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New ICT Support Technician - Needs Advice - Please

james_richards

By james_richards
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james_richards

james_richards

Posted
Posted

Hi all,

 

Recently I have got a job as a ICT Support Technician in a secondary school and I start on Wednesday 28th January 2009. I do not have solid knowledge about networking, hardware and software in schools. Can someone please give me website links, book names or your own knowledge were I can gain good knowledge from.

 

Can someone please help me out.

 

Thank you in advance.

 

Regards

 

James

djdohboy

djdohboy

Posted
Posted

Give us an idea about your it background, things like what you have done etc. And let us know a little about what system hour new job use, for example is it a vanilla Server 2003 environent, viglen classlink, RM cc3/4, ranger etc.

 

Then we can point you inthe right direction :)

 

John

  • Thanks 1
Graduate

Graduate

Posted
Posted

James Richard,

 

With minimum experience how did you get this ICT Technician Job?

Im really struggling at the moment nones giving me the chance?

 

Please Help.

FN-GM

FN-GM

Posted
Posted
James Richard,

 

With minimum experience how did you get this ICT Technician Job?

Im really struggling at the moment nones giving me the chance?

 

Please Help.

 

When i started in IT i was 16 and just out of school.

 

I did voluntary work, and got recognised for it and got a job. Since then i have been approached twice and offered jobs. Also once your in make sure you go out of your way to network with other technical staff in the area.

Graduate

Graduate

Posted
Posted
When i started in IT i was 16 and just out of school.

 

I did voluntary work, and got recognised for it and got a job. Since then i have been approached twice and offered jobs. Also once your in make sure you go out of your way to network with other technical staff in the area.

 

Thanks for the advice. Is it worth me sending a speculative letter along with my CV to local schools to see if they have an ICT Technician Vacancy or not?

joe90bass

joe90bass

Posted
Posted

There are loads of routes to go down, from looking from somehwere that teachers A+ (for hardware or server), getting the school to pay for courses (such as MCSA), etc

 

But this is education, and unless you're really lucky it's going to be self study! In which case find a few old PCs, and build yourself a test network (at home if need be!) and play to your hearts content! Even better get the school to buy a MCSA/E study kit and work your way through them, as well as learning things that'll help in your current job, you'll also be helping make yourself more employable should you wish to move on in the future.

 

And don't forget edugeek for help, at one time PCs, servers and networks were a mystery to us all, in fact they still are................ :getmecoat:

  • Thanks 1
joe90bass

joe90bass

Posted
Posted
Thanks for the advice. Is it worth me sending a speculative letter along with my CV to local schools to see if they have an ICT Technician Vacancy or not?

 

Yes, and don't overlook the opportunity of unpaid work experience (if you're unemployed at present), it shows your keen and is good for the CV!

  • Thanks 1
sammy

sammy

Posted
Posted

Hi James,

 

any issues post em up and we can all have a dig at em....there is enough technical guys on here to start up a school for techies....

 

If it doesnt get resolved on this forum, it doesnt get resolved. :D

  • Thanks 1
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somabc

somabc

Posted
  • Popular Post
Posted (edited)
Thank You djdohboy

 

The information are:

 

Windows Server 2003

Client Network

Linux

Stone and RM Computers

Windows 2000/XP

Active Directory

 

If you have administered Server 2003, Active Directory, XP Clients before than you will not find it much different in a school. For a vanilla setup the only differences I can think of will be greater restrictions on the pupils (via Group Policy & Web Filtering).

 

Become familiar with Active Directory Users & Computers and the Group Policy Management Console. I imagine the network, domain and policies should all be up and running already. Hopefully there will also be staff there (Network Manager?) to answer any questions you may have so do not worry about it too much, just enjoy your new job.

 

Some major headaches I had when starting were thinking

 

a) How do I deploy software to the clients

b) How do I automate installs of new computers

 

There are various ways to do this but I will leave that for now until you are more familiar with the schools systems.

 

I found these pages helpful when starting out.

