PC ProSchools – The Click

Jill is a former PC Pro Schools student who graduated in 2011. Below she discusses her experience as a PC Pro Schools student and what it’s like to now work in the IT industry.

Jill Larson, 2011 Graduate

I currently work as an IT Educational Support Professional at a high school as well as at an adult education center in Minnesota. I am responsible for helping staff and students with computer and equipment needs to make sure that things run smoothly and efficiently as possible.

On typical day, I receive calls and emails from teachers and staff at the high school seeking my assistance with computer hardware, software, printers, projectors, doc cams, video cameras as well as auditorium lighting and sound. I either work directly with the equipment or remotely manage through a server. I run diagnostic testing on computers and write job tickets for electronic repairs and replacement parts. I have received training in the district and I am now a certified Test Monitor for statewide online testing. I help with training students on various tasks so they can independently complete them. At the adult education center, I work in a computer lab helping students learn how to use various computer programs, online assistance, resume writing and provide technical support to both staff and students.

At my IT job, I love the variety of tasks, working with active directory, servers and remotely managing computers and systems. The staff is wonderful to work with and it is great to feel appreciated for the job that I do. There is not a day that goes by that I do not hear a “thank you”or some form of praise for the assistance I provide.. I enjoy helping others and I love being able to share my knowledge with the tech students.

Before coming to PC Pro Schools, I felt compelled to make a change due to my husband losing his job/career after almost 26 years with the same company. I already enjoyed using and learning new technology, but wanted to be proficient and felt that going to PC Pro Schools would be an opportunity to find more jobs with the goal to work 40 hours a week. After I graduated from PC Pro, I interviewed and was hired to work over the summer at the IT Helpdesk. This then led me to the two jobs that I currently have in the district.

What I learned at PC Pro Schools is that what you do not know due to inexperience, you can learn by being willing to absorb new information, embracing change, loving to be challenged and researching forums for new solutions. My lead instructor and the Teaching Assistants were awesome and the online videos were priceless! When I started at PC Pro, I had no idea that I was going to learn as much as I did and be able to land a summer job at the IT Helpdesk in my district which led to where I am now.

My advice to current PC Pro students: Don’t be afraid to learn new things. Technology changes rapidly and the more you know, the more valuable you will be as an employee.

Techniques to succeed: When I learn something new, I write it down, review and practice it so it becomes natural to me. I have a small spiral book with index cards that I keep important tips and I review it weekly. I use Microsoft Technet Forum’s to find solutions.

My life has changed for the better since graduating from PC Pro Schools, I am very happy with my current career. I feel more confident in myself and enjoy problem solving. I feel fortunate to be able to stay in the same school district where I have been for the past 12 years and to use the new skills I have learned.

I am now able to better provide for my family. What a difference a year makes! I am happy to say that my husband did finally find a new job after 16 months of unemployment and it has been wonderful for me to be working 40 hours a week and have the income I now make. The additional income helped to pay off what I borrowed to go back to school and now will be used to add to our household savings for the future.

I am more satisfied in my current career because I am challenged everyday to learn and grow not only in the computer industry but also the technology industry. Making more money doing what I love is icing on the cake!

Before attending PC Pro Schools, Jason Fields earned a Master’s degree from a traditional university.  In this article, Jason discusses what made him decide to make and career change and what it’s like work in the IT industry.

In 2001, I earned my Master’s degree in Library Science.  From 2001 to early 2011, I worked as a professional librarian.  I have experience in library management in both public libraries and academic settings.

I ultimately decided to make a change from library management to the IT field because of the job outlook – the ability to gain experience via PC Pro School’s program gives me the flexibility to qualify for a wide variety of positions.

I have always been fascinated by technology, whether it was keeping up with the latest trends or setting up a personal home network.  Because of PC Pro’s links with an IT industry leader like Microsoft, the program was an appealing option for me.

The accelerated program was appealing to me because when I enrolled, I was looking for a quick way to formalize my existing knowledge that would lead to the ability to change careers.

PC Pro Schools was the right fit for me in part because of the location of the campus was extremely convenient for me.  In addition, I feel that every staff member I interacted with was genuinely interested in my success as a student.

Career services at PC Pro Schools were very supportive in my attempts to find a new career.  Contact with my career advisor early in the process was extremely valuable.  It gave me confidence about preparing my resume to reflect my career transition.  Follow-up conversations provided encouragement throughout my job seeking efforts.

Thanks to my experiences at PC Pro Schools, I began applying for IT jobs soon after beginning my coursework in March 2011.  Soon, I received my first job offer.  Currently, I am working for a company that specialized in outsourced IT help desk support.

In my new IT position, I am responsible for supporting clients in their use of software that helps them in their careers.  Becoming familiar with client software and taking good case notes has been critical to my success in my current position.

