Thedelldays Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 am thinking about doing this course in order to build up some civvy qualifications for when i leave the forces. I work a great deal in IT within the forces. now, has anyone got this and will it help me get my foot in the door within the IT industry...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raging Bull Posted 5 March, 2012 Share Posted 5 March, 2012 I'm also very interested in this as am getting very itchy feet with what I'm doing and am keen to learn something new. Not massively ofay with the IT side of life so need to start at the beginning really, maybe Comptia network+ or MCSE. Trouble is finding the time to do it. What certs have you got/did you start out with? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 5 March, 2012 Author Share Posted 5 March, 2012 my certs are all within the forces. what they do (or what I have done) is about 2/3's of an MCSA. they purposely cut the courses just that little bit short so you don't get the full ticket and leave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raging Bull Posted 5 March, 2012 Share Posted 5 March, 2012 Is what you've done so far difficult? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 5 March, 2012 Author Share Posted 5 March, 2012 Is what you've done so far difficult? a little....but got there in the end. when we touched on SQL and share point, I found that more difficult.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Posted 5 March, 2012 Share Posted 5 March, 2012 I'm also very interested in this as am getting very itchy feet with what I'm doing and am keen to learn something new. Not massively ofay with the IT side of life so need to start at the beginning really, maybe Comptia network+ or MCSE. Trouble is finding the time to do it. What certs have you got/did you start out with? ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 5 March, 2012 Share Posted 5 March, 2012 For anyone looking to get into IT, here's some advice from someone who has spent around fifteen years doing it, if you include my placement year at Ordnance Survey, which I do. 1) Be prepared for a life of study. The industry doesn't stand still, and nor will you. You'll either to constantly update your skills, or do what I stupidly do, learn ten at about the same time and play whack-a-mole with all the different factors at play. Bonus tip: don't do what I do. 2) An MCITP is temporary. Degrees are permanent. A lot of firms place great stock in official Microsoft qualifications, but they need to be updated to be of any use. Great, you're an expert on Windows Server 2000. See where I'm going with this? I have really mixed feelings about my degree. On the one hand, I know its the first thing that recruiters look for in a lot of IT roles. On the other, I've only been asked for documentary proof of my qualifications twice in fifteen years. I have been an active part of the recruitment process for several hires, and unfailingly, questions are asked when someone doesn't have one. Don't get me wrong - it doesn't exclude you from positions - but it requires significant research on the part of the employer to determine whether you're of a standard. Mate of mine, very smart - doesn't have a degree. Before he started his own company, he had tremendous trouble getting work because of a degree. He even joined the Merseyside branch of the British Computer Society to add some oomph to his credentials. Like I said, extremely capable and as for those companies that did discriminate along the lines of his degree, it's their loss, but the bias is there and it happens a lot. 3) Don't do it for the money If you're looking to get into IT just for the money, I'd look at doing something else. The money is very good compared to a lot of sectors, particularly if you've the balls to take the risk and go contracting. Thing is, even though you might be doing it for the money, you're going to be up against people who are passionate about what they're doing, and will eat a 60 hour week for breakfast. If your heart isn't fully in it, you're always going to come second-best against people with this level of commitment. 4) "No one part of the Internet is complex" Advice I was given by a former mentor (with NASA on his CV ). True, as well. I know it seems like computers are an unfathomable well of functionality, but they really aren't - they're mostly a collection of individual programs, each doing a very specific, pretty simple job. Don't get overwhelmed by all the things computers can do, and don't ever personify the actions of a computer ( "it's temperamental" - No 1 phrase guaranteed a 5 minute put-down from me in a workplace environment ). 5) Learn your trade in a small company Seriously. You'll get more exposure to a wider range of problems, and have to wear more hats. The corporate world is a lot more restrictive - large enterprises tend to run to processes that skew toward "don't bring the enterprise to it's knees". You can learn to fill out meaningless paperwork at a later stage in your career. 6) If you're still reading after all that... Don't mean to discourage anyone here - rather attract the right people into the industry. Computing is a very good career to get into. Let's face it, irrespective of which field you play on, you're getting paid to solve puzzles, which is something I see a lot of people doing in their own time on their breaks. Due to the speed that changes can be made, you can become an instant hero - but it can be hard work, and can't strictly be seen as a 9-to-5 job. Me? I just buzz off the fact its all so new. Hopefully, history will remember us IT nerds with as much reverence as the road and rail people of old. I rather suspect that they'll consider us a bunch of retrobate perverts with highly questionable search histories Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raging Bull Posted 6 March, 2012 Share Posted 6 March, 2012 Not so sure after reading that, seeing as I own my own business I'm not sure I've got the time or patience to gain all those certs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecuk268 Posted 6 March, 2012 Share Posted 6 March, 2012 5) Learn your trade in a small company Seriously. You'll get more exposure to a wider range of problems, and have to wear more hats. The corporate world is a lot more restrictive - large enterprises tend to run to processes that skew toward "don't bring the enterprise to it's knees". You can learn to fill out meaningless paperwork at a later stage in your career. I'd agree with this point. I made a career change in myearly 30's, got a degree (Computing and Statistics) in my own time and managed to get a job with a small Systems House who sold hardware and software to manufacturing companies. I was thrown in at the deep end and learnt an awful lot in my first few months. It was certainly not 9 to 5 but they were very flexible as long as you did the work and they were great fun to work for. I did a bit of everything (including getting the Chairman's trousers from the cleaners). I now work for a European group and there's much more red tape. It's a completely different environment, more structured and I have a more defined role. I would definitely go with a small company to start with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint_stevo Posted 8 March, 2012 Share Posted 8 March, 2012 been in IT for 7years......few certs, but loads of exposure to new tech and running and implementing projects. Got N+, it'sa bout 8years out of date (unless its been reformed) Start with MCITP Enterprise Desktop Support Technician which will get you au fait with desktops and advanced features, then do an A.D course, and a networking course, maybe not CCNA because it will BLOW YOUR MIND but something to introduce you to TCP/IP and the OSI model. Then do any of- Sharepoint (loads of work as contractors if you are a guru) SQL (DBA's do alright.....) Citrix And do as said before, specialise. Consultants do ok, but generally have to deal with **** as well as fun implementations and new tech Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 8 March, 2012 Author Share Posted 8 March, 2012 I have a chance of doing.... MCITP server admin CCNA CCNA security CCNA VOIP would that assist me in getting my foot in the door of a job...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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