Computer jobs while at Uni!!!! (experienced!)

greyster

I was replying to the previous post before me, not doubting you.

My 1st degree was sponsored by Nortel Networks and they paid well. When I worked for them I was doing similar stuff. If they hadn't pulled out of manufacturing in the UK I'd probably be with them now. That said, I wouldn't be where I am now which isn't bad either

greyster

How long you got left at uni?

MercilessKiller

Im only in my first year. By the end of it I'll have CCNA 1 & 2 though..

I just want to find work using my talents rather than sitting being on the till *yawn*

pufferfish_2

MercilessKiller wrote:

I know that i'm intelligent in the area of computers.. maybe i dont have years of hardware expereience, but i do have a CISCO IT essentials and CCNA 1 qualification! Argh... heelp

Merciless,
well done for getting CCNA part 1 done.
I can tell you now that you'll need a lot more than just four letter acroymns after your name to get into the IT job market. It's very competitive and you'll need to show experience, not just credentials. If you don't believe me, look on jobserve or total jobs for jobs with CCNA. Most of them will want experience. Perhaps also take note the starting salaries.

Have you gained a lot of experience working with routers/switches in a corporate network? The title of the thread mentions EXPERIENCED - what kind of experience do you have? Running a virtual lab at home is just not the same as hands on experience. if you can get hold of the kit, get to know IOS inside and out.

A lot of IT network administration is being offshored to places like Mumbai who will work for £2.2k rather than £22k in the UK. Make yourself stand out with other skills and qualifications. Instead of work, I spent my spare time at uni reading up and gaining knowledge in the field of IT (but I do realise it depends if you have enough cash not to have to work). I'd suggest studying to get a CCNP but also get some soft skills under your belt - presentation skills, writing reports etc.. It's no good just being a computer geek - employers want more.

HTH and good luck with your studies.

Pufferfish.

MercilessKiller

pufferfish wrote:

Merciless,
well done for getting CCNA part 1 done.
I can tell you now that you'll need a lot more than just four letter acroymns after your name to get into the IT job market. It's very competitive and you'll need to show experience, not just credentials. If you don't believe me, look on jobserve or total jobs for jobs with CCNA. Most of them will want experience. Perhaps also take note the starting salaries.

Have you gained a lot of experience working with routers/switches in a corporate network? The title of the thread mentions EXPERIENCED - what kind of experience do you have? Running a virtual lab at home is just not the same as hands on experience. if you can get hold of the kit, get to know IOS inside and out.

A lot of IT network administration is being offshored to places like Mumbai who will work for £2.2k rather than £22k in the UK. Make yourself stand out with other skills and qualifications. Instead of work, I spent my spare time at uni reading up and gaining knowledge in the field of IT (but I do realise it depends if you have enough cash not to have to work). I'd suggest studying to get a CCNP but also get some soft skills under your belt - presentation skills, writing reports etc.. It's no good just being a computer geek - employers want more.

HTH and good luck with your studies.

Pufferfish.

By the end of my degree i'll have CCNA and CCNP.

Anyway, I don't mean that I want to be in a job needing a CCNA qualification at the moment. I want to be in any job working with computers, no matter how basic, just because... that's what I do!

(The degree has a 1 year work experience gap.. thats where the CCNA work comes in...)

For part time though, just anything basic.. even the damn pc servicing part of pc world (if it wasnt part of dixons etc...)

pufferfish_2

MercilessKiller wrote:

(The degree has a 1 year work experience gap.. thats where the CCNA work comes in...)

My first degree was in Computer Networks and I too had an industrial placement. In all, I feel I learnt the most from this and would say it was the most important part of my degree. In the meantime, I'd suggest getting your CV up to date and learning some interviewing techniques. How good your year is really depends on your employer. A CCNA will look good on your CV but it's not the only thing they'll be looking for. I knew some really bright guys at uni who ended up in burger-flipping jobs doing mundane tasks simply because they couldn't be bothered to find a good employer (they just ended up changing printer toners and cleaning mouse balls)
Employers generally see technicals skills as something they can train you up on. The soft skills generally come with an employee and can be refined.

MercilessKiller wrote:

For part time though, just anything basic.. even the damn pc servicing part of pc world (if it wasnt part of dixons etc...)

From what I hear, PC World look for the A+ technicians for their 'PC Heathcheck' role. Yes, it's generally seen as an inferior qualification to a CCNA but knowing PC World, they probably won't know what a CCNA is. :rolleyes:

HTH

Pufferfish

MORPH3US

MercilessKiller wrote:

i'll have a full CCNA and CCNP 1 and 2.. and the network computing degree and a year work experience.. id be hoping for more than £22k as a graduate

Unless you intend to work down in London mate then IMHO you have no chance of even getting near £22k.

I can't speak for your profession exactly but I do know that the 22k£ average is heavily weighted for London. I would imagine that the average for the midlands was more like £20k or maybe even less!

[Deleted User]

London is fun! Come live here! OK, its smelly, people are a bit rude and the tube is evil.. but its fun!

Plus, you'd easy get 22K at a reasonable IT firm as a graduate here. I know my place hires graduates on 23K

MORPH3US

ringo_24601 wrote:

Plus, you'd easy get 22K at a reasonable IT firm as a graduate here. I know my place hires graduates on 23K

Send me the application form, i'm on my way!!! :rotfl:

Only joking, I would actualy really like to live / work in London but for me its too far from family and I don't think for me that the extra earnings would make up for the higher cost of living!

M

[Deleted User]

I know what you mean... rent is kinda steap in london but I think the benefits outweigh the costs. I use to live in Cardiff, don't get me wrong, it was a nice place to live, but London is way cooler when you're in your mid-20s. Plus I got a 20% payrise moving. Admitadly, my living costs are roughly 5 grand a year more. I'm gonna gradually move out of london into one of the commuter towns on the train links, house prices are almost acceptable there (unlike the 180K 1 bedroom flats in my area).

Don't think current earnings - hopefully, your starting wage will be the least you earn in your lifetime. You'll be with firms that will eventually pay you a lot more in the long run. Put it this way, do you want to be on 30K in 2-3 years time?

I've only been here 9 months and I think it's great. I'm originally from Manchester, my parents still live there. Thankfully I do have grandparents here I can go visit.