How I Became a System's Engineer

While I was working in a clerical position for the state of Missouri, in the late 1980's, our office received two IBM desktop computers. The computers were installed in a community work area for all clerical to use; only no one used them, because no one knew how. I too was a little intimidated by these two new office additions; however, I saw this as an opportunity to possible advance in my position, so I decided to take a few evening computer classes at the local community college.

I started out by studying disk operation systems (DOS). For those who have never heard of DOS, it is what Windows was called in the beginning. As time went on, I started taking more classes, not only learning about operating systems but also learning how to write computer programs and how to use software packages such as Microsoft Word and Excel. I started joining user groups and learning from the knowledge of others.

I worked for the state of Missouri for 13 years and advanced from a Clerk Typist I to a Computer Systems Technician. This was as far as I could go since I did not have a degree. I took many college courses throughout those 13 years, but they were scattered in so many different areas that I did not have enough credits to qualify for a bachelors or even an associate's degree. Not being able to advance further prompted me to start looking for employment elsewhere.

I sent my resume to an electrical company, who was looking for a helpdesk/computer technician. After two interviews, I was hired. My job was to provided end-user support and computer training for 125 employees, do some data entry, administer the mail system, which was IBM Lotus Domino, some Domino development, and help maintain two Windows servers.

The job was a stressful one at times, but the people were nice and the company reimbursed for training or continuing education, of which I took advantage. After working for the company for five years, I realized that my knowledge and skills had grown beyond my salary, but my manager did not see it that way. I once again decided to look elsewhere.

Again, within a month's time I had landed a position with a new company that had offered me a salary that matched my skills. This new position was focused on one area and that was Lotus Domino Administration. This was a plus for me, as I would not be pulled in so many different directions as I was in my previous position. They also provide reimbursement for continuing education and training. My new title would be System's Engineer. I have been with this company for almost five years and plan on staying until I retire.

Personal Thought: Having a college degree helps, but it is not always needed to get a good, high-paying job. Keeping current with the changes in technology, taking classes, and acquiring certifications helped me advance in my career.

Note: The companies that provide training reimbursement also required I sign a contract stating that I would not leave within one year after receiving the training or I would have to pay back the cost of said training.