where do you work?

[asteroid]

quick question to all members except the N staff,


1/ where do you work?

2/ if you are in IT, what would be you ideal next move in your career?


I used to do telephone support for N, now work for a large automotive group doing IT helpdesk.

Dont get me wrong, I do enjoy my job at the moment, I love fixing problems, make recommendations of what equipment to buy, chatting and getting to know our users and learning new things, but I really need to look at moving upto something better paid next year, as really want some chance of getting a mortgage someday :roll:

Am wondering what IT support jobs are like in schools, if they pay reasonably and get much opportunities for training etc.

[Taxation]

i used to terrorise the IT support person in my school, because he knew nothing about computers, even i knew more than him. :lol:

[djgandy]

i used to terrorise the IT support person in my school, because he knew nothing about computers, even i knew more than him. :lol:

Didn't we all? So many IT people are incredibly stupid and over paid.
I'd always get told off, although be able to talk my way out of it.
Was funny when we found **** in a teachers folder though ;) Not that we would have been able to get in there since security was second to none :roll:

[David T]

Its rather obvious where I work now :lol:
However before here I worked for Portsmouh City Council on the IT helpdesk doing their onsite support (1 year contract) amd *cough* M-squared :roll:

[djgandy]

Its rather obvious where I work now :lol:
However before here I worked for Portsmouh City Council on the IT helpdesk doing their onsite support (1 year contract) amd *cough* M-squared :roll:

haha, oh dear. What happened to m-squared, except for becoming extremely expensive and their only decent staff members leaving?

In reply to the initial question...

1) I'm a computer science student at Portsmouth UNI. Currently a freelance programmer

2) . Wouldn't mind going into IT support or Management. The head IT guy at the company my dad works for who "fixed"* his pc should be leaving soon since he's into his 60's. He earns a lot by the sounds of it :shock:

"Fixed"*: The solution to all problems is install norton antivirus.

[gwendes]

My legal team have advised me not to go into any detail about school. Suffice to say there was a website and admin access rights :)

[Chewie]

Hmm, i currently work in the Yard (locals will know what i mean), as Materials Control Engineer (as they call it), recommending, finding and getting costs for materials (plus the odd bit of actual purchasing).

Been doing it for the last 4 years and its really getting depressing now.

Highlight of my day would be when someone would come as for help with whatever pc related problem they had, or needing someone to get the sodding printer/copiers running again cause they broke down and IT have *logged a call* with the local maintaner to come in, but it may be a day or 2.

Now however they've cracked down on our internet usage, so I'm not able to keep up with my *hobby*.

I'd love to go into it full time, but know that no-where will take me on at a decent wage with my somewhat mediocre knowledge (even if it is often above most of those i work with).


As for M-squared, i thought they'd moved upto Birmingham way where they had another *office*.

[gwendes]

As for M-squared, i thought they'd moved upto Birmingham way where they had another *office*.

Do you have any idea what they're calling themselves? That was a dodgy outfit by all accounts...

[David T]

I heard that a few members of m2 management set themselves up as Refresh Computers, but I can't confirm it.

[Chewie]

Um the advert i saw was for Msquared, but was a few months after they shut the denmead shop. So it was a few years back.

As for the Refresh computors place, only saw that place about a year ago, so have no idea how long they been running.

And hey, cant knock M2 (too much), as thats where i got my first decent vid card upgrade (i say decent, as it was way and above what i had). was a GF2 pro, then that was changed to a Ti4200, both from MSI.

Best cards i ever had, no problems with em, in fact they're both still in use, The GF2 in my mum's HP machine, and my 4200 in my nephew's.

[djgandy]

I heard that a few members of m2 management set themselves up as Refresh Computers, but I can't confirm it.

yeah when refresh started up, most of the decent people i'd dealt with at m2 went there and well, that's that really afaik. M2 prices were through the roof after that

[asteroid]

getting back OT, what the rest of your guys do, and whats a good plan for your career?

[Nox]

I fix problems. I work for a very large IT company who currently have me outsourced, used to be to Dpt of Health, now its to BAE.

I take on all the 6 month old **** that no one has a clue about how to fix, I do stuff people say can't be done, and take the ridiculous rules we have to work under to their absolute limit, usually bypassing the spirit of them by a long way. I have only once in over 10 years in IT been stumped for an answer. In between all that, I migrate and decomission servers.