I love working with technology, so my new job is a great fit for me.  I am looking forward to exploring other avenues in IT after gaining more experience in the field.

Throughout my experience at PC Pro Schools, I especially enjoyed the supportive environment.  Making a career transition to the IT industry was daunting, but it was made so much easier with encouragement from the staff at PC Pro.  The addition of technical assistants in the classroom was excellent – the TAs in my lab were knowledgeable while engaging students who may have been struggling – another example of the supportive staff at PC Pro.

I would recommend PC Pro Schools to others seeking a fast was to gain new skills – or to enhance existing skill sets.  Gaining these new skills has given me to confidence to pursue a new career path.

I have gained so much confidence in my IT skills since completing the coursework at PC Pro Schools.  Learning about working in the IT field has been a wondering experience and I will feel proud to call myself a PC Pro graduate.

Scott Slunaker is a PC Pro graduate now working in the IT industry. In this article Scott shares his journey from working in construction to an exciting career in information technology.

Before attending PC Pro Schools, I was a union sprinkler fitter. I was responsible for installing the overhead piping system for fire protection purposes in buildings under construction.

I made the decision to come to PC Pro Schools because I was looking for a better way to support my family. My union construction job paid well, but there was no guarantee that I would even have a job the next day. The economic downturn hit the construction industry very hard. I had been laid off three times in the last three years and this last time I was laid off for over a year, with no hope in sight that I would even get back to work. I decided that I needed to make a career change. I have always been interested in computers. I have two computers at home but my knowledge and experience with them was very basic. I heard the radio commercial for PC Pro one day in the car and decided right there that was what I was going to do. I scheduled my seminar with an academic advisor and I had my mind made up before I even walked through the door. Just sitting there and talking with the advisor made me realize even more that this was the right choice for me.

I am now working as an IT Technician in Plainfield, IN. I am responsible for pretty much everything you could think of concerning computers. I work 2nd shift with one other person and together we are responsible for over 250 workstations and over 300 printers of all kinds, including bar code and combi printers as well as the normal color and inkjet printers. I also do a lot of troubleshooting for hardware and software application issues. I am responsible for user maintenance as well. It’s hard to describe a typical day because no two days are the same. One minute I might be 30 feet in the air, in a boomlift, running cat-5 cable to a new switch. The next minute, I might be configuring a co-worker’s user account in Active Directory. Some days, might receive call after call after call for all 8 hours to fix this or come look at that, or we might spend most of our time in the admin area troubleshooting and researching prior problems while everything out on the floor is running smooth.

What I enjoy most about my new career in the IT field is the fact that I never know what is going to happen that day. I learn something new every day and I get to work within all different aspects and areas of our IT department. Back in the construction trade, I knew that every day I was going to be hanging piping. Now I get excited to go into work because I never know what I’m going to get my hands on or what I’m going to get into!

I was very interested in the accelerated program due to the fact that I felt I didn’t have the time to go to school for 2 – 4 years. I had only been laid off for a few months when I decided to go to PC Pro, and I knew that if I was going to change careers, I needed to do it quickly. The fast-paced coursework and the opportunity to obtain industry recognized Microsoft certifications while still in school were vital to my plans of getting a job in the IT field as soon as possible.
PC Pro Schools was definitely the right fit for me. From the accelerated coursework and the hands-on labs and classes to the interaction with faculty, staff, and other students; it made learning and studying very enjoyable and made me excited to see what was next. I enjoyed the hands-on labs and time in the classroom the most. I learn best by doing, and the opportunity to actually work with the technology you have been watching videos on and studying on all week is fantastic. Having your instructor right there and being able to collaborate with your fellow students is a great learning tool and one that I took advantage quite frequently!

My experience with Career Services was exceptional. I can’t say enough good things. My career advisor really worked his tail off for me. While I was still in school – I have to be honest and say I really didn’t try too hard to find a job, because I really wanted to concentrate on studying. However, once I graduated, I came out of the gates charging and my career advisor was right there with me. I talked to him at least 3 times a week, letting him know which positions I had applied for while he continued to inform me of any opportunities he had heard of. I called him frequently just for some advice on what I could doing in the job search. He was always right there for me whenever I needed him. When I did finally get hired it was like we both had just landed a job! I went through a recruiter for my current position and within five minutes of my interview, the hiring manager had called the recruiter and told him that he was impressed with me and the PC Pro curriculum and that he wanted to hire me. I can’t thank my career advisor enough for his tireless efforts. He went above and beyond the call of duty in helping get my new career started.

