IT Courses - Advice Required

NI22

Hello Everyone,

I am new to this little forum and I hope that people don't mind me posting a non-monetary post into what is essentially a money forum.

I am seeking to refresh my IT credentials as I would like to get a career more focused on IT (particularly the software side) than what I do at present. I completed a degree some years ago and have been working in a non IT field since this with some limited IT exposure. I live in Belfast and would like to do a part time course that would refresh my skills and give me an accredited qualification at the end. What I am seeking to know is are there any courses available that are good courses to complete that employers are seeking?

Looking at the Belfast MET the following three courses stand out but they seem very specific and I not overly sure.

1. Java.
2. App development for Iphones.
3. Sage accounts.

I would be interested in your thoughts and if there are any better courses available?

D.A.

If you're going for the software side, go for number 2 - although it's slightly odd that they wouldn't also include Android development in that course.

Another option would be to go for an 'infrastructure' certification or qualification - e.g. a networking course, Cisco certification, or IT security. Those skills are actually almost harder to find in the marketplace than software development skills.

NI22

Thank you for your response, the app development did stand out for me, however I also felt Java may have been useful.

I have not came across said courses you have mentioned - are they available at the MET? Below are two courses that currently stand out to me along with the Java.

Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing (2D) CAD City &Guilds Award

Developing iPhone Apps

BatCat

I have two friends who completed the java courses (basic and advanced) within the past couple of years. They found the course poorly structured and one of the lecturers is a bit of a loon. There was a delay of over a year in sending the certificates out.
Go for the mobile development and stay away from java.

NI22

BatCat wrote: »

I have two friends who completed the java courses (basic and advanced) within the past couple of years. They found the course poorly structured and one of the lecturers is a bit of a loon. There was a delay of over a year in sending the certificates out.
Go for the mobile development and stay away from java.

Thank you BatCat.

Is your issue with the structure of the course or just learning Java in general?

motorguy

D.A. wrote: »

Another option would be to go for an 'infrastructure' certification or qualification - e.g. a networking course, Cisco certification, or IT security. Those skills are actually almost harder to find in the marketplace than software development skills.

Skilled people in these areas are hard to find. The certifications that you really need are difficult and expensive too.

Good areas to get in to but you'd really need to be into it and spend several years in a hands on role before you've a hope of getting a job in that area.

warmhands.coldheart

NI22 wrote: »

Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing (2D) CAD City &Guilds Award

This would be more for those in the Engineering/Manufacturing field..... not really much use unless you are into and understand engineering...... I've had "experience" of folk who have CAD certificates etc but no real engineering knowledge... bit like having a nice fancy car on the drive but not the keys to drive it ........ just my opinion....

NI22

Toying between Java and the I phone app development. I just want to ensure that with such skills there are jobs out there that seek these?

Cotta

BatCat wrote: »

I have two friends who completed the java courses (basic and advanced) within the past couple of years. They found the course poorly structured and one of the lecturers is a bit of a loon. There was a delay of over a year in sending the certificates out.
Go for the mobile development and stay away from java.

Did your friends find work afterwards?

Cycrow

What is it you actually want to do ?

the iphone development course would only really be useful if you wanted to do iphone development

also bare in mind that its a pretty competitive market to get into.

if you are looking for something abit more generic, then Java would be a better choice (and useful for android development too).

if software development is what you want to do, a generic software development/engineering course would be more sutible

NI22

Cycrow wrote: »

What is it you actually want to do ?

the iphone development course would only really be useful if you wanted to do iphone development

also bare in mind that its a pretty competitive market to get into.

if you are looking for something abit more generic, then Java would be a better choice (and useful for android development too).

if software development is what you want to do, a generic software development/engineering course would be more sutible

Ideally I would like to get into one of the bigger IT companies such as IBM, Allstate, Concentrix or even Google and develop my skills accordingly. Becoming a pure Business Analyst with primary focus on IT or even a Project Manager would be two goals. Failing this I would like to get involved in programming languages.