Next career move? I'm considering becoming a dustman as IT is becoming far too political an evironment for me.

Nox

[gwendes]

I fix problems. I work for a very large IT company who currently have me outsourced, used to be to Dpt of Health, now its to BAE.

I take on all the 6 month old [CENSORED] that no one has a clue about how to fix, I do stuff people say can't be done, and take the ridiculous rules we have to work under to their absolute limit, usually bypassing the spirit of them by a long way. I have only once in over 10 years in IT been stumped for an answer. In between all that, I migrate and decomission servers.

Next career move? I'm considering becoming a dustman as IT is becoming far too political an evironment for me.

Nox

Being a dustman is a political minefield... consider retail... :p

[Nox]

Being a dustman is a political minefield... consider retail... :p

What? Like selling polititians? hmmm, could catch on.

Nox

[djgandy]

Being a dustman is a political minefield... consider retail... :p

What? Like selling polititians? hmmm, could catch on.

Nox

Sell them as slaves, I'll buy blair! ;)

[Nox]

I'll try to avoid any references to 'which blair project' now...

ooops.

too late.

Nox

[Marc]

I'm an NC programmer at BAE Systems, we now have an outside contractor run our computer systems on a lease basis so we always have the latest hardware, problem is that as they are no longer part of the company it is a real pain if you have a system problem because you have to go through a remote help desk which can take some time and usually the person manning the help desk has no idea what you are telling them.

[Nox]

Thats because your helpdesk is based in Preston ;)

I bet your local support is good though <cough>

Nox

[Marc]

Thats because your helpdesk is based in Preston ;)

I bet your local support is good though <cough>

Nox

The helpdesk is actually in Euxton and the local support is not the best, on the shop floor they had a problem with a laser setting machine and whilst the support were reading up what to do a guy in overalls looked at it and found the config file was corrupt, he re-wrote it and got the thing working again before they got to page two of the manual, to be fair the guy in overalls does a lot of computing in his spare time and everyone goes to him if they have a problem with thier home computers.

[G-Man]

Bit obvious where I now work. Before that I worked for the MOD in Telecommunications. It is surprising how much Telecoms and computing is exactly the same.

[asteroid]

telecoms stuff isnt much fun

if you have to support BT Meridian system like I do, you use a terminal emulator and some really obscure command based OS to create delete and edit phone extensions.

The software could really be any more awkward and clunky if they tried

[Nox]

The helpdesk is actually in Euxton

There was me assuming you were based at BAE in Portsmouth - and fix their computers, not laser setting rigs!! I know there are a load of 'big things' scattered around, don't really pay any attention to them!

Nox

[G-Man]

telecoms stuff isnt much fun

if you have to support BT Meridian system like I do, you use a terminal emulator and some really obscure command based OS to create delete and edit phone extensions.

The software could really be any more awkward and clunky if they tried

Q language?

Yeah I spoke to BT about that. They always say they are going to update it and make it more user friendly. They never do though. It amazes me that the terminals are working at all the amount of "beatings" they get.


We still used jacks to connect. Although the RJ45 sockets are cleaner we found the little plastic heads used to get broken really easy. Great for plugging in and staying there, bad for moving around a lot.

[Chewie]

Actually Nox, He might sstill be in portsmouth, most likely up at BroadOak park in hilsea.

Or he could be in the base like me. Hehe, if he thinks his IT support is bad, you should try ours. Yea its fast enough, just try asking for an upgrade and see how far you get.

[David T]

Thats nothing, Portsmouth Uni library where my other halfs works still have Win95 machines they have been told will be upgraded asap.
The asap bit was told to them about 4 years ago :lol:

[Nox]

Actually Nox, He might sstill be in portsmouth, most likely up at BroadOak park in hilsea.

Or he could be in the base like me. Hehe, if he thinks his IT support is bad, you should try ours. Yea its fast enough, just try asking for an upgrade and see how far you get.

Now... depending which building you work in on the base, theres a good chance I might know you :p pm me which one it is will ya!

Nox

[Nox]

/sigh... its been disabled....

drop me an msn/email then :p

Nox

[Chewie]

LoL

well, im not far from Portland. If your in the yard and you know the layout and whats in at this time, you have an idea of where i am :wink:

[Big Beere]

I am currently doing Level 3 in Electrotechnical Technology :)

Basically being an electrician.. only 3-4 more years of studying lol :shock:

BIG B 8)

[Chewie]

Been there done that, just finished my ONC.

