me, if I see something that needs done I do it. When I have a client my focus is on the service I can provide, not what I can sell them.
Not to insult anyone that is a salesperson, but I can't bring myself to be one. It never seems like those guys are off the job, it seems like they're always looking to sell you on something.
So aside from my work experience I'm also a Captain in the CAF (for Cadets, its part of the reserves), I'm currently the CO for the local cadet unit. Through my part-time military career I've taken numerous courses they've needed me to take such as the Admin, QM, Training officer courses, as well as the basic, environmental, and intermediate officer courses. So I've got that under my belt as well.
Sorry for the long spiel, just wanted to let you know where I'm coming from so let me get to the point. I'm hoping to get advice from someone whose been in a similar situation, are there any types of courses you would suggest I look into?