You seem to misunderstand that having experience in the skill you are
'selling' is part of a skill-set. Without some experience you do not have a
complete skill-set, just a portion of one. I think you will find most
employers are looking for a complete skill-set in the tasks they require
help with.
Being able to read a configuration guide and input the commands into a
router for example is not a skill. You could teach a second grader to do
that. However, being able to do this with an understanding of the
ramifications it has on the surrounding environment, and the knowledge of
the steps one would need to take in order to remedy possible problems that
arise as a result, would qualify as a skill.
>From: "Bradley J. Wilson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Reply-To: "Bradley J. Wilson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: "cisco" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: Paying One's Dues (was: Re: Need Advice)
>Date: Wed, 1 Nov 2000 06:16:32 -0500
>
>
>Daniel Cotts wrote:
>
>The trick is getting the
>experience to reinforce the knowledge you gain through study. My first job
>in IT included moving furniture, taking out the garbage, and shoveling
>snow.
>After that I might be able to work on the computers. It's called paying
>your
>dues.
>
>And I'm saying:
>
>I think the part about "paying your dues" is bullsh*t. If I'm selling you
>my ability to (insert somewhat technical skill here), and if you say you're
>buying whatever technical skill I'm selling, then anything else is you
>wasting my time and exploiting my presence. Case in point: my first job
>when I moved to Boston was to be a "software trainer" for a rinky-dink
>training company. I was hired on with the verbal agreement that within two
>months I would be teaching at least one of their classes full-time. After
>I
>officially started, my duties included hauling PCs up and down stairs,
>vacuuming, running errands for the boss, etc. The tasks I was performing
>were not based on the skills I was selling to my employer. After two
>months, when it became very apparent that this guy had no intention of
>letting me set foot in front of a classroom, I split and got a much, *much*
>better job elsewhere which utilized the skills I had to offer an employer.
>
>Just think: if all you're going to do is move furniture and vacuum, why are
>you applying at the company you're applying at? Why not just go to work
>for
>a moving company instead? It's because you have a skill set which, at
>least
>in your eyes, has some value to that company. If they agree, then they
>hire
>you and you use those skills - immediately.
>
>The moral is: don't settle for anything less than the job you want to do.
>If you are confident in your skill level, there is an employer out there
>who
>wants to buy it.
>
>That'll be $0.02, please pull ahead to the next window.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Bradley J. Wilson
>CCNA, CCDA, MCSE, CNX-A, NNCSS, MCT, CTT
>
>
>_________________________________
>FAQ, list archives, and subscription info:
>http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html
>Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
_________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.
Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at
http://profiles.msn.com.
_________________________________
FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html
Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
