BTEC National 3 ICT to what?

SkidMarkKing · 11 Oct 2013 at 20:44

Hello.

Just interested to see what people are doing who completed the BTEC National level 3 course in IT.

I had a big shock when I came out of college and was told I can't do apprenticeships due to my level from college.

I finally managed to get some shop work repairing computers but obviously this isn't my life time goal as it is just minimum wage pretty much.

I don't fancy spending loads and going to Uni but I would like to get into networking. The problem with the level 3 IT course was that we only covered a little bit from a lot of areas of IT. EG, Hardware, Web Design, Animation etc. I do not have the knowledge to apply for a 30k a year networking job. (yet)

So where did you go from completing the BTEC National Level 3 course in ICT?

Hope you don't mind me asking, cheers.

SkidMarkKing · 11 Oct 2013 at 21:11

Basically apprenticeships are funded by the government apparently. The standard apprenticeship is a level 2 and I have a 3 from college so they can't fund it. Even a advanced one is level 3 which I already have.

When I came out of college it was 2 years before I got a IT related job at all. I applied for 2 apprenticeships and heard the same thing from both

SkidMarkKing · 11 Oct 2013 at 21:32

supergluechris said:
I did the Btec Level 3 Diploma at college. I got a job as an assistant IT Technician at a secondary school.

My friend who did the same course got a job at Fujitsu on an apprenticeship. He says its really good. 15k a year I believe + learning

What was your overall grade. I got DDM

DMM I got.

I did apply for 2 jobs as an assistant techy at a school. One was apprenticeship and one wasn't. Didn't get either but thats just due to so many people applying for one job.

SkidMarkKing · 11 Oct 2013 at 21:36

supergluechris said:
I am right down south. There are plenty of schools looking for apprenticeships as the government will pay them. I applied to 10 schools and only 1 replied to my application. I now drive 75 miles a day to get to and from the job but it's worth it. Trying looking on your local councils job website as there are IT jobs up all the time! Keep looking and keep applying.

Even going to your old school and asking to work for free so you can gain some experience.

Will do bud. Cheers.

I must admit im happy working where I do its just a one man business. I can't see me getting any pay rises and im expected to run the place most of the time. lol

SkidMarkKing · 11 Oct 2013 at 21:47

I think a lot of these network administrator jobs you need to know coding etc don't you? I may be wrong. (30k a year plus jobs)

SkidMarkKing · 11 Oct 2013 at 21:51

XeNoN89 said:
Not coding but you will need decent knowledge of windows networks in general, so Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Group Policy etc. To be honest for these kind of jobs you should look at maybe doing A+ & Network+ exams, or some of the Microsoft certifications

Yeah we did none of that. I might just email some companies locally and explain my situation and see if I could get training there for a lower wage

SkidMarkKing · 11 Oct 2013 at 23:03

Ile have a look for CCNA courses then.

Should I expect a hefty price?

Ideal would be a job with training

SkidMarkKing · 11 Oct 2013 at 23:15

Thanks guys.

I will look in to it.

Hope to have a car soon so might go back to my old college and do a night course after work. Pretty sure there were some network courses at night but not sure what qualifications they gave

SkidMarkKing · 11 Oct 2013 at 23:26

4 years on top of the btec nat??

In a small computer repair shop.

Fixing laptops,desktops etc

I can setup wireless routers etc for home use but that isn't a big achievement is it? I want to be able to do the big networking stuff with a lot of computers involved sort of thing

SkidMarkKing · 11 Oct 2013 at 23:33

Giggz said:
Unless your getting into managed switches i.e throttling certain ports at certain times and data centers it's pretty much the same as setting up a wireless router just with more ports and cables.

Only problem is when a networking job comes up I cant honestly say I can do all on the list :/

Suppose I could explain what I can do and say im willing to settle for a smaller wage and learn on the job for a year

SkidMarkKing · 11 Oct 2013 at 23:45

Like a network admin I would like to be

SkidMarkKing · 11 Oct 2013 at 23:48

Nymins said:
It's definitely not as simple as that in business/corporate level.

First of all I need to do some research on companies within a 20 mile radius I think that might use big networks then apply with those or something?

