Getting an ECDL qualification

Bismarck

the way I see it is that the employer sets the rules, rightly or wrongly at the application stage...it's up to you to decide to play ball or not. if they do a sift based on "has ECDL" and "doesn't have ECDL" then it's short-sighted not to have the qualification if you want to be considered - especially if it's straightforward - I did it with an employer a couple of years ago and just turned up for the exams - CIA do good walkthrough manuals that are handy reference guides if nothing else.

irish_eyes

The reference to the need for an ECDL qualification by the employer will be part of the basic criteria for the job in question. However should the employer need to raise the criteria, if for example there are a lot of applicants, a degree in computing would surpass the ECDL.

[Deleted User]

Are you going for an IT specific role? Chances are that if you've got the right background they might not care - in general, people with actual IT qualifications don't do ECDLs

Simbacat

I have just completed an ECDL - as you have said it isn't exactly rocket science, however you also shouldn't think it is a walk in the park either!

I did it just by dropping into the college to take the exams on the way home from work but I did make my way through the course work online first.

Threre were 2 very loud 'computer whizzkids' on the course both of whom failed a couple of the modules because they thought they were too smart to fail so didn't need to bother revising for the exams. I must say that I normally hate anyone failing anything but it was quite satisfying listening to them arguing with the tutors over their results!! :rotfl:

LittleVoice

irish_eyes wrote: »

. . . a degree in computing would surpass the ECDL.

They are not measuring the same thing so one does not automatically trump the other.

Someone with an IT degree doesn't necessarily have all the knowledge to achieve ECDL. It depends on the degree content and what applications they have actually used and at what level.

Bismarck

to qualify my earlier comment- the ECDL is more involved than it may seem and has some good stuff in it. obviously depends on where you are coming from but I like it and respect it for what it is....I like the story of the whizz-kids who thought they knew it all...a little bit of humility and respect can work wonders in so many ways.

dmg24

LittleVoice wrote: »

Over time I think we will also see the NHS dropping reference to ECDL. There is now more interest in an iTQ (an NVQ in using ICT). Even now, I don't think you will find it as an Essential requirement in a Person Spec though it could be a Desirable.

Many NHS Trusts offer ECDL training to their current staff, so I doubt they will be dropping reference to it quite just yet!

Bismarck

just wondering if the current ECDL is the most relevant for an NHS job after all. OK if they put it as a requirement but if the current ECDL is based a lot on Office 2007, is that what the NHS trusts use?

[Deleted User]

Just by getting the 'employee' to train to ECDL level, they'll get a general idea of how to use Windows and office-like applications - since a lot of NHS staff (including clinical) have to use software as part of their job it would be pretty useful for them all to have a base-knowledge of generic software

RobertoMoir

Bismarck wrote: »

just wondering if the current ECDL is the most relevant for an NHS job after all. OK if they put it as a requirement but if the current ECDL is based a lot on Office 2007, is that what the NHS trusts use?

It's not supposed to be "based" on any particular version of Microsoft Office at all. It's supposed to be a general "IT literacy" course for end users and it's also supposed to be platform agnostic - how to use A word processor, A spreadsheet, A browser rather than how to use MS Word, Excel and IE7.

It's a good baseline qualification to ask for when recruiting office staff in an office that makes good use of IT I'd say, but I'd also personally be happy to add "or equivalent experience" rather than turn away someone with a computing degree who's been using MS Office for years... that would be a bit silly.