Interview with Robert Gail (IT Helpdesk Supervisor)

What were the biggest inspirations for your career?

My inspiration was always the monetary success of my mentors. I was motivated by dollars. I noticed another benefit at the time that got me hooked on technology, although time has changed the perception. In the 1980’s, technology certification had not caught on like it has now. A technically minded person was recognized in one of two ways; either a degree from a university, or by name recognition.

It seemed that a “Guru” – non-degreed, recognizable technician was seen as a knight in shining armor. Gurus were saviors of the evil errors of the servers and workstations. What an ego boost. That feeling, plus a paycheck that rivaled entry level medical staff was the draw into technology for me.

In the late 1990’s / 2000 era, I noticed something different. As I hired technicians and interviewed people, I started seeing people walk in the office with an air of “guru-ship” with no certifications and experience of selling at Radio Shack for a Christmas season. I was stunned. Selling TRS 80’s does not make you an MCSE. Resumes were full of untruths. Since 2001 my hiring process includes a team of people to screen resumes for qualifications. Once candidates are selected for interview, I test them before we talk. I use a shared computer to test them on, so we can see their answers before the interview. I have seen people with “certifications” and “advanced degrees” who could not configure IP addresses, or a pop email account. I have also seen (and hired) kids straight out of high school with an A+ certification, or Net + certification, who understood network topology as well as an engineer.

Why did you initially decide to study computers/IT?

I started studying technology in high school. Today it is offered in elementary school. I saw a new alternative school open in our district that taught programming. I could play adventure games and program in FORTRAN and get credit for it. Easy A’s in a fun class. I was in love. This was the career for me.

In retrospect, what do you know now that you wish you knew before you pursued your IT career?

Careers need forethought. At the time I started a “jack-of-all-trades” was valuable to a company. You would wear many hats, but you were impossible to fire. Your knowledge was your leverage. In reality, you can get very detailed and minute now and really score the bucks. Take Cisco certification as an example. You could have done this for years focusing on routers, bridges and switches and made a good living. Them further pursue VOIP education and become a modern guru of business telephony solutions.

Getting certified, such as MCSE certification is expensive, is it really worth it?

I believe so. Take an entry level sys admin job (36K to 42K in New Mexico, up to 55K worldwide), an MCSE will open the door for a young man or woman to at least get to the interview. And compared to the cost of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, the MCSE investment is maximum bang-for-the-buck. Furthermore, I have hired sys admins in their teens, when a college grad would be early twenties at the earliest.
There are ways to help keep cost low as well, using good research skills could mean you can pass a module or two without instructor led classes. Also, financial aide is available at most training centers. Paper opens doors. You still have to sell yourself. I have seen qualified resumes from people that were so depressing to interview, they had no chance.

What advice can you give to prospective students thinking about an education and career in computers/IT?

Investigate, Research. Talk to people that do the very job you are looking at performing. Look at mentor programs from large companies that hire IT professionals in masses. Finish what you start. Make sure you are detail oriented. Take care of yourself, your mind, your body, it all matters. If you feel good about you, if you have confidence in your skills, if you have credentials for your knowledge, you will be a valuable asset to any company.

Remember: Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance.

Good luck.