Job building computers with on-the-job training?

[Punked Out Comp]

Where can I get a job building computers with on the job training, and how much money per hour can I expect to make?

[rspassey]

I would suggest either posting an add in the paper, or going and asking at a local computer store that does builds and repairs, they will want qualification before hiring I assume...

[HAL9000]

Go to your local computer shops and ask if you can volunteer your help so you can learn how to build computers. You won't get paid anything, but you will get the experience and hopefully in the long run get a job building.... my personal advice though, don't bother, no money in it.

[blue60007]

Yeah I doubt you'll get training AND be paid. Computer stores are going to be looking for people with certifications. Take hal's advice, then take the A+ certification exam, and who knows, maybe that store will hire you.

[Punked Out Comp]

How old do you need to be to take the A+ certification exam, what exactly is it, what does it have to do with building computers, and isnt there actually something called "ON THE JOB TRAINING" which would imply that its a job, meaning you get paid, and during the job you get training, which means they would train you, which is what it want?
If I know the basics of building a computer, why would I need some sort of certification?

EDIT: Not to mention, my neighborhood sucks, and I dont have any local mom and pop individual owned type computer stores. So it would have to be a big name store. What big name store that isnt crap will hire a teenager who knows the basics of building a computer to work for them and train him as well?

[rspassey]

there are A+ tests in OSes and Hardware as well as networking, you can be any age, I will be taking mine this break so when I turn 16. from what i have been told from the certification testing place in buenos aires, the test is equvilant to 500 on the site training hours ( I think ) and you wont get hired and paid without proper certification and experience.

[HAL9000]

Very few shops will provide you with on the job training for that work.... they expect you already know it and have either certifications or experience.... as for pay... I was getting a whopping $9.27CDN per hour.

[Punked Out Comp]

Where do I go to find out more about an A+ course for building computers, as well as other things, like programming languages, and other cool stuff like that? I'm 14 (although I'll be 15 soon if that makes a difference, which it probably doesnt) if it matters. And I'm homeschooled, so that might affect this too.

[Punked Out Comp]

I was getting a whopping $9.27CDN per hour.


7 bucks (USD) an hour is decent for my purposes. It's not great, but I can handle it. Although I would have thought that for being in the computer field, you would actually get a nice paycheck. At least 10 bucks USD an hour.


How much does getting certified cost/how long does it take?

[enhanced08]

I just graduated last June and got my A+ and Net+ certs durring my senior year. I also am in the same boat as you, my town has 1 shop and will not hire me. :( I have tried and tried to get a job with computers. I thought about starting my own computer shop but just never did it, maybe you could try this. Good Luck!!

[rspassey]

Getting certified will depend on how much you know as for how long it will take to happen, I am planning on studying for a week staight before each test and I already quite a bit of experience on cmd lines ect.. like you said you already know how to build one, but they go a little deeper than that, as ask about IRQs and stuff I had no clue on untill i have been looking over and learning some of the stuff to prepare me.

As for opening a store of your own you need to have a permit i beleive and i am nto trying to be mean and say you arent qualified, but who would go to someone without certificates and documentations and experience. They would be more willing to pay more and go to someone with all the above and more.

I would suggest perhaps offering to volunteer, that way you can learn lots.

[tigstah]

opening you're own shop, thats a huge investment.
good luck on the tests tho......
where i live the market is so dried up right now.....i have lil experience outside of my house and no certs....although the practice tests i have taken i have done very well....

if you are looking to get your foot in the market. i would suggest going with a company like modis or robert half....you will get assignments and be a contractor. if you arent married and with kids you may get to travel some.....

[blue60007]

Where do I go to find out more about an A+ course for building computers, as well as other things, like programming languages, and other cool stuff like that? I'm 14 (although I'll be 15 soon if that makes a difference, which it probably doesnt) if it matters. And I'm homeschooled, so that might affect this too.

