EDCL, What Are They Worth.

S0litaire

ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence)

In my opinion if you have not done any computer work, then it's a must have. it gives you a good grounding in using a PC and basic applications!

But if you have done ANY IT or PC related course it will be to basic for you!

but every certificate looks good on a CV lol

PROLIANT

S0litaire wrote: »

ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence)

In my opinion if you have not done any computer work, then it's a must have. it gives you a good grounding in using a PC and basic applications!

But if you have done ANY IT or PC related course it will be to basic for you!

but every certificate looks good on a CV lol

How do you drive a computer?

Garetha

PROLIANT wrote: »

How do you drive a computer?

If cars were like computers (a little dated now - but still amusing!):

1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash twice a day.
2. Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car.
3. Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull over to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For some reason, you would simply accept this.
4. Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine.
5. Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive -- but would run on only five percent of the roads.
6. The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by a single "General Protection Fault" warning light.
7. The airbag system would ask "Are you sure?" before deploying.
8. Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna.
9. Every time GM introduced a new car, car buyers would have to learn to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.
10. You'd have to press the "Start" button to turn the engine off.

Skullster

PROLIANT wrote: »

If you are looking for a career in IT I would go for the CompTIA range of qualifications, I am studying these as I have no formal IT credentials, although I am an IT professional it will help me in the future for job hunting etc, depends what you want to do, also these qualifications are product-neutral unlike the CISCO CCNA and Microsoft MCSE/MSSA etc which are bespoke qualifications.
Addendum;
The ECDL is ok if you just want your potential new employer to know that you can push buttons on a PC keyboard, no offence I have done this pointless course and it is like watching paint dry.

PROLIANT I too am in a similar situation to you in that as an IT professional I have no actual qualifications but years of experience. Interestingly I have just started a PTLLS course (licence to teach adults ) and to move on they seem to insist I have the ECDL advanced qual even though I did the demo test in a few minutes and its far too simple for anyone with any decent experience. Could you post details of the Comptia quals you found with links for others to follow? Perhaps some form of NVQ could be obtained using knowledge or Prior learning so long as evidence can be provided as to the skills being utilised. I will look into that as well.

isofa

I'd echo the above, if you are a proficient IT user, then you'll find it extremely basic. IMO it's only useful for complete IT / computer novices, or those who just use Word or one application at work to little depth, and with no detailed IT background.

If you are looking for a professional IT qualification, do not bother with EDCL, look at quality IT courses, if you have a degree already look at an MSc in Computer Science or a IT specialism you are interested in.

If you are looking to start out without a degree then a BSc would be good if you can afford the time and fees.

If you have years of experience, I cannot fathom why someone would insist you do the EDCL - seems a complete waste of time. The only people I know who do it, are general admin/office users, I've seen them take the modules, and I've personally not been very impressed.

If you are proficient see if you can just run through the "exams" as they really aren't very taxing.

I'd point you over to the British Computer Society - and read the info and advice there.

Skullster

Many thanks Isofa I'll have a good look.