I need to earn some extra money to supplement my SS. Since I am already pretty computer savvy, I'm thinking about taking a course to learn the insides and outsides of XP and Vista. Since XP is still more widely used than Vista, that's where I'll start. Has anyone out there taken a course on these, either on-line, Jr College or trade school? Recommendations?

 

I wish you good luck doing that. One of my in-laws did the same thing, but he was a lot younger than you. Unfortunately, I do not know which course he took, or if it was self study. He now does quite well for himself.

My wife is a computer professional, so I get to hear all the current goings on. Change is a daily experience, and it is hard for people to keep up. The field is predominately full of young people, and most of the people who do the hiring are twenty and thirty somethings. You may very well run into ageism. Wrongly or rightly, a lot of companies require a college degree, even for their in-house desktop support people, who are usually at the bottom of the IT ladder.

If you are not already aware of it, look into the Microsoft certification process and the expenses involved. I'm not sure how important a certification is for the Winders world today, but it is something to keep in mind. Techies running servers and network specialists make quite a bit more money than those just doing desktop stuff. The in-law I spoke of got himself a certification before he even looked for a job. He has worked in networking and server system administration almost exclusively.

I can't recommend a specific school, but I can tell you that ITT Tech costs a fortune, and they seem to specialize in people that have a difficult time in an ordinary college environment. This from a family member who was an ITT computer programming instructor.

 

Thanks for your comments.

I have registered for a MS sponsered, three day, course for later this month. I haven't received any info on costs, etc yet. The course outline appears to be pretty good, but not as in depth as I want to go.

As far as jobs, I checked on a couple that they said I was already qualified for, but I'm not sure I am. Besides, both were on the opposite side of Dallas and I don't want to fight two to four hours of traffic a day. Neither cared about my age. I'm not trying to get rich or start a new career. I would be satisfied working a help desk, new system setup or system upgrades. I just don't like doing a job for $$$ that I'm not sure I'm 99% prepared for.

 

Back in the mid-late 1990's when I worked in computer support I took several of those Microsoft certified technical courses. They're pretty expensive, but they do pack a lot of information into a short timeframe.

The computers were tougher to support back then as the Internet was just starting to become mainstream, and the amount of drivers available online and information in the knowledge bases was limited. The automatic driver downloads and installation abilities of the current Windows products would have made my job a lot easier back then. I really don't miss it (especially the help desk duties), but I hope it works out well for you.

 

Ha! I remember those days. I've been fooling with PC's for about 16 yrs now and they sure have come a long way. I'd hate to have to go back to use DOS commands again.

Since the MS course I applied for is from a private company, I figure the cost will be prohibitive. When I get back home, and off this phone modem, I'll start checking to see what's available on-line and at the local JC's. On the local news, they have reported that there are several nursing schools in the area that don't have certifications worth the paper they're printed on.....I need to find something that's real.

 

what was your previous trade?
My draftsman is retired airforce mechanic. When he started, he was part time, he has moved up to full time postponing his SS benefits, but maintaining his military retirement benefits.
Our most senior shop mechanic is retired and works few enough hours to maintain his social security benefits.
AutoCAD isn't tough to learn the basics. Many small time engineering services need part time drafters.

 

Texas Instruments for 35 years. I was in production supervision and mid-management. Spent most of my years managing people, costs control, cycle time reduction, new product implementation and keeping a bunch of engineers in line.

Never thought about AutoCad, but did fool around with it some years ago. Along with operating systems, I'm sure it has come a long way. Thanks for the idea.

 

I have worked with a few draftsmen. Personally, I would rather have an older draftsman. Their work is better (maybe not faster), but its done correctly. I have seen some scratchings that my kids could have done better with a box of crayons.

If you have dealt with engineers and management (especially time management), I think drafting would be a good second career for you.

I currently have AutoCAD 2008 LT and with a little "adjustment", I have it looking real close to version 12 that I started with.

 

Well, the MS approved course turns out to be a three day + 2 day, for a "mere" $2100. For that much $$$, I would expect a little longer, more in depth course.

While at Fry's the other day, I was looking at some training manuals. A nice hard backed book with almost the same materials, certification guides and pre-test was about $60. I'll probably pick it up this week and go from there.

Also, I checked the Federal Government job site and found several jobs that I already qualify for. The problem....I don't want to drive across Dallas or move to another town. Maybe I'm just to hungry enough....yet.

 

Charley I know it sounds dumb but have you looked at doing any of the secret shopper stuff? my mom does a few every once and awhile and iirc it pays decent.

 

No I haven't. I get email in my Bulk Mail folder about "Secret Shopper", but have never opened one of them. I might try it though.

 

A couple of the Boss's girlfriends do that, and have tried to talk us into it.. if you have plenty of time, its fine and pays OK for the amount of time you invest in it..
you go to a store/restaurant, make a small purchase, making sure you get help from a clerk or staff, and then fill out an on-line questionare about your experience and rate the service etc.. the questionares took between 20 and 45 minutes each IIRC, and it wasnt worth it to us to do..

 

You can't really count on those being "real" jobs. Some will be, but many tend to be vapor. The feds are required to advertise most vacant positions, but in a lot of cases they go to people already on board as promotions or transfers. There is also a lot of hiring of the favored.

 

I've been in the IT world for about 15 years now. I've done the "computer repair on the side" and put it aside and won't go back. Also, everyone I know that's tried it also quit and won't go back. You'll end up with several types of customers. There's the one that downloads everything posible on the internet, never updates windows patches or virus definations, opens every email and believes they can retire by helping some guy in Nigeria get some million dollar checks cashed. Theres the one keeps deleting every file they don't use or think they need. There the ones that call you at 2 am telling you they can't print and want you to magically spout out an answer from a dead sleep without knowing any other information other than they can't print and of course it's an emergency becuse thier kid has a major paper due in about 3 hours and the only copy they have is stuck in the print que. And none of them seem to want to pay you accordingly for your time and efforts. I rememer two specefic ladies from the past of trying this business. One started her conversation by saying "my computers broke and the computer place charges way too much. Can you fix it?" Not for free or $1 an hour. I have more time, money and experience invested in my knowledge than most folks in the business. I'm not giving that time and knowledge away. The other lady said she bought a computer and it's still under warranty but the place she bought it from told her to never call again and she needs me to come over and show her how to use it.

Never again will I do pc repair for the public. Ever.

 

Wow, you guys sound encourging.

I tried one of the "Secret Shopper" sites and all it wants you to do is sign up for this and that for "shopping cards". Don't think I'll try that one.

Judging by the posting dates, I'm sure that some of the government jobs are "vapor". My sis is a civilian, IT employee at an Army base here in Texas. It pays real well, but the jobs there are going away. Already having a GS rating does give her some leverage for other openings in that area.

I know what you mean about working on PC's for people. If my family is any indication of the general public, I see what you mean by staying out of it.