support monkey

[unemployed]

Worked in support 2nd 3rd line since 1997 and have basically seen money go down and down.
wages have been in the range of 25k to 45k with OT depending on the job.

Is there any point staying in this industry ? , as it would seem the only people earning any money are the crappy agencies skimming , or project mangers etc.

[JoJoGabor]

Sorry of this sounds harsh, it's not meant to be, but how have you moved With the times since 1997? You have to understand that support jobs are easy to offshore, if you have been doing support for I long, you should try to move up into specialised areas, engineer positions or technical architecture. Appreciate that you may not be able to be able to do that, but this is a competitive world and you have to compete

[unemployed]

Sorry of this sounds harsh, it's not meant to be, but how have you moved With the times since 1997? You have to understand that support jobs are easy to offshore, if you have been doing support for I long, you should try to move up into specialised areas, engineer positions or technical architecture. Appreciate that you may not be able to be able to do that, but this is a competitive world and you have to compete

unfortunatly the companies i have worked for have not stayed with the times, last company was still using windows NT ffs.

how can you get a better job, if you cannot get the experience ? expensive courses seem to be worthless

[pdr]

I think the best option maybe to go perm and try and cross train into a different role. The problem is most roles are bobable you just need to try moving into a position where you can achieve more differentiation.

[Sockpuppet]

unfortunatly the companies i have worked for have not stayed with the times, last company was still using windows NT ffs.

how can you get a better job, if you cannot get the experience ? expensive courses seem to be worthless

Acquire a server at home (any old machine will do) and experiment. At least then you know you can hold your own.

[cojak]

You need to move with the times. I was an Analyst Programmer in 1997 but by jumping on the next big thing (in my case ITIL, but I'm doing other stuff as well now )I'm still in IT but higher up the food chain.

You're 10 years behind everyone else.

(And expensive courses are not worthless - certificates get you interviews, networking gets you contracts. I'm sitting in a flash office now because I sat next to the PM in a course in January...)

[cojak]

Acquire a server at home (any old machine will do) and experiment. At least then you know you can hold your own.

WSPS

Sorry but the only one holding you back is you...

[NotAllThere]

From 1990 to 1996 I worked in support. However, when I could do anything involving programming, I angled to be the one who'd do it. My last contract in 1996, as a result of serendipitious resignation from a programmer, I moved from support of an application to developer of it. Eventually, I ended up as a SAP programmer, but even in that I've moved to more specialist (less bobbable) areas.

I've always tried to garner more skills within contracts, and expressed an interest in what's going in other areas. Five years ago, the contract I was on didn't have enough work - so I proposed to the boss that I send myself on a course, and get trained in the application side of the work. Then I was able to take on a project that needed to be done, but for which they didn't have resource internally, so my contract was extended.

You need to look good and hard at your skills, and what you want to do. Then move in that direction. When you're back in the market, make sure that you are continually developing yourself. No-one will do it for you.

[Liamxtype]

Very good advice already given here. I'm also in support and the work is rapidly drying up. Definitely consider taking some course, they may seem expensive, but they could be the helping hand that lands you your next contract. I'm aiming to get TOGAF and CISSP certs before I finish my current (support) contract. Also networking, super important to get yourself known!

[unemployed]

I think the best option maybe to go perm and try and cross train into a different role. The problem is most roles are bobable you just need to try moving into a position where you can achieve more differentiation.

Been trying to a find a perm role around the surrey area , as a london trip is 3 hours a day traveling.
and the cost.

i agree though, need to pick up new skills but it`s not easy when employers do not invest in their employees anymore, so i think it`s a case of getting a job and paying to train.
storage interest`s me and possibly vmware etc. any way of getting a junior storage role ?