Trying to Become a FireDog

[Chazell29]

So, I got hired at Circuit City about 2 weeks ago. I got hired as Customer Service becasue thats all they were hiring for. Now theres a guy leaving form FireDog, which means they need another person. So, I talked to my manager, and he said wait a little bit till everythign is settled (we are a new store and just opened last week) and then we will see, but theres like 3 other people trying to get this one spot.

BREAK. If you dont' know what circuit City's FireDog is, it's like Best Buys Geek Sqaud. IF you don't know what that is then I'll explian. Firedogs are the PC Mechanics at Circuit City. They are the ones that do the installs, and fix your PC when you bring it in. So you do things such as install new processors, PCI Cards, clean up virus, install programs, etc.

So, since there is 3 others not including myself trying to get this one position, what do you guys suggest to learn the most besides just reading threads? Is there like a website of basic PC hardware? Anything like that, guides, and good websites with alot of PC information would be great. I really want this spot, Customer Service (ringing people up) is not for me, and is not the reason I wanted to wokr at Circuit City, I wanted to work there to work on PC's, and this is my chance.
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My experience, I've built one PC, completly by myself (well with the exception of the help from here) and ive installed pretty much anything and everythign in a PC. I have been playing around with PC's for a few years, and know how to fix alot of different problems in the software and Windows stuff, not just hardware. Id ont' know as much as alot of people here, but I think I know a decent ammount. From what you guys have seen in my posts, what I ask, and from my experience, how qualified do you think I am for this position?

I talked to some of the Firedogs there, and they said they almost always search the problems on the internet to just be sure, and they even search google and different forums for common problems that happen when they dont' know how to fix em, so If I do get this position, I may be asking some questions here when the other Firedogs and myself and find a solution to the problem.
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Any help, comments or questions are appreciated.

Thanks alot guys.

[juppy]

Just reading threads is how I've pretty much learned most of what I know. I've found that to be one of the best learning methods anyway, because each thread presents you with a particular problem that someone is having with their computer.....the same thing you'd be doing at that new job. Books are good too. A couple that I check out fairly often are the A+ test guide and another book I bought called "Building and Repairing PC's" by Scott Mueller. The latter one is the better book as far as current information goes. The A+ guide will cover most of the stuff too, but it also gives the background of things like old (read 'outdated') processors and stuff that it's nice to know about, but you probably won't ever encounter again in a normal job.

That's about the only suggestions I've got. If you've built one machine already though, you might already be ahead of the other applicants, knowledge-wise. Hard to tell though. Good luck with the job!

[Chazell29]

Ah, great idea with the books! Just found a good A+ Cert. book, I'm going to pick it up tommorow.

[EzyStvy]

Current Thread:
How to gain expirience and knowledge
http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=185201

[HAL9000]

Internet searches are very true. Heck, a good majority of my post count can be credited to coming here, reading the problem, doing a google search, copy paste. The info is out there IF you know how to effectively search for it.

[Lespaul20]

I second getting a book and taking a look at it. Fundamental knowledge is important because it gives you a good base to go from. I don't think you would trust local auto mechanic entirely if all they did was Google the problems. Fundamental knowledge and good experience go a long way and will help make googling much more effective. Good luck.

[HAL9000]

Googling the problems I find does one thing a text book can't... it provides real world scenarios and the exceptions that a book just doesn't cover. I can go through these forums and find hundreds of text book problems that ended up with some rather unusual, non textbook solutions.

[Lespaul20]

I wasn't insinuating that googling is bad but I just think concrete knowledge and experience are important to have when you are making computer work your job. I use the internet all the time just as you do to find problems that aren't written in books so I don't think there is anything wrong with it.

[Panama Red]

I started with books to learn the relationship of various hardware and how a computer actually functions. I still refer to a couple of hardware books and a Networking for Dummies book I keep on the shelf. Problem solving is typically easier using Google. Seems that most of the issues I've encounterd have been previously solved by someone more knowledgeable than me. I'm just glad they're kind enough to post the solution.

[Chazell29]

Well, i don't know if I'll be getting to become a Firedog anymore =(
Big argument with the store director, and some bad things on my part, may lead to me getting fired. I'm posting a thread to kinda vent, I'm really mad...

[edfair]

fixing and upgrading pcs by Scott Mueller is a good start. Gets pretty involved.

Just understand that as things change you really have to be on your toes to keep up. And they jerk you around when you are starting. But you've already found that out.
Watched a grandkid fight the same issues for the Geek Squad. And on top of everything else they were pushing him to sell additional stuff to new owners, stuff the owners didn't really need.
Some of the geeks are really good. But they push their schedules so they can't really do the quality they want to. I probably couldn't make it with them. Not that I'd want to try.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Man, you're young. Just take your time, read books, subscribe to a couple of PC magazines and keep coming here to read and post. In time, if you really dig PCs you can just start your own business where you can follow your own work philosophy and schedules and don't have to deal with employers' crap. Now, dealing with customers' crap... that's another story.

[Chazell29]

Originally Posted by Nuclear Krusader Man, you're young. Just take your time, read books, subscribe to a couple of PC magazines and keep coming here to read and post. In time, if you really dig PCs you can just start your own business where you can follow your own work philosophy and schedules and don't have to deal with employers' crap. Now, dealing with customers' crap... that's another story.

How would I start my own buisness at 17 years old? I have been subscribed to PC Mag for about a year, i just bought an A+ cert. guide book with alot of info, and I come here quite often

[HAL9000]

You just start small, even if it is out of your own home.. I helped a friend start a computer business when he was only 15

[Nuclear Krusader]

That's how I started. I started "working" for a friend as a salesman on comission (mostly so I could get parts for my own PC at dealer's price, how I miss those days) when I was 19. A year later, when I was 20 I registered before the tax secretariat and started working out of my own house, building and fixing. I used to build on the living room's floor! To this day I feel more comfortable assembling a PC on the floor than on a bench. I didn't have a established store till I was 25.

I'm not saying you drop out of school and do it now. Just consider the option and in the meanwhile don't waste time, id est, stay tuned to the IT scene, read, and build your own systems or help friends with theirs or build them computers to gain experience. Over time the people you've helped will start referring you more ppl and it all goes from there.

[Cricket]

Noticed your "firedog" avatar and wondered if you got the tech position at Circuit City?

Cricket