job search help

alright /prog/, here's the deal.

I'm currently a college student in computer science, finishing out my first year. I plan on dropping out and becoming an electrician, the only problem being that my apprenticeship doesn't start until next year (september 09), which means i'll have a year off.

So basically i guess my question is, what should I do with that time? Since I do have skills with computers, I was considering trying to get a job working a help desk or becoming a Junior SysAdmin of some sort, would that be possible with my level of education? Any particular skills that I should make sure to have before trying to apply somewhere? How difficult would it be to try and get a job doing something like this? I think doing something like this would be more worth my time (both time spent and money earned) than just working at the local video store or stacking boxes at the supermarket.

I can answer any other questions you may have about my situation if you need, also I live in Massachusetts if that helps at all (no idea where to apply, can UMass give assistence with finding a job even though i won't be coming back next year, and i need more than just a summer internship? Was thinking of talking to my C Programming teacher about it, i don't know...)

oh, also, one of the other problems with Computer Science is that at many places they don't want to pay the actually *good* people what they're worth, which also creates problems. It's a very young field, and again, employment rates are probably up specifically because so many people are getting the fuck out of the industry and not majoring in comp sci anymore, not because there is some magical lack of outsourcing.

Do I really need to explain the concerns with the industry and job security in such a place as /prog/? You guys should know all of this already...