I would definitely recommend PC Pro Schools to others. I convinced my next door neighbor to go and see what they were all about and he ended up enrolling as well. I would recommend PC Pro to anyone who feels stuck in a dead end job or is constantly getting laid off. If you feel it is time for a change, like I did, then you need to give PC Pro a call. I’ve only been in the IT field for a short while, but I can already tell that moving up in the IT world is only limited by how much you are willing to invest in yourself. The opportunities for advancement into many areas are limitless.

My life has changed so much since I graduated. In my old construction job, once I reached a certain point, I could go no higher until the day I retired. Now that I have my foot in the door in the IT field, how far I go is up to me. I now have the job security that I didn’t have in construction. No matter how good of a worker I was in construction, I could still be laid off due to lack of work. I feel so much better and am much more optimistic now that I have a job in a field where I can continue to grow and expand my knowledge and skills. I no longer have to worry about whether or not I will have a job tomorrow or next week or next month. I learn something new every single day and as long as I keep learning I have nowhere to go but up, and that just really makes me feel good about myself and my decision to go to PC Pro.
I only wish I would have done it sooner! Thanks to all of you at PC Pro Schools who helped and encouraged me!

There is a lot of anticipation for the new Windows OS.  With the success of the Windows 7 operating system, we’re wondering what to expect from Windows 8.  Lifehacker.com outlines the key points of the brand new interface from Windows before its arrival – check it out!

Article from Lifehacker

Former PC Pro Schools student, Chris Steger discusses his experience as a PC Pro Schools student and what it’s like to work in the IT industry after graduating.

Chris Steger

Before PC Pro Schools, I worked as a Senior Claims Technician for a successful insurance company.  After the company I worked for downsized, I decided to make a career change because I wanted to explore careers outside the insurance industry.  After meeting with a PC Pro academic advisor, I decided to enroll.  My advisor provided me with answers to all of my questions and the accelerated program was very appealing to me.  PC Pro Schools’ Blended Learning program was different but easy to grasp.  I enjoyed the friendships I made and the networking opportunities with classmates and advisors.  Since graduation, I now have an IT job – I owe a great thanks to PC Pro Schools.  I hope to build upon my current skills and continue to work my way up in the world on IT.  Currently, I am employed as an IT Support Technician at a major cable company.  I am responsible for video, voice and internet operations as well as various troubleshooting tasks.  I enjoy assisting customers and providing them with a positive experience.

Erich Munsch is current student who has already landed a job in the IT industry.  He discusses his experience with PC ProSchools and what it’s like to work as an IT Professional.

Before PC Pro, I worked at Member Services at an athletic community center in Shoreview, MN.  After graduating from local state university in May 2010, I became frustrated with the lack of jobs available within my field.  It seemed that many of the jobs listed within my searches dealt with computer which sparked in interest in the IT field.  Coincidentally, I overheard an advertisement for PC Pro Schools on the radio.

Currently, I am employed as the Assistant IT at a supply company in Minneapolis, MN.  At my current position, I am still in training.  I am responsible for learning the administrative aspects of the company’s new database which will go live in October 2011.  I have configured 8 computers to be used for training the company’s employees for the new database.  In addition, I am responsible for responding to employees’ computer problems and issues.  I am in charge of administrating Windows updates to all computers within the office.

At work, I love the atmosphere of my office and my co-workers.  I’m impressed with the climate of the office and my work experience.  I also find it exciting that each day is unique.  I am constantly given new tasks which keep me interested in learning more at PC Pro Schools.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the PC Pro program was that most of the coursework was done online.  I had the flexibility to study on my own schedule.  I also appreciated the option of rewinding the online videos if I was unsure of a topic or if I wanted to readdress information.

The accelerated program was especially appealing to me after graduating from a traditional university.  I thought the certifications offered through PC Pro would be beneficial because they focused directly on the information and skills needed to be successful in the computer career world.

I favored PC Pro’s program over other schools because of their accelerated program.  Knowing that I could finish the program in under a year helped me stay focused on my homework and dedicated to my learning.  I also loved the idea of having new career options with favorable advancement opportunities, especially after previously disappointing job searches.

PC Pro is a great school for those with a good work ethic and a “ready-to-learn” mindset.  I found the program beneficial for me, however if one is not committed to learning, their experience may differ from mine.

The blended learning program made it convenient to receive information both through online videos in addition to having the opportunity to apply the knowledge to in-class labs.  This process seemed to reassure me of how well I understood the lessons.

Even though I am still completing the PC Pro course, I do have a new job within the IT field.  I feel more confident in my future and I am looking forward to advancing within the industry.

Thank you PC Pro Schools!

PC Pro Graduate Erich Munsch

Fred Revoir is a PC Pro graduate turned IT business owner.  Below, Fred discusses his company and how PC Pro prepared him to be a business owner in the IT industry:

Before starting my own business and previous to attending PC Pro, I worked as a machine operator at a machine shop.  I was drawn to PC Pro Schools because I have always had an interest in computers.  I was always the person who friends and family would come to for computer assistance.  I desired formal training in computers so I could eventually make a career out of it.