I think the A+ exam is something like $250, also not to discourage you but I think you'll have a hard time finding someone to hire you at your age, besides legally I think you have to be 16, otherwise there's a whole bunch of paperwork. Again, not to discourage you but I think you should wait till you're 16 to jump into the work force. In the mean time, buy some A+ books and start learning all about computers. For experience you could offer to repair/build/fix computers for friends and family. Also hang around PCmech for a while, I've been around here for a month and I think I've doubled my knowledge about computers in the mean time. Once you feel like you know the stuff pretty well, take the A+ exam, then I think you'll have a good chance of finding a job in the field. :)

Oh and finding some place that you could volunteer or "shadow" is another good way to build experience.

[bailey]

not to discourage you eather, but just because you do get the A+ and the network + and lots of years of experience still not be any gaurantee you will get a job in this field, because there are many college grads with many certs out there looking for work too, and keep in mind, most highschools with any kind of tech classes are putting out about 25 grads a semester with at least the A+ and network + certs, so thats a lot of competion to deal with at your age.
the big area to get into right now is anything in network systems security, big demand and good pay, but then again, its more certs to get, and there not cheap eather.

[Punked Out Comp]

Let me look at it from another angle. What is the highest paying field in computers?
The highest paying field that can be done over the internet?


As for my age, 14 is old enough to get a work permit.

[bailey]

Let me look at it from another angle. What is the highest paying field in computers?
The highest paying field that can be done over the internet?


As for my age, 14 is old enough to get a work permit.
now that is setting your goal high, now you want bill gates job.

the highest pay you can get will depend on how well you can bargan for your skills. its usally a negoaiting thing with the employer, and you have to convience him that your worth that much money to his company.
there is no set rate of pay, just a general area range like from 30 to 50 k for a spot and you negoate the the most you can get.

[rspassey]

Depends, you can get a computer science degree, and get a job as a manager making a 6 digit salary or with the same education get a job at a local computer store in a city with little technological activity and barely make ends meet... you ar 14, and if you dont need to get a job, and Im not discouraging having a good drive to work.. I would just say take it easy... I am about 16 and had a summer job last year, loved the money, but now when i look back I was like man I wish I hadnt worked and maybe spent some more time with my friends before I ended up moving away..

Over the internet, I have no clue, maybe freelance programming, but that would require at least extreme knowledge of multiple syntaxes and languages...

Maybe just keep working on your computer knowledge, get some books, learn how to preform ever task posible through DOS, I am not sure...

[Punked Out Comp]

I do need money, and I know I've read articles about people around my age making alot of money with logos or something like that.

Can anyone clarify?

[bailey]

it appears to me that all your questions have already been answered, I am not sure what you wanting to know.
there is all kinds of ways to make money on line with your computer, you just need to fiqure what you know how to do and then fine somebody that is willing to pay you for your services.
you might try doing a google search for ideas.

[thefultonhow]

Frankly, the easiest way to make money in computers is just to do freelance work and get clients through word-of-mouth. You don't even have to be certified; you just have to do a good job. I don't have any certs and I was still making $20-30 per hour freelancing. (Make sure you print up business cards and give soem to each of your clients -- that way they can pass your info on to prospective clients more easily.)

[Punked Out Comp]

Back to my original question then.

I may be able to get A+ certification for computer building, but if I cant afford the parts to actually build the compute, so I have no way to get the experience. The best I have done is taken apart and put back together VERY old computers.
If I got on-the-job training, I can get experience building computers, yet I'm not expected to be perfect right away, which I why it would be a good idea.

So what stores will hire someone with A+ certification to build computers with on-the-job training?

[EzyStvy]

You'll need to contact any and all stores/companies in your area that do repairs and ask them.

[kstatefan40]

Back to my original question then.