 

 

Networking Basics: Part 1 - Networking Hardware

Networking Basics: Part 2 - Routers

Networking Basics: Part 3 - DNS Servers

Networking Basics: Part 4 - Workstations and Servers

Networking Basics: Part 5 - Domain Controllers

Networking Basics: Part 6 - Windows Domain

Networking Basics: Part 7 - Introduction to FSMO Roles

Networking Basics: Part 8 - FSMO Roles continued

Networking Basics: Part 9 – Active Directory Information

Networking Basics: Part 10 - Distinguished Names

Networking Basics: Part 11 - The Active Directory Users and Computers Console

Networking Basics: Part 12 - User Account Management

Networking Basics: Part 13 - Creating Groups

Networking Basics: Part 14 - Security Groups

Networking Basics: Part 15 - Universal Groups & Group Nesting

Networking Basics: Part 16 - The Windows Operating System's Role in Networking

Networking Basics: Part 17 - The OSI Model

Networking Basics: Part 18 - Sharing Resources

Networking Basics: Part 19 - Share Level Permissions

 

 

For podcasts try starting at episode 1 of this -

IT idiots (mp4/iPod)

Edited by somabc
  • Thanks 8
IanT

IanT

Posted
Posted

I've been in the IT game since I was 17, was doing a part-time ICT Technician role while i was at college then went onto full time, I picked up experience doing support etc and built it up from that.

 

If you want todo IT Support the best thing in my opinion is get your foot in the door somewhere doing IT Support and progress from there, I did and now im 23 and a Network Manager at a school!

 

Qualifications are good but there not everything trust me!

  • Thanks 1
Crispin

Crispin

Posted
Posted

I honestly wouldn't worry. With the experience you have you should be farmiliar enough to learn rapidly.

I started my first EVER IT related job in June last year, with only an A+ qualification under my arm and a twinkle in my eye.

 

Starting out was difficult. A school with 800 PCs and a few hundred laptops, not to mention whiteboards, projectors was a bit daunting at first.

I had to learn pretty much everything, from ghosting to AD and server administration. Computers have always been a hobby of mine but not in practice in a working environment.

 

After a couple of months of intense learning and absorbing what others were doing around me I was well on my way, and now I feel very confident in my job.

 

From my limited knowledge the guys working in IT within schools are always patient and friendly. You should be fine!

  • Thanks 1
james_richards

james_richards

Posted
  • Author
Posted
James Richard,

 

With minimum experience how did you get this ICT Technician Job?

Im really struggling at the moment nones giving me the chance?

 

Please Help.

 

Hi Graduate the best advice i can give you is look on your local council website thats were most of the IT Tech jobs are advertised. Most ICT Tech Managers recruit a person who is willing to learn. Basically I have not got any experience I only got a degree in Bsc Hons in Computer Science. But however when undertaking my degree i did study few networking modules.

jmcdermott

jmcdermott

Posted
Posted
I've been in the IT game since I was 17, was doing a part-time ICT Technician role while i was at college then went onto full time, I picked up experience doing support etc and built it up from that.

 

If you want todo IT Support the best thing in my opinion is get your foot in the door somewhere doing IT Support and progress from there, I did and now im 23 and a Network Manager at a school!

 

Qualifications are good but there not everything trust me!

 

i agree qualifications are not every thing, i learnt far more from working for viglen for 2 years than any of my qualifications, and now have to chuck myself in the deep end with any new tech just to keep my head running right.

 

My advise is if you need to learn linux/ad/server 2003 get a copy of the disks (betas will do) install them at home and play, try to bugger them up, then fix them, it is by far the best way to learn.

Andie

Andie

Posted
Posted

I was a returner to work after about 10 years out of IT - and a lot happens in IT in 10 years! I borrowed books from the library (the Dummies series in particular) and generally researched as much as possible. I have been lucky in that our school network has kind of grown with me in the last six years, but edugeek has been really really brilliant and I have learnt so much from this site. You might also want to check out these two websites, which have a lot of useful info and some free training stuff too:

 

Free Computer Training Videos from Train Signal Training | Train Signal Training - Free Computer Training Videos

 

Welcome to Petri.co.il by Daniel Petri

  • Thanks 1
lionsl2005

lionsl2005

Posted
Posted
James Richard,

 

With minimum experience how did you get this ICT Technician Job?

Im really struggling at the moment nones giving me the chance?

 

Please Help.

