UGN Security Forums UGN Security: Underground Off Topic Degree vs Certification vs Experience

I recently read these two articles dealing with the state of our economy and the effects it has had locally:

Article #1
Article #2

And I know from visiting a computer store forum, that two individuals with 5-10 yrs experience, one a AS and one a BS, got hired at a new BestBuy. I applied to numerous tech stores in area, with no luck.

Now here is the thing, I have sent my resume to over 40 places probably. I have not gotten one e-mail or callback. And no, I am not overshooting. (atleast I don't think so, check my RESUME ).

I have applied for entry-level mainly, tech support, PC hardware technician, etc. However, why bother with a kid with a few certs when you have people willing to work for $10 an hour that have 5+ years of experience and a degree.

So anyways, its not a pity party. I owe about 8,000 in school loans already with nothing to show for it. So I am wondering if I should get some production job paying 10-12$ an hour and put myself through school.

The point of this post is, with todays market, I am assuming it will be atleast 2 years for a return to where we were, atleast. See, the market for tech was spoiled. HUGE salaries and lack of regard for limiting much expense-wise. Now companies can't afford to spend money so freely (see the numbers in the articles).

So, wondering from people that do recruiting or have a combination of the above 3; would it be worth it for me to continue looking for an tech job in a market like this OR would time be best spent going back to college for CISCO or such, and hopefully getting out about the time the market has returned to where it was??

I hear you man. I ask myself most of these questions every day.

I graduated highschool in 95, and figured that since I was a resourceful, intelligent young man I would bypass the secondary school route and get into some real work. In the 7 years I worked after highschool I think I made out ok. Not great, but I always was working, and always getting paid good. I spent the mojority of my working career in the warehouse. I've been in positions of authority with people working directly under me, managed millions of dollars in inventroy, responsible for quality control, and learned to drive a pretty mean forklift.

But I don't like that kind of work. In fact I can't stand it.

So now here I am, almost 26 years old (bday in 20 days) and I'm back in school taking network engineering. Finals for my first year are next week. I have been out of work since july when I left my nice cozy Material Controller position for the life of a college student.

I decided that I would get my A+ and see if I could get a part-time tech job at comp-u-smart or something. I got the A+, but no luck with the job. Just after christmas my efforts turned to any part-time job that I might enjoy. I started applying at places like Starbucks (I am a coffe fiend) as well as keeping at the tech job. Still no luck. Now, when finals are over in two weeks I have to have a job. I no longer have the luxury of choosing anything. Money is a serious need.

What get's me the most about all this, is like Jon, I have not received even so much as a single call back for over 50 resumes. I have never in my life had to put out more that five and not had a job. Hell, Till I was 21 I had never even had to apply for a job (It's good to know people).

This is a serious concern. Not one call back. I'm stunned.

Now, I did get a job offer from someone I know who is looking for some warehouse work last week. As I already said, I loathe the idea of having to take such a job, but I am very quickly running out of options.

What's the point of all this? I want to know why the hell people like me are getting ripped off here. Going to school, or learned already, busting [censored] and can't find decent work. And even if you do find work, the amount of quality companies to work for is few. As well, security in a job seems to be more of a myth today than a reality.

So I go to school now, put myself in all kinds of debt to get an diploma or a degree, and I come out working at comp-u-smart with that tech job I couldn't get when I was in school making $10/hour (Canadian $ too =( ).

What a joke.

What is wrong with this picture here? The economy is down, jobs are down, sales are down, everything is down! Now I am willing to admit I am not an economics major, but this really doesn't make sense.

I refuse to accept the idea that when I graduate from school I'm going to be making less than what I was making before I had even my highschool diploma. It is too bad that this is a very real posiblity.

Infinite