Im also on a few job sites as well and I get email when related jobs come up

SkidMarkKing · 11 Oct 2013 at 23:54

Guest2 said:
It depends how big the company is. A network admin in a small company is very different to one in a large company - It starts to break down into smaller areas the larger the company gets and the more systems / tech is used

Small company network admin may only need to maintain a few servers - Domain controller, AD a bit of GP, small mail system (or maybe managed by someone else) and a print server

Ive been out with my boss on a job. I just set the desk tops up. Pretty basic stuff really. I also set the printer up too work with 6 computers. Nothing big. I didn't do any of the cabling. Just changed the IP of the printer to static and linked the desktops too it. He did the wiring the day before

SkidMarkKing · 12 Oct 2013 at 00:00

Guest2 said:
If you have no/little work experience there is no chance you will go straight into 'big networks' You may get a chance in a small company or a service desk/local support type roll in a large company then move up.

I have done both, starting with a small company (me and my boss in IT) I'm now in a large company (~200 IT) in 2nd line support. This involves assisting service desk staff and 3rd line support (using SCCM, SCOM, Exchange, Powershell, Citrix, AD, GP etc. but generally not making changes)

Ive seen some first line support jobs which seems the sort of stuff I could do now. Second line is better pay isn't it but slightly more technical stuff?

With the support jobs do you need to know it all of the top of your head or is there some kind of help on the computer when people phone up etc?

" (using SCCM, SCOM, Exchange, Powershell, Citrix, AD, GP" Ive not covered any of that??? :/

SkidMarkKing · 12 Oct 2013 at 00:05

Nymins said:
Yea sorry should have made that clear. Obviously in large companies it's split amongst more specialist roles. Smaller companies will look for someone with broader knowledge (inside out was perhaps too strong of a term).

A big company would be good then I guess for me. Stick to one area and get trained in that.

I do some support where I work. People having problems with slow computers, emails not coming through etc etc. Like I say this is basic and half the terms being used in this thread I don't understand

I feel like I wasted 2 years of my life doing a btec national.

I got DMM too so I obviously learnt what they taught me as well :/

SkidMarkKing · 12 Oct 2013 at 00:18

d_brennen said:
For me it was GCSE > A level > crappy job > CompTIA A+ (loooool) > MCSE/MCSA. > crappy job > crappy job > 1st line support (crappy job) > 2nd line support (crappy job) > ... > responsible for everything with a plug (has it's moments)

Getting an "in" to the industry is the hard part, then it's all about your ability AND personality. Network with everyone higher up than you, be a LinkedIn whore too

Really want to go down the Cisco route now but I'm lazy these days. I've used the equipment thoroughly too. Maybe next week

Yeah, at least I'm in the IT area now so it's all good experience for now. I feel I should be on a little more than minimum wage when I'm practically the face of the business. Most months I get paid nearly a week late too

SkidMarkKing · 12 Oct 2013 at 00:23

d_brennen said:
Where abouts are you?

West Midlands, UK.

I know people with a level 2 who are on £10 an hour too

SkidMarkKing · 12 Oct 2013 at 00:40

d_brennen said:
It varies so much. Even the job in question, some 1st liners do more than most 2nd line support guys depending on the organisation London rates are obviously higher, but I know of a 2nd line support guy on a £250 day rate contract.

Jeez lol.

I did see a support job and they said training will be provided so I could apply next time. I want to stick my job for a year so it's 1 year shop/repair experience on my CV.

SkidMarkKing · 12 Oct 2013 at 00:56

Done voluntary mate at a community center. I helped do there website.

Where I work I do a couple of days a week then if we get busy I do extra days. I basically get asked to go in tomorrow at 5pm the night before. :/

SkidMarkKing · 12 Oct 2013 at 12:26

oli356 said:
Went from the BTEC to a 3 year apprenticeship with one of the worlds largest networking companies. Been there 12 months now and one of the managers is trying to get an requisition to get me a job

I don't see how you don't have the right level to do an apprenticeship. So far the learning side of the course is easier and stupider than the BTEC...

Maybe the bigger companies don't ask for funding of the government? Only thing I can think of