Advice on getting into IT after redundincy

DjSatansfury

ECDL is basic use, really you should have that if you're doing basic admin jobs, nevermind IT.

peter999

cybershot wrote:

thought of sparky/plumber ect but ver hard to get into.

Now thought of IT as always been interested in pc's and apparently good money in it just dont know what IT to go for as so many about. so any ideas would be grate.
just dont know where to start.

also is CAD any good way to go about it?

IT is a good career, but like any job these it's hard work at times.

What is your experience in IT & what is involved ??
How long do you have £2500 available for training ??

If you're not sure I would get started with some basic training at a college or at home, to pindown where to target your £2500 training, so you don't waste it.

peter999

cybershot_2

peter999 wrote:

IT is a good career, but like any job these it's hard work at times.

What is your experience in IT & what is involved ??
How long do you have £2500 available for training ??

If you're not sure I would get started with some basic training at a college or at home, to pindown where to target your £2500 training, so you don't waste it.

peter999

Hi i have never worked in IT just taught myself over the last 15years or so.

the £2500 HAS TO BE USED within 6months but can be spent on diff courses aslong as there related,

Always #enjoyed home pc'ing just thought maybe now while got the chance to try and get a career out of it

zoezoe_3

Getting into IT is a really odd thing to say its like saying getting into retail. It is not a trade. I work in the IT industry and my CV looks a bit like this

Degree in Computing
Data entry
Programming in DCL
Software engineer working for a big company, used all webstuff, XML, C++, c#, java - coudl go on
Manager for the same company - managing a team of programmers.
Self employed web developer
Now - Head of develeopment for a small company.

When you say you have been home PC'ing - what does this mean. If you can simply use a computer then you are looking at data entry or admin work. Most people can use computers so these are not particularly well paid.

Do you do any programming for example ? Is so what languages ?

Can you create and publish websites ? - you could get training in this and go on to be a junior webdeveloper - but again not very well paid.

Is there any particluar peices of software that you are really good with or enjoy ?

Do you prefer to build PC's - perhaps you could consider a qualification in this area, schools and libraries often need people to maintain their hardware and networks.

HTH

Zoe

magyar

Well said, Zoe. Was halfway through typing most of that, when I decided to refresh...

I think the bottom line is that, put very simply, there are an awful lot of people with fairly good IT skills, so you need to specialise. Even then the money is not usually great. People hear of contractors earning £500 a day and think this is the norm - it isn't. You'll probably be on £50-100 a day if you're lucky and this with minimal job security (but good flexibility).

IT is a good career if you're prepared to self-teach (and crucially, keep your skills up to date) and are a quick learner. Also, IT skills are very transferrable and are needed almost everywhere in the world so you're not tied to cities or industrialised areas.

magyar

By the way, you mentioned you've done "factory work" - this is obviously as broad a definition as "working in IT"; what did you do? If you have any background in electronics or control systems then a good way of moving more into IT may be something like PLC engineering or Scada development?

Neither of these are very hard from an IT perspective; rather they require a decent knowledge of industrial processes. People will also be looking for someone who's not afraid of getting their hands dirty.

I appreciate you want a change of career, but from an employer's perspective they will be mostly interested in your experience. This could be a good way to bridge into a different area whilst making the most of existing skills.

cybershot_2

magyar wrote:

By the way, you mentioned you've done "factory work" - this is obviously as broad a definition as "working in IT"; what did you do? If you have any background in electronics or control systems then a good way of moving more into IT may be something like PLC engineering or Scada development?

Neither of these are very hard from an IT perspective; rather they require a decent knowledge of industrial processes. People will also be looking for someone who's not afraid of getting their hands dirty.

I appreciate you want a change of career, but from an employer's perspective they will be mostly interested in your experience. This could be a good way to bridge into a different area whilst making the most of existing skills.

basicly pushed thbe same button 6000 times a day! drove me crazy!!

got the many hope to use it to train in somthing thats all, all i have now is basic self tought pc skills

merlinormartin

hi cyber ..... how are you at logic/math ... if you enjoy/good at ... you might look at going into programing ... start with something .. common ... like java, c++, or VB ... or how about doing a cisco or microsoft certification

cybershot_2

its fair to say im puzzled, do really want to make ago at this but at the same time dont want to waste the training offered to me and then have no job prospects after it, yes willing to put more money frorward for more training if needed.
Dont really mind what kind of IT thought of maybe web design or desk top god knowss

nej

As everyone else has said, IT is not the "golden egg" it once was. I make a reasonable living (software engineer) but starting from the bottom pays, frankly, peanuts. You would make more starting out as a plumber, and after 20 years you'd still probably make more as a plumber. Tube drivers earn a lot more than many middle-tier IT people.

Most people get into IT because it interests them, not so much for the money. If they have aptitude for it, they can go on to do well. If they aren't that good at it really, they'll not earn that much.

If you have no family/mortgage to support then go for it if it's what you want to do. But first decide which discipline (networking, programming, hardware, databases, support, web-design etc) you would feel most comfortable with.

If you do have a family/mortgage and need a reasonable income quickly, you may be better off looking at other options.

Just my opinion.