 

I am a recent graduate, was strugulled to get a job, been to several interviews but no luk, coz no experience, i explored my way with starting as a volunteer Techie in a school where i disqualified in interview. now i got a job just started Jan 5th, im get to know about school environment and develope my learning process,

Edugeek is there always,

Hightower

Hightower

Posted
Posted

I started as an apprentice and am still working towards any 'real' qualifications. I have had various jobs including an Assistant Network Manager and Network Manager and these were given to me due to my experience.

 

If I was sifting through job applications I think I'd be more swayed towards experience than qualifications.

 

As people have said, if you can't get a job go knocking on doors volunteering your time. You then have qualifications AND experience ;)

Jiser

Jiser

Posted
Posted (edited)
Hi all,

 

Recently I have got a job as a ICT Support Technician in a secondary school and I start on Wednesday 28th January 2009. I do not have solid knowledge about networking, hardware and software in schools. Can someone please give me website links, book names or your own knowledge were I can gain good knowledge from.

 

Can someone please help me out.

 

Thank you in advance.

 

Regards

 

James

 

 

You got the job, well done! They obviously saw something in you or you wouldn't have the job.

 

CertForums is a great forum for advise etc in how to progress your career and learning. somabc gave you loads of great links though there.

 

I would start working towards your MCSA with CompTIA A+ & N+ as electives then as soon as you can upgrade to the latest microsoft certifications with the upgrade exam. Maybe your school could help towards the books/cd's.

 

Home learning btw will save you alot of dosh. Even 30 minutes a night is better than nothing.

 

Anyway nowa days personally I think you need a good mix of qualifications, experiance and perhaps academic qualification! Though experiance usually owns all. Its hard to get ahead nowa days and anything you can do, to get your name standing out the better. Just don't get paper certed only!

Edited by Jiser
sammy

sammy

Posted
Posted
..... if you can't get a job go knocking on doors volunteering your time. You then have qualifications AND experience ;)

 

touché , thats exactly what i did, i knocked on doors, i cold called poeple, i did everything possible to get in front of poeple. In this day and age sending a electronic CV just isnt enough. Either you can leave your future in the hands of some greedy little recruitment agent who is equally happy when you get a job and even happier when you lose it so that he can replace you elsewhere.... or you take your future in your own hands and go knocking.

 

thats my opionion anyway :D :mullet:

 

have a good day and happy hunting.

StewartKnight

StewartKnight

Posted
Posted
Hi all,

 

Recently I have got a job as a ICT Support Technician in a secondary school and I start on Wednesday 28th January 2009. I do not have solid knowledge about networking, hardware and software in schools. Can someone please give me website links, book names or your own knowledge were I can gain good knowledge from.

 

Can someone please help me out.

 

Thank you in advance.

 

Regards

 

James

 

This REALLY concerns me!

 

IT techs in schools get a bad rep from teachers, who often think their the only professionals in the world, never mind the school!

 

A tech needs to be knowledgeable, confident and be able to stand up for him (or her!! Sorry Witch ;-) )

 

Teachers have low opinions of non teaching staff, especially techs, so by employing someone who doesn't have a clue, re-enforces the stereotype!

 

With your lack of knowledge, they should have taken you on as a trainee, and the staff understand that you are there to learn the ropes!

  • Thanks 2
tmcd35

tmcd35

Posted
Posted
This REALLY concerns me!

Teachers have low opinions of non teaching staff, especially techs, so by employing someone who doesn't have a clue, re-enforces the stereotype!

 

Honestly never had that problem at either High School I've worked for.

bulletproofbaba

bulletproofbaba

Posted
Posted

unfortunately it is very much a catch 22 situation, you cant get a job because you dont have the experience so how do you get experience ?

 

Doing some unpaid work involving IT showing you are willing to work, whilst at the same time you are gaining experience. I can understand where some people say that qualifications are not that relevant, BUT having qualifications like A+/MCSE/MCSA etc does put you in a different league when you are looking to move up the ladder onto bigger things. I am working as a technician at the moment, but at the same time am working through the qualifications as well. So far I have graduated, currently working on the experience bit with evening study for my MCSE/MCSA classification, so am trying to build on my experience as well as my qualifications bit. So try and get the best of both worlds and get qualified as well!. Good luck

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