Dobs Tech Talk
April 22, 2013
Welcome to the first issue of Dobs Tech Talk!
This newsletter will cover a wide array of topics as things develop here at Dobs Technical Solutions. We will be bringing stories and reviews of new technology, tips and tools for IT professionals to use when servicing their customers, or the occasional rant.
Be sure to check back regularly for new issues.
"But you have no professional IT experience."
On average, an entry level IT professional is expected to have at least an Associate's Degree in Computer Science, or associated certifications - and here's the tricky part - equivalent "industry experience", usually 2 - 5 years.
As with the medical field, the IT field is vast and has many "specialties", all of which have degrees or certifications associated with those skill sets.
Unlike other fields of study, many IT professionals, myself included, began by tinkering with computers in their basement, reading manuals, and generally blundering through, inadvertently breaking things and then figuring out how to put them back together the hard way. In the era of the ARPANET, (I'm dating myself here), that was how it was done if you did not want to go into a four years bachelors program in computer sciences.
During that time, it was about getting talent, not certifications. If you knew what you were doing and could prove it, you were in.
Now, however, that perception has changed significantly. In many ways, the technology is changing so rapidly that, beyond a general definition, the perception of what an IT Professional actually is has become somewhat fuzzy.
When a young medical student interviews with a local medical practice or hospital, it is the Doctor or a board of Medical Professionals who make the determination whether the potential candidate is qualified to perform the duties the position entails.
In management, a sales manager decides if the candidate is qualified, head chefs choose chefs, you get the picture.
In the IT field, most times, (not always), it is the IT Manager who may conduct the interview, but the final decision usually rests with an HR Manager or Executive Manager who is unfamiliar with the prerequisites needed to fill the role. All they have to go on is the opinion of the IT Manager and a two or three page resume.
For recent graduates from any educational institution, this can be the biggest challenge in entering the IT field.
There is a reason that the certifications in the IT field are generalized and that is because no two business networks are the same, ever. While all networks are fundamentally the same, most companies utilize variations of operating systems, proprietary applications, and so on. Add to that the rapid pace at which technology is changing and you begin to understand the adaptability of IT professionals is one of the most important skills he or she can bring to the table.
Whether an IT professional has been working in the field for ten years or two months, the basic principle is the same, the fundamentals provided by the institutions that offer the certifications give the IT professional a foundation upon which to build. New certifications and applications are always being rolled out as the technology changes and new applications are constantly being created.
That is not to say that a fresh graduate is better than a ten-year IT veteran. Practical experience does play a role in other aspects of the job, however, it also does not mean the graduate cannot accomplish the same goals and face similar challenges.
One IT manager I spoke with summed it up like this: "You can spend twenty years in a job that took you two years to learn. In reality, how many years of 'experience' do you have after doing the same thing for twenty years?"
April 22, 2013
Welcome to the first issue of Dobs Tech Talk!
This newsletter will cover a wide array of topics as things develop here at Dobs Technical Solutions. We will be bringing stories and reviews of new technology, tips and tools for IT professionals to use when servicing their customers, or the occasional rant.
Be sure to check back regularly for new issues.
"But you have no professional IT experience."
On average, an entry level IT professional is expected to have at least an Associate's Degree in Computer Science, or associated certifications - and here's the tricky part - equivalent "industry experience", usually 2 - 5 years.
As with the medical field, the IT field is vast and has many "specialties", all of which have degrees or certifications associated with those skill sets.
Unlike other fields of study, many IT professionals, myself included, began by tinkering with computers in their basement, reading manuals, and generally blundering through, inadvertently breaking things and then figuring out how to put them back together the hard way. In the era of the ARPANET, (I'm dating myself here), that was how it was done if you did not want to go into a four years bachelors program in computer sciences.
During that time, it was about getting talent, not certifications. If you knew what you were doing and could prove it, you were in.
Now, however, that perception has changed significantly. In many ways, the technology is changing so rapidly that, beyond a general definition, the perception of what an IT Professional actually is has become somewhat fuzzy.
When a young medical student interviews with a local medical practice or hospital, it is the Doctor or a board of Medical Professionals who make the determination whether the potential candidate is qualified to perform the duties the position entails.
In management, a sales manager decides if the candidate is qualified, head chefs choose chefs, you get the picture.
In the IT field, most times, (not always), it is the IT Manager who may conduct the interview, but the final decision usually rests with an HR Manager or Executive Manager who is unfamiliar with the prerequisites needed to fill the role. All they have to go on is the opinion of the IT Manager and a two or three page resume.
For recent graduates from any educational institution, this can be the biggest challenge in entering the IT field.
There is a reason that the certifications in the IT field are generalized and that is because no two business networks are the same, ever. While all networks are fundamentally the same, most companies utilize variations of operating systems, proprietary applications, and so on. Add to that the rapid pace at which technology is changing and you begin to understand the adaptability of IT professionals is one of the most important skills he or she can bring to the table.
Whether an IT professional has been working in the field for ten years or two months, the basic principle is the same, the fundamentals provided by the institutions that offer the certifications give the IT professional a foundation upon which to build. New certifications and applications are always being rolled out as the technology changes and new applications are constantly being created.
