Career, Finances & Future..

Carter

Carter

Administrator
I got thinking today about where I am headed in life and I need an outlet and you guys are it. This is long but I could really use some feedback.

I currently work at a reprographics company, a small business, 3 employees including myself. Basiclly a copy shop. I scan in large size blueprints of commercial buildongs that architects have drawn up and make copies for them. I also convert their drawings into digital PDF documents and burn them to CD or email them around. I've been doing this for over 3 years now.

Today we had a problem with our RR email and I couldn't figure out the problem. Time Warner is changing over DNS servers in April and we got an email telling us to change them on April 1st. I was going to leave it to the techs that service our machines because I didn't want to mess with it as I am not to familiar with networking, just the bare minimums. Anyway I call RR tech support. The email would show up on their web based client but not in Microsoft Outlook. The techs couldn't figure it out so while I was on hold I went to another computer where the DNS server address was already corrected (I don't know how) and set up the email there. It worked fine. I suggested this to both the techs I talked to but they didn't think it was the issue. Bottom line is it was.

On another instance we had a problem with our network where our wide format printers couldn't communicate with the main computer. The techs that service the machines were working on it over the phone with me and in person for 2 days. I finally suggested to try a system restore on the computer and everything was back to normal.

The point of all this is why am I making photocopies for a living when I can be doing computer networking which has always been something I am fascinated with. I thought I would like to work for someone like Time Warner and be a tech spport operator. I'm not sure what the pay is but it must be good. I currently gross 750 a week what I am doing now but without benefits.

I know I would definately need schooling but that may mean getting rid of the Subie and the new truck. The Subie is costing me over 500/mo not includng ins. And the truck is 249/mo. ins is 400/year for the truck.

 
Where are you located, and why are you there? I ask because opportunities differ vastly from one part of the country (and the state) to another, and if you're a homeowner vs. renter, that will make a big difference on your "portability".

 
that is a tough decision.

what do you currently have for schooling/certs/whathaveyou?

(oh I moved this so that only STM members can read this)

 
Observations:

1st: How are you grossing $750/week and spending $800+ per month on vehicles? Holy raisin.

2nd: Take some night classes and see if the field is really what you think it is.

3rd: For every technical problem call you're able to solve you'll probably have 100 that are dealing with complete idiots. Network setups would be where you want to focus in my eyes.

 
IMO, if you have yet to invest in a degree, choose very wisely. Based on your income of $18.75 (based on 40 hrs.), it's going to be tough to invest a good amount of money in a recognized IT school (ITT tech = not a good choice, IMO) and then find a job that can support paying back all of your loans, plus living expenses.

Your current pay grade is really high for what you are doing. Even down here in MA, you couldn't find that. I understand exactly what you do for a living, because I did the exact same type of job for 3.5 years. I moved myself into Graphic Arts, and then into marketing now, so the transition was well worth it.

However, keep in mind that OTJ training is sometimes your best education. Perhaps think of going to work for an Architectual Firm or drafting company. Perhaps you could focus on the Production/IT end of things, so there's an advantage to the employer. Kind of a 2-fer deal.

My $.02

 
This may sound sad, but I am 22 and still live with my parents. I don't have any other expenses except my cars and gas and a cell phone bill. I net about 2000/ month so 800 on cars isn't too much to me. I know it is a lot, and I couldn't afford it if I was living on my own or working part time. I like this job OK but I don't want to do it in the long run, I'm not interested in it at all. I get good pay I think because my bosses ( the other 2 employees ) are old family friends. They have told me that when they retire the business will be handed over to me but like I said I don't think I am too interested.

 
They have told me that when they retire the business will be handed over to me
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How far in the future is that? And by "hand over the business" does that mean you run the show and they own from afar, or maybe you will buy the business from them if you're interested, or maybe they'll just HAND it to you?

Either way you cut it, the time you have to wait until this handover is important to consider.

 
I think it's really more of a question of whether you want to have a job that you WANT and LOVE, or make payroll. A business like that will not be phased out. It'll be a while before the 'web gets a good hold of architectural plans/duplications. While the 'net is full of quick printers for cheap money, wide format isn't a main concentration yet - especially B&W/Blueprints.

If I were you, I'd hang on to the job, and the hope of the 'biz. I'da done that at my old place, but my bills wouldn't allow me to have that kind of patience - they were too high and immediate.

 
They have no family to pass it on to, so I think they mean hand it to me. It was handed to him for $1.00. He had worked here his whole life.

 
I am very grateful for where I am. I just want to do something I like. Money is a big thing too. I get these feelings once in a while. Tomorrow I will probably wonder why I was thinking about it.

 
I was in a similiar postion as you not to long ago except I only have my GED. The problem with computer tech careers is that they love to see a lot of certifications which are fine and all but if your anything like me you dont have the patience to sit in class you want to do this stuff hands on. Luckily for me im gifted in sales so I moved on to that but ive worked in several tech/networking jobs and the money really is not spectacular theres also a lot more people out there you have to compete with for a job. There are plenty of opportunities out there for people our age im only 21 and even with only my ged im able to have a large car payment and I live on my own comfortably so its not always about how much school you have under your belt. Or maybe I was just fortunate. If someone is just going to hand you a bussiness and you dont have to wait until your onld and gray to reap the rewards that sounds like a pretty damn good deal as well.

 
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