Where you studying Beere?

[Big Beere]

Mint ..

Level 3 is much harder than i thought...

I am currently doing the course at college - Solihull, i have to pass this course and go onto level 4 (maybe 5) and do my '16th edition' course to become fully qualified.

Whats the ONC course, is it an add-on?

What level did you get to, past level 3, 4, 5? :)

BIG B 8)

[Chewie]

Right, not sure what they're teaching you but this is the gist (as i under stand it)
Im assuming your talking NVQ's

Level 1 is laborer as far as a sparky is concerned (usually makes the Tea a lot)

Level 2 is your basic wireman (good for running lots of wires, but must be instructed for anything complex)

Level 3 is your craftsman grade (I have the NVQ3 from my apprenticeship, so this was me)
A level 3 can would have an education in the area of a C&G course. When i did mine it was C&G232 pt 2&3, although subsequent years had it changed to a C&G236. Difference being, 236 covers industrial and domestic electrics, with some electronics (beginner digital and analouge). 232 cover power electronics, industrial and domestic installation, and testing (motors and installations) 232 isn't much done anymore i think because (especially where i did mine because it was so dam hard) of its failure rates.
As a precurser to lvl4, he might have to do what was known as BTECH 1st, and intermediate course between C&G level and BTEC National Certificate.

Level 4 is your garden variety Technician.
He would have all of the above, and add to this B-TEC (now EdExcel) National Certificate. This will give you 3 choices, Power (transmition, generation, transformation), Communications (speaks for itself) and electronics (digital, analogue, gates and i/c's) depending on the specialisation yuo go for, depending on what you get taught.

Now, a craftsman would also be expected to have his 16th edition as par for what he does, without it, you were not legally allowed to do any domestic or industrial wiring.

Then add to that you now have to be Part P qualified unde rthe new rules and regs. Plus if you wish to do a full installation (from design up) you would be expected to have a C&G2400 (installation design) and a C&G2390 (test and inspection of installation)

whew

Ok, me, i got all bar the Part P, 2390 and the 2400, because in my line, It's not a neccesity to have.

I currently have 232, 16th, 1st, 101 (basic engineering competences, yay, put it in a chuck of a lathe etc etc) a host of extra courses and a weeks intensive Fibre Optic Terminations course. Now add to that my EdExcel (formerly British Technical Education Council) National Certificate, which i should receive in the next month or so. My tutor reckons im up for a Merit with distinction grade overall.(grades go like this, Pass (PP), Pass with merit (PM), Merit (MM), Merit with Distinction (MD), Distinction (DD).

And i was one of the dumb shmucks too :D .

Although i don't have lvl4, i am a technician due to my years in the industry, covering everything from power generation to sensors, comms to weapons.

Even done a big stint as a draughtsman.

Now i just buy things for the job to make sure they get done on time, in time, and to budget (except for when the poo hits the fan and you do what you can to make it right)

I know have the option of continuing and getting (if i pass it) my Higher National Certificate, then from there it would be Uni and a degree. and thats a no-no, what with a family and all.

[Big Beere]

lol

Ohhhhh, well I have passed Level 1. My level 2 which i have just passed was City and Guilds 2330-2 level 2 :)
Aswell as my level 2, i had to do: ICT, Communications and Application of Number level 2

16th + Part P and level 3 level are next in line for me. Level 3 starts in September.

Did you start on level 1 or level 2, and how long have you been studying it all now then?

THERES SO MANY RULES & REGS TO KNOW :shock: :shock: :shock:

BIG B 8)

[Chewie]

heheh

I started as an apprentice back in 91, wasnt so much as starting on lvl 1 or 2, just started and worked upto a lvl 3.

Goes something like.
91-92 C&G201 (not 101 as i put earlier)
16th edition (Mulitple answer exam, and you take the book with you, easy peasey)
92-94 C&G232 pt2 & 3
94-95 BTEC 1st
95-96 started yr1 of onc, but skipped direct to yr2 because 50% of the areas covered on 232/3 gives you the bits you need to jump yr1 (back then)
dropped out of college cause my 1st kid came along, and needed to start making more money.
91-95 working on nvq to reach level3, achieved it and was *rewarded* with a job placement as a draftsman/installation inspector for building services where i work.
04-06 went back and did my onc, only because of the 8 yr gap, had to do it all.
Now the question is, do i go on to the HNC, for another 2 yrs at 1 day a week, or do i say *hey thats my lot, don't need to do any more* and concentrate on getting through life and raising my family etc etc.

