Well, I just completed my first year in college...a Communication/media major at DePauw university. Things did not go well spring semester.....in fact, there's a chance I may be suspended (journalism guy in Biology and Accounting..ugh). Over the next few months I really really need to think about what I truly want to be doing......it has been pointed out to me that when I do what I enjoy, I do it very well......that thing, of course, would be phone systems. If I don't go back this fall, I need a career....I want to go into the phone business.

Until this point, I have done all work for free...no true customers. I've done small Comdial, Nortel, Avaya, and Vodavi systems. I've also worked on a DBS 96, and am currently maintaining a Samsung iDCS100. Unfortunately, I have no formal training. I'm great with programming....my wiring skills could use a little work, though.

So, I guess my question is, where do I get started. Would I be better off at a tech school, or becoming someone's apprentice? If the later, how should I go about that? I'm in the St. Louis area, btw.

Of course, I hope I can work things out and return to DePauw in August.....but, life must go on.

for me persoannly, the best way to learn this stuff is hands on. I went to Devry and basically learned a bunch ff theory which I guess I use sometime (MAKES ME FEEL BETTER ABOUT MY SCHOOL LOANS), but a majortiy of my knowlegde comes from just getting in their and getting my hands dirty.

I agree with Anthony on this. The best way to learn is through the school of hard knocks. You are in a relatively good position though, because with IP telephony becoming so huge, nobody new to the industry wants to work with traditional systems anymore. Interconnect companies will jump at the opportunity to take someone new under their wing to teach them "the right way". You might not make a huge amount of money, but it sounds like with your level of experience, you should be able to move yourself up quickly. I think that tech schools are great for someone who has never had any exposure, but all telephone systems are different. It would be impossible for them to train you on all of them. About the best you would be able to learn would be the basics.

DeVry here too, and while what I learned there gave me a good foundation, I use very little of that knowledge when dealing with phone systems. I agree with Anthony, you will learn more on the job. If I had it to do over again, I would proably spend the money I gave to Devry on a JR college taking business related courses degree or no degree. If you are like me, the tech stuff soaks in pretty easy, it's all the non-techincal business issues that have slowed me down.

Well, I'm hearing exactly what I wanted to hear!! I always learn better hands on, rather than being lectured at.

Like I said, best option is to return to DePauw...a suspension isn't the end of the road, and I can re-enter in the spring semester if I show I've used my time wisely....beginning to learn the trade would definitely qualify.

So, just open up the yellow pages and start calling companies under the phone category?? Can't be that easy.

Stay in college. You can become a phone tech anytime. And if you do become a tech, your college experience will be an advantage. The most important talent in any career, is the ability to communicate, a strong command of the language will carry you farther then any other single attribute. Persevere. I once had a college professor that told me it was the "C" students that he had the most respect for. They had to work the hardest, and it was often those students that returned to donate millions to the college. Good Luck.
Mark

I do not want to give you the wrong Idea, I would stay in school, maybe find an interconnet to work for part time. That way you get the best out of both worlds.

Get a degree
Years ago I was not allowed to apply for a job because I didn't have a degree, they hired a kid out of college that worked for me about 6 months and I trained

Well, like I said, I may not be allowed to return to college (well, not immediately anyway)....and If I do get suspended, I need something to do until the spring semester starts in February. How might I go about becoming a phone tech in the mean time??

Hell, maybe if the worse happens, I can go back up to the town my college is in and work for the interconnect in town until I'm allowed back at the University....only one interconnect in town, so I know I'd wind up back on campus (The U's Fujitsu 9600 will be legal to drink this year, kind of falling apart)

Of course, at this point, everything is hypothetical. I may not get suspended, or I may get suspended and win an appeal. Who knows.

Codasco704:

If you are willing to travel to the Indianapolis area, I have a close friend and former employee who runs a small interconnect company. He might be able to get you set up with full- or part-time employment to get your feet wet. Just send me a PM if you are interested and I will put you in touch with him.

