Consulting Small Business Opportunity

Hi Joanne,

I did get the job offer I’ve been expecting. So I will be changing jobs in a week or so. That leaves my current job up for grabs, and since it’s an I.T. kind of thing, perhaps some of your students might wish to apply? Some experience is necessary, but the job could be tailored to fit the right person. A mature, independent worker is essential as there is little supervision. Here, off the top of my head, are some duties:

Full time (could be part time) position consulting small businesses on everything I.T. in the Western suburbs

Good skills to bring (nobody has all of this, and great depth is not necessary):

• The ability to relate to clients who know nothing about computers and like it that way.
o Fix it if it’s broke
o Avoid disruptions if it is not broke – practice preventive maintenance
o Justify how expensive you are & get commitment before beginning work
o Travel (local) to clients as needed, remote access is fine too
• Quickly grasp the picture even though nothing is correctly documented
o Customer’s goal is always to stay in business
o These computers are necessary evils
o Nothing changed, but now it doesn’t work anymore
• Understanding of small business hardware & software
o Networks, generally under 25 – 30 hosts, DSL or T1
 Wired and wireless
 Routers, switches, hubs, WAPs, NAS, handheld devices
 Cabling (we sub out the big jobs)
 Remote access for clients and you
• VPN: hardware or software
• Terminal Server / RWS
 Basic security
 Sharing printers and whatever else they want to share
 Diagnose issues and fix ‘em
o Client Servers, almost all Windows based, mostly SBS, some P2P
 Exchange
 AD
 Enterprise backup & AV software
 IIS - maintain web sites
 WSUS
 Sharing files / printers / whatever
o ISP Servers, almost all UNIX / LINUX
 CPanel environment
 Hosted email
 Spam filter configuration
 Apache – maintain web sites
o Desktops
 Install, setup, teach, move, repair, repair, repair…
 Laptops, ditto
 Install software
 Database repair
 Map drives, printers, make icons
 Uninstall malware
 Recover systems
 AV & BU
o Miscellaneous
 Some telephone systems understanding is good
• VOIP / POTS
• Cabling requirements
 Basic mechanical skills
• Assemble hardware
• Hand tools (yours, not theirs)
 A little respect for building and fire codes
 Understand basic business processes
 Recommend hardware & software, procure quotes
 Interface with vendors / contractors
 Warranty support
o Software
 Pretty much any OS, but Windows in most depth
 MS Office, Outlook, Outlook express
 Accounting and general software
• QuickBooks
• Peachtree
• MAS 90 / 200
• ACT! Or other CRM
• TimeSlips
• POS systems
• Bar coding
 Assorted software
• HTML / CSS / JAVA
• Photoshop
• LabView
• CAD
Again, just a general idea…
I can collect resumes and answer questions.

Thanks much, and see you next week!

Bill Burton
bill.techsup@gmail.com