That is not to say that a fresh graduate is better than a ten-year IT veteran. Practical experience does play a role in other aspects of the job, however, it also does not mean the graduate cannot accomplish the same goals and face similar challenges.
One IT manager I spoke with summed it up like this: "You can spend twenty years in a job that took you two years to learn. In reality, how many years of 'experience' do you have after doing the same thing for twenty years?"
The answer: Two.
The difference between practical and professional experience is simply the date on the certification. However, most potential employers see it differently.
An individual who has spent ten years at a position or company shows loyalty and dedication. This will reassure HR that the candidate will be in it for the long haul.
An individual who enters the academic community and acquires a degree or certifications shows a willingness to learn and the same level of dedication, again, something that would indicate a desire to see things through for an extended period.
So, what is the difference?
The difference lies in the perception of experience, not the actual experience itself. Employers like to see previous experience on a resume to assure them that the candidate knows what he or she is doing. What they do not realize is, whether you hire a ten year veteran or a graduate, there will be a learning curve as that individual learns the unique quirks of your network.
I have met thirty-year veterans in the IT field who have no desire to learn more than they must, just to keep their certifications current, and there is nothing wrong with that. They have settled into a routine that is comfortable for them and satisfies the requirements of their employers. I have also met new IT graduates who are always looking for more to learn, more to do, more certifications to acquire. They walk into an interview, hear an overview of future projects and start asking questions, planning ways to improve the system even before they get the call telling them if they have the job or not. I see them at coffee shops, sketching out network topography, making notes, or discussing how best to upgrade a network with other IT Professionals. You laymen out there usually refer to our language as "Geek Speak".
I have also seen the looks on their faces when they have gotten the call saying they cannot be hired because they lack "professional IT experience".
It is an interesting dichotomy when you consider it. When an IT professional builds a computer for a graphics company, that's considered "professional experience", but if he builds the exact same computer for a friend as a side job, it is not.
My own opinion is this: Whether or not you punch a clock at a company or work independently, any experience you gain is professional experience. If you spend two years, servicing PC's in people's homes, building and configuring networks for individuals, small offices, home offices, on your own, unaffiliated with a larger organization, you are simply a "company of one" and THAT is professional experience.
The difference between practical and professional experience is simply the date on the certification. However, most potential employers see it differently.
An individual who has spent ten years at a position or company shows loyalty and dedication. This will reassure HR that the candidate will be in it for the long haul.
An individual who enters the academic community and acquires a degree or certifications shows a willingness to learn and the same level of dedication, again, something that would indicate a desire to see things through for an extended period.
So, what is the difference?
The difference lies in the perception of experience, not the actual experience itself. Employers like to see previous experience on a resume to assure them that the candidate knows what he or she is doing. What they do not realize is, whether you hire a ten year veteran or a graduate, there will be a learning curve as that individual learns the unique quirks of your network.
I have met thirty-year veterans in the IT field who have no desire to learn more than they must, just to keep their certifications current, and there is nothing wrong with that. They have settled into a routine that is comfortable for them and satisfies the requirements of their employers. I have also met new IT graduates who are always looking for more to learn, more to do, more certifications to acquire. They walk into an interview, hear an overview of future projects and start asking questions, planning ways to improve the system even before they get the call telling them if they have the job or not. I see them at coffee shops, sketching out network topography, making notes, or discussing how best to upgrade a network with other IT Professionals. You laymen out there usually refer to our language as "Geek Speak".
I have also seen the looks on their faces when they have gotten the call saying they cannot be hired because they lack "professional IT experience".
It is an interesting dichotomy when you consider it. When an IT professional builds a computer for a graphics company, that's considered "professional experience", but if he builds the exact same computer for a friend as a side job, it is not.
My own opinion is this: Whether or not you punch a clock at a company or work independently, any experience you gain is professional experience. If you spend two years, servicing PC's in people's homes, building and configuring networks for individuals, small offices, home offices, on your own, unaffiliated with a larger organization, you are simply a "company of one" and THAT is professional experience.
I cannot stress it enough: Every network is unique! They are as individual as the companies who require them. The IT Managers responsible for those networks know how to spot talent. They are able to gauge the level of knowledge and competency of an individual, and through the interview process, they will be able to ascertain if the person sitting across from them will be a good fit for his department and the company in general.
The certifications are keys that are supposed to unlock the doors, yet most hiring managers see them as starting blocks for employability. The funny thing is, those same individuals ask their own children for help when their home computer isn't working.
Think about that for a moment…
My suggestion to all you HR managers out there would be this: The next time you want to reject a resume for lack of "professional IT experience" go into the command prompt and flush the DNS cache. If you can do that, you can have a say. If you can't, trust your IT Manager to make the right decision.
The certifications are keys that are supposed to unlock the doors, yet most hiring managers see them as starting blocks for employability. The funny thing is, those same individuals ask their own children for help when their home computer isn't working.
Think about that for a moment…
My suggestion to all you HR managers out there would be this: The next time you want to reject a resume for lack of "professional IT experience" go into the command prompt and flush the DNS cache. If you can do that, you can have a say. If you can't, trust your IT Manager to make the right decision.