Wanting to work in IT

[Deleted User]

Kieron26 wrote: »

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

It's probably not a very viable option, as it's often hard to get access to niche market software. An example of one i'm currently learning/implementing is 'InterSystem Ensemble' http://www.intersystems.com/ensemble/. Thankfully, work paid for the £1500 5 day training course. However, if i went off as an independent contractor i could get paid £550 a day

Personally, i feel there's more jobs in the software side of IT, not hardware. Sadly, those jobs usually require degrees and such also.

InsideInsurance

In almost all corporate organisations there will be more developers than infrastructure people (for those that still have an inhouse IT team anyway and subject to where you see DBAs/ ETL people etc fitting).

Saying that I wouldnt have said that the demand for one or the other is particularly different, if anything infrastructure are more in demand than developers - probably as 90% of people that do it hate it.

A lot will depend on what you are interested in, what your aspirations are and where you see the balance between interest work and pay. Likewise are you willing to relocate? Are you happy working on a tiny speciality and being a true guru in it or do you want a much broader role but not be an expert in any of it?

jfh7gwa

As kittykarate says, CCNA is an industry recognised qualification via one of the world's most recognisable IT brands. It concerns me if the OP hasn't stumbled across this during research (or even googled it!!).

I'm still not convinced that free courses and IT "apprenticeships" are the way forward to forge a real career in IT, from seeing people I know have a proper career within the sector.

Not if you want to eventually work in blue chip companies in a formal, established career route and be on an even keel with your department's peers at each stage, anyway - I do see the lack of formal qualifications (theoretical, not practical) being something that is going to be a hurdle at job interviews / CV submissions for the first ten years of your career.

Sorry to raise bad news to the OP, but I just wanted to point that out in unambiguous terms before he does another free course, or some "apprenticeship" scheme, ends up as tier 1 tech support in a call centre farm, and wonders where the promise of a glorious career in the IT industry went.

mjbmjb

Kieron, I'm aiming some helpful criticism at you here, but rather than asking what a CCNA is, you should use some initiative and look it up to see what's involved. Google is usually the starting point for most people. Go onto the Cisco web site where you can get some detailed information about what's involved in achieving this certification. Don't be scared off by any words or TLA's that you haven't ever heard of. I've worked with many people who have either gone onto a CCNA classroom-based course or purchased the books without having the slightest bit of networking knowledge.

Think of it as your gateway to the world of network-related jobs. It leads to other exams such as design, wireless, security, or the next level up - the CCNP. Use it as a springboard to other vendor products and exams such as Juniper or HP.

Or hop onto the MS web site to see what is required to achieve the MS certifications.

You may think that a level 2 college course sounds good, but it's not what employers want to hear. They want words such as Cisco, Juniper, OSPF, BGP, Microsoft, Exchange, SQL, etc on your cv. Aim high!

If you re-read my comments, I completed the CompTIA N+ in one week, and the CCNA in 3 weeks.

Good luck with the interview.

Kieron26

Thank you everyone for your help with this.

Thanks also mjbmjb for your detailed answers . .

I shall spend a while now researching the courses you have mentioned and will give an update before aking anymore decisions as i appreciate the advice everyone has been giving :-).

Kieron26

UPDATE:

I have attended the interview and I felt it went well.

They called me today and said I was brilliant although they felt I would not learn much from the Apprenticeship as they felt I knew too much already.

So as the apprenticeship is out of the window what next . . The HR person that called me advised me that maybe I should look at doing an evening college course and then get any job I can to tide me over while studying in the evenings.

I have decided that I want to be involved with setting up networks and configuring them so this would be classed as a network engineer.

The HR person advised me that the Essential IT Skills LVL 2 would not be any good towards my targets like a couple of people on here have mentioned.

So what is the best courses for me to go for in terms of working with IT Networks ?

Is there funding available for someone on JSA ?

This is the website reults for Tresham College in Kettering . .

(add www in front)

tresham.ac.uk/courses/subject/33

InsideInsurance

What is your current level of networking experience? Are you currently looking at small offices with a single MS SBS managing everything or would you be comfortable designing and building infrastructure for a more corporate level where you have massively more complex systems and greater considerations for latency, DR, security, virtualisation etc?

Kieron26

I would say that I am up for a challenge so would be going for the long haul of learning big.

I spoken to Vision2Learn that was setting me up for the IT Essential Skills LVL2 and also the local college, Tresham have stated that if i do Functional Skills in maths and English level two and complete the Essential IT skills LVL 2 then I can apply at tresham for a full time course on their BTEC Level 3 Diploma in IT

Im too new to post links so add www to the beginning



tresham.ac.uk/courses/23863_btec-level-3-diploma-in-it?course_subject=33&page=1

mjbmjb

BTEC Level 3 isn't what IT recruiters want. Re-read my last post.

reheat

falko89 wrote: »

I am in a similar position, no qualifications but a love for IT, I started of building PC's for sale on eBay, but the time has come where I can't compete the the Dell's/HP's of this world. I did 2 years of a degree at the Open University but discovered this was going down a route I wasn't really interested in so stopped. I am now unemployed, no one will entertain me despite me using computers since the Windows 3.11 MS Dos 6.2 days (Anyone remember that?):D I think my only option in gaining full time employment in IT is to start my own business, which I think I might do once my redundancy comes through.

Certainly do .