I may be able to get A+ certification for computer building, but if I cant afford the parts to actually build the compute, so I have no way to get the experience. The best I have done is taken apart and put back together VERY old computers.
If I got on-the-job training, I can get experience building computers, yet I'm not expected to be perfect right away, which I why it would be a good idea.

So what stores will hire someone with A+ certification to build computers with on-the-job training?

Ok, first off:

One of the cruel things about the American economy is you generally have to have money before you can make money.
<ol>
<li>You need to understand that you have to start at the bottom and work your way up. You won't be making $7/hr starting out, you're 14. I'm 15, and I don't believe if you put both of us together we would have the knowledge or experience of Hal. We wouldn't make money that way.</li>
<li>Unfortunately, at 14 you can't work for a reputable company. OJT is offered through our school, but it is required that you be a senior to do it. I've inquired about getting it waved, but its state mandated that you can't do it.</li>
<li>Your work hours are *extremely* limited at your age. Even at 15, I can only work between 7 and 7, and only a certain number of hours a day (VERY few) and the paperwork required to hire someone that young is not very fun to fill out. I worked at the local waterpark as a lifeguard this summer, and I was restricted like you wouldn't believe. In my opinion, age does not equate to knowledge, its quality that matters.</li>
<li>People don't trust young people. Its a fact of life - however, to take care of that, I got certifications and started writing for PCMech. Telling people you're published on a tech site that has 25,000 people a day visit gets your point across a little better.</li>
<li>I have a benefit of living in an area of generally older people who have money. Most of those old people need computer help all the time and can afford to pay me to do it for them. No company will hire me, even with the resume I have (I'm not trying to sound stuck up, and I don't like flashing it around, but I've got a ton of experience in business) at my age. When I turn 16 in March, I may apply for a sales job at CC or Best Buy, but I'll probably stick to writing for the 'mech.</li>
</ol>

You need to start something to back yourself up first. When you get old enough, you can work for whoever you want at a better rate. That's my advice. Get the certs, and get experience. Money won't come into play yet.

[Punked Out Comp]

Here's an idea I got.

Teaching. A little while ago I was teaching one person how to use a computer, for $10 an hour, and hopefully I will resume teaching her again soon.
Now if I get more credibility (A+ certification, experience, ect...) I can charge $40 an hour and still be relatively cheap, compared to professional businesses, run by adluts.

Now if I teach a class (that I start and run, not teaching for any type of school), and I teach 2 hours a day, 5 days a week, for a month long class that has to be paid for in advance (like any class) for the equivalent of $40 and hour, thats alot of money right there. Right now I have to work on credibility, which I need more of than most, given my age, but it's nice to know I have potential here.

People might not be willing to pay as much for a "kid" as they would for an aduult, but they might be willing to pay for a kid with good credibility if he charges LESS than a aadult. $40 an hour seems like alot, but its cheap compared to other places.

[bailey]

there you go, thats a great idea and should be a fun source of income too.

[rspassey]

Nice plan, keep us updated on how it goes...I knew a girl who taugh spanish over the summer to some kids and made a bunch of money that way.. I wish I got paid for the amount of help I give ppl with computers.
40$ an hours sounds really expensive, I would say try lowering that even if you have your certs. Thats just my opinion.

[kstatefan40]

There's an idea! I wouldn't charge $40/hr though, but you can try it. It could be better to start high and get cheaper. To give you some more brainstorming ideas:

I mowed yards. Something you don't want to undercharge for. Spent $35 on a newspaper ad, got 10 customers. Very good income, charged about $25/hr. If I could do it again, I'd probably charge more.

I tutored an elementary school kid in first grade math. We got him from an unsatisfactory to above average in about two months. $20/hour.

I taught a kid swimming lessons. $20/hour.

I started writing for PCMech at this point. We don't get paid by the hour :)

Thats just to give you some ideas. People will pay for anything that helps them out. Just be careful not to overcharge. Its a good way to build references and build credibility. I could easily come up with 15 references for any application I needed - it comes in very handy. Good luck.