Currently, my business, Fred’s Computer Service, functions as a small repair and custom-build shop.  I am working out of my home and have a workshop used strictly for building and repairing computers.  I make house calls for customers who cannot make it into the shop.  I sit down with customers and discuss what they need in a computer and I explain the function of different components in a computer before I build or repair a machine for them.  Being my own boss is something that I enjoy most about being a business owner.  I also enjoy working with people directly instead of from behind a desk or through another company.

PC Pro Schools prepared me to be a business owner in the IT field.  I believe the knowledge I gained while in school helped me understand the inner workings of the computer.  The accelerated program was appealing to me mostly because I didn’t have 2 or more years to dedicate to school.  I had a full time job and family obligations that would have made it difficult to commit to a traditional college or university.  The blending-learning program was helpful – the online lectures were great.  As a student, you have the opportunity to send in questions while watching the online videos and there was always an instructor who would get back to you quickly.

PC Pro was the right fit for me because I work and learn best in a hands-on environment.  I also appreciated the flexibility of lab times.  The career services department at PC Pro Schools was also very helpful is assisting me with resume building and preparing myself for what to expect while looking for a job.

I would encourage anyone with an interest in technology and working with computers to check out PC Pro Schools.  Since graduating from PC Pro, I find that I have the opportunity to help more people with technical issues.  More people approach me about technology-related issues now that I have the certifications and skills.

For more information about Fred’s Computer Service, check out the Facebook page.

PC Pro Graduate Fred Revoir

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PC ProSchools students getting ready to take the Windows 7 exams: There is a MUST SEE Seminar Friday August 19, 2011 from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM CST (6:30 PM to 9:30 PM EST). The seminar will be on Windows 7 Deployment given by Technical Instructor John O’Brien.  Please attend and bring your questions! This is a seminar you shouldn’t miss if you are planning to take the exam now or in the future!

The technical training offered at PC Pro Schools gives students the competitive edge needed to succeed in the IT industry.  The blended learning program at PC Pro combines online lectures and in-class labs to prepare students for a fast-paced job in IT.  Students have the flexibility of logging in from home to watch the required online video lectures.  Timothy Heller, a PC Pro graduate, compared the online lectures to having a one-on-one tutor. He explains that he particularly enjoyed the option of watching and re-watching videos, which allowed him to learn at his own pace.  Blended learning also includes a technical classroom lab.  Once a week, students are required to visit campus and put their new skills into motion.  The in-class labs at the PC Pro Schools are designed to give students the opportunity to experience any number of real-life problems that can occur in the workplace, first-hand.

Employers in every industry know that PC Pro Schools students and graduates posses the IT skills needed to be a valuable asset to their businesses.  The career services team at PC Pro works directly with IT recruiters and companies from all industries because they know from experience that PC Pro students have the ability to thrive as employees and exceed expectations in a world of technology.

Larry Bain, a successful IT Professional discusses his computer company and his experience with PC Pro graduates he’s hired.   “I run a computer repair business called Larry R. Bain, LLC.  Most of my work is done on personal PCs in a customer’s home.  I also subcontract for Dell and Staples in southeast Wisconsin to do computer installation and repair.

At Larry R. Bain, LLC, PC Pro Schools graduates have filled positions as Computer Technicians.  The jobs they are called upon to are repairs or installations in a customer’s personal residence.  There may be one job in a month or there may be 3 jobs in a day.  Every job is different.  We never really know what the situation is until we arrive at the job site.

So far, I have hired 4 PC Pro Students.  They have all been eager to use their training and have been able to operate with no supervision.  I am pleased that the graduates are able to handle the customer’s emotions and can explain in layman’s terms what they are doing.”

Please visit Larry’s website for more information.

Image via Wikipedia

PC ProSchools Students and Grads are excited to team with up IndependenceFirst for their second annual computer recycling drive for Earth Day. Charlotte Zarnoth, Volunteer Coordinator for IndependenceFirst is seeking individuals who’d be interested in volunteering to help the day of the drive.

Like in 2010, the drive will be advertised so people can bring their old/used computer components to the IndependenceFirst office.  The computers and monitors are tested to see if they work at all, those that do work will be saved for our computer recycling program and the rest will be sent to a recycler who will dispose of them properly.  Our students and graduates will be making these computer evaluations.

Here’s the information about the event:

Day:            Saturday, April 16^th

Time:          8:30 – 3:00

Place:         IndependenceFirst

540 S. 1^st Street

Milwaukee, WI 53204

Please contact Laura Polancich, lpolancich@pcpro.edu if you’d like to participate!