Jobs in computer hardware?

[dexthebuilder]

Hi I was wondering if there are opportunities outside of PC repair ( I hear that PC repair and PC building can't pay the bills) that deals with hardware repair or upgrading, or is it better to go into something like programming or networking or data entry?

I have always loved compyters , and I sadly did not pass my HS senior year ( sad ) but I do have g.e.d and I am trying to figure oy a career path..( I work at McDonalds ) if that's not degrading enough.. I also have a felony but it is not violent nor drug related.

Is it possible at all?

 

[ss202sl]

"PC repair and PC building" as in help desk? Help desk positions can pay pretty well for entry level positions, and can be used as a stepping stone for networking and programming positions in many companies.

 

[ichigokunbaka]

Robert half technology staffing company

 

[Deus Gladiorum]

The only two options I can think of are IT and retail. I've checked out both, and currently work in IT in the procurement group of my IT department. Basically, my job is to "build" computers (we toss that word around but it mostly refers to replacing/upgrading SSDs, RAM, and video cards -- there's very little in the way of full scale PC building). In addition we image computers so that they have prepackaged software for the users in our company, do setups for new employees, and typically troubleshoot issues and replace any peripherals that need replacing. It's a pretty straightforward job, but it's good experience and can pay the bills if you get a good company. But with a GED and a criminal record, you might be hard pressed to find a job like that unless you have good connections, or unless you really polish up your resume with something else computer related.

The other option is PC retail, which also seems great to me. Places like Microcenter have a "build your own" section, where essentially they sell a bunch of PC parts and need knowledgeable (and charismatic) people to sell parts to customers. However, how much you know about computers really means jack shit to Microcenter. First and foremost they want experience -- namely experience in retail. If you've ever worked in retail before, then even with a GED and a criminal record you probably still have a better chance than I ever did.

 

[dexthebuilder]

Thank you all for info so far, now if I were to pick up networking or programming would it result in a waste of time as in are companies looking for people with perfect history and years of experience? Or would a cert be enough with no school education and only experience from book reading? Even in entry level?

 

[Deus Gladiorum]

Ughhh good question. Idk about networking, but I think with programming if you certify that you know your stuff on your resume (e.g. "Highly Experienced in C++, C#, Python, Ruby and Java") and the company thinks you're a good enough candidate, they'll typically bring you in for an interview and will school you with a lot of programming related questions -- or at least that's what I've heard. Sometimes they'll pop you onto a machine and give you an objective, and other times (more likely) they'll just ask you a hypothetical question to test how efficient your thought process is and how you might be able to mentally identify how and why certain methods, fields, and objects in a language work the way they do.