Entry into I.T??

myright

Hey guys

I dont have any formal qualifications in I.T but I'd like to get my foot in the door.

I am qualified to a degree level in Business Studies.

What Insudtry quals do I need to get into Entry Level in I.T 1st Line support?

Micro Cert V ITIL. Which is better to start off with?

steve1980

There are so many courses available. I looked into it a while ago and got the following sent through.

FREE Demo:
Log on to: www.microsoftuk.co.uk
Please click on the 'Member Login' button

Username: demo
Password: demo
Please see the Live-Lab demonstration, following the link provided below:

http://www.openittraining.com/labs.html



MCSE MASTER PACKAGE (8exams and free resits)– See below for details...................... £1,450+VAT

The Package Consists of:

Training:

· COMPTIA A+ Training Package Courseware
· COMPTIA Networking+ Training Package Courseware
· CCNA Training Package Courseware
· MCTS Training Package Courseware
· MCITP Training Package Courseware
· MCSE Training Package Courseware
· MCSA Training Package Courseware
· Technical Microsoft Master Package
· Online Based Material
· Past/Mock Examination Papers


Practical:

· Live Virtual lab Including Remote Access Server 2008 and Exchange 2007.

Access:

· 12 Months Unlimited Access

Support:

· Full Tutor Support
· Free Phone Support/E-mail Support
· 24/7 Free Phone Support (Microsoft Gold Partnership)

Exams:

· 8 Official Exams plus Free Resits

Certifications:

· Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer
· Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator
· Microsoft Certified Professional
· Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist

Have a look through the site and contact them.

HappyMJ

In my opinion start with the ITIL Foundation Certificate in IT. Should only take a week of study if you have some previous knowledge and are quite intelligent. Then get a job on the helpdesk. Easy job really you don't even need to be able to fix everything just need to know the terminology that customers and the service desk or engineers might use. Then work out what you want to do. MCSE will take a lot of study but is well worth it. Or continue down the ITIL line.

myright

thanks for that, do you think ITIL could be learnt by just buying a book and reading it from home? Or would you recommend going to a class?

Do you have any information on how much it is to book the test for it?

HappyMJ

myright wrote: »

thanks for that, do you think ITIL could be learnt by just buying a book and reading it from home? Or would you recommend going to a class?

Do you have any information on how much it is to book the test for it?

ITIL Foundation is very easy. You can use online resources to study that one in less than a week. If you go further depending on your commitment to reading books you could do it without studying in a class. I went to a class to do my MCSE and CCNP. I don't think I could have passed without doing that. Not sure about ITIL but it's something that the service desk at work is getting everyone to do. If you get a job with a large company you'll find that they may be willing to pay for it. Negotiate it as part of the contract.

DCFC79

Part of the task is to find a job that doesnt require helpdesk experience, pretty much all the jobs ive seen require it

jinger_2

I started in an IT department as an Admin Assistant and ended up doing 1st Line Support and the only IT qualification I had was NVQ Using IT Level 1!

Actually when I first started the job I was also halfway through my CompTIA A+ at night school which I was funding myself (was about £500 excluding book which was about £30). The employer put me through my NVQ/C&G IT Technician/Practitioner Level 2 last year after doing the 1st Line Support job for over a year. I suppose it helped that I knew my way round a PC and was self-taught in upgrading, basic software/hardware issues etc.

A lot of companies are asking for ITIL qualifications nowadays. The CompTIA A+ teaches you useless things like what the American fire extinguishers look like but gives you a good understanding of how a pc works if your knowledge is basic. Your local library may be able to get hold of a copy of the book that goes with the course so you can see for yourself if it's for you or whether you fancy something more challenging.

Depending on the company, some are also asking for people who know programming. Below is an example of a job that's advertised locally to me for a Helpdesk Engineer:

You will be responsible for providing 1st and 2nd line support via a busy helpdesk, with the majority of calls being application support issues.
Technical skills required:
-Microsoft SQL reporting skills, administration.
-Strong general relational database knowledge.
-Good all-round IT Support skills, with a particular focus on Microsoft products.
-Ideally an understanding of Navision ERP although this is not essential.
As well as supporting external and internal users, you will also be required to liaise with external suppliers technical desks for other application support and SLA issues. There will also be the opportunity for you to be involved with some software testing, training and system administration although the key and main function is as a Helpdesk and Application Support Engineer.

It may also be worth speaking to an advisor at your local College. They may know the industry in your area and advise what local employers are looking for.

maninthestreet

OP - there are tens of thousands of redundant IT professionals unable to find jobs in the IT industry - what are the reasons why you now want a career in IT??

[Deleted User]

What about becoming a business analyst at a IT consultancy?

alisonmeyers

maninthestreet, my husband is in IT, fortunately in a relatively secure position (what he does is quite specialised work, but he's basically just a programmer in a Project management role in a specialised sector)... and i was thinking the same thing.

many many of my husband's friends from uni (they graduated a good number of years ago now, so experienced professionals) are struggling because budgets have been cut back so much in their industries. basically unless you're in a role which is needed e.g. banking and security, that type of work they're all still in jobs, but any of the other stuff has been delayed or just stopped midway through...

if these experienced IT professionals, some of them with 2 degrees in the field and many years knowledge to their name.. i can imagine it being absolutely horrific to try and pitch against them in this climate. and the only thing that will set you above them is by gaining the qualifications (of course) but above all experience experience experience.

also, ringo_24601 - i'm not sure if you've read the level that the OP is pitching at. do you think people wake up one day without a qualification to their name in the industry or any experience or exposure to the role and just get hired as a business analyst at a IT consultancy? do you know what sort of RATES it consultancies charge? my brother is also in IT (not a programmer now though - he has his own firm) and the last time i checked he was charging £800 a day for training at his own offices (basically allowing companies to go more in house than continue to hire agencies and contrators)... and he sure wouldn't hire someone inexperienced and have the cheek to hire him out to clients... not helpful advice to the OP, imho, jinger has really hit the nail on the head when it comes to sensible advice.

[Deleted User]

Well, since i work for an IT consultancy (i'm a tech consultant/do a bit of coding also), i do know our own rates (which look about 4 pound an hour less than your brothers). I'm a genetics graduate originally

We also hire graduates, shock horror, without experience. We've just hired about 5 new people (we've about 7000 staff globally). We wouldn't send anyone new out to a client usually, but if they're chaperoned, they might be 'out in the field' after 6 months in the office.

The IT market isn't that dire as it was last year. I've just got a new job (after applying for 3 I found one). I know a few people who've been moving around firms recently.

i just checked our on-line careers page and we've got a few openings left for graduates... they don't need an IT degree (although technical degrees are preferred)