Anyone here taken Applecare Technician training?

[Cheese]

I am looking for a career change at age 45! As much as I love the Apple computer, (and I am more than a litle bit familiar with consumer PC's of nearly every genre,) I am considering the possibilities of a computer career. My unguided plan is to be a Mac-centric hardware specialist with further reaching capabilites, such as IS/IT support functions. In my current position, I earned only $70k last year. I want to find some answers to these burning questions:
1. Is anyone here Applecare Technician certified?
2. If so, how much value would you place on the training?
3. If you could pick the most lucrative future to train for in the computer field, what would you forcast it being?
4. What is the best way, or where is the best place to find this kind of work? (I am willing to relocate anywhere in the US, OR possibly???)

I am sure that these questions are just the beginning of discovery. My wife wants to know about earning potential, and how difficult it could be to find the right job. Obviously after 28 years of working, I still have not found the ideal employer. I am not interested in starting my own business, but I will probably look into the local demand for a Mac-centric sort of "Nerd-Squad" service. Just in case... Obviously, if this is a lucrative move, I will seek the best and most time effective training available. Immediately.

Help a brother out. Thanx.

 

[ITASOR]

Sorry, but I don't think you'll earn anywhere near $70,000 being an Applecare technician.

 

[FocusAndEarnIt]

Sorry, but I don't think you'll earn anywhere near $70,000 being an Applecare technician.

I second that. What other interests do you have?

 

[aquajet]

I second that. What other interests do you have?

Money isn't everything.

 

[ITASOR]

Money isn't everything.

You're right. The fact that he stated only $70k, lead me to believe that he was looking for more.

 

[CanadaRAM]

3. If you could pick the most lucrative future to train for in the computer field, what would you forcast it being?

Oracle developer. Or a developer for some manner of enterprise level system.
Make approx 4 x what you can in the Mac world.

O'course there's the training, certification and a little matter of practical experience to deal with...

 

[Cheese]

Thanks to all. I am looking for more, BUT... As much as I realize that the corporate world is structured around the M$ myth, I am forward thinking about it. There are companies that will not switch simply because there is a lack in the availability of Mac-centric support personnel. In the early 80's, I remember talking to people who were saying things about a program language that almost no one I knew had heard about. It was called "C". There were a few advanced 16 bit systems that could run some kind of archaic incarnation of UNIX. I guess that I will be forging ahead into partially charted waters as I think different enough to know that there will be a niche for IT persons with Mac experience enough to handle a switched corporation. I just don't know how big that niche might grow.

 

[Blue Velvet]

...that there will be a niche for IT persons with Mac experience enough to handle a switched corporation. I just don't know how big that niche might grow.

I'm not completely clued up about the details of these sorts of things but I would have thought that large-scale publishers and printers, production and post-production facilities for TV and film, and the like would be a more fertile ground than the majority of corporations, save for Apple themselves.

Maybe it's best to look to the fields where the Mac has traditionally been the strongest. A hunt through some specialist and appropriate agencies, recruitment sites and print media would at least give you a realistic idea of what skills are currently sought and some idea of the salaries being paid.

Good luck!

 

[jane doe]

If your willing to spend the time and money to do all the Apple Supplied training you can make really good money. I talk to people all the time that do exactly that.

But you can't stop at the desktop certification. you will need to take the rest of the training.