Hmm...DePauw is in Greencastle, IN..about 45 minutes out of Indianapolis. My territory...well, sort of...like I said, nothing is for sure yet, but I will keep that in mind.

Thanks for everyone's responses.

Education is allways a good thing. MCSE get all the comupter certs you can and the system mfg. certs will come later. The way things are going in our field you should look to the future and computer and networking exp. is a big plus. You will spend the rest of your life working but the truth is that it is much harder to go back to school when you are olderthen you think.

Don’t… Don’t … Don’t completely give up on college.


You may find yourself doing well and being pretty happy fairly quickly if you go the route of phone system tech… What you may find out just a few years down the road is your career is capped for life without a degree.

The absolute best and most comprehensive way to learn is by working full-time (in the real world) and continuing schooling part-time (gettin’ ya sum bouk smerts.) It’s a longer harder road BUT well worth it for the long run.

Being in the Greater St. Louis you have a GREAT opportunity to attend an electrical program at Ranken Technical College… I graduated there and am here to tell ya, the school is not a run of the mill tech school. It’s difficult to complete any program there but you’ll learn things there that you can use for life.

Also, being in the Greater St. Louis has somewhat of a draw-back… The unions control nearly ALL forms of electrical work here. I’d suggest contacting the CWA or IBEW (if you know someone) to look for an apprenticeship position.

Good luck to you whatever happens next with DePauw and whatever you decide is next for you.

Totally giving up on college is the last thing I want to do. Like I said, I'm just checking out my options as a back-up. I love DePauw! I'm registered for some great classes next semester that I can do very well in....I just hope the chance to prove myself isn't taken away! If at all possible, I plan to be back in Indiana in August! Too many friends, too many obligations to my fraternity. Even if I do get suspended, I'll do everything I can to be allowed to return.....and work with phones in the mean time.

I will check with CWA and IBEW and see if they have any suggestions.

But, regardless, thank you for all the input. Even if things work out and I do return, I may check into working part-time at an interconnect.

Right, Missouri is a strong union state. St. Louis is almost as bad as Chicago.

Local 1, IBEW, has a Fed certified training program, but you need to get with their training people === they do "summer hires" that pay good each year for the college crowd.

STAY IN COLLEGE !!!!

Even if your "issues" preclude you from your chosen school there are many other schools in the St. Louis area without going that far, like Indiania.

If you need more info, let me know, I may be able to contact some of the old timers back there for you.

KLD --- Hang in there!

Yes, I know all about the St. Louis union stronghold...I'm a part time cashier at Dierbergs, so I've had plenty of experience with UFCW....and it looks as though I may not have a job for fall break next year...contract is up, and sounds like there may be another strike!

If you get booted out (almost but not quite been there done that but that is a whole nother story!), get a job as a tech. Put on a pair of khakis and a nice shirt, shave etc. and walk into every company in the area and introduce yourself, drop off a resume, ask if they or anyone else they know are hiring. Follow up with a phone call a couple of days later and you should land a job in a city of your size. If you need to offer to start at a low rate with a promised raise if you produce or work part time or as a sub (get a dba and insurance etc) - it would shock me if someone didn't give you a chance. Once you work in our world for a little while, even if you like it, at least start taking courses part time toward a degree - take courses pertaining to our field that lead to a degree as well. If you are lucky enough to not get kicked out go back to school and get a part time job. You could work half days, or a couple of days a week and still take classes. Last thought is why not a change in your major to something more technical - then you would be getting both the theory and the hands on experience. Good Luck!

Liberal Arts school, so changing to a technical major is a no-go....I like my major, and do well in it...it's the other classes that get me!

Definitely stay in school. Your degree will open doors for you in whatever field you decide to get into. STAY IN SCHOOL!!!

Do you not have a faculty advisor? Could that person not help you drop classes now that are inappropriate and take other stuff next semester under academic probation?