Rules and regs, yup, you need to have a passing aquaintance with them, up until you get going, then you rarely think of them because you'll go on the job, and you wont need to think of them, just what needs doing to make the job safe and correct.

[David T]

Chewie, I did my C&G lvl 1-3 and my BTeC First in Computers and IT (hardware and Software) between 92-94, sounds like we where both studying about the same time :lol:

[Nox]

Near dock 8 Chewie, but nothing in it at the moment. The larger of the two BAE buildings there, the small one has 3 people and I rarely visit it these days. We have a few other buildings down there too though, one near the main gate, a couple of VT buildings, and a few people scattered around.

Nox

[Chewie]

Aye

I know where your on about, just tryng to peg which building your in exactly.

[Nox]

1/140, on occasion - don't visit there anywhere near as much as I used to now though :(

Nox

[gwendes]

Keeping this thread up to date I now work for the Training and Learning Centre on the grounds of City Of Portsmouth Girls' School. ICT Technician involves fixing things that go wrong, breaking things that are working and investigating interesting ways of doing interesting things :)

[Taxation]

Keeping this thread up to date I now work for the Training and Learning Centre on the grounds of City Of Portsmouth Girls' School. ICT Technician involves fixing things that go wrong, breaking things that are working and investigating interesting ways of doing interesting things :)

breaking things that are working??
guess thats one way of describing your job as a school ict technician :wink:

[gwendes]

As a rule, I fix more than I break :)

[vconor]

when i was in college i used to work at homebase and pounland lol fun fun, and at college it did Aerospace engineering, passed that , now im at FSL in the dockyard doin a welding/frabricating apprentiship :P currently studying in scum, woolston a few days in the week :P

[Jonny2Bad]

Run my own ceramic tiling company!

[Conrad]

IT Manager/Office *****/estimator (primary role) for an architectural metalwork company. Just overhauled the entire network with a fancy new HP ProLiant server and currently negotiating upping from 1mbps to 8mbps broadband with the directors.

In charge of 25 users, 2 servers and 2 seperate networks.
Overworked, underpaid, usual story.

Stupid really, I'm a qualified welder with no other qualifications since dropping out of A-Levels, yet here I am doing completely unrelated work!

Going to leave soon though, emmigrating to Canada. Once there intend to do a degree in mechanical engineering, finish my CompTIA A+, Server+, Network+ & Security+.

[Taxation]

Comptia A+ is easy, you should pass with no real stress, i just need some days off from work to take the last A+ technician test, then i move onto MCP

[JDowdall]

this post seems to have jumped from where you are working to where you hope to/ are going 2 work or study, in which case i can say bounremouth uni @ some point 4 3D modelling of some sort

[Taxation]

lol, it has changed quite a bit hasnt it.
update, i got a new job
Im now an IT helpdesk engineer :wink:

[vconor]

oh, so you fix IT helpdesks? XD

[Taxation]

yea, just put a couple of screws in to support the desk top
strengthen the legs to support the operating system
and a patch of grass for the RAM

[vconor]

lol :P

[Corwin]

Thread Necromancer!

Had to comment though, i also used to work at M2 alongside David T (Goth wierdo ! :P joking), **EDIT** Might actually help to say who i am, Jon - Used to work in RMA with Paul and Claire, then went on to the build dept. **EDIT** then went to work at Maxtor in langstone, then to BAE at broadoak (This thread was really freaky to read) in the Cleanroom there. Now working at DSGi Business in manchester as part of the Internal IT team and loving it.

[Idleparis]

quick question to all members except the N staff,


1/ where do you work?

2/ if you are in IT, what would be you ideal next move in your career?



I'm a musician but temp through quieter periods - keeps the landlady happy :roll:

I've managed cafes, live music venues and a little 'specialist' gallery as well as temping as a secretary!!!

At the mo I'm working at an Accountancy training company between recoding in London and Vienna. I was in management in a previous life in Yorkshire until making the move to London village :idea: