Work Question...

playinpearls · #1 02-10-2010, 10:44 AM

So, I'm trained for IT and i've been working at a company that supplies wireless terminals to IT departments in warehouses, industrial yards and other such locations to keep track of inventory and orders. Wireless scanners if you will...

I got hired before college, so i am making crap pay, and it seems like that is going to continue until i get into a new department or new job. I work on customer terminals instead of actually in the company IT department so i'm not getting any direct IT related experience even though i work on network devices.

Here is the question:
I have had no luck with getting hired anywhere just based on sending out resumes and networking with friends and such (over 150 sent). Would it be...ethical(?) to get contact information from customer files in my area and submit resumes to them directly, or at least to the company in hopes of finding a job where someone needs my specfic terminal experience?
Most of the contacts I have will have a direct work relationship with my boss because if something goes wrong they call him directly.

If this is something you would do, are there any safe-guards i should put into place to avoid an awkward situation at work one day?

Relic · #2 02-10-2010, 10:48 AM

Meh...my opinion is that these days you almost have to think outside the box. Decent jobs are getting harder to come by all the time.
I would just have a ready-made answer for when I was asked how I got their contact info.

Pilgrim · #3 02-10-2010, 11:06 AM

As long as you do it in a professional manner, it's called "networking". I don't have a problem with that approach. I don't think I'd contact every company you know, just a limited number that are good prospects.

And start working on that degree. You'll need it.

**jmattbassplaya** · #4 02-10-2010, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by playinpearls

So, I'm trained for IT and i've been working at a company that supplies wireless terminals to IT departments in warehouses, industrial yards and other such locations to keep track of inventory and orders. Wireless scanners if you will...

I got hired before college, so i am making crap pay, and it seems like that is going to continue until i get into a new department or new job. I work on customer terminals instead of actually in the company IT department so i'm not getting any direct IT related experience even though i work on network devices.

Here is the question:
I have had no luck with getting hired anywhere just based on sending out resumes and networking with friends and such (over 150 sent). Would it be...ethical(?) to get contact information from customer files in my area and submit resumes to them directly, or at least to the company in hopes of finding a job where someone needs my specfic terminal experience?
Most of the contacts I have will have a direct work relationship with my boss because if something goes wrong they call him directly.

If this is something you would do, are there any safe-guards i should put into place to avoid an awkward situation at work one day?

My brother has been doing hands-on IT work for about 11 years now. He can`t hold a steady job outside of contractual work and because of that he can`t be promoted. He knows the ins and outs of the business and has worked for some major corporations; but again he won`t be hired past contractual work. You might be asking why - well, he never finished college. Had he gotten a degree it`s very possible that he could be managing the IT department of a major business right now. Instead, he has to go from job to job. He makes a decent amount doing what he does, but it`s stressful, insecure, and he`s making no where near the amount he should be.

So to not really answer your actual question but instead give you some insight, go to college and get a degree.

playinpearls · #5 02-10-2010, 11:36 AM

forgot to mention that...i have an associates, and i'm in cisco academy right now...i'll be ccna in december...

i graduated about a year after I started here..

oldrocker · #6 02-10-2010, 12:11 PM

I've seen this happen many times over the years.

Always a good idea to be looking out for opportunities for advancement, in and out of you present company.

Don't be hung up on just knowing you're specific terminals You can also provide value beyond THAT just by knowing general networking, OS and wireless stuff.

MakiSupaStar · #7 02-10-2010, 01:25 PM

I wouldn't call that wrong. I would call that resourceful.

**peabody** · #8 02-10-2010, 03:06 PM

Is there a potential conflict of interest? By taking a job with one of these customers, is there a possibility they may stop any type of business they currently do with your present company? If this is the case, I'm not sure how your present company would feel (or react) if they found out you were using their company records to solicit a new job. Just my $.02...as an HR guy.

Pilgrim · #9 02-10-2010, 05:28 PM

It would only be a conflict of interest if he went after a job at a company which directly competed with his present employer - and even then, on a practical basis, it only matters if he gets caught. People move from competitor to competitor all the time.

oldrocker · #10 02-10-2010, 06:57 PM

I don't think it's wrong to accept a job from a competetor. There are no laws agaist this. Unless you have an employment contract you are essentially a free agent.

playinpearls · #11 02-11-2010, 05:38 AM

no, if I got a job like this, it would more than likely increase business for my company because I know about all our products and not just the products that the company buys...

thanks for the opinions!! off to some research...