Where do Ex-Copier tech's go ?

**sx633** · 05-28-2013

After 25+ years in this game I've seen salaries driven steadily down by the big companies and small companies trying to squeeze every last bit of work out of me for peanuts.
I've had enough of the high mileages and needy customers but I can't retire for another 15 years !
Does anybody have any ideas as to what might be a good new career path for an Ex-copier tech ?
Do you know anybody that has successfully transferred their skills to another industry ?
There must be something out there that could take advantage of the multiple skills that we have built up over our careers surely.
Comments would be welcomed.

**emujo** · 05-28-2013

If you've used the last 15 years or so to expand your skills into the IT side of the business, then maybe leaving the industry is not the answer, there are many open slots for "professional services". The MFP side of this business is becoming secondary, if you can setup and install the "solutions" provided by companies like ECopy, NSI, Phoenix etc, then you can work for just about any major retailer as they all are trying to leverage their machines to grab a slice of this pie, and it seems that once you get your foot in the door, you can easily go from company to company as needed. The manufacture/dealer has learned that it is much more lucrative to have there own people sell, install, and maintain these solutions then to give 90% of the earnings back to the vendors. If you have not brought yourself up to date on this side of the industry, then I fear you may be left behind with the guys that never thought the carburetor would go away. Emujo

**copiman** · 05-28-2013

I have been in this for 30 years. During this time, I have learned a lot about the connectivity side. I am currently in school (night classes) studying Network specialist program. This will not only give me a degree, but it will prepare me for certifications as well. Our technology in this business is moving very fast and with the intergration to networks and computers, we must adapt.

Here is a situation I was envolved with recently. We have a customer that buys printer cartridges from us. They have a copier with another company. They replaced the hard drive on one of their PCs. Prior to this they were scanning to the PC. The dealer they use for service could not help them. They asked if I could help. I was able to get the copier scanning. Guess where they are going to get their next copier from.

If you develope your IT skills you can stay in this business and make more money. Or, you can make an easy transition to the other side.

**JR2ALTA** · 05-28-2013

IT companies will not hire a copier tech who dabbles on command prompt and understands Windows sharing.

Just as our industry is competitive more so is the IT industry with tens of thousands of Computer Science majors graduating every year with not only Bachelors but Masters Degrees.

I would suggest POS systems,CCTV surveillance, ATM technician something like that

**doug94550** · 05-29-2013

The US Department of Labor lists our career field as a "Field of Critical Need" with existing manpower being in excess of 10% below actual need. Additionally, they also project that between now and the year 2020, the need will increase an additional 15%.
Now add in this, the recent recession caused the wholesale reduction of techs in the field to the minimum required to get the job done. Those techs who were laid off, for the most part, have gone elsewhere.
The old guys are retiring. There goes that brain trust.
Lastly, when was the last time you saw an entry level technician? On my last team, our most junior technician was 12 years into the field. Think about it, almost all of the entry level workers are going into IT and bypassing the actual repair of the machines.
What all of this is leading to is a point in the near future when guys like us who know how to work on these machines and make them work will be very popular. The IT guy may be very good at what he does but ask him to put in a feed roll and he will most likely reply, "I don't do that".
The corollary is what is currently happening in American Manufacturing. Good luck at finding a competent machinist. They are very few and far between. And when one is found, bidding wars take place to get them. Here, a good machinist will bring down 90,000 a year.
In a very real sense, the same thing is beginning to happen with our field.
Since the beginning of the year, I have been contacted by 10 headhunters. One of them led to my current position with Lexmark. During all of these interviews, the one thing that constantly came out is that I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer when it comes to the IT side of the business. Oh sure, I can enter addresses and the such, but my forte' is in the repair of extremely sophisticated electro-mechanical devices. And you know what, they all did not care about my lack of IT skills. They all needed someone who knew how to work on these boxes.
For myself, I have 10 years to retire and I have no plans for leaving the field. If what I have just experienced is any indication, the future is going to be very interesting.
Doug

**JR2ALTA** · 05-29-2013

How do you like working for lexmark?

**HP:guy** · 05-29-2013

I'm at that age to old for a paper route to young to retire.
I would recommend moving to the IT side of the business, however you are only trading one set of problems for a different set.
Hang in there and look for a niche you can happily fill.

**sx633** · 05-29-2013

The US may be in "Critical need" of engineer's but here in the UK it's a different story. Oh and by the way I am fully qualified to install and configure uniFLOW, E copy etc. That's what I spend most days doing. It's just that UK employers do not appreciate these skills. You have to be in Finance or banking to make money in this country. Either that or just have Ten kids and live on benefits. (Welfare).

**JR2ALTA** · 05-29-2013

@sx633

Same in the states.

Every job i've had the boss says "learn this skill" rarely is there a pat on the back much less entering a new tax bracket

**Jules Winfield** · 05-29-2013

I got a job in IT, but I had to go back to school to get the proper education. On the job training setting up copiers on customer networks just won't cut it in the IT world, however if you have printer knowledge in addition to IT knowledge you will look good to potential employers. Trust me...