Wanting to work in IT

jfh7gwa

The claimed traditional route in outside of a degree is to start on a level one helpdesk (which is little more than a basic call centre job really) and work your way up and out within the organisation. I have to say I have never come across anyone that has done this though I've known a few helpdesk people that are planning on doing it (and they say they know people that have)

This is good advice, and clearly outlines the distinction between the more professional routes into the IT industry vs. working your way up route.

I have family members who work in IT at all levels of the spectrum, and the one I know who works in a help desk environment has mentioned in the past they are unhappy with where they are but can't progress because of the people they're up against (my cousin - left school after A Levels and took a job in a local business centre, basically works in their IT team but employed by the building unit, if you see what I mean!). Against people with experience and a degree, having to explain at interviews about why they should hire him (7yrs exp) instead of the guy with 4 or 5 years exp but with a degree and/or working in that specific niche sector. I think my cousin plans to get out of IT altogether at some point tbh.

Compare this against, say, my DH who has a background as a software developer (but has now moved into Project Management, so doesn't "get his hands as dirty these days" - Hah! as if he ever did!) after uni (science degree) and then working his way up in a very specific sector... the career potential is a world apart. And the stress levels, too, mind :rotfl:

irsprint84

Well I m an IT Manager for a University so I hope I can help with this.

Question: do you just want to do PC building or more in the future?

Private is very hard to get into even helpdesk, plus its hard to get out of helpdesk to 2nd line from there.

What I did is work from a school, slightly less pay but you can learn so much! plus mcse are a waste and A+ as well just need experience and to go further get a degree and get your PRINCE2 and ITIL depending on which side you want to progress in. I moved from Technician in a school to IT manager in control of an entire uni in 3 years.

mjbmjb

Get a cv together listing the skills that you have listed in your post, and start applying for the 17-20k helpdesk/call logging/1st line jobs. Look on Jobserve, JobSite, Monster, local paper, etc. Maybe not much in Kettering, but more in nearby Northampton. If you do get an interview, look smart and enthusiastic and be confident about your abilities.

Whilst you are out of work, why aren't you doing the self-study at home to get some exams? You could be doing 35 hours study per week. Why exactly do you need a tutor for the A+??? Get some books and some equipment to play around on (beg/steal/borrow/look on Ebay/use some initiative!). A+ isn't a great one (little value in the real world). N+ is better as that can lead to the CCNA and so on. Or look at the MS exams.

Many of us work 40 hours a week plus commuting time, have kids and still get exams done through self-study (we do encounter exam failures along the way).

Go for it.

mjbmjb

falko89 wrote: »

I am now unemployed, no one will entertain me despite me using computers since the Windows 3.11 MS Dos 6.2 days

Doesn't reflect your skills being up-to-date though........

Unemployed - You have time to do some self-study!!!!!

When I was unemployed about 7 years ago, I passed the N+ within the first week of unemployment. Achieved through reading through a free 100-page document I downloaded from the web, and doing some practice N+ exams on the web - again they were free and plenty of them. About 3 days of study in total (8 hours a day). Only cost to me was the actual exam. Hope you're taking note here Kieron!

Then I did the CCNA within the month - 40 hours study a week for 3 weeks (inc. weekends). Borrowed the books and a couple of Cisco routers from a mate who'd already passed the CCNA. Again, the only cost to me was the actual exam.

I worked in a MS environment before getting laid off, although had never taken any MS exams), so the MS experience plus the Cisco qualification helped me find a new job in no time at all.

[Deleted User]

Learn a really niche piece of software well, charge hundreds of pounds a day to implement it for big firms... Or get very good at networking; I've heard a good network engineer can get a grand a day

(I was using GEM and windows 1 when I was a teenager, now work as a integration consultant)

usman122

I would say work your way up the ladder it's great to see you have learnt so much on your own but I'm a big believer that actuall industry experience is the best way to learn.

Have you tried small firms or local colleges as a starting point?

InsideInsurance

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Or get very good at networking; I've heard a good network engineer can get a grand a day

Dont know any infrastructure engineer earning anything close to £1,000!

As an engineer most are going to be around £300 a day, £400 with a lot of experience and/or cutting out agents etc.

As an architect/ manager you are looking around £500, possibly pushing £650 with a good push.

Obviously you can use your skills, develop up and become a programme director or a Head Of type role and get higher day rates. Likewise if a consultancy is brought in then their rates can be sky high but whilst the clients paying £1500 a day for a chap that person is still getting a £500 day rate and the £1000 is the companies income

Kieron26

Hi All,

I have been doing some research on the web and have found a company called Vision2Learn.

They have sent me forms for Doncaster College as I had originally asked for an Essential IT Skills Level 1 as it was free i thought I may aswell, When speaking to the college they asked my skills and said they will put me straight onto a distance learning Level 2 ITQ. This is on receipt of my proof of JSA that I will return to them today with the enrolment forms.

I applied for an IT apprenticeship via (apprenticeships.org.uk) aswell that i found in leicster, its a 24 mile drive but the only one availble around here. Its with a housing association company.

In terms of learning a niche piece of software, im not really sure on what types to learn?

I also am not to clued up on the courses themselves with the abbrieviations such as CCNA ???

kittykarate

CCNA is a Cisco Networking Associate certification, it is industry recognized, and Cisco is the major name in networking hardware.

One thing that does make me groan though is that you ask about what a CCNA is, being a self-starter and independent is critical in IT, very few organizations will spoon feed you all the training you need. So you have to get familiar with reading things on the internet, discarding the ones that don't apply and getting a grip on a problem.

Kieron26

Update: I just had a call from the company i applied for the apprenticeship with and they want me to attend an interview on MONDAY.

Im so excited . . .:@)

Any tips would be very helpful . . as i feel this is my chance :@)