There must be staff that get paid for doing the thinking you are not up to speed on yet. Asking for help is proving you are smart enough to stay in and if you were to stop at the end of this semester and work for a MCSE and go back a year later it would be no big deal. Many people in Europe go to university for a couple years, take a year off to travel and learn, then come back to university.

Leaving for a year to try something else with the option to return to university is not failure unless you learn nothing in the year off and work at McDonalds. Ask the facility, they get paid for advice and they have more options than we do.

There's plenty of help available...I just waited too long to ask for it! Now I'm paying dearly for it.

Your education is only a short part of the rest of your life, (4 to 6 years) your job/career is not (25 to 30+). A good education will help you maintain whatever career you chose. You need to do what makes you happy in your career and if its telecommunications thats great however as you have seen in several previous post the guy with the big diplomas gets hired. It may seem like a long time to finish but you just have to suck it up and stay with it; it will pass quicker than you think. You say accounting ugh what if you went into the telephone business on your own (as most of us here have done) and didn't have any accounting experience; you would have a difficult time. Many of us posting are old enough to be your parents and have already been through more that you have even thought about. Take our advice, if you get suspended get back next semester but stay in school. Good luck and keep us posted, you will find a lot of support on this board and not just on a telephone system.

If you are good enough to work on these systems on your own (your origianl post nice equipment list), quit doing if for free somebody is getting a good deal and it's not you, I can assure you most every one on this board is charging more that $50.00 per hour. Don't sell yourself short.

So you waited a long time. You'll never make another mistake in your life? Duh! Write them a nice polite letter admitting that your choices were not the best and could you come in and see what they can do to get you back on path.

Nobody worth their salt would toss that letter away.

Write a nice letter, put in your phone number and see how much better things can be. You won't be the first to make a bad choice, you won't be the last to make a bad choice, you will only be a loser if you don't ask for help now, before any more time goes on.

Open your mouth and ask or keep it shut and seal your fate, this is not all that complicated.

Stop thinking you can't do anything and go do something. I've done several things in my life that could have landed me in jail for a while, but I kept my wits about me, took advice and help, and you know what, I've never spent 24 hours in jail.

Don't come back until you have actually done something positive to get someone to help you. Go get yourself out of what is nothing more than some classes in which you don't fit. No whining, no excuses, go do something. You don't want me to bring my father's razor strap down there and teach you the old way, now do you? No you don't.

"Many of us posting are old enough to be your parents"

I hope to give you a younger perspective, I am in my late 20's and can say that I wish I had done things differenly already. Not that I have it bad but it could be better. I quit going to college full time to save for a house because I was getting married. Well that was 6 years ago, 2 houses ago and now I have a son. Needless to say I still don't have a degree.
Hang in there now because later in life you will have more commitments which prohibit going back.

I agree with the above posts. Stay in school. Work it out if at all possible. A letter and a sit down with the right people at the college can make this issue go away. If you want to be a tech after that then go for it. I got in this business with a small company with no experience (called them out of the phone book, got thier fax number and faxed my resume)At the interview I told them that I had no experience with phones. I could not even wire a jack But I sold them on my being a quick learner and "people" skills. 12 yrs later I am running my own small business. You can do the same but get your education first! Good luck,

The Telecom business is a great career path with or without a diploma . Reading comprehension skill is the most important thing in this business . Being able to pick up and read or go online and read a system manual and understand it's content will determine how far you go in the Telecom trade . Hard work and the determination to do a job well done will also carry you a long way . The ability to comprehend and the willingness for hard work is really all you need in this business . The factory certs will follow if you stick to reading/hard work . :thumb:

I'm just about to graduate from high school (June 4th!) and I am going to study Computer Network Administration (yeah, I know, an IT guy...).
However, I got my start in telecom and will always be a phone guy at heart. I started helping at my dad's work almost 5 years ago and have learned everything hands-on. You can't beat that kind of experience!

I should have said financial accounting....managerial accounting would help, financial, well, not so much.....unless I ran a publicly traded company!!

