REVscene - Vancouver Automotive Forum

willystyle · 01-17-2011, 04:09 PM

Anyone work in IT support here?

Recently I've been trying to make the switch from an entirely different industry back to IT and it just seems like everywhere that I look. Most companies are looking for someone with at least 2+ years of IT support experience. Where can someone like me with little to no experience find work in this area? It would be great if someone in this area can shine some light.

Cheers!

fallen88 · 01-17-2011, 06:36 PM

level one helpdesk usually requires no experience, but dont expect to make more than 15 or 16 an hour if youre lucky!

elbee · 01-17-2011, 06:42 PM

in vancouver its very difficult to find a job doing IT support. two reasons, there are barely any job openings and there are alot of unemployed technicians with experience. So if any openings ever come up you gotta compete with people with experience. I've been looking for a position for about a year now. Fresh out of BCIT with some certifications, but no work experience

rageguy · 01-17-2011, 07:37 PM

Aim for the front line support (tier 1). They require almost no experience. You'll be competing with others with lots of experience, but you will be surprised to know that some companies do not want overqualified people for tier 1 jobs. One of the reason is because people with too much experience developed a habit of doing things, they will be harder to coach.

lilaznviper · 01-17-2011, 09:59 PM

i was fresh out of bcit (grad in june 2010) and i just recently got a job as IT support... its a tough market out there but pretty much do some microsoft certs as they will help and just apply for jobs that say 2yrs exp.

i still know a lot of ppl from my program who still don't have jobs

willystyle · 01-17-2011, 11:21 PM

I am aiming for level 1 positions, yet almost all positions require 2+ years of experience, which is the frustrating part.

I'll keep looking. Thanks for the heads up.

seekerbeta · 01-18-2011, 07:56 AM

I got a job at one of the call centers (Stream,Telus,Shaw etc.) and worked there for about a year and a half, after that i jumped into a couple of in house tech companies, and now i work for a dedicated tech company, just look for companies like Panago and Boston Pizza and White Spot, they all have dedicated in house techs at their head offices, and are almost always looking for new people.

Cillu · 01-22-2011, 01:35 PM

What programs did you guys take in BCIT?

elbee · 01-22-2011, 02:37 PM

you should try to find as much experience as possible, starting off in the call centers for telus and shaw for non-technical customer service would be good, you could move from department to department.

I just got hired as a installer/repair technician for Telus, though i wont be using much of my IT skills, it'll make use of trouble shooting skills, customer service skills and a buncha other skills that are more important to employers than a diploma.

IT is a tough market in vancouver, my tip is to just get your foot through the door of a company with an IT department and then from there try to transfer into the position you want.

Euro7r · 01-22-2011, 08:28 PM

It's a hit or miss now in today's shitty market right now. My friend got hired two years ago for IT support for City of Rmd and he didn't have that much experience, pretty lucky at that time.

InvisibleSoul · 01-22-2011, 10:37 PM

Yeah, there are a million people looking for these jobs... all with overlapping skillsets.

When I applied for a systems administrator position at the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics of UBC, I got called to pre-interview written test... and there were so many people, they had to hold two separate sessions. I think about 50-60 people showed up to it.

I did end up getting a call back for an interview, but fortunately I had just landed a position at another company, and decided to stay there instead.

I know the frustration of every company wanting someone with experience, which means it's nearly impossible for someone new to get their foot in the door.

I'll have to admit that I got lucky, in that I had a personal connection when I was fresh out of UBC with my B.Sc CompSci, and started with desktop support level contracting job at a startup tech company that was only about 8-10 people at the time, but the company grew to about 50 people at the peak, and by that time I had an active hand in dealing with all aspects of the IT administration in the company, from desktop support all the way to managing mission critical data center production network equipment and servers.

So that got me my first few years of experience, and I learned a hell of a lot in my time there.

Gh0stRider · 01-22-2011, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elbee

you should try to find as much experience as possible, starting off in the call centers for telus and shaw for non-technical customer service would be good, you could move from department to department.

I just got hired as a installer/repair technician for Telus, though i wont be using much of my IT skills, it'll make use of trouble shooting skills, customer service skills and a buncha other skills that are more important to employers than a diploma.

IT is a tough market in vancouver, my tip is to just get your foot through the door of a company with an IT department and then from there try to transfer into the position you want.

how much experience do you need for install/repair technician?
what about education?

c2c · 01-23-2011, 10:26 AM

Hang in there, I was looking for an IT job for 5 months until my co op
I m now at a gov crown corp, but still on contract. Most IT jobs will start off as contract, but it landing that full time will come. Hang in there

elbee · 01-23-2011, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gh0stRider

how much experience do you need for install/repair technician?
what about education?

I dont have any IT experience in the field, but i do have work experience that is suited for that position, customer service and home installation experience.

I graduated BCIT in the CIST program and have my CCNA but the requirements for an install technician for telus are minimal, CCNA was preferred, some electrician courses will do, and some computer experience.

At first i was told i was over qualified, which was major BS, then after i was hired. so just hang in there, dont be afraid to apply for positions that ask for experience. I've been too many interviews with no experience, though i didnt get the job, i got the chance, i just wasnt fit for the role, but you never know unless you try.

nns · 01-27-2011, 08:39 PM

What's the pay like as a Telus tech?

Gh0stRider · 01-27-2011, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elbee

I dont have any IT experience in the field, but i do have work experience that is suited for that position, customer service and home installation experience.

I graduated BCIT in the CIST program and have my CCNA but the requirements for an install technician for telus are minimal, CCNA was preferred, some electrician courses will do, and some computer experience.

At first i was told i was over qualified, which was major BS, then after i was hired. so just hang in there, dont be afraid to apply for positions that ask for experience. I've been too many interviews with no experience, though i didnt get the job, i got the chance, i just wasnt fit for the role, but you never know unless you try.

hows the hiring process for that?

Levitron · 01-28-2011, 09:10 PM

Find a good recruiter, and get them to help you look as well.

I've found good resources in LinkedIn as well as Twitter.

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