But to the point--the night my grades were posted on "e-services", I wrote a very lengthy email to the dean of academic affairs. I explained what I think caused my problems, some possible solutions, and a subtle plea not to screw me. I got a call from the University (not the same person, but someone that knows me and my issues) today. We talked for half an hour about what went wrong, and about the email I sent. Though she has no direct answers, she is on the "Committee" that makes the decision as to whether or not I get suspended. While she said a suspension isn't out of the realm of possibility, she appreciated me being earnest and thoughtful as to what my problems are--one of the big factors in being allowed back in after a suspension. She's on my side, and will present a favorable case for me when "the big moment" arrives. She also said that even if I do get suspend, I stand a reasonable chance of winning an appeal if I can stay busy this summer, create a strategic plan to "fix" my problems next semester, and use every resource available to me to get help while I’m back in St. Louis

According to this lady, the absolute worse case scenario is that I come back a semester late. Apparently they are fairly forgiving, and if I were to take a couple of classes and get it together, there would be absolutely no problem with me being re-admitted for the spring term.

So, regardless of what happens, this will not be the end of the world, or the end of my DePauw career. It truly, truly would just be a semester off to get things together.

It was also recommended to me that I work part time if I do get suspended....so, working for an interconnect may work out really well....that would definitely look better than ringing groceries at Dierbergs. I'd enjoy the work a lot better…probably pays a little better too!

Heck, maybe I’ll buy myself a couple of systems to learn over the summer so I’ll have that much more experience if I do decide to take a part time phone job.

Between everyone's responses and my phone calls today, I feel much better (boy, was I a nervous wreck at work today). Sure, I have work to do to resolve the issue, but I will survive. Thank you all very much

STAY IN SCHOOL AND GET A DEGREE !!!!!!!
You might want to look into a co-op education. There are schools that are technical in nature that actually help you find a job and send you out to work for a semester then you go to classes the next semester. This lets you try your career choice while going to school and getting your degree. You also earn money to help pay for things. Two such schools:
Northeastern University
Wentworth Institute Of Technology
Both in Boston. I am a graduate of Wentworth. I find it very helpful to have the degree.
I worked for Ma Bell for 10 years before going back to school. I saw the older guys who did hit the cap. I was there too at top money at my craft. I wasn’t happy and I noticed that most of the older guys were miserable. Also miserable to work with. I was lucky. I still had relatively few responsibilities and was able to go back to school. But as mentioned above it could be difficult to do. So keep plugging at the books and pass those subjects that you don’t like. It is definitely worth it. Work hard and don’t accept failure

Failure isn't an option...looks like I will be back at DePauw no matter what!

You seem to be on the right track in asking for advice however there are a couple of things from your posts I would like to point out. 1. If your choice of schools does not provide the courses or degree path that will serve your long term goals change schools. 2. While I understand your desire to meet your commitment to your friends and fraternity you need to evaluate your long term goals and choose the path to complete them.
Don't make the mistake so many young people make and place to high of a priority on social issues that will not further your ultimate goals.

True story:
When I was in high school, Richard Dreyfuss came in to speak to the drama classes. This was shortly after he had been arrested for some drug issues and talking to us was part of his community service.
He was asked about going to college for theater/acting.
He said that one of his biggest regrets was that he went to college for a theater degree as it only qualified him for 2 things: acting and teaching acting. Basically, he said that, no matter how much you might like or love what you do now, at some point that might change. If your only knowledge is in the field you are involved in, you won't have as many options down the road if you decide that it is time for a change.
Get a degree. Get a well rounded education. Perhaps you should major in something non-technical and minor in the technical fields.

I guess I either left it out, or didn't mention it...but I'm a Communication major, DPU's equivalent of journalism...I love journalism, and I do a great job of it....I wtire for the paper, and I'm a news anchor at the radio station.

The Committee meets on Tuesday to decide my fate...I have at least one person on the board pro keeping me there. So, wish me luck!